Apple Remote has lost connection to your AppleTV.

Have you tried the IT Crowd "Have you tried turning it off and on again?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU14GSc_mzA

You should be able to press and hold the TV/Control button for 5 seconds.

Let go of buttons within 5-10 seconds the remote should reboot and then should reconnect.

If it still does not work...

Hold the Menu and + volume button for 5 seconds close to the AppleTV.

It may ask you to put the remote on the AppleTV, Do this.

 Tech Support Scams

    You may receive calls, emails, or while surfing the web. ( You will not get a phone call from Microsoft telling you have a virus on your computer. ) 

    The newest scam is while on your web browser ( Edge, Chrome, Firefox...) the page will maximize and then it looks like the notification center on windows is telling you that there are virus's and Microsoft will help you remove it. 

    The one thing I tell my customers is learn some key commands. "DO NOT CLICK THE CANCEL OR RED X" May times they program mask those buttons to silently install and you will never know that you are installing malware or other programs...

    The first key command I recommend is Alt-F4 ( closes program )

    The second is Ctl-Alt-Del and choose the programs that should not be running and End the Task.

    I have noticed this last scam is worse when I do the Alt-F4 it asks to confirm the closing of the program. I did not hit the Yes or Cancel button I went to the Ctl-Alt-Del and ended the program.

     There are many renditions of this scam and some have you call a number and then in a space it has you put in a confirmation number and it lets the scammer get on your computer to show you all the virus's to affirm what the website says. Do not do this. They can look at files on your computer, they can upload programs without your knowledge and then install it.

If something like this comes up call your technician and ask for their help.

I would use this for a quick clean.

Adwcelaner This will open a new window.

I would suggest this also.

Malwarebytes This will open a new window.

I have looked up this information from Microsoft and malwaretips.com
Have a great day!!!

How to remove Searchmine.net infection on your Mac!

SearchMine.net is a browser hijacker that will change the homepage and default search engine for your web browser to https://searchmine.net. This browser redirect happens because a malicious browser extension or program is installed on your computer.

When installed on a computer, the SearchMine.net browser hijacker will change the browser homepage to https://searchmine.net. This browser hijacker will also redirect your browser search queries to https://searchmine.net, which will redirect to search result pages from Yahoo Search. This is most likely done to generate advertising revenue by using Yahoo Search for its search results.
The SearchMine browser hijacker will also track your searches and display advertisements on https://searchmine.net.

When the SearchMine.net browser hijacker is installed on a computer, common symptoms include:

• The web browser’s default homepage is SearchMine.net
• The browser default search engine is changed to SearchMine.net
• The browser’s search queries are redirected through https://searchmine.net
• A malicious browser extension and/or program is installed on your computer

How Searchmine.net infected your Mac

Searchmine.net comes bundled with freeware application and fake Adobe Flash updates. It is offered as a free search add-on during the installation of video players, downloaders, media converters. Hijacker targets Mac computers, however, it is possible that SearchMine can infect Windows PC. Download tools below to protect your machine from threats like this or remove existing infections with malware.

Step 1: Remove The Searchmine app for your OS (Mac)

In this first step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious app that might be installed on your device.

This browser hijacker may also create a new group policy for your device, so before we proceed with the other steps we need to remove these unwanted changes.

1. Goto System Preferences.

2. Click Profiles.

3. In the list AdminPrefs click the - at the bottom of the control panel.

4. In some cases they can be named differently so remove all visible profiles.

Remove Searchmine.net from Applications

Remove Searchmine.net from Mac:

1. In the Finder sidebar, click Applications.
2. SearchMine might have an Uninstaller. If you see Uninstall SearchMine or SearchMine Uninstaller, double-click it and follow the onscreen instructions.
3. Otherwise, drag SearchMine or SearchMine.app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located at the end of the Dock).
4. Then choose Finder > Empty Trash.

Cannot uninstall Searchmine.net

If you can’t uninstall Searchmine.net using instructions above, or it keeps coming back, you can use free AppCleaner for Mac to remove all residual data and libraries of Searchmine.net. Follow instructions below:

1. Download free AppCleaner.
2. Drag SearchMine from Applications folder to AppCleaner window.
3. Choose files and folders you want to remove along with SearchMine.
4. Click Delete button.

Remove Searchmine.net add-on from your browsers

Removing SearchMine from Applications often does not bring the desired effect. It is browser extension and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove SearchMine extension from your browsers manually.

Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Click Extensions tab.
3. Find SearchMine extension.
4. Click Uninstall button to remove it.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions/.
3. Find SearchMine extension.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove it.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose SearchMine extension.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.

Reset browser settings

To finish Searchmine.net removal reset your browser settings to make sure, there are no leftover items in browser folders.

Reset Safari:

1. Start Safari on your Mac, click Safari to open drop-down menu and choose Preferences
2. Go to the Privacy section of Safari’s preferences.
3. Click Remove All Website Data button.
4. In opened window click Remove Now button to remove data stored by websites in Safari.
5. Go to the Advanced section of Safari’s preferences.
6. Click the Show Develop menu in menu bar option.
7. In the menu click Develop and select Empty Caches from this menu.
8. Again, go to Safari menu and choose Clear History….
9. Choose to clear all history and click Clear History button.

Reset Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings/.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Reset Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Refresh Firefox… button.
4. Click Refresh Firefox to confirm.

Remove following files and folders of Searchmine.net


~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.SearchMine.plist
~/Library/Safari/Extensions/SearchMine.safariextz

Other things you may need to do.

Download malwarebytes for Mac MALWAREBYTES FOR MAC DOWNLOAD LINK

ALSO

1. Open the Terminal app (Go > Utilities > Terminal)
2. Enter these commands below one at a time.

• defaults write com.google.Chrome HomepageIsNewTabPage -bool false
• defaults write com.google.Chrome NewTabPageLocation -string "https://www.google.com/"
• defaults write com.google.Chrome HomepageLocation -string "https://www.google.com/"
• defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderSearchURL
• defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderNewTabURL
• defaults delete com.google.Chrome DefaultSearchProviderName

ALSO

1. Download the Chrome Policy Remover for Mac.
2. Close all open Chrome windows.
3. Unzip the file you just downloaded.
4. Double click on "chrome-Policy-Remove-for-Mac".

Now restart Chrome and the issue should be resolved. If not, you may need to reboot your Mac.

I spent a few hours dealing with this issue for a customer and wanted to make notes for next time.

Many sites want me to download some software that I have never heard of and I don't want anyone to download fake software and install more virus's or malware.

Used these places for my notes.

https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/6453928?hl=en

https://support.google.com/chrome/thread/8777356?hl=en

https://www.bugsfighter.com/remove-searchmine-net-mac/?gclid=CjwKCAiA3uDwBRBFEiwA1VsajM4PAN4pvliYxvbtX06VDn3Ze2sraTkYp4wfV_lG4F4yCwNTEyJ1GBoCYjAQAvD_BwE

https://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-searchmine-net/

Respond with a Text Disappears!!

Last week I noticed that my Message icon was missing.

I looked in the seetings and finally found the correct location to bring the message icon back.

iPhones that have the Home button.

Goto your settings Touch ID & Passcode it will ask for your passcode.

Scroll down to the ALLOW ACCESS WHEN LOCKED

Swipe the Reply with Message on.

iPhone X

Goto your settings Face ID & Passcode it will ask for your passcode.

Scroll down to the ALLOW ACCESS WHEN LOCKED

Swipe the Reply with Message on.

When you have turned this on you will get the Message icon back.

When you receive a call you will be able to decline a call and respond with a text!!

iOS 11's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi controls don't actually turn off Bluetooth or Wi-Fi

An annoyance and possible security risk too.

The main controls for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on Apple's newly launched iOS 11 software cannot actually be used to turn these features off.

Through Apple's redesigned control centre, you cannot actually deactivate the WiFi or Bluetooth.  Instead, these features disconnect users from current Bluetooth or Wi-Fi pairings and networks, but leave the features active. If you restart your phone, go to a new location, or it's 5 a.m. local time, WiFi and Bluetooth will automatically turn on again.

In the old Control Center, you could tap the WiFi and Bluetooth icons to turn off these services completely!

For Apple, the move is intentional and not a bug.  Apple said the reason it keeps Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled is to keep users connected to "important features", such as connecting to AirPlay, Apple Watch and to use features such as AirDrop and location services.

S0 at 5a.m. iOS 11 will automatically try and reconnect to known devices using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, if they have only been toggled off in the control centre.

It's unclear whether Apple will "fix" this issue or simply keep it. If anything, at least now you know the possible dangers of Bluetooth (The Verge) and WiFi (Wired) vulnerabilities and can try to remedy it yourself each day. OCDs unite!!

Parrot mimics owner to make purchases using Amazon Echo!!

This is a African Grey Parrot.

Link to the Sun

RIP OFF REPORT:

PC Shield Inc Fax from PC Shield Inc - Computer Hardware / Software Protection Oklahoma City OK

We received a faxed bill... oh wait it's a proposal... from "PC Shield" to provide hardware / software protection.

What caught our attention at first was we had never heard of the company.  Then we noticed the From: is actually Ad From:, and in the footer of the page it calls it a proposal and is not a bill.

Their fax machine is not set to show the transmission header, so I have no idea if this came from the fax number they provide in the body of their "proposal", or whether it was sent from some other fax line.  There is no phone number to contact them, and a quick Google search doesn't pull up a legit company anywhere in Oklahoma. By researching the address, it shows the PO Box was last registered to someone who has deceased, not a PC software company.

This was Faxed to us 9/16/2017