NW Tech Experts

iPhone/iPad users will want to update to the 16.1 update that has been avail for a few weeks now. You can get it from the settings app on your phone.

This is actually a pretty important one. It patches a potentially actively exploited zero day exploit that gives kernel level access (essentially a backdoor to your phone, and components within it's operating system that even you, the user, don't have the privileges to access). Obviously, if you jailbreak, you won't want to update, but for 99.9% of iPhone users, you'll want to do this update immediately.

It's also worth noting that 16.1 makes minimal changes outside of security patches, so you're unlikely to end up with a phone that changed things you don't want it to (ie many Apple updates). AND 16.2, which is in beta right now and could come out any day, has tons of changes you might not like, and no additional mandatory security patches. So you absolutely want to update to 16.1 while you still can. When 16.2 comes out, you won't be able to easily avoid the significant changes within the OS, and potentially breakage and bugs. Or just annoying design changes.

It's rare that updates lose data these days but it's not impossible. Please double check that you have at least 20% of your phone storage free before doing the update, and make sure your phone is backed up somewhere.

You can check your free storage space by opening your settings app, go to "General" and scroll to "phone storage"

To check the backup status of your phone, or to back up manually, again in settings app:

1. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.

2. Turn on iCloud Backup. iCloud automatically backs up your iPhone daily when iPhone is connected to power, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi.

3. To perform a manual backup, tap Back Up Now.

And I do recommend doing the manual back up before doing your system update.

If you would prefer a local backup (iCloud is usually functional, but it does fail more often than most of its cloud counterparts), here's instructions for backing up to your computer directly, via a USB cable:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212156

And when that's all done you can update your phone with these steps:

Go to Settings > General > Software Update

I recommend disabling auto updates, because Apple's quality control has gone downhill over the years. Unfortunately, they regularly ships software updates with regressions and bugs. The *.0 updates (ie 16.0) can almost universally be skipped, as the *.1 etc updates will be much more stable and have LOTS of bug fixes for the *.0 releases. But if you do disable the automatic updates you do need to remember to update manually

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iTunes on your PC If you back up your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you'll have a copy of your information to use in case your device is ever replaced, lost, or damaged.

Well, that's fantastic news.

Tech standards benefit everyone except those interested in price gouging consumers. And are rarely abused or backfire. So this is positive news for everyone except Apple.

Apple confirms USB-C is coming to iPhone: 'We have no choice' No matter the reason, the USB-C is finally coming to iPhones.

Heads up!

400 Malicious Apps Disguised as Photo Editors, Utilities and Games Cut from iOS, Android App Stores Researchers at Meta have identified hundreds of malicious apps posing as photo editors, games, VPNs, business apps and other utilities that were actually crafted to steal credentials from unsuspecting users.

As we prepare to take our services nationwide, we have decided to start this expansion by bringing (some of) our services to Eugene Oregon. Starting immediately, we will be offering remote virus removal, troubleshooting, computer tune ups, and Data Recovery (via mail in only for the time being).

I started this company 13 years ago because I thought everyone deserved the same high end IT services that are normally only accessable to large corporations. And when researching what towns needed this service most, Eugene kept ending up at the top of the list.

If you or someone you know needs help with these services, please call the Seattle number for now (although you may be working with either the Portland or Seattle branch).

Ben Straton
CEO
(206) 395-9599

NW Tech Experts | Computer Repair & Data Recovery: 12 years of Tech Excellence! We deliver qualified Technicians to your door. Computer Repair is only a click or call away!

You should air dust (with compressed air) any electronics that have vents with fans behind them, at least once a year.

You might want to check the back of your Xbox Series X Dust is no joke, folks

It might be worth reconsidering Vizio TV's. Nobody should have to see ads OVER the things they watch, on a TV they paid for.

I've found Sony's Android TV's have an acceptable amount of ads, none of them over what you're trying to watch. And their 4k upscaling technology is better than any of the competition.

-Ben

Vizio TVs are now showing banner ads over live TV Vizio TV owners still have time to voice their concerns

You'll want to remove this app immediately

Delete This Authenticator Android App Immediately To Avoid Its Banking Malware Payload This authenticator app is designed to install bank info-stealing malware that could wipe you out.