Refresh Your PC with Device Driver Update

December 30, 2016 by Andy Thompson

As stated in my recently updated book – “5 Tips for a Fast PC”, I am often the “go-to” guy for solving computer problems amongst my families and friends. One of our primary intentions in writing the book was to inform ordinary PC users how to master the basics of computer optimization and maintenance. I have to admit that I purposely left one specific trick out of the book – updating Windows device drivers – for a reason. This is because updating device drivers can be tricky if you don’t have the proper software tool. Although, we want to emphasize here that keeping your PC’s device drivers updated will enhance your PC’s stability and performance.

Today, I am going to explain what device drivers are, why you should update your PC’s device drivers, and how to do it safely and effectively.

What device drivers are

Your Windows PC is made of the following “building blocks”: the hardware, the Operating System (also known as Windows OS), and application software. But have you ever wondered how your OS and application software interact with hardware?

This is where a device driver comes into play. A device driver, commonly known as a driver, is a computer program that controls or drives a particular set of hardware. It serves as an interface between the OS and the hardware device. For instance, your mouse is controlled by a mouse device driver and your keyboard is controlled by a keyboard driver. And this pretty much applies to any hardware that’s in, or attached to, your PC. This includes the monitor, hard drive, CPU, web camera, printer, scanner, speaker, and more.

When should you update drivers

As we have pointed out, drivers are an essential component of the Windows OS as they ensure your PC runs smoothly. Similarly to the Windows OS and software programs, drivers can become outdated or even obsolete. There are three primary reasons that can cause your drivers to become outdated or even damaged.

Windows update: when you perform a major Windows update, like upgrading to Windows 10, some of your existing (“legacy”) hardware devices may not be properly detected by the new OS.
Hardware update: when you add new hardware, such as a mouse, keyboard, web cam, or printer, your Windows OS may not necessarily carry the latest driver for that specific piece of hardware.
Malware attack or invalid operations: when your PC has been attacked by malware or a third-party software that performs invalid operations, it can damage device drivers and cause issues beyond what is strictly security-related.

If your PC experiences one of the following symptoms commonly related to drivers, you definitely need to consider checking the status of your device drivers:

Your PC or software freezes or crashes frequently or even occasionally, but obviously enough to cause you concern.
Your hardware simply stops working or malfunctions. For instance, your speakers produce no sound or your printer doesn’t work.
Your PC or laptop generates unusual noise or heat, which can indicate issues originating with how hardware is being used.
You encounter general PC performance issues that can’t be addressed with the steps suggested in the “5 Tips for a Fast PC”.

Based on my experience, a majority of the mysterious PC performance or stability issues can be explained and addressed by performing a device driver check.

How to update device drivers

There are two ways to update devices drivers: manually and automatically.

You can manually update device drivers by accessing the Control Panel, opening the Device Manager, right-mouse click a specific hardware, and select Update Driver Software. You then have the option of letting Windows find the most updated driver for you, or installing the latest driver software that you download from the hardware manufacture’s website.

Although the manual process works in theory, it depends on two important factors. Number one, you know which hardware requires a driver update, and secondly, you trust Microsoft has the latest and best driver for you to download. Nevertheless, we found the second condition to be particularly unreliable for those who already perform Windows update on a regular basis. If Microsoft has the right device drivers for a piece of hardware you suspect is causing issues, then it stands to reason you would have automatically received a Windows update already.

Using device update software

Some advanced users are able to manually update drivers by searching the Internet for the correct version of drivers. However, we suggest using reliable driver update software to perform this task safely and effectively. The advantages of using a professional driver update program are:

It’s automated: a driver update application scans all hardware on your PC and identifies associated drivers that are updated or damaged.
It’s efficient: an effective and accredited driver application would take advantage of cloud-based resources and thereby have access to a comprehensive collection of device drivers for almost any hardware devices, for any PC brand.
It’s safe: a reputable device driver software would be digitally signed and approved by Microsoft to operate on your PC and thus be free from any security concern or threat.

Our test and recommendation

Building an effective driver update software program and maintaining a comprehensive driver database requires very specific knowledge and experience. We here at CompuClever evaluated three top driver software programs available on the market based on the criteria of coverage, effectiveness, and ease-of-use. These are the top three:

Of these three, our final recommendation is Driver Finder for the following three reasons:

Driver Finder offers a massive coverage of 400,000+ hardware devices from over 5,000 different companies.
Diver Finder is digitally signed by Norton and is Microsoft Windows logo certified.
Driver Finder supports Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, making it easy for any PC users.

Click here to learn more about Driver Finder, we recommend you download a free scan to conduct a quick and complete assessment of your PC’s device drivers.

We hope you have better understanding about device drivers and how to update them. Let us know if you have any questions about how to keep your PC clean, optimized, and updated.

How to Choose a Chromebook

December 14, 2016 by Charles Edward

Chromebooks are gaining in popularity. Cheap, lightweight, and very portable, Chromebooks may seem like the perfect solution for your computer needs. But how much can you actually get done on a Chromebook? And how can you choose a Chromebook that’s right for you?

You may have heard of Chromebooks over the past few months. Cheap and lightweight, and basically a successor to the netbook of the late 2000’s, Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes and rely on the Chrome operating system (aka “Chrome OS”) instead of Microsoft Windows.

We’d like to take a look at Chromebooks, and help you decide if they are the right fit for your computer needs.

Chromebooks: Embraced By Schools

First introduced in 2011, Chromebooks have been popular in the cash-strapped education system. Unlike with Windows computers, schools don’t need to purchase a software license for Chromebooks.

Instead, Chrome OS comes pre-installed, for free. This presents a big cash savings for school administrators.

In some cases Google will subsidize the cost of providing school districts with Chromebooks–another way for educators to save money. Finally, Google itself manages patches and updates, so school districts can save big on IT costs.

What is a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are lightweight laptops released by many of the big computer makers, such as Dell, Acer, Samsung and Asus. They are typically powered by a low-power CPU and run off of a solid-state drive, or SSD–most laptops and Windows computers rely on a hard-disk drive.

Having an SSD means Chromebooks typically take just a second or two to start up. It also means that Chromebooks are completely quiet. There is no sound of a spinning disk like you’ll find in most laptops.

And, since Chromebook processors don’t need a lot of power, they don’t get hot; there is no fan noise with a Chromebook.

However, while being powered by a weaker CPU may prolong battery life, Chromebooks may also sometimes struggle with playing a YouTube video.

Total Reliance on Google and Cloud Storage

Chrome OS itself is completely integrated with Google–everything is done using a Chrome browser. The interface resembles a typical Windows desktop, is very easy to understand, and can be used by almost anyone.

You login to your Chromebook using a Google account, and all of your software is provided by Google. For email, there is Gmail. For basic productivity, such as word processing and making spreadsheets, there is Google Docs.

While it’s possible to use Google Docs offline, 99% of the time you’ll need an Internet connection to use a Chromebook. Everything, including your photos and your documents are stored online, in the cloud.

If you want to watch a movie or listen to music using your Chromebook, you can connect with YouTube or Google Play, Google’s version of iTunes.

Everything is online.

How to Choose a Chromebook: Look for RAM

Since everything is stored online, Chromebook SSDs are just big enough to host the operating system–a typical Chromebook SSD is about 16GB, the same size as a USB thumbnail drive.

Look for RAM

So, there’s little point searching for a Chromebook with a bigger SSD. Instead, RAM is what distinguishes Chromebooks. Chromebooks typically come with 2GB of RAM, and this is just enough to run a couple of browser windows.

If you want to play an HD YouTube video, your Chromebook’s performance may slow to a crawl.

Instead, seek out Chromebooks with at least 4GB of RAM; this is more than enough RAM to provide an enjoyable computing experience on Chrome OS.

Look for Longer Battery Life

Cheaper Chromebooks typically have poorer battery performance, so it’s worth it to seek out a machine with a longer battery life. Most mid-range Chromebooks will last about 8 hours on a single charge, but a measly 6 hours is also not uncommon.

Review sites will generally provide information about battery life. You can also check out how many cells the onboard lithium battery has (the more battery cells, the better).

Is a Chromebook Touchscreen Worth It?

Some Chromebooks such as the well-regarded Asus Flip come equipped with a touchscreen. While a touchscreen may seem like a cool feature that converts a Chromebook into a tablet, it adds yet one more expense to what is supposed to be a cheap machine. And touchscreens may impact the Chromebook’s already modest performance.

What Chromebooks Can’t Do

Chromebooks, while inexpensive and useful have three big drawbacks:

1) No Privacy

Since everything is stored in the cloud, you have little to no online privacy. Google can basically examine everything you do, and everything you save.

2) No Local Storage

Unless you make backups on USB drives, there is also no way to store photos, movies or documents. You will always have to trust that Google will continue to provide access to everything.

3) No Truly Powerful Software Programs

While the free software offered by Google through Chrome OS is pretty good, there are no truly powerful programs. Chrome OS cannot handle more sophisticated photo and video editing, for example.

While Google Sheets is a good way to organize spreadsheets, it is nowhere near as powerful as Microsoft Excel.

So, What Are Chromebooks Good For?

Unless you’re a student in a public school, Chromebooks make a good “backup computer” to take with you on trips. They are small and light, and don’t use much power.

For example, if you go on vacation once or twice a year and want to use webmail and access the Internet for news, a Chromebook is a good choice to slip into your carry-on.

If you’re looking for a primary computer where you have more control over your important documents and images, you may want to stick with Windows instead.

While new Chromebooks are released every few months, at the moment TechRadar has a good guide to the best 7 Chromebooks on the market.

Install Chrome OS On an Old Computer?

If you’d like to experiment with Chrome OS before purchasing a computer, here are a couple of project you can try:

Install Chrome OS on an Old Windows Laptop

Almost any old laptop gathering dust can be converted into a Chromebook. In theory, converting a Windows PC into a Chromebook is supposed to be simple, but the process of converting a Windows laptop to Chrome OS may require understanding how to access BIOS.

Run Chrome OS From a USB Key

If you’re interested in a real challenge, you can also try running Chrome OS off of a USB key. The advantage of running Chrome OS on your computer off a USB key is that the data on your computer will be preserved, and not erased (you don’t need to reformat the hard drive). Once again, this is a bit of a puzzle more suited to people who enjoy frittering hours away fiddling with computers.

How Antivirus Protects Your Computer From Hackers

November 7, 2016 by Charles Edward

A few weeks ago a massive hack shut down much of the Internet. It’s widely believed the hack was carried out through internet devices—a good reminder to us all about taking care of our own security online.

On Friday, October 21st, a lot of people were having a hard time accessing the Internet. First, Twitter went down. Then PayPal no longer worked. Later on cloud storage sites such as Dropbox went offline. For most of the day tens of millions of people could not access some of the most important and most useful websites on the Internet. Reddit, CNN and Netflix were all affected.

Was it a Russian hack? Could it be the Chinese? Nobody could say for sure. The only thing that was certain was that massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack had occurred. The target of the attack was DNS service provider Dyn.

What is a DNS provider?

As as DNS provider and as a company, Dyn’s job is to convert human-readable website names such as www.facebook.com into computer-readable numerical IP addresses (for example, 192.168.0.1)—humans prefer to use easy-to-remember-addresses such as www.facebook.com rather than the long, insanely complicated numerical strings favored by our machine servants.

Websites like Twitter and Dropbox rely on Dyn to help resolve and translate the various kinds of links each company uses as part of their product. For example, you post a link to your Twitter account, Dyn will make sure that whoever clicks on it will get sent to the right website. Dyn does this by having a massive database of domain names it can “point” web browsers to. If Dyn goes offline, Twitter, Dropbox and other web services can no longer “point” people about where to go.

The October 21 hack forced Dyn’s domain name servers to go offline so nobody could use them. This pushed Twitter, Dropbox and other websites offline. It was alarming for any company who relies on Dropbox to store and access important files. The outage was also alarming to journalists, who rely on Twitter to share information and generally gossip with their colleagues.

The fact that Twitter went offline, then, ensured the DDoS attack would receive immediate and comprehensive coverage.

Were the Russians behind the October 21st hack?

But nobody knew exactly what happened. Thanks to the supposed role Russia has played in providing Wikileaks with hacked Hillary Clinton emails, there were rumors that Vladmir Putin was behind the massive hack.

But the real story was much weirder.

For one thing, the hack was the largest one in history.

It turned out the October 21st hack was not the work of Russia. Instead, it was largely orchestrated by amateurs. They used a weapon called the Mirai botnet as the ‘primary source of malicious attack.’

Unlike other botnets, which are typically made up of computers, the Mirai botnet is largely made up of so-called “internet of things” (IoT) devices such as digital cameras and DVR players. Dyn estimated that the attack had involved “100,000 malicious endpoints.”

Internet-connected devices made the hack inevitable

Basically, any device with an internet connection could initiate an attack against Dyn. All the attacker had to do was instruct an unsecured, internet-connected device to make a request to Dyn. The sheer volume of requests, made by millions of devices located around the world, from web cams to DVR players to, theoretically, at least, toasters, overwhelmed Dyn’s DNS servers, shutting them down.

There’s a theory that the massive attack on Octover 21st was targeted at the PlayStation Network and that Dyn was hit because it provides DNS services to PSN.

It could have been a few kids who brought down the Internet for a day in October.

Why every computer user should care about this attack

What lesson does this even have for the average computer user?

There are more ways to get hacked than ever before

In the case of the October 21st hack, the attackers may have been searching for “open” Internet-connected devices they could use to perform an attack. It could be your internet-connected toaster, or it could more likely be your computer.

2) You have bigger things than Internet-connected devices to worry about

Most of us do not own an Internet-connected toaster or even a “connected home” you can monitor remotely over the Internet.

But we all have computers, and people are getting infected by malware every day. Your computer is fundamentally insecure unless you do something about it.

Luckily an antivirus program can provide powerful protection against this.

How antivirus keeps you safe

Antivirus software has long been recognized as a way to prevent your computer from being infected by viruses, malware, trojans and other harmful programs. But, by “locking down” specific ports and other access gateways, antivirus programs can prevent computer from being hijacked by a hacker.

The intuitive technology also guards online privacy and digital identity, including banking and credit card details, as well as email passwords and social media information.

How to avoid comprising on security

Having received a rating of “SOLID” from the prestigious VB100 Antivirus testing lab and awarded Windows 10 logo certification by Microsoft, CompuClever Antivirus PLUS is accurate, stable and responsive.

As an antivirus program, it provides a range of powerful PC optimization tools and other software alongside its anti-malware offering, including a browser plug-in wallet system. You get security without having to compromise on computer performance.

It’s easy to use

CompuClever Antivirus PLUS is designed to be easy to install and use right away. There are no settings to configure, so your computer is protected automatically, at the touch of a button.

Shield your online privacy and personal identity

Antivirus PLUS allows you to safeguard your online banking, shopping, email and social media login information, making it impossible for malware, trojans or Internet hackers to get it off your computer.

Low impact on performance

Compuclever Antivirus PLUS is designed to deliver the best performance for your PC. Many antivirus programs are “resource hogs”, slowing everything down. You typically can’t watch movies or use other programs.

However, Compuclever Antivirus PLUS is specially designed to work quietly in the background, while you enjoy using your computer.

This it’s built on the most advanced antivirus technology available today. Exceptional in its ease of use, it allows you to handle security with a single click. The intuitive technology also guards your online privacy and digital identity.

This means you would never have to worry about your computer being taken over by hackers.

Learn more about CompuClever Antivirus PLUS.

What Is Bluetooth, and Does It Cause Cancer?

October 7, 2016 by Charles Edward

Bluetooth is a safe, useful technology, and there are many affordable options that allow audiophiles to go “cord-free.”

Bluetooth is the next big thing in consumer technology. At least, that’s what companies like Apple are betting on.

In September Apple unveiled the iPhone 7. While some are saying the new iPhone features revolutionary technology under the hood, Apple got the most press for deciding to kill the headphone jack.

Instead, if you want to listen to anything on an iPhone 7 you’ll have to use wired (and very expensive) earphones that plug into the iPhone 7’s Lightning power port. You can also purchase Apple’s sophisticated Bluetooth earphones—aka “AirPods“, and a supercomputer in their own right.

Thanks to Apple’s iPhone 7 launch, then, Bluetooth has come back into style. But what is Bluetooth? And it is any good for listening to music?

Bluetooth—Simple to Set Up

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that transmits and exchanges data over very short distances. For example, while your WiFi router reaches to pretty much every part of your home, Bluetooth transmits up to twenty feet or so.

Bluetooth’s main advantage over WiFi technology is that is extremely simple to set up—typically all it takes is the press of a button in an app. WiFi, on the other hand, can be tricky and time-consuming to configure.

Bluetooth also requires far less power to operate than WiFi. This makes Bluetooth a great technology for devices such as Apple’s new ultra-expensive wireless headphones.

How Is Bluetooth Used?

Popular “sound bar” speakers use Bluetooth technology. Pair a sound bar with your smartphone and listen to music on the patio, out at the beach, or just around the house.

As well, many higher-end cars come equipped with a Bluetooth transmitter that pairs your phone with the car’s audio system. This allows hands-free driving.

However, Bluetooth is most typically used with wireless headphones, as well as wireless headsets paired with smartphones.

Easy to pair with your smartphone, these wireless gadgets have no wires that can get tangled, or that fray and wear out.

Bluetooth headphones also don’t use much power, so, all in all, they’re pretty convenient.

Doesn’t Bluetooth Cause Cancer?

Ever since World War II, people have been worried about the health effects of wireless technologies, and Bluetooth is no different. However the power output of a Bluetooth device is much lower than even a cellphone.

The IEEE—the organization representing engineers and other scientific experts around the world—says the biggest danger from Bluetooth comes from being distracted while you perform day-to-day tasks. The biggest risk of Bluetooth, according to the IEEE, is walking into a pole, or perhaps crashing your car if you aren’t paying attention.

Bluetooth devices don’t emit a lot of power, says the IEEE, so there are no health risks, including cancer, when using the technology.

What to Look For In Bluetooth Wireless Headphones and Earphones

While the iPhone 7’s wireless AirPods are going to cost a ton of money, there are more affordable, high-quality Bluetooth earphones on the market already.

Good acoustic reproduction

Bluetooth earphones and headsets, even if they’re not made by Apple, can be pretty expensive. It’s tempting to look for cheaper headphones. The problem with this strategy? Poor audio quality. So, the first consideration (after your budget) is good audio quality.

Long battery life

While Bluetooth doesn’t use a lot of technology, not every headphone set gets good battery life. It’s a question of engineering. So look for Bluetooth earphones that have at least 5 hours of battery life. This should get you through the day.

Multi-functional and light

There are some Bluetooth rigs that are just gigantic, so be on the lookout for more up-to-date designs that fit lightly into your ear.

Make sure that your headphones are multifunctional as well. All headphones should include a mic, so you can make telephone calls, and a simple switch that allows you to pause audio.

Noise isolation

It’s possible to get headphones with “noise isolation” without having to pay the hefty price of noise-cancellation. While noise cancellation uses expensive technology, “noise isolation” does not make use of any power or electronics to block out surrounding noise. Rather, it employs the choice of optimum construction materials and an ergonomic design to block out as much noise as possible from entering the ear canal. Think of it as sound-proofing for your ears.

Sweat proof

If you go to the gym with your headphones, the sweat from your workout will probably destroy them pretty quickly… unless you purchase headphones that have been designed to deal with sweat and other ambient moisture.

Reasonably priced

While Bluetooth earphones can be pretty pricey, sometimes the big price tag is just a marketing gimmick: “if the headphones are expensive, it means they’re really good, right?”

However, it’s possible to find high-quality Bluetooth earphones for a reasonable price. You don’t have to spend a fortune.

Editor’s Pick: Bauseus Bluetooth Wireless Headphones

So, are there any wireless Bluetooth headphones that meet all of the above criteria? We think so—let’s take a look at Bauseus Bluetooth wireless headphones, featured on CompuCleverGear.com

What we like about Baseus Bluetooth wireless earphones:

Baseus Bluetooth wireless earphones deliver high quality sound in a compact form while looking simple and elegant
They have a long 5-hour battery life while playing audio
There are handy buttons to control volume, accept calls, search for music and more
The headphones are also designed and manufactured with a water-resistant rating of IPX-4 to be sweat-proof and rain-proof
Best of all, the earphones are completely cordless

Baseus Bluetooth wireless earphones, along with all other earphones, are currently on sale at CompuCleverGear.com.

In Conclusion...

Thanks to the ultra-premium (and ultra-expensive) Apple AirPods, Bluetooth technology looks like it's here to stay. Bluetooth is a safe, useful technology, and there are many affordable options that allow audiophiles to go "cord-free."

If you have any questions about Bluetooth, let us know in the comments!

Breaking News – Yahoo Admits Breach of 500 Million Accounts

September 22, 2016 by Andy Thompson

My heart dropped when I was alerted by CNN that Yahoo admitted today that 500 million user accounts have been compromised. As a seasoned IT professional who has been involved with the security industry for the past decade, this is probably THE worse security breach that’s occurred since the inception of the Internet.

Here are the key facts that you should be aware of regarding this breach:

In August 2016, a person codenamed “Peace” attempted to sell what he claimed to be 200 million Yahoo user information.
Back then, Yahoo only said they were investigating the legitimacy of the claim.
On Sept. 22^nd2016, Yahoo issued a statement acknowledging the legitimacy of the claim. Furthermore, Yahoo confirmed the scale of the breach is actually 500 million accounts.
Yahoo also confirmed that the information stolen contains name, username, lightly encrypted passwords, date of birth, and for some accounts, security questions and answers.

Nevertheless, till this moment, Yahoo hasn’t issued a notice to all of its users advising them to reset their passwords.

Here at CompuClever, we felt it is necessary to inform you about this event because there is a high possibility that either you or someone you know might be impacted by this incident.

Yahoo is currently working with law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to deal with this breach. Nevertheless, we recommend you immediately take the following measures to protect your online security and personal privacy:

Immediately change your Yahoo email password.
If you happen to be using the same combination of username and password across multiple (non-Yahoo) online accounts, change all of the passwords. Make sure that you use a different password for every account.
Ensure you have a legit and reputable antivirus protection with active subscription to protect your PC from any forms of cyberattack.