We are pleased to announce that HomeTech Support, LLC, has chosen Clerc Computer Consulting to purchase their assets and assume their operations.  The sale became effective November 15, 2004.

Tracy and Becky Stephens started HomeTech Support 18 months ago to take care of people with home and business computers.  Their high level of service and support enabled HomeTech Support to grow to 150 customers. 

In the letter to their customers Becky stated, “During this last year, we have continued to study the computer consulting market.  We have found an excellent local computer company, Clerc Computer Consulting Corp., which is family owned and operates with the same standards that have framed HomeTech Support.”

We welcome all of you new people to our growing family of satisfied customers.  Please call us at 713-861-4183 if you have any questions or comments.

Identity theft, or stealing a person’s credentials to gain access to accounts and information, has become the number one crime in the United States, according to ciphertrust.com.  Phishing is a relatively new form of online fraud that focuses on trying to fool you into providing sensitive financial or personal information.  Phishing uses bogus e-mail and websites that look like a real online brand.  Typically, the victim provides information into a form on the imposter site, which then relays the information to the fraudster. 

You might have seen e-mail from Pay Pal or CitiBank telling you that your account has been compromised and must be re-verified.  If you click on the link, you will go to a site that looks very realistic, where it asks for personal information such as your Social Security number or your bank PIN number.  This is a fake web site, where they get your personal information and use it to withdraw all of your money from your bank account.

Education is the strongest defense against phishing attacks.  Everyone who uses e-mail and the Internet must know about phishing and how to spot fraudulent e-mails and websites.  You should also know about what information is appropriate to share through e-mail, and what to do if you are unsure about the authenticity of a request for information.

The most important rule to remember is to not use a link in an e-mail to go to a web site where you enter any personal information.  If you think your bank information has been compromised, go to your bank web site by typing in the URL yourself, or using the link on your Favorites list that you created yourself.

Earthlink has a free toolbar that helps prevent these phishing scams.  Their ScamBlocker will alert you before you enter a Web page that appears on their list of known phishers.  It also offers real-time fraud analysis of other Web sites.  You can download this program from http://www.earthlink.net/home/software/toolbar.

If you have any questions about e-mail you have received, you can call our office at 713-861-4183 and we will be able to help you determine whether the e-mail is genuine or a phishing scam. 

High-speed Internet access continues to increase in popularity.  In a recent survey by PC Magazine, 86% of the respondents have broadband (Cable, DSL, Satellite or Fractional T1) connections, up from 75% last year.  These people were happier with their Internet Service Providers (ISPs) than their dial-up counterparts.

There are significant differences between the three different broadband services.  The primary cable providers in the greater Houston area include Road Runner, Earthlink and America Online (AOL).  The signal comes in through the same coax cable that goes to your TV.  A special cable modem is connected to the coax cable, and then a networking cable is connected to your computer.  If you want to connect more than one computer, then the cable modem is connected to a router.  The advantage of cable is that it is faster than DSL or satellite.  Also, their service is usually better since the cable company normally does the installation at no or little charge.  The disadvantage is that it is usually more expensive than DSL, around $45 per month.

DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, and it comes in through your phone line.  Many ISPs offer DSL, including SBC, Earthlink and AOL.  A DSL modem is connected to your phone line, and then your computer or a router is connected to the modem.  The advantage to DSL is that you can talk on the phone while your computer is connected to the Internet.  This allows some people to eliminate their additional phone line, making the cost of DSL even cheaper.  SBC currently sells their DSL service for $26.95 per month.  They usually mail you a kit of hardware and software that must be installed (that’s where we come in.)

Satellite access can be used when cable or DSL is not available in your area.  A satellite antenna is installed outdoors, and then the cable is connected to your computer or router.  Satellite access is slower and more expensive than either cable or DSL, but it can be installed virtually anywhere in the country.  The ISP or other contractor usually provides satellite installation.

Fractional T1 is primarily used in businesses for both voice and data.  One line can be used for many phones and computers.  The base price is more than the other options listed above, but it ends up being cheaper per phone for larger businesses.

So which one is best for you?  How do you decide which one to upgrade to?  If you like your current ISP, we recommend that you contact them and determine which broadband service they provide in your area.  That way you can usually keep your same e-mail address.  If they offer both cable and DSL, we recommend cable since it is faster, more reliable, better service, and easier installation.