The year is 1991. The Gulf War rages on, Mike Tyson is arrested, and the world is dealing with the AIDS epidemic. For you, though, things are ok. Your PC is safe and sound thanks to Peter Norton and Norton antivirus. That protection isn’t what it used to be. In 2001, the founder of Norton sold the company and left the operations of it entirely. For many, the name is still synonymous with the premier level protection once offered.
A lot has changed with virus protection over the last 30 years. Companies have changed hands and now, many of them get their sales just by the brand name.
McAfee, Norton, and Kaspersky are all brands that we see bundled with PCs for free. WebRoot, while less popular, also falls into this category. Rather than wowing you with the security you deserve, these programs hedge their bets on you just clicking the “renew now” button after 30 days. You compromise the security of your computer. This includes highly sensitive info such as banking and credit cards for many folks.
One of the most common questions I get from customers is “Do I need antivirus?”. The answer to this is overwhelmingly YES! The followup to this is usually “which one?”. There are countless programs out there that claim to provide the best protection- but how do you know that you actually get what you pay for?
At Computer Doctor of Maine, we know that not all antivirus programs are created equal. We’ve thoroughly vetted the programs we sell here, and we trust them to provide the highest level of security. Though the cost of antivirus can sometimes seem unnecessary, we like to tell people to think of it like an insurance policy. Would you rather spend a few dollars now or lose $1500 to “Bob” from “Chicago” when your information is compromised.
If you need to make the switch to a better Antivirus, or purchase a new plan or renewal, give us a call today!
Are you decreasing the life of your computer and putting your data at risk?
We’ve all heard of the common threats facing our devices. Whether it’s a virus, a power surge, or even a spill from your morning coffee, many people think they take all the necessary precautions to protect their data. But did you know that one of the biggest threats to your data is… your data?
That’s right- the data on your hard drive could be it’s own kryptonite. Hard drives and even new Solid State drives are designed to operate with some free space. This free space is used for moving files and for writing files for temporary use. When a hard drive is filled beyond 80% of its capacity, the drives life is greatly reduced. This is especially true for solid state drives despite their increased average lifespan.
As computers of all kinds move towards smaller sized SSDs, it’s becoming increasingly important to keep a close eye on the amount of space you’re using. When your computer gets “jammed up” from the lack of storage space, saving your data can sometimes become a difficult endeavor. At Computer Doctor of Maine, we always recommend keeping at least 1, preferably 2 backups of your computer. Given that drives can fail without warning, a backup could save you hundreds in data recovery fees.
Not sure where the clutter comes from? We can help! Every tuneup includes an analysis and cleaning of all the hidden junk files that take up space. If you’re experiencing a slow computer, low disk space, or unexplained popups and messages- it’s time for a tuneup!
If you have questions about disk space, tuneups, backup solutions or anything else, call the Computer Doctor. We’re happy to answer your questions and find the best solution that fits your budget.
Computer Doctor- (207) 862 7019 9-5 M, T, W, F 9-12 Sat.
With the yet to be seen onslaught of hurricane Irene pending, as folks scramble for bottles of water and stashes of Butterfinger’s to ride out the storm, it...
