If you have a Netgear Router at home – be sure to check if new firmware was released for it. Netgear fixed a number of security issues that would allow hackers to take over your router and network. Or take the worry out of router security – our My ITXpert Net Security service ensures your router is continually monitored and updated, plus you get VPN and real time virus scanning and intrusion protection! See http://myitxpert.biz/netsec/ for more details.

Macs are inherently more secure by design – but they are not immune to malware and adware. Take the worry out of staying safe online! Our My ITXpert Home Pro service now supports Macs and includes award winning Bitdefender antivirus, monitored 24×7 by our IT Xperts! All for around $12/mon! Call 336-525-5005 or email [email protected] for more details!

Google Drive is experiencing a major outage at the moment – first reported around 2:30PM EST.

We use Google Hangouts extensively at IT Xpress, partly because of the video conference and chat logging features. But for many, WhatsApp is THE chat app. Now you can sync conversations to Google Drive. Cool!

We've gotten a few calls about this article and what routers are best, etc. The Archer C7 is an excellent router, but many new routers all use the same chipsets inside and are less expensive. Also, beware the advice to always 'stay on 5GHz'. While it is true that 5GHz is faster and sees less interference than 2.4GHz (which is what EVERYone is one), it also has a shorter range (2.4GHz is better at getting through obstructions than 5GHz). So if your home or business structure allows for strong 5GHz signal throughout – great. Otherwise you may need to move your router or use 2.4GHz. Wireless extenders are also an option be can be touchy to configure and use reliably.

Not sure what to do and need help with your WiFi? IT Xpress can help! We've improved wireless networks for many satisfied clients. Call (336-525-5005) or email ([email protected]) today!

IT Xpress just earned a Best of 2015 award from Thumbtack! Thumbtack is a professional referral service and we've gotten many 5 star reviews from satisfied customers who hired us through them. Looking for IT Support, computer repair, network security, and more? Give us a call at 336-525-5005 or email at [email protected]!

An in-depth look at the next major release of Android – v6.0 Marshmallow

This is one of the best tweaks you can make to Windows – searching IN all files instead of just names. Unlike Windows XP, the new search technology is very fast and can make finding files trivial.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Free software generally is free because the developers monetize it by selling info to advertisers or bundling additional adware into the installers. That's not to say free software is bad – a lot of it is fantastic. Just know there are tradeoffs. Not sure what antivirus is right for you? Give IT Xpress a call (336-525-5005) or email ([email protected])

WordPress is the most popular website management system there is, but it also is attacked regularly because it is so popular. Would you know if your website was suddenly serving up malware? Blocked by Google? Let IT Xpress take the worry out of website. Our My ITXpert Web Security service can drastically increase the speed of your website, protect it with an advanced malware firewall, and ensure uptime, even if your web host suffers an outage. We can even encrypt all your web traffic, gaining you a boost in Google rankings and protecting your customers. Contact us today at 336-525-5005 or [email protected] for more details.

With WIndows 10 rolling out to millions of computers, it adds a few new shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts can speed up tasks and reduce strain for constantly reaching for the mouse…

Android malware is becoming more and more common AND more dangerous… Never install applications from anywhere besides the Google Play store…

Microsoft is downloading Windows 10 in the background, even if you haven't chosen to upgrade yet (it won't install until you agree). For most this means little beyond losing 3-6GB of disk space. But for anyone on metered Internet connections (MiFi or an ISP with a data cap), this could surprise you.

A look at how the simpler Google Docs can sometimes make common word processing tasks easier than MS Word. A common phrase is 80% of MS Office users only use 20% of the features, making Google Docs a viable (and free) alternative.

If you haven't changed the default login credentials on your router – you should!