Tek-Chic Systems

I hope everyone reading this will say "well duh, of course!" but maybe someone needs to hear this.
If you get an email thanking you for your purchase of several hundred dollars, or informing you of an upcoming charge and they give you a number to call, DON'T CALL. So far today (and it's only noon) I've received three of them but they've been going on for a few years.
The scammers will convince you that they can stop the charges but will need to get on your computer to make sure that it goes through. Just delete the message and forget about it. On a rare occasion they get lucky and refer to a service or product you actually use, so if that's the case DON'T CALL. Use your browser to go to the actual website and log in to see if there's an actual charge.
The newer trend is so say your payment was through PayPal. Need I say it again? DON'T CALL!
If you give a stranger access to your computer, then all bets are off and you need someone like me to go through and check your computer out for viruses, trojans, keystroke loggers, etc.

Send a message to learn more

Well, if you set your Amazon Echo to not send information to Amazon, that's changing at the end of the month...

Amazon is making a privacy change to Echo — those who don’t agree may end up with a useless device ‘I now have to worry my Echo is recording everything.’

If it's time for a new phone, or you want to give one as a gift, this one's a winner:
You can get the Google Pixel 8a for only $399 from Amazon, Best Buy and direct from Google. The best part is that it comes with SEVEN YEARS of updates! Neither Apple nor Samsung offer this. I have a Pixel 6 that still gets the latest updates, or I would seriously consider this one. It comes unlocked so you can use it with any carrier (and it makes it very easy to move from one carrier to another when a better deal appears for your service.
Have at it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYQ916ZY/

Send a message to learn more

My advice still stands. DO NOT CLICK on links or attachments in email unless you know who it's from AND you're expecting it.
If you get an email like this, don't trust the link, go directly to your account and check it out (in all likelihood you'll find the email isn't true - remember, bad guys lie)...

New Warning For 2 Billion iPhone, iPad, Mac Users—Your Apple ID Is Suspended All holders of an Apple ID, regardless of device, are warned to beware of a threat campaign targeting users with account suspended bait. Here’s what you need to know.

https://www.tek-chic.com/ipad-deal-but-hurry/

iPad for Christmas? If someone on your Christmas list wants an iPad (or maybe a treat for yourself) Amazon has the 9th Generation iPad on sale for $199. That’s 40% off. But don’t wait, I’m sure it well sell out fast at this price. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09G9FPHY6?th=1  

This is what you call REALLY BAD security (so don't you do it!)

I received this email today: "Dear Laurie, the results of your recent imaging exam are attached to this email. Please open the PDF file using your unique pass code to view your results. Your unique password will be your first name with the first letter capitalized."

What's the point of password protecting a file with a password consisting of my first name with the first letter capitalized when you start the message "Dear LAURIE".

I'm pretty sure that's a HIPAA violation, I'll have to give them a call next week.
Folks, if you're going to send something needing a password, DON'T include the password in the same message.

Send a message to learn more

Bye-bye Kaspersky

Kaspersky is Kaput If you’re using Kaspersky anti-virus, you might have noticed it’s not there anymore, and now you see something called UltraAV on your system. Since Kaspersky is no longer allowed to be sold or updated in the U.S. (because they are a Russian company), they’ve closed their U.S. offices which is ...

Artificial Intelligence has come to the scams...

AI Used on an Familiar Scam Many of you have probably received the poorly worded, bad English email the last few years saying they’ve been recording your indecent behavior in front of your we**am and unless you pay them using Bitcoin they will release the video to your family to bring shame to your family name 😂. Enter ar...

I've notice the last couple of days several clients of mine have contracted a virus on their PC. It fakes an invitation to enter you Google(Gmail) login information by clicking a link that takes you to a fake page that looks like a Google page. If you even THINK you might have been tricked into giving the bad guys your Google login information, go change it immediately.
Windows Defender (the little white or blue icon in your task tray in the lower right corner) will detect the virus, so you can click on that icon and manually run a scan just to be sure. IF it says you have a virus you should probably call me (or remove it yourself if you know how).
As always, BE CAREFUL what you click on.

HACKED - AGAIN, FREEZE Your Credit!
Hey y'all, TransUnion and Experian have both been hacked. The hacking group is holding the data from both companies hostage unless each company pays them $30 million - each. If they companies don't pay, they will release the data online. And just to show how careless these companies can be with our personal information, TransUnion was hacked just 20 months ago by the same group!
So, it would be a good idea to log onto the major credit agencies, set up an account (it's free) if you don't have one and FREEZE you credit account (don't LOCK unless you want to pay for it - freeze should protect you just fine and is free).
It's pretty easy with Equifax and TransUnion, Experian makes it hard to find because they want you to PAY for the service that locks your credit, but if you dig enough you can find it. If you need to apply for credit for any reason, all you have to do is unfreeze your credit for a short time, then freeze it again.
Here are links to the three agencies...
Experian: https://www.experian.com/
Equifax: https://www.equifax.com/
TransUnion: https://www.transunion.com/

This is why you should call me first...

Save Your Money! Today I received an email from a business client saying they have a new computer arriving this week but it comes with Windows 11 and could I move it to Windows 10 when it arrives. Immediately I knew they ordered the wrong computer. They ordered a consumer lines desktop from Dell rather than a busine...

I hope y'all will be careful...

‘Tis the Season to Get Scammed You might be getting some new technology for Christmas, just remember that if you need help or support with it, don’t just Google a company and click on the first link you see. Be sure you’re going to the company’s website and not someone who claims to be an authorized company. Lots of scammer...