CompuClever Blog

Windows 10 – How Many Stars Out of 10?

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We’re certain many PC users have been giving some thought to the tempting offer of upgrading to the new Windows 10 operating system while it is still free.  The question is: what are you getting with the latest – and possibly last – Windows operating system?  In our previous article on Windows 10 we covered an overview / introduction to the new system.  Here we are going to be as systematic as possible in assisting you to decide on whether it is right for you.  We want you to decide how good it is for you based on your present system.  And, we will be doing this using a Tech Support point of view.

Free for Now

So, for some PC users the Windows 10 upgrade is free at this time.  Microsoft is making…

…Windows 10 available as a free upgrade for compatible devices that are running genuine Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1 Update.

The free upgrade is a full version of Windows (not a trial or introductory version) and is available until July 29, 2016. Once you upgrade, you’ll have Windows 10 for free on that device. [1]

If your computer is set to automatically download and install updates, there is likely a 3 GB file already stored on your computer to start the upgrade process. Continue reading...

New Year Beginnings

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Over the past year we presented topics and subject matter related to PC enhancement.  Here, we highlight the best of these with respect to enabling you to take action against unwanted behavior or to improve your PC skills.  It is our hope that you can take a look at this year in review and select any article that will assist you to carry out your PC goals for the upcoming year.  It’s likely that you too have a wish list of items that need attention.

Here is an overview of the articles in three categories:

Privacy / Security:

TuneUp / Clean Up:

Support:

Here are the articles we have chosen from 2015.

A Personal Encounter with Ashley Madison (Oct 03)

About:  We examined both the overall effect of the greatest modern day hack as well as how it came to our attention via someone seeking our support and professional guidance.  This event involved hackers stealing close to 40 million users’ records from Ashley Madison.  Continue reading...

The Art of PC Support… And You

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Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a book we hold in high regard at CompuClever.  We would even go as far as to say that every technical support person should read it.  Not only is it a work of philosophical non-fiction, Robert Pirsig wrote it over a four year period while he was working as a technical writer creating computer manuals.

Pirsig describes the book by what it is not: “it should in no way be associated with that great body of factual information relating to orthodox Zen Buddhist practice. It’s not very factual on motorcycles, either.”  It can be considered an investigation of quality; the metaphysics of quality.  The main character strives to find the answer to what is considered good or “quality”.

We start from this point as we are seeking how to best determine the quality of our PC.  One valuable way to identify PC health is to examine and take full advantage of error messages.  They are technically specific and often incomprehensible to the person using the computer, which makes them rather maddening to appear on your screen.  In many cases people will report a problem and make some mention of an error message, but in most cases, use vague terms. Continue reading...

A Personal Encounter with Ashley Madison

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What are the consequences to piracy that involves millions of users and personal information? We look at both the overall effect of the greatest hack in modern day as well as how it came to our attention through someone seeking our support and professional guidance. We offer here testimony and strategy.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few months, you must have heard about the Ashley Madison account hack. This was where hackers released the entire user database of names, email addresses, billing information, and account details of 38 million users tied to the site. Some described the historical hack episode as an extinction-level event for privacy.

Jeff Yang, a columnist for The Wall Street Journal, asked this simple but stern question in his CNN-syndicated commentary – Ashley Madison hack: privacy becomes extinct. Comparing the incident to the prehistoric planet-wide catastrophe that wiped out the Jurassic World, Yang declared that the data hack of the Toronto-based infidelity website was “an extinction-level event for privacy”.

Attack Aftermath

We were shocked when we first learned that hackers managed to steal close to 40 million users’ records from Ashley Madison, which made claims shortly after the incident that its members remained anonymous. Continue reading...

Windows 10 and Antivirus

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During the launch event of our newly released security product –  CompuClever Antivirus PLUS 2016 back in August, many keen users have contacted us about Windows 10 support. I am very excited to announce, as of today, CompuClever Antivirus PLUS 2016 officially supports Windows 10.

>> Learn more about CompuClever Antivirus PLUS

Now, with Windows 10, Microsoft imposes stringent requirements for antivirus software to ensure they are fully compliant to the enhanced security Application Programming Interface (API) specification for Windows 10, AND that the antivirus program also contributes positively to the user experience especially in terms of impact to PC performance. CompuClever Antivirus PLUS 2016 fully meets these new and heightened standards. The antivirus software has been officially approved by Microsoft as being compatible with Windows 10.

>> CompuClever Antivirus PLUS 2016 Now Supports Windows 10

If you are upgrading to Windows 10, please be aware that Microsoft said: “If your anti-malware subscription is not current (expired), Windows will uninstall your application and enable Windows Defender”. We have expressed our concerns about Windows Defender stating that it is not the best antivirus protection you can get, free or paid, even according to PC Magazine.  We recommend anyone upgrading to Windows 10 should check what antivirus protection is running after making the switch. Continue reading...