The myth that Macs are resilient to viruses may have been accurate 10 years ago, but due to the growing prevalence of the operating system, the number of malicious programs has grown as well. Mac users can’t simply browse anywhere on the web and expect to be immune simply because of OSX. Cat Tech encourages all computer users to frequently scan their computer with an antivirus of choice. Another excellent way to help stop viruses is to download an ad block extension for your web browser. Ad blocks are designed to block all ads, whether they are simply advertisements or lead to malware. If you are struggling with viruses on your computer, bring it into Cat Tech! We can get you fixed and on your way as well as show you how to prevent future infections.

Many different browsers are used to browse the internet and today we’re focusing on three major browsers.

The most popular browser right now is Google Chrome. Users love Chrome for its customization and clean interface. Chrome has a seemingly endless suite of extensions available so individuals can personalize their browsing experience. Chrome is compatible with nearly every device that can browse the internet. Linking Chrome to your Google account allows your information to be shared across every device you use, including browsing history and password management. The only notable downsides with Chrome include memory usage with numerous tabs open and giving more information to Google (if you’re concerned about that).

Microsoft Edge, the new web browser for Microsoft 10, is very lightweight and won’t use up large amounts of system resources. However, Edge does not yet have support for many extensions. If you’re looking for a simple, snappy experience that melds well with what Windows 10 offers, then Microsoft Edge might be right for you.

Safari is the Apple-branded counterpart to Microsoft Edge and default browser on all Apple computers. Safari functions smoothly on these devices, however Safari’s support for extensions is extremely limited and it’s very difficult to get anything beyond a basic adblocker. Essentially Safari is a very simple, lightweight and stable web browser that functions exceptionally well on macOS and iOS.

The cloud enables users to access the same files and applications from almost any device, because the computing and storage takes place on servers in a data center, instead of locally on the user device.  There are many options such as iCloud, Google Drive, DropBox or Microsoft One Drive.

Computers are made up of multiple parts working together to make something cohesive - we all know this. What many people don’t know, however, is what each part is and what it does. Computer users should possess the basic knowledge of computer components as it is invaluable when troubleshooting.

In an everyday desktop computer, components are divided into two categories: internal and external. One of the most common mistakes people make when talking about their computer is referring to their display as the computer. The display is what, well, displays what information is being transmitted from the rest of the computer. Other external components can be mice, keyboards, or external storage such as flash drives or external hard drives. Devices that interact with the computer in some way can also be called collectively “peripherals”. Most desktop computers have the actual computing parts in a box off to the side usually called the case.

Inside of the case, we can find the working parts of the computer, which take input, decide what to do with that input and then create output, usually to the display. The part that holds everything together is the motherboard (or logic board, or system board depending on who you ask). Each part of the computer plugs into the motherboard in some way. The “brain” of the computer, called the processor, is attached directly to the motherboard. The processor processes all information the computer receives at the scale of billions of cycles per second. The processor pulls what it needs to work on from the Random-Access Memory (RAM), which stores processes that are actively being worked on. The bulk of the computer’s information not actively being used is stored in the hard drive/solid-state drive.

Cat Tech hopes this information helps you be a more knowledgeable user. If you’re ever having trouble with any components come in and talk to one of our techs and we’ll gladly help you out!