Join the speed revolution!

There is no single upgrade that will improve your digital life more than going from a standard hard drive to an Solid State Drive (SSD). 

Our customers buy new computers as their old one was slow. Then they find out the new has become slow over the next few months. By upgrading your traditional hard drive to an SSD hard drive you get an instant and on-going speed increase. Everything runs quicker. Many of our customers have described this as the "miracle cure"!

The old-fashioned turntable-like head spins inside your standard hard drive takes ages to startup, but with SSD's you can be up and running in your favorite programs, including heavy applications like Itunes and Photoshop, in just a few seconds. Boot up's can be achieved in around 10 seconds!

Another huge SSD advantage is durability. SSDs have no moving parts, solid-state drives aren't susceptible to damage or degraded performance from vibrations or movement. Drop a system or laptop containing a traditional hard-disk drive, and you have a very real chance of corrupting your data. However, a solid-state drive will have a very real chance of surviving most day to day shocks.

Here at Optima, we can upgrade your current or brand new computer and give you super fast performance. If we upgrade your current computer, we will ensure that all your programs and data are successfully transferred.

Call us on 020 8445 6700 to book in your SSD upgrade.

Mobile Phone Safety

Mobile phones are a big target for thieves and - given how much we rely on them - a missing smartphone can cost you more than just money. Read on for some top tips on mobile phone security.

1. Hide your mobile phone out of site

Don't leave your phone in an unattended car - 50% of all mobile thefts are from vehicles. If on public transport keep your phone in your bag and out of site.

2. Be aware of Wi-Fi security

Don't connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, for example in a coffee shop or train station, unless you really have to look something up that doesn't require you to enter personal details or passwords. You can purchase a mobile broadband dongle if required and get easy, secure internet access on the move.

3. Use the keypad/screen lock

It seems almost nonsensical in this day and age to not have a basic password on your lock screen, even if it is a basic one. One of the first things we'd suggest is to navigate into your device's security settings and enable a pass lock.

4. Register your mobile phone 

Registering your device at immobilise.com- This enables police to return stolen property as they find it. And if your mobile phone is stolen, report it to the police and to your network as soon as possible.

Your network can block your phone so that even if the Sim card is changed, it will no longer work in the UK.

5. Record the IMEI number

Keep a note of your mobile phone's unique 15-digit IMEI number. This is usually printed under the phone battery, or can be accessed by keying *#06# into most phones. If a mobile phone is stolen, the IMEI number helps your mobile service provider block the phone.

6. Mobile phone insurance

Decide whether to pay for mobile phone insurance. Depending on the type of handset you have it may be cheaper to replace it in the event of theft or damage, rather than paying insurance premiums.

If you do pay for mobile handset insurance and your phone is stolen, make sure you report it within 24 hours as most insurers insist on this as part of the policy terms and conditions.

7. Mobile phone viruses and worms

The good news for mobile phone security is that mobile phone viruses and malware haven't become widespread...yet. Still on Android devices please be careful what you download. iPhones aren’t so widespread to have viruses yet.

To stay safe, if in doubt, don't click on links in SMS or emails on your mobile. If you've got an iPhone, or other smartphone with full mobile internet access, be especially aware of the risks of opening attachments or clicking on links to potentially malicious websites. 

8. Restrict your Bluetooth usage

Turn off Bluetooth when not using it. Blue-jacking, where people nearby send anonymous messages to other phone users who've left Bluetooth switched on, is essentially harmless, but is an invasion of your privacy. Plus, Bluetooth can drain mobile battery power.

10. Keep your mobile phone updated

Make sure your mobile phone's firmware (operating system/OS) is updated to the latest version and patched with any security upgrades. Check out your handset manufacturer's website for updates and downloads that could increase your phone's security.

Anti-Virus & Computer Security

Securing your computer is as important as securing your home. You spend a lot of time on your computer and lots of this time is spent on the internet. The internet is a great tool but can also bring with it viruses and malware which can cause you big problems.

How can I protect myself?

1. Set strong passwords that include uppercase, lowercase and numbers.

2. Don’t use the same password for all accounts.

3. Keep passwords safe and out of site.

4. When using the internet for anything like banking or emails ensure that the website is HTTPS.

5. Do not open email attachments unless you are expecting them or know the attachment is safe. Many viruses come via email attachments. 

6. Use a paid for anti-virus software package. Ask us for recommendations. 

7. Only do software updates whilst at home or on a secure connection, and again only do an update if you know the software is genuine. If in doubt give us a call!

8. If you have not asked for tech support then it is unlikely a company knows you are having problems with your computer. So do not allow anyone access to your computer. Microsoft Tech Support will not call you, so be weary of bogus calls. 

If in any doubt or if you have any question about your computer security then please give us a call on 020 8445 6700

Windows 10 – Update

The excitement may have died down somewhat, but the free Windows 10 upgrade is still something Microsoft is offering for another few months. Windows 7 or Windows 8 can get their hands on Microsoft’s latest software absolutely free of charge. The free Windows 10 upgrade is still a smart move for both users and Microsoft. Users get the latest in security and features without having to pay the £70+ to upgrade that they used to.

We are getting about every 1 in 6 customers who have done the upgrade coming in with big problems. Most of the time we can safely return your PC to its original Windows 7 or 8 state, but worst case scenario we need to re-build your computer.

Why might I have problems upgrading?

Your computer may be compatible, but there may be drivers missing and drivers are what keeps your hardware and software communicating between each other.  Some software may be incompatible with Windows 10, meaning that when you upgrade, your favourite game or accounting package fail to work anymore, again causing big problems

So Should I upgrade yet?

We advise to hold out a few more months and wait for the Windows 10 first major update, which will hopefully iron out some major bugs and make your move to Windows 10 as smooth as possible.

We are more than happy to advise on whether to upgrade or not, so call us or pop into our workshop for some advice.