Fake antivirus and antispyware programs are rampant – we get about 1-2 computers every week with some kind of scam virus that was accidentally installed by a customer, who thought they were just protecting themselves.

Here’s a comprehensive list of names of fake antivirus software you might encounter. If you see one pop up – end the process, or call us at (305) 669-6049 and we’ll take a look.

Ad-Protect
Ad-Purge Adware & Spyware Remover
Ad-Where 2005
Ad Butcher
AdArmor
AdDriller
AddwareRemover
Addwere
AdEradicator
AdFlusher
AdProtector
ADS Adware Remover
Ads Alert
AdScrub
AdStriker
AdsZapper
Advanced Antivirus
Advanced Spyware Detect
Advanced Spyware Remover
Advanced Virus Remover
AdvancedCleaner
AdvancedXPDefender
AdvancedXPFixer
Adware-Nuker
Adware Agent
Adware Bazooka
Adware Butcher
Adware Cops
Adware Filter
Adware Hitman
AdWare Pro 2009
Adware Punisher
Adware Remover
Adware Remover Gold
Adware Sheriff
AdWare SpyWare Blocker & Removal
Adware Striker
Adware & Spyware Firewall
AdwareAlert
AdwareBlaster
AdwareBlocker
AdwareCatch
AdwareCatcher
AdwareCheck
AdwareChecker
AdwareCleaner
AdwareCrusher
AdwareDelete
AdwareDeluxe
AdwareDestroyer
AdwareDetect
AdwareEradicator
AdwareEraser
AdwareFinder
AdwareFlush
AdwareFlusher
AdwareGuard
AdwareGuardian
AdwareHunter
AdwareInspector
AdwarePatrol
AdwarePolice
AdwarePro
AdwarePunisher
AdwareRemover
AdwareSafe
AdwareSafety
AdwareSanitizer
AdwareScanner
AdwareScrub
AdwareScrubber
AdwareSheriff
AdwareShield
AdwareShredder
AdwareSpy
AdwareSquash
AdwareSquasher
AdwareStopper
AdwareStriker
AdwareSweep
AdwareSweeper
AdwareTerminator
AdwareTools
AdwareWasher
AdwareWatch
AdwareWipe
AdwareX
AdwareX Eliminator
AdwareZapper
Adware/Spyware Remover
Agent Spyware
AgentSpyware
AGuardDog Adware/Spyware Remover
AGuardDog Suite
AlertSpy
AlfaCleaner
ANG AntiVirus 09
Anti-Spyware Blocker
Anti-Virus and Spyware
Anti-Virus and Trojan
Anti-Virus Number 1
Anti Virus Pro
AntieSpiaDorado
AntieSpionsPack
AntiGusanos2008
AntiMalware 2009
AntiMalwareGuard
AntiMalwareSuite
AntiRogue Killer (AntiRogueKiller)
AntiSpionage
AntiSpionagePro
AntiSpy
AntiSpy Advanced
Antispy Protector 2009
AntiSpyBoss
Antispycheck
AntiSpyCheck
AntiSpyGolden
AntiSpyGuard
AntiSpyKit
AntiSpyPro
AntispySpider
AntispyStorm
AntiSpyStorm
AntiSpyStorm2008
Antispyware 2008 XP (Antispyware2008XP)
AntiSpyware 3000
Antispyware Expert
Antispyware Pro 2009
Antispyware PRO XP
AntiSpyware Protector
AntiSpyware Soldier
Antispyware Suite
Antispyware2008
Antispyware3000
AntiSpywareBot
AntiSpywareControl
AntiSpywareDeluxe
Antispywareexpert
AntiSpywareExpert
AntiSpywareGuard
AntiSpywareMaster
AntiSpywareShield
AntiSpywareSoldier
AntiSpywareSuite
AntiSpywareUpdates
AntiSpywareXP 2009
AntiSpyZone
AntiThiefWare
AntiVer2008
AntiVermeans
AntiVermins
AntiVerminser
Antivir64
AntivirDoc
AntiVirGear
AntiVirProtect
Antivirus ‘09
Antivirus 2008 PRO
Antivirus 2008 XP (Antivirus2008XP)
Antivirus 2009
Antivirus 2009 Plus
Antivirus 2010
Antivirus 360
Antivirus Agent Pro
Antivirus Email
AntiVirus Gold
AntiVirus Golden
AntiVirus Lab 2009
Antivirus Master (AV Master)
Antivirus Plasma
Antivirus Plus
Antivirus Pro 2009 AntivirusPro 2009
Antivirus Protection
AntiVirus Protector
Antivirus Security
Antivirus Sentry
Antivirus Solution
Antivirus System Pro
Antivirus XP 2008 (AntivirusXP2008)
Antivirus XP Pro
Antivirus XP Pro 2009
Antivirus2008
Antivirus2009
AntiVirusAdvance
AntivirusBest
AntivirusForAll
AntivirusGold
AntiVirusPCSuite
AntiVirusPro
AntivirusTrigger
Antivirustrojan
Antivirusxp
AntiWorm2008
AntiWurm2008
AnyCleaner
ArmorWall
ASC-AntiSpyware
Astrum Antivirus Pro
AV Antispyware
AVCare
AVClean
AVSystemCare
Awola
Barracuda Antivirus
BazookaBar
BestGuardPlatinum
BestsellerAntivirus
BlockDefense
Botsquash
BPS Security Console
BPS Spyware Remover
BPS Spyware & Adware Remover
BraveSentry
BreakSpyware
BugDoctor
BugsDestroyer
CheckFlow CheckSpy & Anti Spyware 2005
Cleanator
CleanerMaster
CleanX
CodeClean
CoffeeCup Spyware Remover
Computer Defender 2009
Consumer Identity
ContentEraser
Contraviro
ContraVirus
Copperhead AntiSpyware
CryptDrive
CurePcSolutions Anti-Spyware
CyberDefender
DataHealer
DefenseAntiMalware
Defenza
Deus Cleaner
DIARemover
DioCleaner
DiscErrorFree
DisqudurProtection
DocrorTrojan
Doctor Adware
Doctor Adware Pro
Doctor Alex
Doctor Antivirus 2008
DoctorAdwarePro
DoctorAntivirus
DoctorCleaner
DoctorVaccine
DrAntispy
Draze Toolbar
DriveCleaner
DriveCleaner 2006
DrProtection
E-Wall Antivirus
eAcceleration/Veloz Stop-Sign
EAdwareKiller
EAdwareRemoval
EAdwareRemover
EAntiSpyware
eAntivirusPro
Easy Erase Spyware Remover
Easy SpyRemover
Easy Spyware Killer
Easy Spyware Scanner
EasySprinter
Easyspywarecleaner
Elimiware
Emco Malware Bouncer
ErrClean
Error Doctor 2008
Error Fix (ErrorFix)
Error Fixer
Error Scan and Fix
ErrorDigger
ErrorDoctor
ErrorGuard
ErrorInspector
ErrorKiller
ErrorNuker
ErrorProtector
ErrorSafe
ESpywareBlocker
ESpywareDefender
ESpywareKiller
ESpywareRemoval
ESpywareRemover
ESpywareScanner
ETD Security Scanner
Evidence Eliminator
Evidence Eraser Pro
EvidenceEraser
ExpertAntivirus
eXPress Antivirus
eXPress Antivirus 2009
Extra Antivir
Extra Antivirus
EZCatch
EZVideo
Fakeav
FakeCog
FakeFreeAV
FakeIA
Fakeinit
FakePccleaner
FakePowav
FakeRean
Fakerednefed
FakeRemoc
FakeScanti
FakeSecSen
FakeSmoke
FakeSpyguard
FakeSpypro
FakeVimes
FakeWSC
FakeXPA
Fast Antivirus 09 (FastAntivirus 09)
FastCleaner
FileFix
Files Secure 2.2
Filterprogram
FiltroDeTrojan
Fix Registry Errors
Fix Tool
FixerAntispy
Fixiter
Flobo Free Anti Spyware Clean
Flobo Spyware Clean
Free Spyware Adware Scanner and Remover
Freeze.com AntiSpyware
Froggie Scan
FullSystemProtection
GarbageClean
General Antivirus
GoldenAntiSpy
GoodbyeSpy
Guard-X 2009
GuardBar
GuardCenter
HardDiskVakt
HDriveSweeper
HitSpy
HitVirus
Home Antivirus 2010
HomeAntivirus 2009
IC Spyware Scanner
IE-Security
IE AntiVirus
IE Defender
IEDefender
IHateAdware
InfeStop
Intelinet Anti-Spyware
Intelligent Spyware Cleaner
Internet Antivirus
Internet Cleanup
InternetAntiSpy
InternetAntivirus
InternetShield
iSafe AntiVirus
iSpyKiller
JC Spyware Remover & Adware Killer
Kazaap
KaZaaP
Keep Your Privacy
KeineGefahr
KillAllSpyware
KillAndClean
KillSpy
KnowHowProtection
KVMSecureis
LastDefender
LiveAntispy
LiveKill
LiveProtect
LiveProtection
MacroAV
MagicAntispy
Malware Bell
Malware Catcher
Malware Defender 2009
Malware Destructor
Malware Doctor
Malware Scanner
Malware Stopper
MalwareAlarm
MalwareBot
MalwareBurn
MalwareCleaner
MalwareCore
MalwareCrush
MalwareDestructor
MalwareDoc
MalwarePatrol Pro
MalwarePro
Malwareprotector
MalwareProtector 2008
MalwareScanner
MalwareStopper
MalwaresWipeds
MalwareWar
MalwareWipe
MalwareWipe Pro
MalwareWiped
MalwareWiper
Malwarrior
MalWarrior
MalWhere
Max Privacy Protector
MaxNetShield (MNS Spyware Remover & History Eraser)
MenaceRescue
MenaceSecure
MicroAntivirus (Micro Antivirus 2009)
Mr.AntiSpy
MS Antispyware 2009
MS Antivirus
My Privacy
My Supervisor
MyBetterPC
MyBugFreePc
MyNetProtector
MyPCTuneUp
MySpyFreePC
MySPyProtector
NadadeVirus
Nano Antivirus
NeoSpace
Neospace Internet Security
NetBrowserPro
Netcom3 Cleaner
NetPumper
NetSpyProtector
No-Spy / Sin-Espías (ver nota 1)
NoAdware
NoSpyX
Nothingvirus
NoWayVirus
Online Privacy Pro
OnlineGuard
OrantieSpion
OSBOdyGuard
Oxford Spyware Remover
Page Cannot Be Displayed
PAL Emergency Response
PAL Spyware Remover
PAntispyware09
Pc-Antispyware
Pc-Cleaner
PC AdWare SpyWare Removal
PC Antispyware 2010
PC Defender 2008
PC Error Eliminator
PC Health Plan
PC Protection Center 2008
PC Security 2009
PCAntiMalware
PCArmor
PCCleaner 2007
pcOrion
PCPrivacyCleaner
PCPrivacyDefender
PCSave
PcSecureSystem
PCSleek Error Cleaner
PCVirusless
Perfect Defender 2009
PerfectCleaner
PerformanceOptimizer
Personal Antivirus
Personal Defender 2009
Pest-Patrol
PestBot
PestCapture
PestProtector
PestSweeper
PestTrap
PestWiper
PornoPlayer
Power Antivirus 2009
Privacy Center
Privacy Champion
Privacy Commander
Privacy Components
Privacy Crusader
Privacy Defender
Privacy Fusion
Privacy Keeper
Privacy Protection Suite
Privacy Redeemer
Privacy Tools 2004
Privacy Tools Pack
PrivacyCenter
PrivacyChampion
PrivacyCrusader
PrivacyGuardPro
PrivacyProtector
PrivacyRedeemer
Privacywarrior
PrivacyWatcher
Pro Antispyware 2009
ProAntiSpy
Protect Your Identity
ProtectingTool
Protection System
PSGuard
PureSafetyHere
PurityScan / PuritySweep
PyroAntiSpy 2.2
QuickCleaner
Rapid Antivirus 2009
RapidAntivirus
RaptorDefence
RazeSpyware
Real AdWareRemoverGold
Real AntiSpyware
Real Antivirus
RealAV
RebrandSoft AdwareSpyware Remover
RegFix Pro
RegFreeze
Registry Cleaner
Registry Defender Platinum
Registry Doc 2006
Registry Doctor
Registry Doctor 2008
Registry Fix It
Registry Optimizer 2007
Registry Repair 2006
RegistryCare
RegistryCleanerXP
RegistryCleanFixer
RegistryFox
RegTool
RemedyAntiSpy
RemoveIT Pro
Renus 2008
RescateDeAmenazas
Restore My Files
Safe & Clean (Scan & Clean)
SafeAndClean
Safeguard 2009
SafePcTool
SaferScan
SafeStrip
SafetyCenter
SafeWebSurfer
SamuraiSpy
SaveDefense
SaveKeep
SaveSoldier
Scan and Repair Utilities 2007
Scan & Repair Utilities 2006
ScanSpyware
Scumware-Remover
Searchanddestroy
SearchAndDestroy
SearchSpy
Secret Service
Secure Expert Cleaner
SecureMyPC
Security 2009
Security Central
Security iGuard
Security Mechanic
Security Scanner 2008
SecurityiGuard
SiteTicket
SlimShield
Smart Antivirus 2009 (SmartAntivirus2009)
Smart Defender Pro
Smart Protector
Smart Virus Eliminator
SmartSecurity
Smitfraud
SmitfraudFixTool
SpamBlockerUtility
SpwareRemoval
SpwareRemover
Spy-Ad Exterminator Pro
Spy-Block
Spy-Control
Spy-Kill
Spy-Out
Spy-Rid
Spy-SHield
Spy Analyst
Spy Annihilator
Spy Cleaner Platinum
Spy Crusher
Spy Defence
Spy Detector
Spy Emergency 2005
Spy Guardian Pro
Spy iBlock
Spy Officer
Spy Reaper
Spy Shredder
Spy Sniper
Spy Sniper Pro
Spy Stalker
SpyAdvanced
SpyAssassin
SpyAssault
Spyaway
SpyAway
SpyAxe
SpyBan
SpyBeware
SpyBlast
SpyBlocs/eBlocs.com
Spybouncer
SpyBouncer
SpyBurn
SpyBuster
SpyButcher
SpyClean
SpyCleaner
SpyContra
SpyCrush
SpyCut
SpyDawn
SpyDeface
SpyDeleter
SpyDemolisher
SpyDestroy Pro
SpyDevastator
SpyDoctor
SpyEliminator
SpyFalcon
SpyFerret
SpyFighter
SpyFighterPro
SpyFirewall
SpyFlusher
Spyguarder
SpyGuarder
SpyGuardian Pro
SpyHazard
SpyHeal
SpyHunter
SpyiBlock
SpyiKiller
Spyinator
SpyKiller
SpyKiller 2005
SpyKillerPro
SpyLax
SpyLocked
SpyMarshal
SpyMaxx
SpyNoMore
SpyOfficer
SpyOnThis
SpyProtector Spy Protector
SpyPry
SpyReaper
SpyRemover
SpySanitizer
SpySheriff
Spyshield
SpyShield
SpyShredder
SpySnipe
SpySoap
SpySoldier
SpySpotter
SpySquash
SpyStriker
SpyToaster
SpyTrooper
SpyVampire
SpyVest
SpyViper
Spyware-Secure
Spyware-Stop
Spyware-Sweeper
Spyware Annihilator
Spyware Annihilator Pro
Spyware B1aster
Spyware Bomber
Spyware Catch
Spyware Cleaner
Spyware Cleaner & Pop-Up Blocker
Spyware Cops
Spyware C.O.P.
Spyware Defense
Spyware Destroyer
Spyware Detector
Spyware Disinfector
Spyware Fighter
Spyware Guard 2008
Spyware Guard 2009
Spyware Hospital
Spyware Immobilizer
Spyware IT
SpyWare Killer
Spyware Knight
Spyware Medic
Spyware Nuker
Spyware Nuker XT
Spyware Protect 2009
Spyware Protection Pro
Spyware Quake
Spyware Removal Wizard
Spyware Remover (alwaysfreealways.com)
Spyware Remover (SpyAdvanced)
Spyware Scrapper
SpyWare Secure
Spyware Seizer
Spyware Sheriff
Spyware Shield
Spyware Slayer
Spyware Sledgehammer
Spyware Snooper
Spyware Soft Stop
Spyware Stormer
Spyware Striker Pro
Spyware Suite 2005
Spyware Terminator 4 (de Invender.nl)
Spyware Vanisher
Spyware Wizard
Spyware & Adware Removal
Spyware & Pest Remover
Spyware & Pop-Up Utility
SpywareAnnihilatorPro
SpywareAssassin
SpywareAvenger
SpywareBeGone
SpywareBomb
SpywareBot
SpywareButcher
SpywareCleaner
SpywareCrusher
SpywareDetector
SpywareFlusher
SpywareHeal
SpywareHound
SpywareIsolator
SpywareKill
SpywareKilla
SpywareKnight
SpywareLocked
SpywareLocker
SpywareNo!
SpywarePolice
SpywarePro
SpywareQuake
SPYwareRemover
SpywareRemover 2009
SpywareScanner 2008
SpywareScrub
SpywareSecure
SpywareSeeker
SpywareShield
SpywareSoftStop
SpywareSquash
SpywareSterilizer
SpywareStop
SpywareStormer
SpywareStrike
SpywareSweeperPro
SpywareTek / Spyware Removal System
SpywareThis
SpywareWipe
SpywareXP
SpywareZapper
SpyWatchE
SpyWiper
Spyzooka
StartGuard
StopGuard
StopingSpy
StopItBlockIt 2005
StorageProtector
SunShine Spy
SunShineSpy
Super Spyware Remover
SuperSpywareKiller
SwiftCleaner
SysAntivirus 2009
SysKontroller
SysProtect
System Antivirus 2008
System Detective
System doctor
System Guard 2009
System Guard Center
System Live Protect
System Protector
System Security 2009
System Tuner
SystemBooster2009
SystemDefender
SystemDoctor
SystemErrorFixer
SystemGuard2009
SystemLiveProtect
SystemSecurity
SystemStable
TeoSoft Anti-Spyware
Terminator 2009
Terminexor
The Adware Hunter
The SpyGuard
The Spyware Detective
The Spyware Shield
The Ultimate Spyware Adware Remover
The Web Shield
TheSpyBot
TheSpywareKiller
Titan AntiSpyware
TitanShield
TitanShield AntiSpyware
Top10Reviews SpyScan
Total Defender
Total Protect 2009
Total Secure2009
Total Security
Total Virus Protection
Trace Sweeper (TraceSweeper)
Trojan Guarder Gold
TrojanerFilter
Trojanguarder
TrojansFilter
TrojansFiltre
TrojansKiller
True Sword
TrueWatch
Trust Cleaner
TrustCleaner
TrustedAntivirus
TrustedProtection
TrustNinja
TrustSoft AntiSpyware
TZ Spyware Adware Remover
TZ Spyware Remover
UControl
Ultimate-Spyware Adware Remover
Ultimate Antivirus 2008
Ultimate Cleaner
Ultimate Defender
Ultimate Fixer
UltimateCleaner
UltimateCleaner 2007
UltimateDefender
UltimateFixer
Ultimatefixer2007
Ultra Antivir 2009
Ultra Antivirus 2009
Unigray
UniGray
UnSpyPc
UnSpyPC
Unvirex
Vaccine2008
VaccineProgram
VBouncer/AdDestroyer
Vip Antispyware
VIPAntiSpyware
Virus-Kill
Virus Doctor
Virus Remover Professional
Virus Shield
Virus Sweeper
VirusAlarma
VirusBlast
VirusBlaster
VirusBlasters
VirusBurst
VirusBursters
VirusConst
VirusEffaceur
VirusGuard
VirusHeal
VirusHeat
VirusLocker
VirusMelt
VirusProtect
VirusProtectPro
VirusRanger
VirusRay
VirusRemover
VirusRemover 2009
VirusRescue
VirusResponse Lab 2009
Virusschlacht
VirusTrigger
Vista Antivirus 2008 (VistaAntivirus 2008)
Vitae Antivirus
WareOut
WareOut Spyware Remover
WebSafe Spyware Secure
WebSpyShield
Win Antivir 2008 (WinAntivir 2008)
WinAntiSpyware 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008
WinAntispyware 2008
WinAntivirus 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008
WinAntiVirus Pro 2006
Winantivirus pro 2007
WinAntivirusVista-XP
WinBlueSoft
WinCleaner 2009
Wincleaner AntiSpyware
WinDefender 2009
Windows Antivirus Pro
Windows AntiVirus (Windows AntiVirus 2008)
Windows Protection Suite
Windows Security Suite
Windows System Suite
WinFix Master
Winfixer
WinFixer
WinFixer 2005
WinFixMaster / WinFix Master
WinHound
Winhound Spyware Remover
WiniBlueSoft
WiniFighter
WiniGuard
WiniShield
Winkeeper
WinPC Antivirus
WinPC Defender
WinPerformance
WinProtector 3.8 (Win Protector 3.8)
Winreanimator
winsecureav
WinSecureAv
WinSecureDisc
WinSOS
WinSpyControl
WinSpyKiller
WinSpywareProtect
Winweb Security
Winwebsec
WinX Security Center 2.2
WinXDefender
Winxprotector
WorldAntiSpy
X-Con Spyware Destroyer
X-Spyware
XDef
Xmembytes AntiSpyware
XP-Shield
XP Antispyware 2009
XP Antivirus (XP Antivirus 2008)
XP Deluxe Protector
XP Police Antivirus
XP Protector 2009
XPAntivirus
XpCleanerPro
XPert Antivirus
XpyBurner
Xspyware
XSRemover
XXXAccess
Yektel
YourPrivacyGuard
ZeroSpyware
Zinaps Anti-Spyware
ZoneProtect AntiSpyware

Ok – here’s a tool you need to check out. It’s called CCleaner, a great utility for optimizing and cleaning your Windows PC. It protects your privacy online and makes your computer faster and more secure. Best of all, it’s absolutely FREE.

Download CCleaner here

Once you’ve installed the program, open it and take a look at all the great tools. On the top, you’ll notice a basic review of your PC’s internal components, including operating system, processor type and speed, quantity of RAM, and graphic card details.

Next move to the navigation, on the left sidebar. You’ll notice four tools: Cleaner, Registry, Tools, and Options.

Cleaner: This is your main tool, the one you’ll use on a weekly basis to make sure you’re computer is free of unnecessary temporary files, cookies, and other unwanted items. The first tab is for operating system and internet related items, and the second tab is all your applications cleaning tools. The first cleaning will probably take the longest, because your computer will be full of these unwanted files, but if you keep up the cleaning (say, once a month), it should be done within a few seconds every time.

Registry: This section is for more advanced cleaning, and it’s important to create a backup of your registry each time you perform an optimization.  Be careful when using this section, because it might affect important files in your registry that control computer functions.

Tools: use this section to uninstall programs, remove unwanted start-up items, and restore your system to a previously saved version.

Of course – any questions, let us know. We’re happy to help you get your computer working right.

Click here to Contact Preemo

Our very own Chief Tech, Ivan Mladenovic, was featured recently in GablesHomepage, a hyper-local online magazine for the City of Coral Gables. Learn more about Preemo’s business model and how we’re changing the technoogy game in South Florida.

Read the entire article here.

Special thanks for Irina Patterson for a wonderful article. Check out her 1M1M Blog here.

If you’re like most computer users, your PC or Mac is loaded with a gazillion family photos and other prized documents. Some of you may be sleeping peacefully believing that the external hard drive you picked up at Costco is backing up your data every night, but have you ever checked to see if it’s configured correctly? What’s really going on inside that black box? And what would happen if your house caught fire?

One high-tech — and essentially idiot-proof — alternative is to back up your stuff online. A growing number of companies will automatically sweep your hard drive and keep a copy of the information that is there in the internet “cloud.” Many early adopters use Mozy or Carbonite, which allow users unlimited backup space for the cost of a latte each month. For the cost of a lobster, rival sites such as SugarSync offer additional features like non-emergency access to backed-up files — e.g., the ability to update something in your office that you were working on at home.

Once available only to big corporations, off-site automatic backup is starting to catch on with consumers. According to the market-research firm Mintel, 36% of North American computer users surveyed expressed interest in online backup, which, by the way, can only be used by people with high-speed connections.

Thomas Vitale, a Syfy Channel executive, signed up for Mozy in early October, largely to safeguard his trove of family pictures. He and his wife have taken photos of each of their three daughters every day since they were born. Every month or so, he backs up the 25,000 photos, 1,000 videos and other files from nearly 25 years of PC use — which take up about 125 gb on his home computer in Manhattan — on an external hard drive that is not connected to his computer in order to keep it safe from viruses. In between these external-drive sessions, he relies on Mozy, which for $5 a month moseys along at a pace that will probably require two or three months to back up his entire hard drive. Vitale says the long upload time isn’t problematic since Mozy works in the background and does not noticeably slow down his computer. Mozy’s low price also helps make up for its lack of speed. (The same amount of data space on SugarSync, for example, would cost Vitale $25 a month.)

OnlineBackupsReview.com and backupreview.info are good places to begin comparison shopping. Depending on the provider, data recovery might not be immediate, and customer service can be maddening. Some companies have quit the space. Earlier this year, for example, Hewlett-Packard said it would discontinue Upline; Yahoo did the same with Briefcase. Eric Nagel, who runs onlinebackupsreview.com, said that while companies gave subscribers at least a month’s notice, a complete transition may take several weeks.

“Despite cons such as poor customer service and slow initial upload, online backup still protects your data better than something in your home because it’s in a secure, off-site environment, safe from theft, fire, flood and other mishaps,” Nagel said.

Even so, apprehension about backing up files online has led many customers like Vitale to take a belt-and-suspenders approach, using the cloud as a smart way to add an extra layer of security while still relying on traditional backups like external hard drives, thumb drives and archival DVDs.

Experts note that no single solution is perfect, but that doesn’t mean computer users should give up and do nothing. “How you select to do backup isn’t nearly as important as doing it,” says Mintel senior analyst Bill Hulkower. “If I’m a dentist, the first step is to get you to floss. Once you start, then you can decide the best product.”

Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), a leading global provider of office products and services, is urging small businesses to take the simple and affordable steps necessary to get prepared for the 2010 hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts 14 to 23 named storms this season and eight to 14 hurricanes – three to seven of which are expected to be category 3 or greater.

During recent inactive hurricane seasons, businesses facing economic challenges might have chosen to forgo some preparations. But business owners cannot afford to be complacent and risk losing their vital information and assets. According to NOAA, warm Atlantic Ocean water and upper atmospheric winds are likely to foster storm development, resulting in a busy hurricane season. In the event of a storm, Office Depot encourages its customers to be proactive and protect their valuables – their people, data and property – to help ensure their businesses can quickly get up-to-speed and back to business following a storm or a power outage.

Office Depot has the resources business owners need to weather any storm. A guide to this year’s most efficient products and tips for disaster preparation is available at www.officedepot.com/getprepared.

“It is important that business owners acknowledge this year’s active storm forecast and make sure they are prepared,” said Bill Gavin, Director of Global Business Continuity for Office Depot. “Take the necessary precautions now so your business can be safe in the event of a storm.”

According to The Hartford Financial Services Group, more than 40 percent of businesses that experience a disaster and have no emergency plan never reopen, and of those that do reopen, only 29 percent are still operating two years later. ¹

Office Depot advises small businesses to take the following steps before a storm or to help protect your business in the event of potential disruptions:

Protect Your People

• Build solid contact lists. Include names and phone numbers of employees, vendors and emergency agencies. Have contact lists stored both inside and outside the office and perhaps kept in the possession of two or more trusted managers or staff members.
• Establish emergency communications procedures.
• Organize supplies. Ensure you have sufficient water, food, and janitorial products, and that your company has access to cash, generators, and Energizer® batteries. Also consider the Eveready® Flashlight.
• Provide employee assistance. Train at least one staff member in CPR and first aid and, if possible, prepare family disaster kits and alternative family housing.

Protect Your Data

• Some companies looking to cut costs have increased the use of computer automation, making them more vulnerable to outages. Copy electronic data to a USB memory stick, CD-ROM or DVD-R using your PC’s optical drive to help the company be capable of rebounding faster.

Use a portable hard disk that can back up your entire PC disk drive at the touch of a button or use a ruggedized laptop computer that, like the other data copies, can be unplugged and taken with you to safeguard data against any emergencies.

“Having and executing a contingency plan is the quickest way to recover from a disaster,” Gavin said. “Business owners should schedule periodic reviews to make sure their plan is in sync with their business. By doing so, businesses can turn their preparedness plan into a recovery capability.”

For more information on disaster preparedness strategies for small businesses , please visit www.officedepot.com/getprepared.

via TheStreet by Business Wire

Is your PC running slow? Does it take forever to start up or shut down you computer? Does it freeze all the time and you keep getting the blue screen of death error? If this is the case, then you need to fix your slow computer and improve its performance by following these 5 tips:

• Free Up Valuable RAM: First check the RAM by right-clicking on the “My Computer” -”Properties” and then “General.” The information about RAM is listed at the bottom. RAM means Random Access Memory and is the temporary storage memory of your computer. Not having enough RAM might slow down the system’s performance and make it unable to process all the tasks at hand. Delete any unused programs from your PC and empty your computer’s recycle bin to free up some RAM. To do that right-click on your recycle bin on the desktop, click “Empty Recycle Bin” and then “Yes”.
• Defragment Your Computer: Over time, more and more files in your system become fragmented. If a file is fragmented, it takes longer for your pc to read it and the overall performance is reduced. To defragment your disk Open My Computer, click Local Disk- Properties- Tools and then click Defragment Now. Choose the first hard disk, and click Defragment. Disk Defragmenter can take a few minutes or several hours, if the problem is more serious.
• Remove unnecessary programs: Many of the programs inside your hard drive have components that run all the time, slowing down your system’s performance. For example, iTunes has components that run invisibly in the background, whether you’re using the program or not. To remove any programs that you no longer use go to Control Panel – “Add or Remove Programs” and select the ones that you want to get rid of.
• Protect your pc against spyware and viruses: Spyware collects personal information without asking you for permission. In addition it causes slow performance. The majority of computers are infected with viruses and spyware, which can decrease speed considerably. Install an antivirus program and an anti-spyware program to protect you against these threats.
• Perform a Windows Registry clean up: 9 times out of 10 the cause for a slow pc will be a corrupted registry. Every time you install or uninstall some software, remove and add hardware, or change your pc’s settings the registry becomes fragmented with corrupted, invalid and many times harmful files. To fix this problem you will need to download a registry cleaner and run a scan. This tool will find all the invalid entries and delete them.

If your computer is still having problems, you might need to have us perform a FREE system diagnostic check at our offices in South Miami. Stop by anytime Monday – Friday, 9am – 5:30pm, or fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours. If you have any questions, give us a call: 305.669.6049.
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Apple recently announced a hard drive repair program as part of an extended warranty, for Macbook owners who have had hard drive failures. The laptops in questions are both black and white MacBooks models bought between May 2006 and December 2007; according to a page on the company’s support site, the hard drive failures can be diagnosed through a simple, yet despair-inducing method: your computer simply stops working and, upon boot, displays a folder icon with a superimposed question mark.

Read more information on MacWorld.com

In a video led by Firefox’s creative lead Aza Raskin, check out this new form of information phishing. It’s called “tabnapping” – and according to Aza, here’s how it works:

1. “A user navigates to your normal looking site.
2. You detect when the page has lost its focus and hasn’t been interacted with for a while.
3. Replace the favicon with the Gmail favicon, the title with “Gmail: Email from Google”, and the page with a Gmail login look-a-like. This can all be done with just a little bit of Javascript that takes place instantly.
4. As the user scans their many open tabs, the favicon and title act as a strong visual cue—memory is malleable and moldable and the user will most likely simply think they left a Gmail tab open. When they click back to the fake Gmail tab, they’ll see the standard Gmail login page, assume they’ve been logged out, and provide their credentials to log in. The attack preys on the perceived immutability of tabs.
5. After the user has entered their login information and you’ve sent it back to your server, you redirect them to Gmail. Because they were never logged out in the first place, it will appear as if the login was successful.”

Please be careful of this tricky and malicious phishing attack – and watch your privacy online. Special thanks to our client Terry Ruiz de Castilla for sharing this great article.

If you have any questions regarding what might be a phishing attack, you can always contact Preemo or call us at 305.669.6049.

Update:

Although we had a pretty small crowd, the event was actual great. We met some great Yelpers who had technology questions, and two people actual brought laptops with issues. We were able to solve all the issues presented, and I think Pikkolo Mondo did a fantastic job of hosting. Mojitos everywhere, lots of delicious pizza and bruschetta. Special thanks to Maria Arguello for letting us help out with Office Hours.

According to another Yelp! Community Manager, “What’s Office Hours? It’s just a laid back way to come out & try a new business, meet some yelpers, hang [out], learn a bit about Yelp, get some yelpstick (awesome) and other mini-prizes, and enjoy some minglin’! If you’re new to the Elite Squad, Office Hours is a fantastic way to get acquainted with events. If you’re new to Yelp, Office Hours is a great way to get to know the city & the site, one coffee shop/neighborhood at a time. “

The event is FREE! Preemo will be offering technology support and advice, as well as doing on-site optimizations if you bring your laptop!

Interested in attending? Please RSVP here (top right hand corner)

Any questions, you can contact us.

Need Computer Repair or Training?

Click To Schedule An Appointment or Call 305.669.6049

I was introduced to the story of Jose “Kike” Belavar by Ana Oliva, owner of Pikkolo Mondo. Kike is an 8-year old shooting victim from Puerto Rico, who has been moved to South Miami to save his life. He still has a bullet lodged in his skull, and requires constant care from his strong mother, who also has two other children. They are currently staying at the Best Miami Hotel, but need to move into a “Section 8″ living arrangement as soon as possible.

If you can help in any way, contact Ana Oliva: pikkolomondo@gmail.com or 305.323.0132

Otherwise, a small donation would be an immense help for the family and for Kike’s care and well-being.