New Flame virus goes after government information

Most Geeks On-site technicians aren't phased by headlines about the latest virus or spyware because, for the most part, they know that their Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. virus removal  services can take care of the problem. But, there is a new virus targeting governments in the Middle East that is becoming a challenge for international virus and spyware removal experts, and it's called the Flame virus.

Once the Flame virus has infected a network, it can work its way around a local network and onto removable USB drives. Experts still aren't sure how it initially invades a system, but they do know what it's capable of when it does.

Vitaly Kamlyuk, an expert at the Moscow-based IT Security company Kapersky Lab, told the Russian news channel RT that the most impressive and worrying thing about Flame is the sophisticated way it collects information.

Not only does the virus find out personal information by taking over input boxes and cracking encrypted passwords – it also taps into visual and audio information. Flame can get information from audio recorded by a device's microphone and from screen captures it takes on your device.

And with so many ways to compile information, it's no wonder that governments around the world are nervous about this new threat. For Iran and other Middle Eastern countries, virus removal has become a top priority.

Luckily, while the United Nations and other government security forces are figuring out how to hold Flame at bay, there are local Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia spyware removal companies like Geeks On-Site that can take care of the less intimidating but still incredibly frustrating viruses that could infect your computer.

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Summer Olympic fans may be prime targets for hackers, says report

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London will bring in a whole new wave of cyberattacks, reports the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC). Anyone following the games should be on guard for scams and malware campaigns, otherwise they may end up requiring Washington D.C, Virginia or Maryland virus and spyware removal services.

According to the NCCIC report, a group of hackers made $3.5 million by selling fake tickets to 2008 Olympic games in Beijing. Overall, China was "subjected to over 12 million online attacks" over the course of the event. The scheme was so lucrative, that just two months later, hackers were already actively producing malicious material centered around the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The source provides an example of one of the methods its researchers have detected, showing an email scam that invites users to enter a competition to win tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies. Interested parties are asked to provide personal and financial information in order to take part in the draw.

Hackers also plan to take advantage of all the attention the games will receive by creating fake Olympic-themed websites, screensavers, videos and even apps that unsuspecting Olympic fanatics may visit, click on or download without a second thought.

As part of their efforts to keep virus and malware infections under control during the games, the NCCIC also published a list of general "good email practices" for consumers that could prevent their devices from getting hacked and requiring computer repair. These include deleting emails from people or organizations you don't recognize, and using antivirus software and spam filters on your laptop or desktop computer.

The source also suggests that those who do follow the games view all emails in plain text without images, research the source of any email sent with attachments and steer clear of links in emails from unfamiliar sources.

But if your device does become infected this summer, the Geeks On-Site team can provide efficient spyware and virus removal in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C.

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Jury still out on the new wave of tablet/laptop hybrids

While Apple CEO Tim Cook has been very vocal about his disdain for tablet/laptop hybrids, other computer developers are busily creating a range of new devices that combine elements of both formats. And in the next few years, anyone seeking quality computer, tablet and laptop repair in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. will have to make sure they choose an experienced and adaptive company that has kept up with the trends.

At the Computex Trade Show in Taipei, Taiwan, Jonney Shih, chairman for the computer company Asus, showed off a smorgasbord of new hardware – and almost everything on display involved some sort of tablet/laptop combination, reports PCMag.

Standouts include the Asus Taichi, a laptop with a second screen on the outside display that means it can act as a tablet as well as a laptop. Having a second screen on the outside of your laptop may be an offputting idea at first, but if you're worried someone will be able to see what you're working on, rest assured you are in complete control of what's visible.

Another impressive device was the Transformer book, dubbed "the world's first convertible laptop" by Asus. The laptop's screen is removable, so it instantly acts as a tablet if you want it to.

But as more computer companies experiment with these hybrids, a whole new crop of laptop repair issues are bound to develop. Technicians will have to tackle a number of problems specific to these two-in-one pieces of hardware.

Whatever your thoughts on blending these two types of computers, one thing is certain.  Whether you own a tablet, laptop or some combination of the two, you'll need a reliable resource for efficient Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. computer repair in case your new device malfunctions.

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Password security is getting slacker, study shows

While your online passwords are your key to accessing everything from your social networks to your finances, they are also a major target for cybercriminals. There are countless bots tirelessly working to generate login passwords, so it's in your best interest to make their job as difficult as possible. The last thing you want is to have to call a spyware or virus removal service in Maryland, Washington, D.C. or Virginia because a hacker has cracked your code and invaded your computer system.

But according to a study released by the University of Cambridge in England, online passwords are so lax that 1 percent of them "can be cracked within 10 guesses." Jason Bonneau, a Gates Scholar at the university, had access to 70 million yahoo accounts for his research. The source reports that password security was "low across the board," even for online bank accounts.

And while younger generations are known for being more technologically savvy, they also proved to be a bit more irresponsible in terms of password security. The study showed that baby boomers in general had much stronger passwords, even though younger generations probably have more online accounts containing personal information.

Bonneau also found that little could be done to increase the security of user-generated passwords. If websites implemented stricter guidelines, then account holders tended to simply switch to the new bare minimum. Also, even after someone's account had been hacked into, requiring virus or spyware removal, that user wasn't any more likely to come up with a better password.

The best way to protect your system from a cyberattack is by doing everything you can to keep your personal accounts secure. But if you think your system has been hacked, a quality computer repair company like Geeks On-site can provide quick and efficient spyware and virus removal in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

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The problem with touchscreens: a Windows 8 preview

The new Windows 8 update from Microsoft has been receiving a lot of attention since it was first announced last year. The key feature that sets this operating system apart from previous updates is its touchscreen interface, which is set to drastically change the Windows experience for users across the board.

But this much-lauded innovation still has a few wrinkles to iron out. PCWorld reports that the operating system had a number of technical difficulties at a recent consumer preview. Running on an HP TouchSmart 520 PC all-in-one desktop, the new touchscreen technology was a little too glitchy and unresponsive to elicit many oohs and ahs from preview attendees.

Using the device "could involve several flicks and touches to get the system to respond," the source states, warning that the "balky" responsiveness could push users to opt for the traditional desktop mode and forgo the new interface altogether. But braver users may decide to stick with the new technology, delayed responses and all, so computer and laptop repair companies across the board will have to brace themselves for a mass of touchscreen related questions.

Touchscreens in general can pose a whole new range of issues for users and computer repair companies in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The source reports that Windows 8 should work well on computers running Windows 7, but if your desktop or laptop wasn't built with a touchscreen display in mind, it may not transition quite as smoothly as newer devices. There may be times when your computer simply won't respond to touch, making it impossible to access your files or get any work done.

If you're struggling with a touchscreen device, consult a local Maryland, Washington, D.C. or Virginia computer repair service like Geeks On-site. Our technicians can discuss your technical issues over the phone, and, if necessary, send an expert to your doorstep to fix the problem.

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Microsoft announces new tablet at L.A. press conference

On Monday evening, journalists from across the country clamored to get a look at a shiny new device that may give Apple something to worry about: the Microsoft Surface. Though most tech publications had already predicted what Microsoft's big announcement would be when they found out about the press conference last week, the device was met with great fanfare at Milk Studios in Los Angeles.

Microsoft's chief executive officer, Steve Ballmer, announced that the Microsoft Surface was meant for work and play – appealing to serious gamers as well as individuals who just need a device for everyday use.

This new 10.6 inch tablet is 9.3 mm thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds – plus, it comes with two ultra-thin cover options that also function as keyboards, tackling the ever-frustrating issue of the touch screen right from the start.

Microsoft did not provide an official release date or price for the Surface, but Ballmer did explain that it would be available in two different formats. According to Forbes, Microsoft will first release a Window RT tablet, which comes with 28 or 64 GB of storage and acts as a casual-use mobile device.

A few months later, it will release an Intel-powered device that will have all of the power and capability of a laptop or desktop, plus increased storage. Called the Surface for Windows 8, this tablet was intended as a the perfect stage for Microsoft's new operating system.

But, as exciting as this news is, a new device usually means a whole new range of glitches for computer repair experts to tackle.

Thankfully, the technicians at Geeks On-site are keeping a close eye on the latest computer developments, so they'll be able to offer top-notch Washington, D.C, Maryland and Virginia computer repair services as soon as local residents get their hands on these new devices.

For more information about Computer Repair MD, please visit our site www.877geeksonsite.com.

Microsoft Surface could mean trouble for PC makers

Computer repair  technicians are used to fixing Windows PCs of all shapes and sizes, so many are eager to see what software giant Microsoft capable of when it comes to developing and building the devices themselves. However, many computer manufacturers aren't so happy about the company's new venture into hardware production.

Reuters reports that some of Microsoft's biggest partners in PC production weren't actually informed about the pending release of the new Surface tablet. Instead, they had to find out about the company's first device along with the rest of the world at the press conference on Monday. And, according to the news source, even the companies that did know ahead of time had only been told three days in advance.

But, even without the sting of being kept in the dark about the new tablet, this clear demonstration of Microsoft's shift in strategy was already bound to be unsettling for some of its business partners.

Though many people in the industry weren't comfortable going on the record about this issue, one anonymous source told the media outlet that "this has always been a point of contention between [original equipment manufacturers] and Microsoft – Microsoft getting into the hardware space." 

Although the Surface is clearly intended to compete directly with the Apple iPad, by producing its own devices, Microsoft could also have a negative effect on the profit margins of its long-term business partners whose devices use the Windows operating system.

But, however Microsoft's new strategy affects alters the landscape, everyday consumers just need to know one thing: where to get their computers fixed fast. For quick and effective service, local residents can turn to Geeks On-site for Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland computer repair.

For more information about Computer Repair Maryland, please visit our site www.877geeksonsite.com.