Backup

What is “The Cloud”?

February 15, 2017 by Bruce Corson

You’ve heard it before, that phrase, “the cloud.” People throw it around as a corporate buzzword, promote it as a selling point, and gild it like some sort of holy grail of computing, but what exactly is it? The answer isn’t always clear, but let’s go over some of the basic tenets to help better define “the cloud.”

In general terms, the cloud is the Internet. All that cyberspace between your coffee shop wifi and the servers that power Facebook, from Amazon to Bing to Pinterest, it’s all of those and the web of connections that ties them together. More importantly, it’s the infrastructure, and the idea behind it, that forms this mysterious cloud.

Accessible Anywhere

One of the main ideas behind the cloud is that everything is “out there” — stored on a server, or in all likelihood, multiple servers, on the Internet, rather than on the computer sitting on your lap. There’s little or no software to install, and in fact, most of the time you simply use the browser (i.e., Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) already on your device to access the cloud. That means since it’s “out there,” it’s accessible from nearly anywhere: the public computers at the library, your friend’s notebook PC, your iPad, your Android phone — you get the idea.

No, we’re not just talking your files and photos, though that’s a large part of it. Now, entire applications run in the cloud. The technical name is “software as a service,” and it runs right in the browser, too. Google Drive is a prime example — when you normally would have used Microsoft Word or Excel on your desktop computer, you can now use Google Docs for word processing, and Google Sheets for spreadsheets and there’s nothing to show for it on your hard drive. It exists in the cloud. Of course, you can download the files, if you so choose, but, typically, there’s no toting around a floppy disk or USB thumb drive; you simply log in to the cloud from wherever you may be.

Works Everywhere

In the very near past, your choice of operating system could limit which software you installed on your machine. Now, it’s all taken care of for you: if you have a browser, you have the ability to run the software. Granted, the experience may not always be the best, say, on your phone’s smaller screen, but the infrastructure and the idea are still there.

No Upgrade Treadmill

Remember the time you bought that accounting software at your local computer store, then turned around the next week and a shiny new version had just been released? That’s right, you bought version 10 when version 11 was just around the corner. Now you have to pony up some more cash — maybe the full retail price, maybe just an upgrade fee — if you want the latest features. With the cloud, that’s a thing of the past. Sure, there are regular updates and improvements, but they simply replace what was already there in the cloud. The catch is, unlike the one-time software license fees of old, you’re typically now subscribing to that software as a service with a monthly or annual fee, so it’s a bit of give and take.

Built in Backups

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of all this is if your computer crashes or your hard drive gets fried in a lightning storm, your files are safe out there in the cloud. Typically, data are distributed across multiple servers, perhaps multiple locations, and maybe even in multiple countries across the globe (which is also something to think about in terms of legal ramifications), so it would likely take quite the catastrophic event to wipe out your stuff.

So, now you don’t have to wonder what exactly you’re getting yourself into when you dabble in the cloud. There’s no real mystery involved: it’s simply businesses providing you services remotely from servers connected to the Internet.

Luckily, we at Patient Computer Help are here to help you navigate the cloud, should you have any questions.

What are SSD (Solid State Drives)? Why are they better?

February 1, 2017 by Bruce Corson

Your computer isn’t one of them.

Have you ever sat down at your computer and been forced to wait what feels like ages for it to get from starting up to actually letting you see your desktop? Ever clicked on a program and gotten annoyed by how long it takes to actually start and let you get to work, or tried to play a game that leaves you staring at a loading screen half the time? If you’ve been annoyed by any of those things, it may be time to think about upgrading to a Solid State Drive.

What is an SSD?

A relatively new addition to the personal computer scene, the Solid State Drive (or SSD, for short) is a tremendous improvement on the hard drives that PCs have been using since the 1980s. The standard, bulky hard drive is actually a magnetic platter that spins around when it’s being read or written to, kind of like a high-capacity CD inside a metal shell. It gets the job done, but its constant movement makes it far from silent, and even worse, it’s prone to failure as parts inside it start to break down due to wear and tear. One day, you might boot up your old computer only to find the hard drive has failed, and if it does, recovering the data may be time consuming and expensive, if it’s even possible. (We can help, if needed, with data recovery.)

Why are they better?

Upgrading to an SSD will take care of all of these problems right out of the box. Instead of using a metal disc to store its data, an SSD is made up of interconnected computer chips that store data in a way that is easily accessible to the rest of your computer. No moving parts. This results in a silent drive that won’t break down nearly so easily as a platter drive, but that’s not all. In addition to being physically sound, an SSD’s speed is out of this world. We’re talking Ford Pinto vs a Maserati. It’s a real difference.

When a mechanical platter hard drive is told to load something, it has to find it first. The disc has to spin, the reader arm has to move into place before it can do anything. Disc fragmentation occurs when large files have to be broken up into smaller pieces and stored in multiple places on the drive, making things even slower. Meanwhile, an SSD can instantly load any data on it at any time, and it automatically moves data around to keep every file intact. A switch from a hard drive to an SSD will have you seeing your operating system starting within seconds, programs that appear as soon as you click on them, and game load times that are over in a snap.

Even if you don’t want to throw out your old drive, there are still reasons to get an SSD. Most desktop computers are built to easily handle having multiple storage devices installed inside, you won’t have to wipe out your files and start over from scratch at all. By simply moving your files over and reinstalling programs that you want to go faster on your new drive, they will gain the speed boost that comes from using an SSD without the hassle of needing to backup and restore a thing, all while freeing up extra space on your old drive for even more storage.

Or, in a laptop, we can “clone” (make an exact duplicate) the existing drive onto an SSD and put that in the mechanical drive’s place. It’ll be like a new computer.

If you’re thinking about buying a new PC or upgrading your old one with an SSD, we here at Patient Computer Help are here to provide you with all the help you need. We will provide expert assistance with picking out the right drive for your needs and safely installing your new hardware to get you back out there and working faster than ever.

If you have any questions regarding Solid State Drives, contact Patient Computer Help.

Backup Strategies to Prevent Ransomware From Blackmailing You

September 28, 2016 by Bruce Corson

The internet is a valuable tool that you can use to stay in touch with friends, conduct research and more. As more people start using the internet than ever before, they are becoming more dependent on it, and criminals see this trend as an advantage that they can use against you. By the time you notice that your computer has been infected with ransomware, it’s too late to do anything. From the moment it gets installed, ransomware will start encrypting the files on your hard drive.

Your family photos, tax records and important projects will be locked. The encryption algorithm is so strong that the only way to access your files is to submit to the hackers’ demands, and they will likely ask for a significant sum of money. If you are not yet infected, then taking action to keep yourself and your data safe from harm is vital.

Backup Your Data

When you want to protect yourself from ransomware, backing up your important files is a good place to start. You can use an external drive to store the backup. However, with most ransomware, your external drive, if connected, will also get infected.

Thus, we recommend as a minimum to have TWO backups. One is the backup as discussed above, the second is an additional hard drive that is alternated with the first. In this way, if the computer and the backup are infected, you always have the second one to fall back on. We typically recommend alternating the backup drive every day or every week. (For further safety in the case of disasters, such as a fire or electrical strike, taking one drive home or to the office will ensure that you will always have a fairly recent backup of your files.)

For those not wanting to worry about plugging and un-plugging drives, a third option is to go with an online backup, such as from Carbonite or Gillware, both of which we re-sell. With online backups, while they are not immune from infection, if you contact us as soon as you discover the infection, we can restore files from the day before the infection started. This presupposes that you notify us less than thirty days after infection, as the typical plans call for retention of data for only that period.

A good belt-and-suspenders approach uses both the external drives and the online options. The online option is safest and most convenient. However, a full restore of your data via an online provider can take some time. Physical external drives are quicker.

You should back up your important files each time you make changes or updates to them if you don’t want anything to get lost or permanently destroyed. If you get infected with ransomware after backing up your files, you won’t need to worry because they will still be safe from harm. If you store anything valuable on your computer, backing up your files is always worth the effort. What’s valuable? Your Quickbooks? Your children’s pictures? Letters you’ve written? Tax filings? You decide…help us help you save it all.

Run Virus Protection

Not having an anti-virus program on your computer is risky, and you will have no way to defend against malicious programs that were designed to steal your information and harm your computer. Some people install and a run program that offers protection from harmful software, but they don’t keep it updated, rendering it useless.

An updated anti-virus program will scan for known versions of ransomware, and it will attempt to contain it before the ransomware takes control of your computer. No program can offer complete protection from ransomware, but it will go a long way in keeping you safe and reducing your risk of an infection.

In addition to a good anti-virus program, we are now recommending inclusion of active malware and anti-exploit technology from Malwarebytes. Exploits are compromises in your internet browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer) that the bad guys take advantage of as soon as they’re discovered. Infections through this route are not technically viruses. This is a common way for ransomware to enter your computer when you visit an infected website (this happened to thousands of visitors to the New York Time’s website last year). Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit(r) can help prevent these attacks.

Lastly, if the worst happens and your data is ransomed, Patient Computer Help maintains a small stash of BitCoin, the currency normally needed to pay off the ransom. Typically getting BitCoin for the first time is a lengthy process, and somewhat daunting as well, so we have this as a service to our customers.

Take Preventative Measures

In addition to running system backups and using anti-virus software, learning the proper steps to take when your computer gets infected can help you minimize the damage. Once the ransomware has done its job on your system, it will start looking for other computers in your network to infect.

So, it’s vital you disconnect your computer at the first sign of trouble when you don’t want the virus to spread to other systems. At this point, the damage to your machine has already been done, but you need to ensure that the other computers were not infected if you don’t want the cycle to repeat. If you have enough experience, you can scan each system to prevent further damage from occurring.

Final Thoughts

Most people are caught off guard when ransomware strikes, and they lose a lot of important data as a result. The time to act is now if you don’t want to end up at the mercy of a hacker who wants to extort money from you. Never overlook the importance of making backups consistently.

For help with Backup Strategies to Prevent Ransomware please contact us today.

10 Reasons Why You Absolutely Need to Back Up Your Data

August 15, 2016 by Bruce Corson

As a computer user you probably hear it all the time: “Back up your data.” Backing up data is the most popular mantra of the tech world and it is not without meaning. Although you’ve heard it again and again here are ten reasons you need to back up your data:

Technology is Unpredictable – Computer crashes, viruses, faulty equipment and hardware failure are all part and parcel of dealing with computers. What’s worse is you never know when they’ll strike. Having a backup of your data ensures that you can get around modern technology’s failings without losing important information.
…So is Human Error – People make mistakes. When it comes to computers a really small mistake can make for a big mess if your data doesn’t have a copy somewhere. One wrong mouse click and your data could be gone without a trace. With backed up data up your sleeve you can move around human error and get right back to where you were on your project.
…Lastly, So is Mother Nature – Although we’ve come a long way since the invention of the wheel Mother Nature has an uncanny way of showing us who is really in charge. Having data backed up on the cloud protects your data in case of a power surge from a lightning strike or any other natural disaster.
Don’t Do Twice as Much Work – Let’s say you’re working on a report. You’re happily typing along and you don’t save while you go. At some point you may accidentally delete the entire file and have to do all that work over again. Backing up lets you work smarter by saving you the hassle of having to start from scratch.
Keep Important Documents and Files Safe – Medical documents should have multiple backups in any case of technological failure. There’s a lot of vital and personal information contained within. Not backing up such important data can spell the difference between life and death for some with lost documents taking that information into the digital black hole.
Get Up and Running Quickly After Disaster – Whether it’s a massive network crash or weather damage having data backups available allows a business to get back on their feet quickly after any kind of disaster. Those that don’t back up risk not being able to open their doors for future business.
Taxes, Taxes, Taxes – It’s generally a good idea to keep track of tax records for a few years after. The same holds true for tax files on the computer. Keeping one or two copies of your tax information backed up protects you if the IRS comes knocking. Instead of not having that very-much-needed document at tax time you can pull it up and settle any disputes that may arise.
Hold Onto Your Happy Memories – If you have hundreds of pictures on your computer of family, vacations or other milestones consider backing them up once or twice. Should your computer fail for any reason you could risk losing your cherished photographs never to see them again.
Computer Theft Can’t Stop You – If you should unfortunately experience computer theft having data backed up ensures that it’s available to you even when your hardware is not. You won’t know how much you miss the data you need until it is suddenly gone. While the police work on your case you can get back to your own work with your backup data.
It’s Easy and Simple to Do – Saving multiple copies if important files is a breeze. With all the tools available to you there is no excuse not to back up your data. You can store data on the cloud, on a portable hard drive or on another network server so it will always be close at hand.

Consider backing up your data with the 3-2-1 rule:

3- Make three copies of anything you care about
2- Use two different formats, such as the cloud AND an external hard drive
1- One off-site backup in case of fire or property damage