How to reduce the amount of e-mail SPAM you receive
10 ways to reduce e-mail SPAM. Everyone hates e-mail SPAM, but if you use e-mail (as we all do), SPAM-EMAILS are a fact of life. 1 or 2 spam emails a day are to be expected, but if the majority of your mail is SPAM or JUNK you need a quick lesson in SPAM management. Here are our top 10 tips on reducing or eliminating EMAIL SPAM. 1. NEVER UNSUBSCRIBE… from SPAM or JUNK emails Even if you think the email is genuine, by hitting the unsubscribe link on your email or your phone, you may simply be confirming that your email is genuine. This will prompt the spammers into sending you more SPAM and give them the opportunity to sell on your email details to other spammers. example: PC/Laptop/MacBook/iMac Example: Smartphone 2. NEVER open suspicious emails in a browser Many SPAM emails will have a link on them saying “open this email in a browser” or “if you cannot read this email click here“, such as the example below. NEVER click on these links or any other links on suspicious emails as this will either confirm your identity or worse still, infect your computer with a virus. 3. ALWAYS REFUSE to accept “Read-Receipt” requests Spammers will sometimes attempt to confirm your email address by requesting a read-receipt (see image below). NEVER accept this receipt because just like in item 1 above, all you are doing is confirming that your address is a genuine one and you will invite even more SPAM. Select “No” when you see a message similar to this. 4. In Outlook – block pictures in HTML messages Although this renders most emails unreadable and it is switched on Automatically in Outlook it is highly recommended by Microsoft.. By default, this feature blocks automatic picture downloads and other external content in messages if the content is linked to a server. If you open a message that has external content when this feature is turned off, the external content downloads automatically, inadvertently verifying to the server that your e-mail address is a valid one. Your e-mail address can then be sold to a spammer. You can unblock external content for messages that come from sources that you trust. 5. If a company uses e-mail messages to ask for personal information, don’t respond by sending a message Most legitimate companies will not ask for personal information to be sent in e-mail. Be suspicious if they do. Such a request could be a spoofed e-mail message disguised to look like a legitimate one. This tactic is known as phishing. If the possible spam appears to be sent by a company that you do business with — for example, your credit card company — then call the company to verify that they sent it, but don’t use any phone number that is provided in the e-mail. Instead, use a number that you find by using other means, such as directory assistance, a statement, or a bill. If the request is a legitimate one, the company’s customer service representative should be able to assist you. 6. When installing new software or a new online service, make sure you are NOT agreeing to sign up to their newsletter or agree to receive promotional materials. Every time you sign up for a new service or purchase a program or software, there are often check-boxes which are ticked by default, where you maybe inadvertently “agreeing” to receive junk-mail from that or other associated companies. Some companies (including major corporations and banks) ask if they can on-sell your information to third parties!!! …be very careful when apply or downloading anything from the Internet. Watch out for check boxes that are already selected When you shop online, companies sometimes add a check box that is already selected, which indicates that it is fine with you if the company sells or gives your e-mail address to other businesses (or “third parties”). Clear this check box so that your e-mail address is not shared. 7. Configure your email to block SPAM email and Phishing threats Rather than using the limited SPAM protection methods provided by your ISP or website host. You can have more-powerful email spam handling, upgrading your email to Microsoft Hosted Exchange or use Outlook 365 to give you much more power to delete SPAM and phishing threats at source. The best available protection again Phishing is from Microsoft and is called “Advanced Threat Protection” or “ATP” and is available to anyone using the following Microsoft Hosted Exchange or Microsoft Office 365 Business or Enterprise subscription plans. Exchange Online Plan 1, Exchange Online Plan 2, Exchange Online Kiosk, Exchange Online Protection, Office 365 Business Essentials, Office 365 Business Premium, Office 365 Enterprise E1, Office 365 Enterprise E2, Office 365 Enterprise E3, Office 365 Enterprise E4, Office 365 Enterprise K1, Office 365 Enterprise K2, Office 365 Education. Advanced Threat Protection” or “ATP” and is available to anyone using the above Microsoft Hosted Exchange or Microsoft Office 365 Business or Enterprise subscription plans and is an additional $2.86 per mailbox per month You can re-direct your existing email address through Hosted Exchange and Advance Threat Protection to eliminate SPAM and Phishing emails and still seamlessly send and receive using Apple mail and your current email address. Call us for details. How to stop emails going to junk folder However, no matter what email program you use, each usually has to be configured to block spam email either automatically or manually. The way this is done, varies according to the email program you are using. Select the program you are using from the list below. Email Programs Office 2007 (for Windows) Office 2008 (Entourage) for Mac Office 2010 (for Windows) Office 2011 (for Mac) Office 2013/2016 (for Windows) – Office 365 Office 20013/2016 for Mac – Office 365 Windows Live Mail Apple Mail (iOS – iPhone/iPad) Android Mail Webmail Gmail Yahoo Mail Hotmail/Outlook 8. Turn off automatic processing of meeting requests Spammers sometimes resort to sending meeting requests and messages that include requests for read and delivery receipts. Responding to […]
How to speed up your Apple Mac by 400%
A simple upgrade to your Apple iMac or MacBook can increase it’s performance by 400% and make it run like a new model. We show you how. When you buy or test a new Mac the first thing you notice is how quickly it starts up and the absence of the “spinning-wheel“. The reason newer Macs start so quickly is because they have a Solid State Hard Disk Drive (SSD) combined with a HDD drive known as a fusion-drive, rather than the conventional Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that was standard on iMacs prior to late 2012 and MacBooks prior to mid 2012. You may remember a few weeks ago you put a 1TB ssd and more ram into my 2010 27″ iMac. This email is just to let you know that I am really happy with the results. The iMac is now faster than my late 2013 laptop, which was top of the line with an SSD when I bought it. Definitely happy I upgraded and didn’t buy a new iMac. Murray October 2016 The following is a video of a 2011 iMac loading El Capitan OSx. It takes 44 seconds. It’s like watching paint dry? The same model iMac with a 1 TB Samsung SSD, takes only 17 seconds, just like a new iMac. If your Mac computer was purchased prior to 2012, then your probably noticing how slow it has recently become, on startup and in general use. how often are you seeing the apple “spinning wheel” (see above) as you open applications? Unfortunately, the size of each new Mac OS update gets larger and larger and the more work your hard disk (HDD) has to do to load the programs. If your computer is a pre-2012 model then it is most likely to have a conventional HDD, which is now > 4 years old and has a 50% chance of failing as well as slowing down due to age and an accumulation of old programs, utilities and old operating systems. The conventional wisdom to speed up a computer is to increase the RAM but that only works if you have 2GB of RAM or less or your gaming or running video editing or high intense graphic programs. True speed and performance is gained by replacing the old HDD with a SSD (solid state drive) which is what Apple started to do on it’s post 2012 models. SSD’s have no working parts and are in essence a very large USB thumb or flash drive and they work 4 times faster than conventional drives. Adding extra RAM also increase the speed of certain memory hungry programs that do a lot of processing such as video and image editing and rendering programs including Auto CAD, iMovie and Final Cut Pro but generally will not be noticeable if you already have 4GB or 8GB of RAM. If you would like a quote to upgrade your Mac, iMac, Macbook, Pro or Mac Mini please send an email to :e-mail: including the serial number of the device. Speed up your Apple Mac Speed up your Apple Mac with an SSD Speed up your Apple iMac with an SSD Speed up your Apple Macbook Pro Retina with an SSD Speed up your Apple Macbook Air with an SSD Speed up your Windows PC or Laptop with an SSD Speed up your Apple Macbook with an SSD :jk:
MacBook Air Repairs – Apple MacBook Air Repairs
MacBook Air Repairs required in Perth? Is your MacBook Air not starting or behaving poorly? The IT Guys specialise in repairing all Apple Computers including Macbook Air in Perth and Western Australia, with all repairs carried out by Apple Certified Technicians. We do not repair iPhones, iPads, iPods or iWatches but can assist you with setting them up (configuration), re-installing, updating, connecting to iCloud etc. If your Apple Macbook Air is slow, non-responsive, not starting or is not behaving or performing as it once we may be able to fix that problem In all cases we cannot do anything or quote prices until we have ‘Tested & Assessed’ your device in our workshop. You will need to bring or deliver your device to our workshop at :address: between :opening-hours: No appointment is necessary. Please note a :assess-fee: non-refundable ‘Test & Assess’ fee will need to be paid on leaving your device with us. We need to have your device for a minimum of 1 business day to complete a thorough ‘Test & Assess’ process. Upon completion of our ‘Test & Assess’ we will contact you and inform you of our findings. If we assess the repair will take longer than 30 minutes and may involve new hardware or software, we will quote you on the costs and request your permission to proceed. If we can repair within 30 minutes, or you decide not to proceed with a repair, or we cannot repair the device, there will be no more to pay, and you can collect your device during our business hours. We may be able to make an onsite visit to your home or business; however, an additional “Call-Out” charge applies for travelling time to you and back to our workshop, plus the :assess-fee: ‘Test & Assess’ fee. We highly recommend bringing your Computer equipment to our office or posting it to us, as this will save you time and money. Purchasing New Computer and Transferring programs and data Quite often we may advise our clients that their Apple Macbook will be cheaper to replace, rather than repair. We do not sell new Apple equipment but will guide you in the choices available and from where they can be purchased. However, we can assist you with the setup, transfer of data and programs from your old Mac to the new one. Common Apple Hardware Issues Common Apple hardware problems that we encounter include: Hard-Drive (HDD) drive issues – (especially if over 3 years old) HDD’s can be replaced or can be upgraded to a Solid-State-Drive (SSD) for more speed and reliability and a 5 year warranty. Prices start around $300. If you see an image such as the above and the Mac does does not progress, start or go away, it is most likely a Hard-Drive (HDD) ,OS (Operating System) or Mother-Board issue. The only way to be certain is to bring the computer to us for “Test & Assess” purposes. How to Fix Apple’s Spinning-Wheel-Of Death (SWOD) If you are experiencing, the Mac Spinning Wheel of Death (SWOD)? AKA “Spinning rainbow pinwheel” , “Spinning ball”, “Spinning wheel”, “Spinning beach ball” (as shown above) this can be due to a number of issues, click here for likely causes and some solutions RAM (Memory) issues RAM or Memory can be replaced or upgraded to 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB or even more depending on the model. As long as your computer has a minimum of 4GB (ideally 8GB) this should not slow your computer down unless you are working with graphically intense programs such as image or video editors. Power Supply (PSU) Issues The power supply component of the computer can fail due to age, or after a power surge or lightening strike. This is often evident when no lights, fan or flickering occur when trying to turn the device on. The PSU on Macbook’s are built into the mother-board and require a full motherboard replacement which is not usually an economic solution. Graphics Card (GPU) Issues Lines on the screen can indicate a failed GPU. These can be replaced by Apple if under 5 years old by Apple. The GPU on Macbook’s are built into the mother-board and require a full motherboard replacement which is not usually an economic solution. Motherboard Issues If the mother-board (main circuitry board) or processor have failed they can be replaced by Apple if under 5 years old. Otherwise we advise the computer will be uneconomical to repair. Second hand motherboards from overseas (USD 400 – 500) are available, but these are “refurbished” boards by non-apple suppliers and there is no guarantee that they will work initially or after a few months, so we recommend NOT replacing a failed motherboard but purchasing a new computer. LCD Screen Issues These can be replaced by Apple if under 3 years old or we can source second-hand parts, usually from overseas for older models. However, second hand parts come without warranty. On Apple Macbooks it is not simply a matter of replacing the LCD, the whole top-case needs to be replaced and this can often be expensive. Email your serial number to helpdesk@itguyswa.com.au for a quote. Macbook Power Issues Apple MagSafe Power Pack’s should be replaced with genuine parts from Apple here. We do not supply these. Macbook Battery Issues The IT Guys offer a Macbook Battery Replacement service for Macbooks’, Macbook Pro and Macbook Air depending on the model number (Non-Retina Macbooks) Our batteries and workmanship are guaranteed for 12 months and work is carried out by Apple trained and authorised Technicians. If your Macbook is less than 3 years old, then we recommend taking your computer to an Apple Store or an Apple Authorised Repairer and see if it can be replaced under warranty. For replacement batteries for non-retina models over 3 years old. Click here. Batteries for Retina models are difficult to install as the whole bottom case needs to be replaced as the batteries are glued to the case. Removing these glued batteries is dangerous and can lead to them catching fire. […]
Is your Apple Mac, iMac or MacBook running slow?
It is vitally important to keep Apple’s Mac, iMac and Macbook Operating System (OSx) and Apps updated to avoid security, compatibility and speed issues. Does your Apple Computer appear to be running slower than normal? We get many complaints such as this, quite often the problem is solved by upgrading the hardware (More RAM, Upgrading the HDD to an SSD) see How to speed up your Mac also refer to our guides Are your Apple devices up-to-date? and How to update Apple Mac, iMac or MacBook Quite often overlooked is an OSX upgrade failure. You may well think you’ve upgraded to the latest OSx, but if it failed part way through, it may need to be reinstalled. Follow these steps. Go to “System Preferences” And selecting “App Store” App Store – Checks for available Updates If there are NO updates available, you will be greeted my a similar message as below: If updates ARE AVAILABLE, you will encounter a message like the following, which may give you the choice of installing a major update such as Yosemite or El Capitan Or you may be offered updates to individual programs such as Safari or Mail or in this case “the Unarchiver” If your updates have failed or stalled, you may see a window like this And in very small RED lettering under the progress bar, an error message. If this happens, try the update again and again until it has been successful It is very important to keep Apple’s Operating System (OSx) and Apps updated to avoid security and compatibilities with iPhones and iPads. You can avoid this constant “update” merry-go-around by simply doing the following: How to switch on Auto OSx and App updates for iMac/Macbook If you need assistance in checking the above and performing the updates, give us a call on 08 6365 5603 and make an appointment to come and see us. Prices for our iOS health-check and backup service for Apple devices starts at $30 for a 15 minute session. Also See the following: Are your Apple Devices up to date? How to update Apple iPhone and Apple iPad How to update Apple Mac, iMac or MacBook Why do I need to keep updating my iPhone, iPad, Apps and Apple OS? Apple Devices don’t get Viruses….. do they? How to switch on Auto OSx and App updates for iMac/Macbook How to switch on Auto iOS updates for iPhone and iPad Backing up iPhone or iPad using iCloud Backing up iPhone or iPad using iTunes on a Mac or a PC Backing up a PC, iMac, Macbook, Macbook Air and Mac Mini using an external HDD :jk:
Having problems accessing your Gmail account using Outlook?
We recently came across an issue when Authentication would not work when configuring Microsoft Outlook 2016 to connect to a client’s Gmail account. We’d never encountered this before but noticed a new couple of extra lines in the Set up Gmail with Outlook, Apple Mail, or other mail clients google page In the ongoing war-of-words between Google and Microsoft, Google has deemed Microsoft Outlook to be a “Less Secure App” and Gmail users are being forced to access this page and grant access for less secure apps such as Microsoft Outlook Google even go as far as taking a swipe at Apple and Mozilla by quoting the following: “Some examples of apps that do not support the latest security standards include: The Mail app on your iPhone or iPad with iOS 6 or below The Mail app on your Windows phone preceding the 8.1 release Some Desktop mail clients like Microsoft Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird” ..in an article called “Allowing less secure apps to access your account” So if you suddenly stop being able to access your Gmail e-mail using Microsoft Outlook, then you know why and how to fix the issue. :jk:
Apple devices don’t get viruses? :-) ;-) lol lmao
The good news: iPhones and iPads are largely immune to computer viruses and DO NOT need anti-virus software. The bad news: Apple computers such as iMac, Macbook, Macbook Pro, Macbook Air and Mac Mini ARE NOT IMMUNE to Computer Viruses and a top quality and FREE anti-virus program such as AVG For Mac is a necessity. Why you need to install Anti-Virus on your Mac Computer ASAP!! Back in June 2015 we warned all our Apple owners to beware of viruses on their Apple computers. in our post Apple Computers do not get Malware and Computer Viruses (Urban Myth) we now see at least one Apple computer per day (iMac, Macbook, Mac Mini) with computer viruses and malware either slowing down the computer or stopping it from starting or operating properly. Our posts shows you how to protect yourself from such viruses and what to do if you suspect you have one. Most viruses are designed to target Microsoft Windows computers, but there is one type of particular type of viruses called the CRYPTOLOCKER virus that targets both Windows and Apple computers and is NOT fixable without paying a ransom. In July we warned, OPENING AN EMAIL FROM AUSTRALIA POST HAS HAD 3 CLIENTS IN 3 DAYS LOSE ALL THEIR DATA TO THE CRYPTOLOCKER VIRUS. In August we posted, CRYPTOLOCKER Virus still a threat and very active. Please beware and we have heard of incidents almost daily (including one last Friday). The IT Guys were recently called out to a firm of lawyers who had all computers, servers and backup drives encrypted by the cryptolocker virus. As well as having to pay the ransom of $800, they had IT costs of $1,000 and had to close the office for a day. Apple Computers are NOT immune to Computer Viruses, please beware and take precautions as mentioned in our various posts. From our recent Newsletter…. click here for full details Also See the following: Are your Apple Devices up to date? How to update Apple iPhone and Apple iPad How to update Apple Mac, iMac or MacBook Why do I need to keep updating my iPhone, iPad, Apps and Apple OS? Apple Devices don’t get Viruses….. do they? How to switch on Auto OSx and App updates for iMac/Macbook How to switch on Auto iOS updates for iPhone and iPad Backing up iPhone or iPad using iCloud Backing up iPhone or iPad using iTunes on a Mac or a PC Backing up a PC, iMac, Macbook, Macbook Air and Mac Mini using an external HDD :jk:
Beware of scam emails about downloading Windows 10
Microsoft last week released its latest Operating System, Windows 10. There is a scam email circulating claiming to help users download Windows 10 that instead installs ransomware on users’ computers in a similar fashion to the CRYPTOLOCKER virus recently distributed in the guise of an Australia Post email. The scammers are taking advantage of Microsoft’s release last week as the operating system is available as a free upgrade to users running Windows 7 or Windows 8. The scam emails that while looking as if they were coming from Microsoft, were actually being send from Thailand. They’re easy to spot because the message includes spelling errors and stray non-English characters. Downloading the attached file installs ransomware on the user’s computer, locking all files and demanding payment within 96 hours to have them unlocked. To avoid getting scammed, don’t click on any attachments you weren’t expecting and be wary of download links in email messages from unknown sources. Microsoft is not distributing Windows 10 via unsolicited emails. Instead, users must reserve a copy of Windows 10 which will be automatically downloaded onto their system. To defend against these emails, computer security experts say the most important step is to back up your computer daily. Once ransomware is installed, the easiest and cheapest route to deal with it is to clean the machine and install a recent backup. But if the user doesn’t have a current backup, fixing things is a long, and expensive matter. If you believe you have seen such an email or encountered this virus recently, please give us a call on 08 6365 5603 and we can help you remove this or any other computer virus or malware. See also Should I upgrade to Windows 10 now, or wait a while? HOW TO USE MICROSOFT’S DEFAULT BACKUP TO BACKUP TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE HOW TO USE APPLE’s TIME MACHINE TO BACKUP TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE OPENING AN EMAIL FROM AUSTRALIA POST HAS HAD 3 CLIENTS IN 3 DAYS LOSE ALL THEIR DATA TO THE CRYPTOLOCKER VIRUS Related Posts and Articles TOP 6 CHECKS TO MAKE SURE YOUR COMPUTER IS PROTECTED FROM VIRUSES AND MALWARE HOW TO USE MICROSOFT’S DEFAULT BACKUP TO BACKUP TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE HOW TO USE APPLE’s TIME MACHINE TO BACKUP TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE Beware of scam emails about downloading Windows 10 OPENING AN EMAIL FROM AUSTRALIA POST HAS HAD 3 CLIENTS IN 3 DAYS LOSE ALL THEIR DATA TO THE CRYPTOLOCKER VIRUS How to avoid Computer Viruses – Stop using Bing Your Apple Mac has a Virus (this is NOT a Joke) PREVENT VIRUSES BY NOT ALLOWING OTHERS TO USE YOUR COMPUTER ACCOUNT HOW TO AVOID COMPUTER VIRUSES – STOP USING BING WINDOWS 8.1 USERS MOST LIKELY TO SUFFER ADOBE READER VIRUSES HOW CAN I TELL IF MY COMPUTER HAS A VIRUS? HOW TO REMOVE THE “DOSEARCHES” SEARCH VIRUS HOW TO REMOVE THE “SNAP-DO” SEARCH VIRUS AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE VIRUS SCAM ANTIVIRUS SECURITY PRO IS A SCAM – HERE IS HOW TO REMOVE IT HOW TO REMOVE 99% OF COMPUTER VIRUSES, MALWARE AND ADWARE FOR FREE :jk:
Your Apple Mac has a Virus (this is NOT a joke)
Apple Computers do not get Malware and Computer Viruses (Urban Myth) Apple iMac’s, PowerBooks and devices running iOS are just as prone to Malware and Computer Virus infection as are Windows computers At the IT Guys, we are seeing an increasing amount of Apple Macs coming through the door with problems not that dissimilar to that of their Windows counterparts. We scan EVERY device for viruses irrespective of it’s OS (Operating system) and in 90% of cases the Apple iMac, Macbook, Macbook Pro and Macbook Air, have been found to contain known malware such as Spyware and Trojan’s. Just because a Mac has a virus does not mean that it is going to be slowed down, spamming your friends with emails or producing porn popup windows. The viruses may well be dormant as they as mostly designed to take advantage of the security flaws in the Microsoft Windows Operating systems. Having said that, with the ever increasing market share of Apple OS, the criminals that design the malware are increasingly targeting and infect Mac iOS or Mac OS Do you need to install an Anti Virus product for a Mac? The bad news is “Yes” but make sure you use one that is specific for Mac iOS or Mac OS Installing a windows version of Norton’s on a Mac will corrupt the operating system. The Good News is there is an excellent FREE one in AVG Anti-Virus for Mac click on the link to install it. It’s NOT a FREE-Trial, it’s a genuine FREE Anti Virus from our friends at AVG. How to minimise the chances of a Mac getting a virus? Apple bring out security updates for Mac OS all the time. Make sure you install the latest patches and security updates as soon as they become available. To learn how to tell if your Mac needs updating, see the following article. See Update OS X and App Store apps on your Mac Is your Apple Mac, iMac or MacBook running slow? How to speed up your Mac How to check Mac, iMac, Mini or MacBook for MacOS Updates Beware of the following Fake Programs claiming to be legitimate Anti Virus Programs Do not install MacKeeper or iAnti-Virus or CleanMyMac: See this User Tip: https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3022 Do not be tricked by ‘SCAREWARE’ Do not be tricked by ‘scareware‘, such as pop-ups on your browser, that tempts computer users to download fake anti-virus software that may itself be malware. Once installed, the software may steal data or force people to make a payment to register the fake product. Examples include MacKeeper and iAntivirus, but there are others. Also, beware of MacSweeper and MACDefender** (also goes under the name of MacProtector, MacGuard, MacSecurity or MacShield): These are malware that mislead users by exaggerating reports about spyware, adware or viruses on their computer in an attempt to obtain payment for an application that does nothing that free utilities do not also offer, and in many cases will also mess up your system. *Malicious software dubbed MACDefender takes aim at users of the Mac OS X operating system by automatically downloading a file through JavaScript. But users must also agree to install the software, leaving the potential threat limited. **(This malware is not to be confused with MacDefender, the maker of geocaching software including GCStatistic and DTmatrix. The company noted on its site it is not affiliated with the malware.) Beware of fake ADOBE sites Mac users should always obtain their copy of Adobe Flash Player directly from Adobe’s official website and to disable the “Open ‘safe’ files after downloading” option in Safari Preferences/General to avoid automatically running files downloaded from the Internet. Also, do not turn on Java in Safari Preferences/Security. Few websites use Java. Javascript is something entirely different and should be left active. Avoid going to suspect and untrusted Web sites Torrent, Gaming, FREE Software and Porn sites should especially be avoided. Check out what you are downloading. Mac OS X asks you for you administrator password to install applications for a reason! Only download media and applications from well-known and trusted Web sites, i.e. the developers’ own web sites or the Apple App Store. If you think you may have downloaded suspicious files, read the installer packages and make sure they are legit. If you cannot determine if the program you downloaded is infected, do a quick Internet search and see if any other users reported issues after installing a particular program. Avoid Peer-to-peer sharing applications. Download torrents (such as the now defunct LimeWire and PirateBay) supplying pirated software, movies etc are hotbeds of potential software issues waiting to happen to your Mac. Everything from changing permissions to downloading trojans and other malicious software can be acquired from using these applications. Recent results of a Mac scanned with AVG for Mac Viruses Found Malsign.OpenCandy.7AF OSX/Generic_c.DQ Adware OSX/Genieo.C Adware JS/Spigot.A W97M/Generic FakeAlert :jk:
Data Recovery Perth – PC/Mac, HDD, USB, Email
Data Recovery Perth – PC/Mac, HDD, USB, Email We can recover most “deleted” or “inaccessible” data using our data recovery resources and we can make sure it never happens again Computer Software (Microsoft Office etc) Operating Systems (OS) and Computer Hardware (PCs, Laptops, Macs, Printers, monitors etc) are easily replaced. Data is NOT. We have all become far too reliant on storing our favorite music, photos, address books, emails, appointments, bank statements, accounts etc on electronic devices such as PC’s Laptops, USB Flash Drives, External Hard Disk Drives (HDD) iPads and iPhones without ensuring we have an up-to-date copy or “backup” that we can turn to should something happen to those electronic devices. If you accidentally delete something from your PC. Computer, Mac, USB or Mobile Device, the chances are that it has simply become inaccessible rather than lost and we will be able to help and recover the data using our Data Recovery tools and techniques. If you lose a file, stop using the computer immediately and bring it into us. Continuing to use the computer puts recovering the deleted file in jeopardy. If you have had a Computer Hardware failure and your PC or Mac or HDD has failed (“crashed“) the problem maybe more severe but it may still be recoverable. Often the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) will give early signs of failure before dying completely. The earlier you act once these sign occur, the higher the chance of NOT losing any data and it not costing too much to fix. If you wait until there is a complete disk failure or you keep using your computer, then chances of recovery are much slimmer and the cost to attempt so will be much higher. 6 Tell-Tale-signs your Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is failing and needs replacing ASAP Slowing Down Computer, Frequent Freezes, Blue Screen Of Death These are very unspecific signs that can be caused by a million different things. However, regardless of what the issue behind these symptoms is, it is recommended that you immediately make a backup and get your Computer, PC or laptop checked by The IT Guys (WA) or another suitable professional. Your PC, Computer, Mac or HDD starts to make strange grinding, clicking and thrashing noises? That could mean your drive is beyond repair. If you’re hearing strange noises then act very quickly—you probably don’t have much time. Corrupted Data You start to find files that fail to open and are corrupted even though they saved without errors or if files suddenly disappear. Accumulation Of Bad Sectors Bad sectors are areas of the hard drive that do not maintain data integrity. They are automatically masked by the operating system and thus hard to identify, especially if large amounts of the disk are currently in use. If you actually run into bad sectors, however, that certainly is a bad sign If your PC, Computer or HDD is older than 6 years… it is on its way out …read more Hard Disk Drives older than 6 years old have a 50% chance of imminent failure. Do you really want to risk it? Mac Tell-Tale Signs of Disk Failure On a Mac, if you see the following images on startup and they do not go away or complete, or you regularly see the “spinning wheel of death“ Cost of Data Recovery It is impossible for us to give an accurate estimate as to the likelihood or cost of recovering lost or corrupt data without first examining the device, computer, hard drive or USB stick. For that you will need to bring us the device and leave it with us for 24 to 48 hrs for us to test and assess the device. You also need to pay a non-refundable :assess-fee: fee when you leave it with us. If we cannot recover any data or it is a simple fix that will take us no more than 30 minutes, there is nothing more to pay. If we need to spend extra time to recover the data or replace a part, then we will call and ask your permission before continuing. Our location and opening hours can be found here. No appointments necessary. :jk:
Mac Repairs – Apple Macintosh Repairs
Mac Repairs required in Perth? Is your mac not starting or behaving poorly? The IT Guys specialise in Mac repairs, repairing all Apple Computers (Macintosh, Macbook, Macbook Pro, Macbook Air, Mac Mini or iMac) in Perth and Western Australia, with all repairs carried out by Apple Certified Technicians. We do not repair iPhones, iPads, iPods or iWatches but can assist you with setting them up (configuration), re-installing, updating, connecting to iCloud etc. If your Apple Computer (Mac, Macintosh, Macbook, Macbook Air, Mac Mini or iMac) is slow, non-responsive, not starting or is not behaving or performing as it once we may be able to fix that problem In all cases we cannot do anything or quote prices until we have ‘Tested & Assessed’ your device in our workshop. You will need to bring or deliver all mac repairs to our workshop at :address: between the hours of :opening-hours: Please note a :assess-fee: non-refundable ‘Test & Assess’ fee will need to be paid on leaving your device with us. We need to have your device for a minimum of 3 business day to complete a thorough ‘Test & Assess’ process. Upon completion of our ‘Test & Assess’ we will contact you and inform you of our findings. If we assess the repair will take longer than 30 minutes and may involve new hardware or software, we will quote you on the costs and request your permission to proceed. If we can repair within 30 minutes, or you decide not to proceed with a repair, or we cannot repair the device, there will be no more to pay, and you can collect your device during our business hours. We may be able to make an onsite visit to your home or business; however, an additional “Call-Out” charge applies for travelling time to you and back to our workshop, plus the :assess-fee: ‘Test & Assess’ fee. We highly recommend bringing your Computer equipment to our office or posting it to us, as this will save you time and money. Purchasing New Computer and Transferring programs and data Quite often we may advise our clients that their Apple Computer (Macintosh, Macbook, Macbook Air, Mac Mini or iMac) will be cheaper to replace, rather than repair. We do not sell new Apple equipment but will guide you in the choices available and from where they can be purchased or you can purchase a refurbished model here. However, we can assist you with the setup, transfer of data and programs from your old Mac to the new one. Common Apple Hardware Issues Common Apple hardware problems that we encounter include: Hard-Drive (HDD) drive issues If your Mac is over 4 years old and has a HDD or Fusion-Drive, you will notice a gradual slowing of the computer, and an increasing occurrence of the Spinning-Wheel-Of Death (SWOD) This is very common and means the HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is failing. Eventually you may not be able to start the Mac and see the “flashing-folder” symbol (see above). As long as you have a recent time-machine backup, the Mac will be able to be restored without loss of data. We replace HDD’s and fusion-drives with SSD’s (see upgrade to a Solid-State-Drive (SSD)) for more speed and reliability and a 3 or 5 year warranty. Prices start around $300 (See pricelist below) If you see an image such as the above and the Mac does does not progress, start or go away, it is most likely a Hard-Drive (HDD) ,OS (Operating System) or Mother-Board issue. The only way to be certain is to bring the computer to us for “Test & Assess” purposes. How to Fix Apple’s Spinning-Wheel-Of Death (SWOD) If you are experiencing, the Mac Spinning Wheel of Death (SWOD)? AKA “Spinning rainbow pinwheel” , “Spinning ball”, “Spinning wheel”, “Spinning beach ball” (as shown above) this can be due to a number of issues, click here for likely causes and some solutions RAM (Memory) issues RAM or Memory can be replaced or upgraded to 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB or even more depending on the model. As long as your computer has a minimum of 8GB (ideally 16GB) this should not slow your computer down unless you are working with graphically intense programs such as image or video editors. Power Supply (PSU) Issues The power supply component of the computer can fail due to age, or after a power surge or lightening strike. This is often evident when no lights, fan or flickering occur when trying to turn the device on. The PSU can be replaced on iMacs under 5 years old by Apple. Older models have to be fixed with second-hand parts, usually from overseas. However, second hand parts come without warranty and may last a few days or continue to work for years. The PSU on Macbook’s are built into the mother-board and require a full motherboard replacement which is not usually an economic solution. Graphics Card (GPU) Issues Lines on the screen can indicate a failed GPU. These can be replaced by Apple if under 5 years old by Apple. Older iMac models have to be fixed with second-hand parts, usually from overseas. However, second hand parts come without warranty and may last a few days or continue to work for years. The GPU on Macbook’s are built into the mother-board and require a full motherboard replacement which is not usually an economic solution. Motherboard Issues If the mother-board (main circuitry board) or processor have failed they can be replaced by Apple if under 5 years old. Otherwise we advise the computer will be uneconomical to repair. Second hand motherboards from overseas (USD 400 – 500) are available, but these are “refurbished” boards by non-apple suppliers and there is no guarantee that they will work initially or after a few months, so we recommend NOT replacing a failed motherboard but purchasing a new computer. LCD Screen Issues These can be replaced by Apple if under 3 years old or we can source second-hand parts, usually from overseas for older models. However, second […]
Services
IT Services Computer Repairs & Upgrades We repair and upgrade all computer and IT equipment from Windows Desktops, Laptops, and Apple Mac, Macbook, Printers, Scanners, Screens, Keyboards etc. We also remove computer viruses and fix or replace Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD) including data recovery See Services Computer Help & Support We offer in-home computer and network troubleshooting, repairs and callouts for residential customers, remote-support and in-house training and advise from our workshop. We welcome walk-in customers with no appointment necessary during normal business hours See Services Home Networking We offer Home Network, Home Internet/NBN troubleshooting, Home Music Systems repairs/installs, Wi-Fi troubleshooting, Smart Home Wiring and Wireless (Wi-Fi) solutions plus Family Zone family-friendly internet filtering systems See Services Business Support Looking for Business IT Support and Solutions? We service our business clients through our sister company “Hybrid ICT”. Please contact Hybrid ICT by clicking on this link. See Services Microsoft We are Microsoft Silver Partners and offer Microsoft product advise, repairs and troubleshooting on: Microsoft Office (365, 2019/16/13), Email/Outlook Setup, Purchase, Repairs, Microsoft Windows (Win10, Win7): Upgrades, Setup, Purchase, Repairs and Microsoft Surface, Purchase, Setup. See Services Apple We are an Apple Authorised Reseller and Apple Consultants Network member offering Apple product advise, training, support, setup and solutions on: Apple Mac/iMac, Mac OS, iOS, iPhone, iPad and all Apple iOS/Mac OS software including: Office for Mac, Entourage, Apple Mail, iCloud, iTunes, Photos, Bootcamp, Parallels etc. See Services Get In Contact With US CONTACT US Latest Blog Posts
iCloud password not working on Outlook for Mac?
Has Outlook stopped accessing your iCloud.com or me.com emails? In a recent upgrade, Apple decided to increase the security of your iCloud.com (also me.com) email accounts, not when using Apple mail but when using Microsoft Outlook for Mac (Office 365) or other mail apps. So without realising it icloud.com and me.com emails are not accepting your password, even though you know the password is correct. That is because Apple are now insisting you provide an “App specific password” that you have to generate by logging into your icloud account and creating one. Outlook won’t accept my password If Outlook won’t accept your password and you know you’re using the password for your email account, you might have an email account that requires additional security. Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, Outlook.com, and AOL accounts all use two-factor authentication to help verify that you’re the person trying to access your email account. To add your email account to Outlook, you’ll need an app password, also known as an application password. This is a different password than your regular email account password. One way you’ll know you need an app password is if you see the following message: 2-factor authentication is set up for your account. Please sign in using your application password. To obtain an app password for your iCloud email account, use the following steps: Go to the Apple ID website from your browser and enter your Apple ID and password. See the following links: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-an-icloud-email-account-to-outlook-4aed8b3d-3c68-4743-8973-f6bd1c56e040 https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT204397 :jk:
Problems with Office and Outlook for Mac 2016 – Solved
Having problems with Office and Outlook for Mac 2016 (Sept/Oct 2017) We have multiple email accounts using Mac OS with Microsoft Hosted Exchange and Apple Mail and had recently been experiencing two errors for the last few weeks. Each time Outlook is opened, the password for each Exchange account was requested “You’re connected to too many services. Please remove some connections before adding additional services” is displayed many times in Office programs. After a lot of research and much trial and error, we solved the issues. Here is what we did. Step A – Clean up your Keychain Close ALL Office for Mac programs fully. Use “Force-Quit” to make sure they are all fully closed before cleaning up your keychain. 1. Go to KeyChain Access.(this can be done using spotlight search) 2. Search “Exchange” under Login –> All Items and delete everything. 3. Search “Office” and delete everything. 4. Search “ADAL” and delete everything. 5. Repeat for “Outlook” and delete everything. 6. Close Keychain Step B – Cleanup Open Services When you have more than one Exchange account in Outlook for Mac, you need to clear up multiple open accounts such as multiple “OneDrive” and “Sharepoint” accounts. Open Excel or Word. If you see multiple accounts like the following, remove all accounts except the main one, by hitting the “minus” or delete key Sign Out Sign back into the main account. Repeat the above steps if necessary. Now open Outlook, add the passwords for each account one more time, you should not be prompted again. See Also https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_outlook-mso_mac/authentication-failedcheck-your-account/063826c1-1e4c-40ba-9bfa-54e745925fc1 https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_outlook-mso_mac-mso_mac2016/problem-with-outlook-mails-in-mac/b24fa623-d306-4c6b-80a8-909e72425e82 Microsoft Office: You’re Connected to Too Many Services :jk:
Fix Entourage Problems
Will Entourage 2008 or earlier still work on current Mac OSx such as Sierra, El Capitan and Yosemite? Office 2008 including Entourage has not been supported my Microsoft since 2013 The golden rule here … If it aint broke…don’t fix it If Entourage is still working on your Mac, then DO NOT UPGRADE the operating system as chances are, you will break it. Even Office 2011 is being phased out and cannot be downloaded from Microsoft site any more as the only version of Office For Mac now been supported and updated is Office 365 (2013 or 2016). However, DO NOT think that by loading the latest office it will magically transfer all data from Entourage. IT WILL NOT (read on) Entourage Versions Entourage 2001, included with Microsoft Office 2001 (version 9) Entourage X, included with Office X (version X) Entourage 2004,[20] included with Office 2004 for Mac (version 11) Entourage 2008, included with Office 2008 for Mac (version 12) Entourage 2008 Web Services Edition, separate download from Microsoft (version 13) Entourage was replaced by Outlook for Macintosh in Microsoft Office for Mac 2011, released on October 26, 2010. Does Entourage work with Sierra? Definitely NOT Does Entourage work with El Capitan? Possibly if in Office 2008? Microsoft issued an update to Mac Office 2008 in May 2016 found here However, before attempting the update we suggest a full export of all emails from Entourage as detailed below. Does Entourage work with Yosemite? Possibly if in Office 2008? Microsoft issued an update to Mac Office 2008 in May 2016 found here However, before attempting the update we suggest a full export of all emails from Entourage as detailed below. We strongly suggest installing Office 365 immediately, especially if using Entourage for emails but only AFTER you have manually exported ALL the Entourage data How to export emails, folders, contacts and appointments out of Entourage If Entourage is still operating, your in luck. There are a number of ways to export the data to Apple mail or Microsoft Outlook. Some methods are covered here http://www.office.mvps.org/import_export/manual_04_08.html but generally it is a slow and tedious procedure that the IT guys have had to do for many clients. If you’d like to do it for you, contact us on the number below. :jk:
Fix Mac Office 2008 Problems
Will Office 2008 or earlier still work on Mac OSx Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, Catalina or Big Sur Office 2008 including Entourage has not been supported my Microsoft since 2013. If Office 2008 or earlier is still working on your Mac, then DO NOT UPGRADE the operating system as you will break it. Even Office 2011 has been phased out and cannot be downloaded from Microsoft site any more as the only version of Office For Mac now been supported and updated is Office 365 (2016 or 2019).However, DO NOT think that by loading the latest office it will magically transfer all data from Entourage. IT WILL NOT (read on) Does Entourage and MS Office 2008 work with Sierra, High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina or Big Sur? Definitely NOT Does Entourage and MS Office 2008 work with El Capitan? Possibly? Microsoft issued an update to Mac Office 2008 in May 2016 found here However, before attempting the update we suggest a full export of all emails from Entourage as detailed below. Does Entourage and MS Office 2008 work with Yosemite? Possibly? Microsoft issued an update to Mac Office 2008 in May 2016 found here However, before attempting the update we suggest a full export of all emails from Entourage as detailed below. We strongly suggest installing Office 365 immediately, especially if using Entourage for emails but only AFTER you have manually exported ALL the Entourage data How to export emails, folders, contacts and appointments out of Entourage If Entourage is still operating, your in luck. There are a number of ways to export the data to Apple mail or Microsoft Outlook. Some methods are covered here http://www.office.mvps.org/import_export/manual_04_08.html but generally it is a slow and tedious procedure that the IT guys have had to do for many clients. If you’d like us to do it for you, contact us on the number below. :jk:
