NEW LOCATION! 541 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945 · 530.272.6680 · quietechassociates.com
Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM to Noon, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
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Happy August! I hope everyone is having a fabulous summer : )
I get asked frequently what the most common issue or scam I see is, and the fact of the matter is that as scammers change their tactics, we have to stay on our toes as well, because they are CONSTANTLY coming up with new ways to swindle people :(
So recently, the a really common problem we've been seeing is Anti-virus Email Scams. People are presently being absolutely inundated by emails claiming they owe money, or are receiving a receipt for having paid money, for anti-virus they don't have (and sometimes its for anti-virus software that they DO have, coincidentally!). The most common ones we see are for Norton or McAfee, but I personally received one that was posturing as Malwarebytes recently.
The "game" here is that the sender wants me to reply via email or to call the number. When I tell them that I didn't pay for anything, nor do I use their service, they will offer a refund... they just need your bank account or credit card number for that (I think you can see where this is going!). Do NOT reply to these emails, or any other scam emails. It only makes the problem worse. Mark as "JUNK" or "SPAM" and/or delete!
So how are you supposed to know what emails are legitimate and which are scams? It can be VERY tough. For instance, a few things stand out to me from the email I shared.
- It didn't come from a Malwarebytes email address. This email came from a personal Gmail account that is totally unrelated to Malwarebytes.
- The email is poorly written. Clues like "Regards, Financial Manager" and the bizarre sentence: . Thanks for using MalwareBytes Security again your subscription has been Auto renewed and updated successfully" indicate that this is not a professionally prepared, proof-read sales receipt.
If you are ever in doubt and coincidentally you have received an email stating you are paying for something from the same company that you do in fact use, simply close the email and go directly to the website for the anti-virus company (do NOT click on any links in the email!). There you can login to your account and double-check the details to see if they match the email you received. And if you are still in doubt, please feel free to forward an email on to me (quietech@gmail.com) to examine and let you know! I am always glad to help, especially if it can keep you and your computer out of trouble!
-Melissa
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MOST REQUESTED HINT!
Need to make it easier to see your screen cursor, text, or entire screen?
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We are seeing a lot of customers lately who have fallen for Amazon scams. Here are some helpful hints, from Amazon themselves, on how to avoid these common pitfalls!
- Never feel pressured to give information (such as your credit card number or account password) over the phone, especially if the call was unexpected. Scammers may try to use calls, texts, and emails to impersonate Amazon customer service. If you're ever unsure, it's safest to end the call/chat and reach out directly to customer support through the Amazon app or website.
- Never pay over the phone. Amazon will never ask you to provide payment information, including gift cards (or “verification cards”, as some scammers call them) for products or services over the phone.
- Trust Amazon-owned channels. Always go through the Amazon mobile app or website when seeking customer support or when looking to make changes to your account.
- Be wary of false urgency. Scammers may try to create a sense of urgency to persuade you to do what they're asking. Be wary any time someone tries to convince you that you must act now.
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This statement was sent out by the
Nevada County Government:
Resources for Residents Losing DSL Service
We understand that DSL service is being decommissioned in some parts of Nevada County. We are as frustrated and concerned as you are with this unfortunate news. Your local county government has very little control over this, as telecommunications are not regulated at the county level. In fact, federal law does not allow the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate broadband as we regulate other public utilities (think electricity, water, phones) and does not prevent carriers from decommissioning older networks without replacing them.
We suggest that anyone affected by this change take these steps:
- Search for other telecommunications providers serving your area. See this list for other service providers in Nevada County and share information with your neighbors. A Truckee resident tells us that after her DSL was decommissioned, her household switched to a T-Mobile 5G Gateway.
- Be prepared to receive news about emergencies via radio. Tune in to KVMR (89.5 FM), KNCO (830 AM), or KTKE (101.5 FM) for updates. On Red Flag Warning days, stay connected with neighbors and keep a radio on.
- Collaborate with neighbors to establish a local radio network for emergencies. Some communities are working to close the communications gap by using privately purchased two-way FM radios to communicate as a neighborhood. These radios can be used to quickly pass information about a new fire start in your area. When coupled with a communications plan and a neighborhood watch program these radios can be very effective. Find out more here.
- Utilize co-working spaces and public computer facilities. There are at least two co-working establishments in Nevada City and Grass Valley (Sierra Commons and The Workspace). Additionally, public computers are available for free at all Nevada County Library locations. Computer use is limited to two, one-hour sessions per day. Chromebooks and Macbooks are available for in-library use for two-hour time blocks; patrons must have a library card or photo identification. The libraries also offer free WiFi (to use with your own device) with no time limit.
For those of you in this frustrating situation, help us better understand exactly which areas are losing DSL service by filling out this excellent survey set up by YubaNet.
Meanwhile, Nevada County leaders will continue to work to expand broadband access across Nevada County. Visit our broadband webpage for more information on what we have done and are currently doing in this area.
Questions? Reach out to: broadband@nevadacountyca.gov
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Our data recovery partner, DriveSavers, had a fun job recently when a customer sent in their hard drive after a "computer repair expert" PUT IT IN THE OVEN in an attempt to get it working again! Read on for more of this crazy story!
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Did you know Quietech offers....
- Subscription based protection plans for your computer
- Creative solutions to all your technology woes
- Smart TV Setups, including streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and more!
- Passwords & login help / management
- Bluetooth cell phone connection to your car
- Calls to technical support on your behalf, like to your internet service provider
- Help setting up payment processes like Square to accept payments from customers
- Customer PowerPoint presentations
- File organization help
- Photo memory books
- Memorial videos
- Conversion of cassettes to CD's or digital files
- Help with "the Cloud" (like what it is, how to use it to backup your precious files, etc)
- Simplification of your system, including removing unneeded icons & customizing settings to your preferences
- One-on-one training on how to use programs like Word and Excel
- Syncing files between devices so your files are accessible to your everywhere!
We're here to help! :)
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In Case You Missed It!
We have moved :) You can now find us at 541 Sutton Way in the Brunswick basin. We are right next to Incredible Pets. Come see our amazing new space!
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We LOVE the positive feedback we get!
Here are some recent messages / reviews we've received!
"I just want to thank you again for always providing exceptional service!! Computer performance improved greatly because of you and my tune up :) And, you are a wonderful, patient instructor as well" - Pam R.
"Encountered a Blue Screen of Death on my Windows 10 Dell Inspiron 2 in 1 laptop after a boot up to a prior restore point as directed by Microsoft tech support. Quietech expert recovered all my files and restored my operating system in one day, as opposed to shipping the warranted laptop off to Texas, waiting 3-5 days, and then shipping it back, 2 weeks.... Thank you, miracle workers at Quietech!" - Steve M.
"So grateful for this computer business! Melissa, the owner, is an informed professional who is genuinely interested in meeting YOUR needs. I am relieved to tap into her wisdom in tech land." - Shirley F.
Have you had a positive experience with Quietech? We'd LOVE for you to share it online!
Leave us a Google Review
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