Monday, February 20, 2023
Apple ID; Can't Sign-In On Older Devices
Remove the recovery contact(s) from your account! That's it!
Monday, January 16, 2023
Our Favorite Mac Apps
Here is a basic list of some Mac OS applications that we use and recommend! Leave a comment below if you have a program that you use/love and would like to recommend it!
Web Browsers
Brave Browser - 3x faster than Chrome. Better protection from Google and Big Tech. Built with your privacy in mind!
Vivaldi - Not sure what browser to use? Vivaldi allows you to use features from various different browsers, including their add-ons! Get unrivaled customization options and built-in browser features for better performance, productivity, and privacy.
Choosy - Choosy can prompt you to select from the browsers on your Mac, or just the ones that are running, so you can decide which browser is right for a particular link.
OpenIn - OpenIn is a native application for Intel and Apple Silicon architecture and allows you to choose what happens when you click on a web link or an email link, and even open specific programs for certain file types! OpenIn can even modify file open requests, and send the application a request to open a parent folder instead of the file. Plus much more!
BitWarden - Secure cloud syncing lets you access your sensitive information from anywhere on any device. Protect your online data using a password manager you can trust. Bitwarden conducts regular third-party security audits and is compliant with GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, Privacy Shield, and CCPA standards.
System Utilities
Download and install current, or previous versions, of Mac OSX operating systems: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683
Macs Fan Control - Mac OS application for real-time monitoring of fan speeds and temperatures. With this app, you can monitor your temperatures, and fan speeds, and help you solve overheating problems like those found on a MacBook Pro. Solve fan noise problems such as those caused by HDD replacement in iMacs and fan speed issues after various aftermarket parts replacements.
Hot - Hot is a macOS menu bar application that displays the CPU speed limit due to thermal issues.
Stats - Mac OS system monitoring software.
Onyx - OnyX is a multifunction utility that you can use to verify the structure of the system files; run miscellaneous maintenance and cleaning tasks; configure parameters in the Finder, Dock, Safari, and some Apple applications; delete caches; remove certain problematic folders and files; rebuild various databases and indexes; and more.
Mac Cleaner Pro - Professional tools for Mac cleanup. Keep your Mac always fast, clean, and organized!
GmsartControl - GSmartControl is a graphical user interface for smartctl (from smartmontools package), which is a tool for querying and controlling SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) data on modern hard disk and solid-state drives. It allows you to inspect the drive's SMART data to determine its health, as well as run various tests on it.
DriveDX - Advanced hard drive health diagnostics, drive health monitoring, and hard drive health testing software.
Disk Inventory X - Disk Inventory X is a disk usage utility for Mac OS X. It shows the sizes of files and folders in a special graphical way called "treemaps".coconutBattery - With coconutBattery you're always aware of your current battery health. It shows you live information about your battery such as how often it was charged and how is the current maximum capacity in relation to the original capacity your battery had when it left the factory.
Security
Malwarebytes AntiMalware (MBAM) - Say hello to smarter, safer protection for all your family's devices. Specifically designed to catch malware on Mac, MalwareByte's threat intelligence & proven technology let you rest easy, knowing that we’re finding and crushing threats that other antivirus software missed. The best part, we do it all without hogging your system’s resources or spamming you with annoying notifications. Finally, cybersecurity that is smart enough for your Mac.
ClamXAV - Whether you’re a home user, business user, or education user, ClamXAV provides effective malware protection on a single Mac or an entire network. ClamAV is one of the oldest Unix AntiVirus programs around.
Clario - Modern protection from more modern threats! Protect your Apple Computer and digital identity from viruses, unsecured Wi-Fi, ID theft, or hacking; in real time. 100% Detection rate!
General Programs
Caffeine - Caffeine is a tiny program that puts an icon in the right side of your menubar. Click it to prevent your Mac from automatically going to sleep, dimming the screen, or starting screen savers.
VNC - Securely access and manage any device, from anywhere!
Sublime Text - Text editing, done right!
The Unarchiver - The Unarchiver is the only app you need to open RAR on Mac. It’s times more powerful than the native macOS utility and supports infinitely more archive formats.
Keka - Mac OS file archiver.
PDF Expert - PDF Expert is a uniquely fast, reliable, and easy-to-use PDF software. PDF Expert packs powerful features into a well-designed and intuitive interface. Effortlessly breeze through any type of PDF-related task!
Software Removal Tools
AppCleaner - AppCleaner is a small application that allows you to thoroughly uninstall unwanted apps.
Installing an application distributes many files throughout your System using the space of your Hard Drive unnecessarily. AppCleaner finds all these small files and safely deletes them.
TrashMe - Your Mac is full of files that you consider to be junk because they are too old, too big, or useless to you: incomplete downloads, Windows files, old screen captures… In addition, macOS creates many large files like app caches, system updates, log reports or Xcode files. When space is precious, you can use TrashMe to remove all these files and recover many gigabytes!
*Last Updated ~ August 28th, 2023*
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Failing CPU AIO Water Cooling Loops
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So for a few months now I have been seeing a WAVE of failing CPU AIO loops coming into the shop. A CPU AIO (all-in-one) is a pre-packaged device that will liquid-cool your CPU. It's a CPU water-cooling solution, that can be easily installed into a system without having to heat/bend tubing, install/test fittings, etc. The AIO combines the water block, radiator, tubes, fans, fittings, and pump into an all-in-one (AIO) package.
At first, most of the failing CPU AIO loops I was seeing, were related to iBuyPower systems using their own self-branded water-cooling loops. More recently, however, I am starting to see other CPU AIO loops, from other brands, failing as well. What gives? Why are these loops dying all of a sudden?
That's when it hit me; they all had one particular characteristic in common.
I noticed that instead of the pump for the AIO being a part of the assembly that is directly attached to the CPU, the pump was actually installed in the RADIATOR!?!
But why would the pump for AIO be in the radiator and not on top of the CPU itself!?
Having the pump directly on the CPU itself is the most efficient method for moving hot liquid away from the CPU! So what gives?!
Well after doing some research, I have found that the Danish company Asetek, actually developed and owns the patent(s) on what would be considered a modern-day CPU AIO water cooling loop. So when you see CPU AIO loops from Corsair, CoolerMaster, etc. The fundamental loop design is actually licensed from Asetek! Manufacturers may make some modifications, make some improvements, add some features, and add their own brand to the product. But that's it!
The core functions and design of a modern "CPU AIO Water Cooling Loop" are all patented by Asetek.
So what can manufacturers do to increase their profits and not have to pay Asetek any licensing fees??
Well, some manufacturers are deciding to switch to a different design of CPU AIO water cooling loop altogether. Not because it's more efficient, but likely just to avoid licensing feed. So by moving to a design where the main components have been moved around (more specifically the pump) manufacturers don't have to license the AIO functionality from Asetek, and more profits are to be had.
Brilliant! *shakes head in disappointment*
Because of this little money-making move? I am now seeing custom computers that are using these radiator-pump-based CPU AIO loops, and they are clogging/dying left and right.
So when you are buying a custom-ordered system from a manufacturer, try to pay close attention to the design of the CPU AIO Loop they are using/installing, and make sure the pump used in the loop is located on the CPU itself, and not in the radiator. Even if you have to pay a little more for an upgraded AIO CPU water cooler... It will be worth it in the long run.
Wednesday, January 4, 2023
Find Your Microsoft BitLocker Recovery Key
So your Windows Computer just recently completed some Windows Updates, or maybe you changed some system settings. But NOW all of a sudden, your Windows computer is asking for a "BitLocker Recovery key" to be able to start your computer!
But you have no idea what BitLocker is, what BitLocker does, nor do you know what to do!
But you have no idea what BitLocker is, what BitLocker does, nor do you know what to do!
Which is all fine and dandy if you purposefully set it up, and saved the recovery key information. The BitLocker disk encryption keeps your data safe in the event your computer is lost or stolen. But, more often than not, folks don't even realize that BitLocker is even turned on, and thusly do NOT have any recovery methods ready to go if they were to get locked out!
There are several places where your recovery key may be, depending on the choice that was made when activating BitLocker. If you purposefully turned on BitLocker hard drive encryption, you may have printed out the security key that was created. Or you may have saved that BitLocker Recovery key information to a USB thumb drive and thusly created a "Recovery USB Key". If so, just use the appropriate recovery method that you have created/saved, to get back into your system!
If you don't have any kind of Recovery Key information backed up or saved, the easiest way to find your BitLocker recovery key is through the Microsoft account you were using on that computer! Your Microsoft account is typically tied to your everyday email address, plus a password that was set up.
So all you need to do is use another computer or a tablet, or even your cell phone, and sign in to your Microsoft account to find your recovery key. This is the most likely place to find your recovery key!
You can do this by visiting, https://account.microsoft.com/devices/recoverykey
If you are NOT able to find any sort of recovery key, you would be looking at having to reinstall the Windows Operating System to get the system functional again. But, since the hard drive is encrypted, data backup nor data recovery would be possible.
If we can be of any assistance with this type of problem or issue, please don't hesitate to reach out!
Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Data Privacy & Data Security In Today's Digital Age
How to Become as "Invisible" as Possible In Today's Cyberage
I have been getting a lot more questions from customers lately with regard to online data privacy and data security."How can I keep my online accounts more secure?"
"I would like to surf the internet as anonymously and as privately as possible. How can I do that?
"I found some personal information online, and would like it removed! How do I do that?"
So I decided to write a post covering the basics of online privacy, how to improve your safety and security when online, and how to get personal data removed from the internet (if at all possible).
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Had a Data Breach or Experienced a Computer/Network Hack or Attack?! Here's What To Do!
What To Do If You Have a Data Breach or Experience a Computer/Network Hack or Attack!
Despite your efforts to control access, track assets and create secure procedures for your network, online accounts, and computer systems. Data breaches, Server Attacks, Network Attacks, Account Hi-Jacks, you name it! It can happen, and it does happen. Knowing what to do if you suspect or actually have a problem can make the difference between a minor inconvenience, and a disaster that interrupts your ability to do business! The following steps can help you recover after a breach or hacking incident. The faster you can recover, the sooner you can get back to business!
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Enable Modern Authentication for Office 2013 & Outlook 2013(On PC)
Enable Modern Authentication for Outlook 2013
A common problem that I have been coming across lately is that since Microsoft increased the security for their Office 365 email services back in August 2022, I have been getting a lot of customers whose Outlook 2013 software will consistently ask for (but will not accept) the user's email account password. This problem is due to the fact that even though Office 2013 does support Modern Authentication, it's actually OFF by default!
Well, I finally found Windows registry modification instructions direct from Microsoft that ACTUALLY work! Applying these Registry modifications to your computer will activate Modern Authentication for your Office and Outlook 2013 software!
You will need to make some registry modifications, however... So back up your system's Registry information BEFORE making ANY modifications!
Proceed at your own risk!
Method #1
Microsoft Office 2013 installed on a Microsoft Windows computer, does support Modern Authentication. But it needs to be enabled; as it is turned off by default! It was a more advanced security feature that was not as widely used at the time.To turn on the Modern Authentication feature, you will need to configure the following registry keys:
That's it!
- Open "Registry Editor"
- Navigate to the Registry Keys below.
- Create a new "DWORD (32bit Value)" for each entry listed below.
- After creating each new "DWORD (32bit Value)", double-click the "DWORD" entry you just created and change its "Value" to 1.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Exchange\
Key Type: DWORD (32bit Value)
Value Name: AlwaysUseMSOAuthForAutoDiscover
Value: 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common\Identity\
Key Type: DWORD (32bit Value)
Value Name: EnableADAL
Value: 1
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common\Identity\
Key Type: DWORD (32bit Value)
Value Name: Version
Value: 1
Method #2
- Make sure that Outlook and any other Office software applications are closed.
- Open up the "Notepad" application; specifically Notepad! Do not use Word or Wordpad, etc.
- Copy and paste the following text into Notepad:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Exchange] "AlwaysUseMSOAuthForAutoDiscover"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Common\Identity] "EnableADAL"=dword:00000001
"Version"=dword:00000001 - Save the file with the file extension ".reg" instead of ".txt" in a location that's easy for you to find. For example, C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Desktop\Office2013_Enable_ModernAuth.reg.
- Open File Explorer (formerly known as Windows Explorer), browse to the location of the ".reg" file you just saved, and then double-click it.
- In the User Account Control dialog that appears next, click Yes to allow the app to make changes to your device.
- In the Registry Editor warning dialog that appears next, click Yes to accept the changes.
- Next, you will need to sign out of your user account and sign back in for the change to take effect. You may even want to just restart your computer.
That's it!
The next time you open Outlook, you should get the modern authentication login pop-up where you can enter your email account login information, and your Outlook email should work again!
Friday, October 14, 2022
Recommended PC Apps, Programs, Tools & Utilities! *UPDATED*
A basic list of software tools, and utilities that we use and recommend!We will update this list as much as possible!
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Get Cash Back On Spending & Increase Your Credit Score!
Here are a few tips to help put some of your hard-earned money back into your bank account and wallet, and ALSO increase your Credit Scores!
- I highly recommend using the website NerdWallet to find good credit cards, banks, loans, retirement plan ideas, etc. I have been using this website for YEARS and is such an excellent resource to better spend AND save your money!
- Use cash back store cards for companies like the Amazon Store Card. It's not a full fledge credit card, so you can ONLY use it at that specified retailer. With Amazon specifically, you will get 5% back on all that you spend/buy (this does not apply to financed purchases, however). It's an over-glorified version of the espresso stand punch card. I typically get around $1000 back every year just by funneling payments through store cards like this!
- If you drive a lot, go out to eat a lot, etc. Get a credit card that gives you cash back on those purchases. I personally love my Costco Visa card as you get cash back on Gas, Food, Costco Purchases, and a lot more. Another example, I have an American Express card that I use just for my cell phone bill and also gas, because I get 5% cash back on those payments through Amex as well. With Costco, I get around $500 back every year; with Amex about $100.
- If you have money saved and just sitting in a regular old bank savings account, think of putting that into a ROTH IRA or a Certified Deposit; or even a high-interest (and thusly high balance) savings account. Something where your money can sit AND earn interest as it just sits; there are other options as well. But the premise is to earn money as your savings just sit. *Roth IRAs are complicated but you can typically remove what you have personally invested without penalty.
- People with credit scores in the 800s use less than 5% of their available credit. So if you had a $8,000 credit line, you use only $400 at a time. While people with scores from 701 to 750 have 27% credit utilization. So don't go maxing out your cards!! Responsible purchasing, on-time bill payments, and low credit usage will get your scores up FAST and HIGH!
- If you create an account with each of the Major Credit Bureaus, they sometimes have a "spending scanner" available on the user's account page. This "spending scanner" can scan your bank accounts for purchases that can be applied to your credit score! I jumped my score through Experian by 10 points just by using their "purchase history spending scanner"! But, only do this if you feel comfortable letting these companies access and scan your bank accounts... Is a Better Credit Score Worth Exposing Your Bank Data?
- Lastly, and MOST importantly, set up weekly automatic bill pay through your bank or through your card account for any/all of the cards that you have set up. That way you don't get hit with a big ol' bill at the end of the month, or accidentally spend more than you have.
These are just a few tricks that I use to better spend and save my money, and I just wanted to share some of what I have learned. Hopefully, it's not a bunch of "I already know that" kind of stuff...
Hopefully, you found at least 1 thing useful from this post 
Feel free to comment/share any other tips and tricks you might have! 
Thursday, September 29, 2022
IT Advocacy Services - We Can Be Your Technology Advocate!
What Is an IT Advocate?
An IT advocate is an individual who supports and advises clients with their IT product/service needs, as well as any other technology-related needs. Not everyone has, needs, or can afford a CTO or a dedicated System Administrator to help with, and represent, their business. But now, you can hire Pacific Northwest Computers to represent your company in those roles, if and when that need ever arises!
The IT Advocating Services that Pacific Northwest Computers Provides, Include:
- Liaison Responsibilities
- Investigate, Document & Resolve Product or Service Issues With Vendors/Providers
- Refer & Consult Clients on Recommended & Needed Technology Products/Services
- Conflict Resolution & Mediation with Vendors/Suppliers/Etc.
- Crisis Management & Crisis Prevention/Response
- Malware Attack Investigation, Documentation & System Improvements
- Data Breach Investigation, Documentation & System Improvements
- Data Loss Disaster Assistance, Policy Development & Data Loss Prevention System Development
- Information Technology Professional Witness for Legal/Court Cases
- Help Set Up Appointments for Needed Services or Support From Vendors/Providers
- Warranty Exchange/RMA Support
- Termination of Service(s) Support (Software Vendors, Services, Etc)
- General IT/Technical Advising
- HIPPA Consultation
- Technical Documentation Services
- Reading & Understanding Technical Documentation
- Reading & Understanding Service/Setup Material & Instructions
- Implementing Needed Technical Procedures for Products & Services
- "On-Demand" IT Administrator/CTO Services:
- Develop policies and procedures
- Recommend the use of technology to enhance products and services for a client's internal operations, as well as their customer's experience.
Jon PienkowskiPacific Northwest Computers360.624.7379
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