Windows 7 loses support January 2020 - Public Wifi Dangers & How To Get Protected - Is Alexa rig
Windows 7 loses Microsoft support in January 2020. Find out how much longer Windows 7 is safe to run on your PC and what you need to do.
Windows 7 was one of Microsoft’s best-loved computing operating systems and most of us are still using it.
According to NetMarketShare’s September 2018 data, 40.88% are still using Windows 7 – compared to the 37.44% who have moved on to the latest operating system, Windows 10.
But like all operating systems before it, Windows 7 will eventually reach the end of its life cycle, making an upgrade an absolutely essential task for the safety of your PC.
When does support for Windows 7 end?
Microsoft ended mainstream support for Windows 7 on January 13, 2015, but extended support won’t end until January 14, 2020.
Is Windows 7 still safe to use?
Once an operating system ends extended support, it's very unsafe to use. It means that Microsoft will no longer continue to patch any security threats. Bottom line, without support, you will be more susceptible to the dangers of the internet. What should I do to stay safe? It's time for an upgrade. Windows 10 will continue to have support until October 14, 2025. We suggest you upgrade to Windows 10. Now many of you may be reading this and think "When Windows 10 came out we were told not to upgrade, that it would cause problems." Good news is we are now on Windows 10.4 and they've fixed the upgrade issues. You're good to upgrade now, but always backup before making major changes like this. A Windows 10 upgrade will run you about $200 for the software from the Microsoft Store. Over here at User Friendly we have a trick to get you a free 100% legitimate Windows 10 copy. Microsoft has left some servers open for free upgrades that are tricky to find, but if you know where to look, you can use them. We know where to look and we can upgrade most computers in approximately 1-2 hours ($90-$150), while saving you approximately $200 on software costs. Call today if you'd like our help! (949) 485-1767 or schedule by CLICKING HERE. We don't know how long these servers will remain open, so don't wait too long!
Are you connecting to public Wifi?
The dangers of Public Wifi and how you can secure your connection.
More and more today, we connect to public Wifi. Starbucks, hotels, library's, airports, you name it! As technology advances, the weakness will too. Many people are now being invaded by hackers while connecting to open Wifi. Picture this... You go to Starbucks with your laptop and connect to their Wifi to do a little work. While you're working, browsing web pages and what not... Little did you know, but one of the other patrons of Starbucks is there with their laptop in order to scan and infiltrate other devices on the network. When you're on a Wifi network, your device can often be seen and accessed by other devices on the network. Within a matter of seconds, this hacker now has access to your computer to do what they wish. Plant viruses, steal personal information, even use your computer for their own needs. The worst part is this can all happen without your knowledge, and by the time you notice, it's usually too late. What should I do to stay safe? You really have 2 options. One is the obvious, don't connect to public Wifi... it's dangerous! The other option is to setup a software VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that can cost you as little as $3 a month. It will spoof your IP address, making it impossible to be seen on public Wifi. It will literally look like you're in another state or country, making it impossible for the hacker to infiltrate your device. They won't even see your device. We can recommend the best service for you and assist in setup if needed. Schedule us today at (949) 485-1767 or by CLICKING HERE.
Smart homes... Is Alexa right for you?
Alexa, Siri, and Google seem to have invaded our lives, for good and bad. I myself use Alexa. I've found both of these make my day-to-day life easier and more enjoyable! I can have her add items in a flash to my shopping or grocery list. Tune into my favorite radio stations with a simple request. Control my lighting, thermostat, and security cameras with ease. More and more devices integrate with Alexa everyday. There's almost no end to the things Alexa can do. And soon enough we will all have Alexa robots in out homes, doing dishes, cleaning, laundry... Anything you don't like doing can and will be done by robots in the near future. I actually have purchased my 1st robot personal assistant Vector. He's the funniest, cutest technology I've seen in a long time. He doesn't do my dishes or laundry though! CLICK HERE for info on Vector. If you're interested in automating your home on a budget, Alexa and the smart devices that integrate through the Amazon Echo devices are the way to go! I've got a smart home setup at my house. I've seen high pricing on other smart homes. People pay $50,000 and up on some of the systems I've come across. You could, however, spend even much less than that. My own home system cost about $5,000 and I'm fully stocked! Another thing to note. Smart home devices such as Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Homepod record when you say the trigger word. Google Home has been reported to record everything in the room even if the trigger word is not used. All 3 companies claim it's for marketing. To prevent issues, I make sure never to speak any personal information to Alexa such as "Alexa, take note of my social security number." Just in case, better safe than sorry. Please feel free to call us to discuss any smart home needs. User Friendly would love to help with any or all of your technological needs.
