My Phone Support Blog

Update or Disable Java

Senior Editor — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:03:02 GMT




The Department of Homeland Security is recommending PC users update or disable Java
to prevent malware attacks using a zero-day exploit in Java. Similar exploits have
recently resulted in the Red October attack and Mac trojan virus in 2012. Learn more
from the Department of Homeland Security or Oracle.

How to Use Windows 8

Senior Editor — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 20:32:01 GMT

With the arrival of Windows 8, many users need a little help getting acclimated to the new modern interface. ConsumerSoft has published a short introduction to Windows 8 with the 5 "Must-Knows" for using the new OS. Click here to learn how to use Windows 8.

Apple Support beats Dell & HP

Senior Editor — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:17:11 GMT

A recent survey by VocaLabs found Apple to be the tech support leader among three major tech brands: Apple, Dell, and HP. Dell customers were 3 times more likely to leave their brand than Apple customers and HP customers were 5 times more likely to leave their brand. Customer reactions were based on their tech support experience.

If you're looking for a better tech support experience (for any brand), try My Phone Support first. Our agents our friendly, certified in a wide range of technologies, and can often provide better, cheaper support than major brands can offer.

Read more about the VocaLab survey.

Cool: Tech Support in the South Pole

Senior Editor — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:07:27 GMT

Ars Technica recently profiled one of the coolest jobs in tech: tech support in Antarctica. The Wisconsin IceCube Particle Astrophysics Center runs and supports a data center and cloud computing network on the South Pole. All those computers require IT support staff - both onsite and remote support via satellite connection. During Summer, over 1,000 scientists can be working at the South Pole, so tech support needs expand.

Read more about these unique IT guys at Ars Technica.

Or apply to work at IceCube.

Watch Out for Fake Tech Support Calls

Senior Editor — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:18:34 GMT

Valley News Live reports that some people have recently received fake out-bound tech support calls from agents pretending to be Microsoft technicians. These fake support calls may be attempts to steal financial information, install malware, or access files on your computer.

You should only accept tech support calls from legitimate tech support providers, like My Phone Support or your PC manufacturer. If you are unsure about the call, ask for a call back number or case ID so you can verify the source, or just hang up. Also, you should only get tech support calls when you sought support initially, not unprompted calls out of the blue.

E-cards for the Tech-Challenged

Senior Editor — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:44:39 GMT

Uncle Mike still doesn't know how to cut and paste? Grandma wants to you help her add a desktop picture? Finally, there is an answer! Google has released cute e-card/video website that let's you send your tech-challenged loved one a little help. Just answer a few questions, select the tech skills you want to teach, and your own personalized e-card is ready to go.

Try it today at: Tech Parents Tech

HP Tech Support for "Elite PC" Customers

Senior Editor — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:16:17 GMT

HP Plans to offer customers of its "Elite PC" products a dedicated tech support person for the life of their product. HP's "Elite PC" computers are laptops and desktops sold to business, government, and institutional customers. According to HP, "the HP Elite premium technical support package was introduced one year ago to give HP Elite Series customers a differentiated, white glove customer support experience." HP also gives users an option to select an "agent of choice" to always work with one particular tech support agent. Currently, the Elite technical support is not available to standard HP home users.

Dell to Focus on Enterprise and Business?

Senior Editor — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:02:16 GMT

Michael Dell announced that Dell will be focusing more and more on servers, "big data," cloud systems, and enterprise IT. Currently, half of Dell's profits come from servers and enterprise products. Dell will probably not be leaving the home consumer PC market anytime soon, but it may end up being a less important part of the companies focus.

See more from the CNBC interview with Michael Dell:

Google Also Cookies Internet Explorer

Senior Editor — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:40:41 GMT

Microsoft announced that Google was also circumventing privacy preference on the Internet Explorer web browser. The news comes in light of the recent discovery that Google was able to bypass security on Apple's Safari web browser and place tracking cookies.

Dean Hachamovitch (of the IE team) reported in a blog post: "the answer is yes: Google is employing similar methods to get around the default privacy protections in IE and track IE users with cookies."

As with the previous cookie loophole, it is likely that Google will cease the practice and that Microsoft will tighten the IE code to stop the practice, but individual users may want to clear their cookies or at least examine them a little closer.

Microsoft's New Windows 8 Logo

Senior Editor — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:31:36 GMT

Microsoft announced the release of their new Windows 8 logo, which is a departure from the colored flag panels Windows was used for the past 10 years. According to Microsoft, the new logo is part of a "reimagination of the Windows operating system." The new logo also reflects the new "Metro" design aesthetic that Microsoft created for Windows Phone and Windows 8.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer has a timeline of previous Windows logos here.

Google's Tracking Cookies Bypass Safari Security

Senior Editor — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 01:16:19 GMT

Google has been dropping tracking cookies on Apple's Safari browser using a loophole in Safari's privacy settings. The issue was reported by the Wall Street Journal in collaboration with Stanford research Jonathan Mayer.

Google tricked the Safari browser into placing the cookie by submitting a fake form to mimick user interaction. The allowed cookies to be placed on iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers.

In a statement from Google, the company said "we have now started removing these advertising cookies from Safari browsers" and that the practice has been mischaracterized.

In response, a class action lawsuit has been filed in Delaware by lawyers representing Matthew Soble.

What to do if you're a Safari user? Google says it will be stopping the practice and Apple may make changes that close the loophole. In the meantime, consider examining your cookies and deleting some of all of them. The Wall Street Journal also has an article about some other options.