Bob's Computer Service

10/25/2026

An email arrives saying someone requested a password reset for your account. You did not request it, but the message looks legitimate, complete with a familiar logo, a professional layout, and a link to "secure" your account. Most people either ignore it or click the link out of concern.

Ignoring it entirely is actually the right instinct, but clicking that link is where things go wrong. Attackers send fake reset emails hoping you will click through to a convincing login page designed to capture your credentials. Once you enter them, your real account is compromised, often within minutes.

If you receive a password reset email you did not request, do not click anything in the message. Instead, go directly to the website by typing the address into your browser and check your account from there. If someone really is trying to get into your account, changing your password directly is the right response.

10/24/2026

You add two-factor authentication to your email account and feel like you have locked things down. That is absolutely the right move, and it does make your account significantly harder to break into. But it helps to understand exactly what it protects against, and where it still has limits.

Two-factor authentication stops attackers who have your password but do not have access to your phone or authenticator app. That covers the most common threat: stolen or guessed passwords from data breaches, phishing pages, or credential leaks. Without the second factor, a stolen password alone is not enough to get in.

What it does not protect against is handing that code over yourself. If someone calls you pretending to be your bank or Microsoft and asks you to read the code out loud to verify your identity, the protection disappears the moment you share it. Legitimate organizations will never ask for your verification code.

The takeaway is simple. Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere you can, especially on email, banking, and Microsoft 365 accounts. Just remember that the code is yours alone. If anyone ever asks for it, that is the scam.

10/23/2026

This Week in Tech History

October 22, 2009: Windows 7 is officially released!

After the mixed reception of Windows Vista, Microsoft needed a comeback—and Windows 7 delivered. Sleeker, faster, and far more user-friendly, it quickly became one of the most beloved operating systems of all time.

What led to it? Vista had frustrated users with performance issues and heavy system requirements. Microsoft took those complaints seriously and built Windows 7 with speed, stability, and simplicity at its core. Features such as the redesigned taskbar, jump lists, and improved touch support set a new standard for usability.

The impact? Businesses and home users alike upgraded in droves. Windows 7 became the backbone of workplaces, schools, and households worldwide for over a decade. Even after official support ended in 2020, many machines continued to run it due to its rock-solid reliability.
Fun fact: Some surveys estimate that millions of PCs were still running Windows 7 even five years after support ended! That’s a testament to just how well it was built.

Did you ever have a PC running Windows 7? Share your memories below. What was your favorite part of it?

10/21/2026

Sometimes the best way to fix a computer problem is to see it firsthand.

Recently, I helped two clients right here in Longmeadow, MA, with very different technology challenges.

One was working from home near the Longmeadow Green and dealing with frustrating network problems that kept interrupting their workday. After troubleshooting the setup, I discovered the router was the culprit. A replacement and a few configuration changes got everything working properly again.

Another client near the JCC needed to move years of important, sensitive information from an older computer to a new one. This wasn't just about transferring files. It was about making sure nothing important was left behind and that everything worked the way they expected.

**Two different problems, but the same goal: making technology one less thing to worry about.**

I've been helping families and small businesses throughout Western Massachusetts since 2008, and these are the kinds of jobs that remind me why I enjoy what I do.

I recently shared these experiences, along with some helpful information about how I support Longmeadow homes and businesses.

Take a look: https://www.bobscomputerrepairs.com/computer-repair-longmeadow-ma/

10/19/2026

You changed your password. You breathed a sigh of relief. But what if the person who stole it is still inside your account?

It's a frightening thought, especially when your business, your employees, and your customers depend on you to keep their information safe.
I've seen firsthand how a suspicious email can become much more than a stolen password.

Today's cybercriminals aren't always looking for a quick payday. Sometimes they're quietly gathering information, watching conversations, learning who you trust, and waiting for the right moment to strike again.

And here's what many people don't realize: Changing your password doesn't always kick an attacker out of your account.

That's why I wrote my latest article. I wanted to explain what can happen AFTER someone clicks a phishing link, why the danger might not be over, and what businesses can do to protect themselves.

My goal isn't to scare anyone. It's to help business owners understand the risks before a small mistake becomes an expensive problem.

Protecting your business isn't just about stopping the first attack. It's about making sure there isn't a second one.

Changing the password may not end a phishing attack. What attackers do with stolen credentials and what a business should check before calling it over.

10/18/2026

Here's a situation that catches a lot of people off guard: you get an alert that someone logged into one of your accounts from an unfamiliar location. You haven't done anything wrong recently, haven't clicked a suspicious link, haven't shared your password. So how did they get in?

The answer is often a data breach that happened years ago at a completely different company. Attackers collect old stolen credentials from those breaches and use automated tools to try them on your email, banking, and other accounts right now. If you used the same password back then that you use today, they're in.

Warning signs include unexpected login alerts, password reset emails you didn't request, or being locked out of an account with no explanation. These are not random glitches. They're often the first signal that someone else is already inside.

If any of these happen, change that password immediately, turn on two-factor authentication, and check whether your email appears in a known breach at haveibeenpwned.com. And if you'd like a hand securing your accounts or devices, we're always here to help.

10/16/2026

This Week in Tech History

The First Commercial Cell Phone Call: October 13, 1983

On this day in 1983, history was made when the very first commercial cell phone call was placed on a Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. Weighing nearly 2 pounds, costing almost $4,000 (that’s over $11,000 today), and offering just 30 minutes of talk time before needing a recharge—it was hardly convenient. However, it marked the beginning of something revolutionary.

The road to this moment wasn’t easy. Motorola engineer Martin Cooper had placed the world’s first mobile call a decade earlier in 1973 as a proof of concept. It took another ten years of development, FCC approval, and network building before the public could actually use mobile phones.

That first commercial call marked the beginning of a new era. What started as a bulky status symbol for the wealthy has since evolved into pocket-sized supercomputers we now rely on for everything, calls, texts, email, banking, navigation, and even running businesses.
Think about it: without that first step, we wouldn’t have smartphones, mobile apps, or the ability to work from anywhere. It’s a perfect example of how tech innovations start clunky and expensive but pave the way for everyday essentials.

Do you remember your first cell phone? Was it a brick, a flip, or something in between?

10/15/2026

It's Troubleshooting Thursday! Your WiFi shows connected, but pages won't load, video keeps buffering, or the connection drops every few minutes. Sound familiar?

This is one of the most common complaints we hear, and the fix is often simpler than you'd expect. Start by restarting your router and modem, unplug both for 30 seconds, then plug the modem in first and wait before powering the router back on. Also check how far you are from the router, since walls and distance can quietly kill a signal.

If the drops keep happening after a restart, your router may be overloaded, using a congested channel, or simply getting old. A professional can take a closer look and get things running reliably again.

10/14/2026

Enfield, CT: Sometimes the Smallest Tech Problems Have the Biggest Impact.

Over the years, I've had the pleasure of helping homeowners and small businesses throughout Enfield, Connecticut. And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that computer problems rarely happen at a convenient time.

Recently, I helped an Enfield resident near Elm Street whose printer suddenly stopped working over the network. The printer wasn't broken. Their internet provider had updated their router, leaving the computer and printer connected to different networks. Once everything was properly connected again, printing and scanning were back to normal.

On another visit, this time to a business along Route 5, I helped secure an email account that had been compromised after someone clicked a link to a document. That required a much different approach, including reviewing account activity, checking for hidden email rules, and making sure the computer and account were secure.

Two very different problems, but both remind me that technology issues aren't always what they seem.

I've put together a page highlighting these experiences, along with some information about the computer repair and IT support I provide throughout Enfield.

And for those wondering, yes, I travel to Enfield regularly, and there's no additional travel charge!

If you live or work in Enfield, I hope you'll find this worth a read

https://www.bobscomputerrepairs.com/computer-repair-enfield-ct/

10/14/2026

Word Wednesday! If you share documents with a coworker, a client, or a family member, Track Changes in Microsoft Word is a feature worth knowing. Turn it on under the Review tab, and Word will automatically highlight every addition, deletion, and edit so nothing gets lost or overwritten without anyone noticing.

Each person's edits show up in a different color, and you can accept or reject changes one at a time or all at once. It takes the guesswork out of collaborative editing and keeps everyone on the same page.

Give it a try! It's a lot easier than emailing back and forth and hoping you're both working from the right version!