570.235.1946

help@nepageeks.com
100 Wilkes-Barre Blvd Suite 415

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Office Hours

by appointment only

Blog Post

04 Jan

Posted at 12:19h in Blog Post
0 Likes

Watch out for DNS Services Invoice Scam Have you recently received an invoice from a company called DNS Services charging you for "DNS backup services?" Be warned, it's not an invoice, it's a solicitation from DNS Services. A client recently sent us a copy of an "invoice" he received from DNS Services -- DNSsvc.com, a DNS backup provider. Take a look at the picture below to see the actual letter they received: [caption id="attachment_1653" align="aligncenter" width="448"] (click the image to see full-size)[/caption] On the surface, it looks like a bill, complete with a mailer to send in with a payment of $65. However, if you look closely (the block of text below the total in the account summary details box), you'll notice that it's actually "a solicitation for the order of goods or services, or both, and not a bill, invoice, or statement of account due. You are under no obligation to make any payments on account of this offer unless you accept this offer.” In other words, it's not a bill; you owe nothing. DNS Services simply wants to charge you so they can provide a service that you are not yet receiving. Think of this more like an advertisement -- albeit, one so cleverly disguised to look like a bill that unsuspected customers might feel compelled to pay it, and that's the problem. Unsuspecting customers have been sending DNS Services money for a service they didn't want or need. What's worse, we've read first-hand reports from other sites warning about DNS Services that a lot of these folks are having trouble getting their money back. But what about a DNS backup service? Is this a service you actually want or need? Probably not, especially when you consider that NEPA Geeks already provide a backup domain-name server for web sites hosted with us. In general, 2 domain name servers are all you normally need. A DNS is, basically, an internet-connected computer that resolves a web address (the WWW.COM) to the computer where your website is hosted. It's very rare that these servers go down. Therefore, a backup service isn't really needed. In short, if you receive an "invoice" from DNS Services, throw it away. You owe them nothing. And would you really want to do business with a company that conducts themselves in this way? Probably not....

02 Jan

Posted at 10:38h in Blog Post
0 Likes

iPhone's Do Not Disturb not turning off? Not getting notifications on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch today? Wondering what the little moon icon on your status bar means? Read on. If you noticed that iPhone's Do Not Disturb won't turn off after January 1st, 2013, you aren't alone. This morning, I noticed that the crescent moon "do not disturb" icon on my iPhone was still being displayed in the status bar at the top of screen despite being scheduled to turn itself off after 7 a.m. I didn't think much of it until I learned that this is a bug that is affecting a lot of iPhone users. For some reason, if you set the feature to turn on December 31, 2012, it doesn't automatically switch itself off after January 1, 2013. Note that the built-in alarm in iOS still functions (as mine did, this morning) but you'll be missing notifications, including those from other alarm apps that you might be using. Fortunately, it's very easy to fix. To fix the Do Not Disturb not turning off bug, just turn it off. Seriously. The Do Not Disturb function will resume functioning as normal, turning back on and off at the scheduled times. Easy, right? Well, just in case, here's how to fix the iPhone's Do Not Disturb bug. Step 1: Tap the "Settings" icon on your iPhone. Step 2: If the Do Not Disturb switch is set to On (as seen in the picture below,) simply tap the switch to turn it off. Notice that the scheduled "switch on" time returns as seen in the next picture. And that's it! We're following along just to see if there are any other problems waiting to pop up since the date change, but this seems to be the one affecting most users. [Update] It seems that, while this does turn off the Do Not Disturb feature, it doesn't completely fix the problem. You can still turn the feature off and on at will, but the automatic scheduler doesn't work. The Do Not Disturb feature can only be switched on and off manually at this time. Apple is aware of the problem but has issued a statement that the bug will not be fixed until January 7. So, it turns out that the fix isn't as simple as we were hoping, but at least it can be routed around until Apple gets around to correcting in come Monday....

19 Dec

Posted at 11:56h in Blog Post
0 Likes

Paying invoices just got easier with Square Wallet NEPA Geeks is proud to announce that we are now capable of accepting payments with Square Wallet. [caption id="attachment_1612" align="alignright" width="240"] Square Wallet payments now accepted at NEPA Geeks[/caption] What is Square Wallet? Square Wallet is an application that runs on your smartphone. It stores all of your credit card information and allows you to make transactions right from your phone whenever you're at a store that accepts Square Wallet payments. It works on iPhone and Android smartphones. (Check here for Android availability.) How to use Square Wallet Using Square Wallet is simple and quick. It's just like using a credit card, but there's no need to remove your wallet or swipe the card through a reader. In fact, with "hands-free" payments activated, you don't even have to remove your phone! Just say your name at the Square Wallet-enabled register and the clerk will know it's you when your picture pops up on the screen. You get all of these benefits, and it's still just as safe as paying by card! More Options, More Benefits When you use Square Wallet, you'll be able to see all of the other businesses in the area that also use Square Wallet. Many will even be offering deals, rewards and discounts just for using it. For example, we offer 10% off your first purchase when using Square Wallet at NEPA Geeks. You can use Square Wallet to send and receive gift cards, unlock special rewards and much more. It works on both iPhone and Android, so if you haven't already done so, sign up today! And be sure to use it when you stop in to get 10% off your first purchase at NEPA Geeks....

07 Dec

Posted at 14:09h in Blog Post
0 Likes

Give the gift of healthy computing with NEPA Geeks Gift Certificates! [caption id="attachment_1579" align="alignright" width="403"] Mr. T. Claus says, "I pity da foo' who don't buy NEPA Geeks' Gift Certificates for their loved ones this year! Ain't dat right, Nancy Reagan?"[/caption] With roughly 17 days left until Christmas, you might be trying to square away a few of those hard to buy for people who seem to have everything. Gift certificates are a popular option for most people because they allow the gift-giver the chance to offer something meaningful without spending money on an unwanted gift. If you're looking for just such a gift, NEPA Geeks is here to help. Yes, we offer gift certificates! Many friends and relatives will be receiving new gadgets and computers this year. Wouldn't it be great if they had some kind of insurance policy for when things go wrong? A gift certificate from NEPA Geeks will help offset the cost of repairs and maintenance to get those problems taken care of, and they can be applied to anything we do! Repairs, maintenance, service calls, custom installs, web hosting and more. Do you know someone who is “accident prone,” who tends to drop their phone or spill drinks into their keyboards? We can help! Do you have an older family member who refuses to ever give up their old desktop PC? We can get it tuned-up and up-to date for them! Just purchase an NEPA Geeks gift certificate for any amount and they’ll be able to redeem it with us for repairs and other services. We use PayPal, so it's safe and secure to use, just like cash! If you have any questions, about NEPA Geeks' gift cards, just give us a call and we'll be more than happy to help you. 570.474.5100 or email us at staff@nepageeks.com ...

05 Dec

Posted at 16:09h in Blog Post
0 Likes

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are having a tiff about who gets to see your pictures. [caption id="attachment_1566" align="aligncenter" width="453"] When social networking sites fight, users lose.[/caption] There's a reason your Instagram photos aren't showing up properly on Twitter today. The New York Times goes into the details of the story, but the basic idea is that, ever since Facebook bought Instagram, the relationship between Instagram and Twitter has been falling apart. Those relationship problems came to a head today, December 5, when Instagram decided to stop supporting embedded photos within Twitter, causing them to show up cropped and off-center. Kevin Systrom, Instagram's chief-executive, confirmed his company's move and added that Twitter will be completely cut off from embedding photos in the future. As Instagram moves to make their photo-sharing more social by integrating with Facebook, Twitter has also been making moves to add the ability for Twitter users to add photo filters in much the same way Instagram does, negating the need for Instagram. In the meantime, the ability to "sync users" -- the ability to place an @ in front of a Twitter user's name and direct the photo at them --  is going away, as Twitter will no longer support the function on Instagram. It's not clear who all of this bickering is supposed to benefit, but one clear loser is us: the users. When social networking sites decide to stop getting along, it makes it difficult for everyday users to share photos with friends and family. Not all of your friends are on Twitter, just as not everyone you follow on Twitter use Facebook, so to cut off a large group of users not only keeps them from interacting with the things you do, but it can hurt your brand if you rely on those networks to bring traffic to your site. So, what can you do? Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do about Twitter and Instagram not getting along, but if you hosted your content on your own website, you'd be able to share it with everyone -- regardless of what network they choose. And, by using a content management system such as WordPress, there are plugins available that will allow you to share images easily with both networks, just like before. Why rely on the terrible choices and business tactics of others when you can do everything you want on your own site? That's true freedom!...

26 Nov

Posted at 11:01h in Blog Post
0 Likes

Our good friend and fellow blogger, Darling Stewie, wrote up a terrific guest blog post to give everyone her top 5 reasons you need a blog. If this post doesn't convince you to purchase a hosting account and set up your blog, right away, nothing will! Get ready to have your ironic, artisanal, hand-knitted socks knocked off.  Top 5 Reasons You Need a Blog! Hey NEPA Geeks blog readers! This is Darling Stewie of DarlingStewie.com stepping in for a fun guest post to bring you some deets on why you should really consider having a blog. I've had DarlingStewie.com for 2 years, and helped run several other area blogs including NepaBlogCon.com/Blog and PepperJam.com/Blog - and I love it! But...

21 Nov

Posted at 12:59h in Blog Post
0 Likes

NEPA Geeks are proud to announce that we will be taking part in Small Business Saturday, this Saturday, November 24. What is Small Business Saturday? Small Business Saturday is a program sponsored by American Express to support small businesses that create jobs, stimulate the economy and help enrich their communities. American Express founded Small Business Saturday back in 2010 as a way to help small businesses increase their exposure. Last year, over 100 million people shopped at independently-owned businesses, and the hope is that we can all help to increase that number significantly! American Express offers tools that will help us, as a small, independent business, reach out and offer extra benefits and services to our customers. As part of the NEPA Small Business Saturday group on Facebook, we're honored to be a part of what they are doing to promote small business in NEPA! What does that mean for you? This Saturday, November 24, the NEPA Geeks office will be open and ready to serve you with any computer issues you might be having. Even if you don't have a problem with your current computer, we can help you upgrade to a new computer, order parts for your existing system or even set you up with a new website or blog! We're offering free consultations, 15% off computer repair services and 10% off web hosting! And, to top it off, NEPA Geeks offers its Complete Computer Overhaul package for only $99.99 -- a huge savings over our usual price of $129.99. Call or stop in on Saturday, November 24th. We'll be here to help you learn more about what NEPA Geeks can do for you! Our number is 570.474.5100 and our address is 108 N. Mountain Blvd. Suite B, Mountain Top, PA 18707. We can also be reached at staff@nepageeks.com For more information on Small Business Saturday, visit ShopSmall.com....

19 Nov

Posted at 13:13h in Blog Post
0 Likes

How to Defrag Your Hard Drive When was the last time you defragged your hard drive? If you're like most computer users, it's probably been a long time. If you answered, "Never," or, "I don't even know what that is!" we're going to show you, now. What is defragging? In simplest terms, it's taking all the bits and pieces of information stored on your hard disk and reorganizing them. Think of your computer's hard disk as a big closet where everything gets tossed. Shoes, clothes, old cell phones, other gadgets and odds and ends...

15 Nov

Posted at 14:25h in Blog Post
0 Likes

Feeling safe and secure about your passwords? You might want to take a seat, because that is about to change. [caption id="attachment_1451" align="alignright" width="300"] How secure is your password? It might not matter anymore.[/caption] If you read only one article on password security this year, make it this one. In it, Mat Honan lays waste to the idea that passwords are anything but an inconvenience to hackers. After taking over his Apple, Twitter and Gmail accounts, hackers destroyed his digital life in the span of an hour. Documents, data -- even pictures of his 18-month-old daughter were wiped out. Think it can't happen to you? Think again. Do you reuse the same password on multiple sites? Do you use "dictionary" words less than 16 characters in length? Do you have your email account linked to multiple accounts, such as Twitter and Facebook? When you need to reset a password, is that the same email address the notification goes to? I have news for you: you are vulnerable. Learn some of Mat's suggestions and tips to keep your data more secure, such as setting up double-authentication on your accounts when offered, setting up an email address exclusively for password resets that isn't linked to anything else and the best way to answer those "personal" questions, such as, "What was your first car?" and "Where were you born?" Proficient hackers can usually answer these questions with a few strategic Google searches! The article may be a bit lengthy, but it provides an eye-opening education into what it takes to keep your data secure, these days. Note that we aren't suggesting you retreat from the web, just that you exercise a little more caution in what kind of information you publish and how securely you lock it down. Be safe!...

12 Nov

Posted at 10:56h in Blog Post
0 Likes

Don't fall for phony FBI malware! [caption id="attachment_1346" align="alignleft" width="300"] FBI malware locks your computer, demands ransom to unlock it.[/caption] This article on Ars Technica points out that so-called "ransom ware" is becoming an increasing cause for concern as it is responsible for bilking $5 million a year from victims. The malware in question disables the victim's computer, displays a serious-looking warning and then demands payment to unlock the machine, insisting that if the victim doesn't pay up, they will be arrested by the FBI. As scary as it may seem, it's not real. Don't fall for this scam! As the unsuspecting victim may not be aware, this message DOES NOT come from the FBI. You are not obligated in any way to pay this "fine," as it is simply an act of extortion. Again, this message is not from any law-enforcement agency -- it is a scam, an illegal operation only looking to extort money from helpless victims. It is the result of malware that has infected your computer and will need to be cleaned out immediately. DO NOT enter your information, and DO NOT pay the "fine!" If you see this message on your screen, or suspect that you may have been infected, we urge you to contact NEPA Geeks immediately so that we can evaluate your system and determine a course of action. Even if you feel that the amount is small and you simply want your computer to work again, don't give them what they want! There is no guarantee that the bad guys won't simply disable your computer again, demanding more money. The best course of action is to have us remove the malware for you. In the long run, it will cost far less to clean the system while dramatically reducing the risk that your personal information could end up in the hands of criminals. Be safe, be smart! We also offer software that can prevent such infections from happening in the first place. Contact us so we can help!...