Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
Question from Ramie: I downloaded a photo last night from one of the free photo websites that I use.
While I was retrieving the photo from the Downloads folder I noticed there was a file named setup.exe in there.
I haven’t downloaded a software program in well over a year so I don’t know how that file got in there.
Do you think it might be a virus?
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Question from Garland L.: I recently noticed there’s a process called “Runtime Broker” always running when I load Task Manager.
My McAfee antivirus doesn’t flag it as a virus, but it still sounds fishy to me.
I called Office Depot and asked the tech guy about it but he refused to give me an answer about whether this is a virus or not. They said I’d need to bring my computer in and pay them to run a virus check on it.
I ran across your website on Google and saw where you answer people’s questions.
So what’s the deal? Is “RunTime Broker” a virus or not? [Read more…]
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Question from Lilly N.: Hello, Rick. I just have a very quick question.
Do I need to install an antivirus app on my iPhone?
One friend says I do and another friend (who I tend to trust more lol) says I don’t.
I’d really like to know for sure so I can make sure my phone is protected. I just don’t want to install another app if I don’t need it.
But if I do need to install one, which one would you recommend?
Thanks for your help.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
Question from Carol.: A few days ago my iPhone started telling me my phone has a virus every time I open Safari.
The warning message says I need to call Apple at the number it listed and ask them to remove the virus for me.
When I called the number the woman I spoke to asked for my credit card number right off the bat.
I really need to get this virus removed but I don’t like giving my credit card number out like that.
Is there any way for me to remove the virus myself or will I have to pay Apple to remove it for me?
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
As you probably know by now, ransomware is an insidious form of malware that will encrypt the contents of your hard drive and then demand that you pay a ransom to a scammer in exchange for the encryption key.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall victim to ransomware, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to recover your files even if you pay the ransom as instructed.
Now, the scammers are planning to take this insidious threat to an even more sinister level! [Read more…]