Just like in sci-fi movies, Microsoft’s biometric logins can now recognize your face, fingerprint, or eyes when you attempt to access your device. Here’s everything you need to know when setting up Windows Hello.

Say hello to fingerprint, iris, and facial scans

Windows Hello is an advanced biometric identity and access control feature in Windows 10. It allows you to log in to your computer without the need to enter a password. All you need is a fingerprint, iris, or facial scan.

If you’re worried about your privacy, rest assured that your biometric data is only saved to your device, never on Microsoft’s servers. It’s still best to handle this technology with caution, but Microsoft assures users that third parties cannot access your biometric data.

How to set up Windows Hello

A laptop or desktop with Windows 10 and a compatible webcam are all you need to set up Windows Hello. There is a full list of supported hardware here.

To get started with Hello, click the magnifying glass on your Start bar and open the Settings window. From there, choose Account, followed by Sign-in options. You should see setup options for face, iris, or fingerprint scans. Select which method you want to set up and follow the prompts to create a login profile.

You can even save your biometric data or scan more than once to boost accuracy. The system collects more data every time you scan, so it’s better to complete a few scans before enabling the login feature.

After setting up your account, you can start adding family members who share the same device. Each of them can set up their own biometric profile in a separate account. Passwords are still an option when using Windows Hello in case your camera isn’t working.

There are several Windows features that can make your life easier. Our IT experts can help you get more out of your Windows devices. Contact us today!

You can now log in faster and more securely to your laptop, tablet, websites, or apps with Microsoft’s Windows Hello. You only have to use your camera to recognize your face or a fingerprint reader.

Say hello to fingerprint, iris, and facial scans

Windows Hello is an advanced biometric identity and access control feature in Windows 10. It allows you to log in to your computer without the need to enter a password. All you need is a fingerprint, iris, or facial scan.

If you’re worried about your privacy, rest assured that your biometric data is only saved to your device, never on Microsoft’s servers. It’s still best to handle this technology with caution, but Microsoft assures users that third parties cannot access your biometric data.

How to set up Windows Hello

A laptop or desktop with Windows 10 and a compatible webcam are all you need to set up Windows Hello. There is a full list of supported hardware here.

To get started with Hello, click the magnifying glass on your Start bar and open the Settings window. From there, choose Account, followed by Sign-in options. You should see setup options for face, iris, or fingerprint scans. Select which method you want to set up and follow the prompts to create a login profile.

You can even save your biometric data or scan more than once to boost accuracy. The system collects more data every time you scan, so it’s better to complete a few scans before enabling the login feature.

After setting up your account, you can start adding family members who share the same device. Each of them can set up their own biometric profile in a separate account. Passwords are still an option when using Windows Hello in case your camera isn’t working.

There are several Windows features that can make your life easier. Our IT experts can help you get more out of your Windows devices. Contact us today!

Sophos researchers are warning Windows 10 users about a new type of malware that can disable and bypass computers’ security software. Known as Snatch, this ransomware is comprised of a collection of tools, including a separate data stealer. Designed to target businesses, this ransomware forces your Windows PC to reboot in Safe Mode to prevent any security software from launching.

Who’s behind the Snatch ransomware?
According to the report released by Sophos, the threat actors responsible for the Snatch ransomware call themselves the Snatch Team on dark web message forums. The researchers observed this team posting appeals for affiliate partners on Russian language message forums. The cybercriminal group is looking to purchase network access intelligence so they can launch automated brute force attacks against unsuspecting enterprises.

What does Snatch do?
When this malware infects your computer, it installs a Windows service called SuperBackupMan. The SuperBackupMan is then executed, allowing hackers to use administrator access to run the BCDEDIT tool and force your computer to restart in Safe Mode. After restarting, Snatch then uses the Windows command vssadmin.com to erase all the Volume Shadow Copies on your system. This prevents you from recovering the files locked by this ransomware.

Aside from encrypting your data, Snatch is also capable of installing surveillance software, as well as stealing important business and personal information.

How to protect yourself from Snatch
Sophos offered several tips on how you can protect your business from this dangerous ransomware.

• Monitor your network – Be proactive when it comes to hunting for breaches and potential threats in your network. You can invest in the latest threat-hunting program, or, if you lack the resources to do so, you can employ the services of a reputable managed IT services provider (MSP) to assist you in identifying and stopping any malicious activity in your system.
• Use multifactor authentication (MFA) – In this day and age, having a strong password is not enough to protect you from cybercriminals. Set your network up with MFA to make it harder for hackers to brute force their way into your system.
• Check all your devices – Sophos stated in their report that the initial access points of Snatch attacks were unmonitored and unprotected devices. Your IT staff or MSP should run regular checkups on all your active devices to make sure no vulnerabilities exist.
• Protect remote access protocols – If your organization uses servers with remote access protocols, make sure they’re updated with the latest security patches and protected by endpoint protection software solutions. These access points should also be monitored regularly for abnormal activity and login attempts.
• Use a secure internet connection – Do not use your remote desktop interface on an unprotected internet connection. If remote access is needed, you should protect your computers by using a virtual private network (VPN).

The severity of the risk posed by Snatch is something you should not ignore. Building a solid and secure network is not enough to protect your business from ransomware. Hackers are always looking for new ways to gain access to your system, which is why your security software solutions, backups, strategy, and training should adapt and keep up. If you want to learn more about how to step up your network security, contact us today.

If your business is running on a Windows 10 operating system (OS), you should be careful of Snatch, a new strain of ransomware that can easily bypass its security protocols. Discovered by a research team in Sophos, this malware can slip through Windows 10’s security software by rebooting your computer in Safe Mode and disabling security programs from starting.

Who’s behind the Snatch ransomware?
According to the report released by Sophos, the threat actors responsible for the Snatch ransomware call themselves the Snatch Team on dark web message forums. The researchers observed this team posting appeals for affiliate partners on Russian language message forums. The cybercriminal group is looking to purchase network access intelligence so they can launch automated brute force attacks against unsuspecting enterprises.

What does Snatch do?
When this malware infects your computer, it installs a Windows service called SuperBackupMan. The SuperBackupMan is then executed, allowing hackers to use administrator access to run the BCDEDIT tool and force your computer to restart in Safe Mode. After restarting, Snatch then uses the Windows command vssadmin.com to erase all the Volume Shadow Copies on your system. This prevents you from recovering the files locked by this ransomware.

Aside from encrypting your data, Snatch is also capable of installing surveillance software, as well as stealing important business and personal information.

How to protect yourself from Snatch
Sophos offered several tips on how you can protect your business from this dangerous ransomware.

• Monitor your network – Be proactive when it comes to hunting for breaches and potential threats in your network. You can invest in the latest threat-hunting program, or, if you lack the resources to do so, you can employ the services of a reputable managed IT services provider (MSP) to assist you in identifying and stopping any malicious activity in your system.
• Use multifactor authentication (MFA) – In this day and age, having a strong password is not enough to protect you from cybercriminals. Set your network up with MFA to make it harder for hackers to brute force their way into your system.
• Check all your devices – Sophos stated in their report that the initial access points of Snatch attacks were unmonitored and unprotected devices. Your IT staff or MSP should run regular checkups on all your active devices to make sure no vulnerabilities exist.
• Protect remote access protocols – If your organization uses servers with remote access protocols, make sure they’re updated with the latest security patches and protected by endpoint protection software solutions. These access points should also be monitored regularly for abnormal activity and login attempts.
• Use a secure internet connection – Do not use your remote desktop interface on an unprotected internet connection. If remote access is needed, you should protect your computers by using a virtual private network (VPN).

The severity of the risk posed by Snatch is something you should not ignore. Building a solid and secure network is not enough to protect your business from ransomware. Hackers are always looking for new ways to gain access to your system, which is why your security software solutions, backups, strategy, and training should adapt and keep up. If you want to learn more about how to step up your network security, contact us today.

Researchers have discovered a type of malware that can easily bypass the security protocols of Windows 10. This malware is a new variation of ransomware called Snatch, and it comes with an added data stealer component. Designed to target corporate networks rather than consumers, Snatch has been modified to reboot your PC in Safe Mode to disable any security programs from initiating.

Who’s behind the Snatch ransomware?
According to the report released by Sophos, the threat actors responsible for the Snatch ransomware call themselves the Snatch Team on dark web message forums. The researchers observed this team posting appeals for affiliate partners on Russian language message forums. The cybercriminal group is looking to purchase network access intelligence so they can launch automated brute force attacks against unsuspecting enterprises.

What does Snatch do?
When this malware infects your computer, it installs a Windows service called SuperBackupMan. The SuperBackupMan is then executed, allowing hackers to use administrator access to run the BCDEDIT tool and force your computer to restart in Safe Mode. After restarting, Snatch then uses the Windows command vssadmin.com to erase all the Volume Shadow Copies on your system. This prevents you from recovering the files locked by this ransomware.

Aside from encrypting your data, Snatch is also capable of installing surveillance software, as well as stealing important business and personal information.

How to protect yourself from Snatch
Sophos offered several tips on how you can protect your business from this dangerous ransomware.

• Monitor your network – Be proactive when it comes to hunting for breaches and potential threats in your network. You can invest in the latest threat-hunting program, or, if you lack the resources to do so, you can employ the services of a reputable managed IT services provider (MSP) to assist you in identifying and stopping any malicious activity in your system.
• Use multifactor authentication (MFA) – In this day and age, having a strong password is not enough to protect you from cybercriminals. Set your network up with MFA to make it harder for hackers to brute force their way into your system.
• Check all your devices – Sophos stated in their report that the initial access points of Snatch attacks were unmonitored and unprotected devices. Your IT staff or MSP should run regular checkups on all your active devices to make sure no vulnerabilities exist.
• Protect remote access protocols – If your organization uses servers with remote access protocols, make sure they’re updated with the latest security patches and protected by endpoint protection software solutions. These access points should also be monitored regularly for abnormal activity and login attempts.
• Use a secure internet connection – Do not use your remote desktop interface on an unprotected internet connection. If remote access is needed, you should protect your computers by using a virtual private network (VPN).

The severity of the risk posed by Snatch is something you should not ignore. Building a solid and secure network is not enough to protect your business from ransomware. Hackers are always looking for new ways to gain access to your system, which is why your security software solutions, backups, strategy, and training should adapt and keep up. If you want to learn more about how to step up your network security, contact us today.

Microsoft recently released the latest version of Windows 10, so it’s time to update your PC’s operating system. While it’s practically just a service pack, the update has some useful improvements to your computer’s performance. Here’s a list of the features the November 2019 Update brings.

Also known as Windows 10 version 1909 or 19H2, the Windows 10 November 2019 Update can be installed by heading to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click Check Updates > Download and install now. Once the update is installed, that’s it — there are no long reboots and old Windows installation purges needed, unlike with previous updates. Just restart your PC and enjoy the small but helpful tweaks to your OS.

Windows Search and File Explorer integration

Previously, files on OneDrive were considered separate from those on your computer. Later versions of Windows 10 allowed file syncing between OneDrive and your PC. Doing a “This PC” search would show you a long list of the files stored on both OneDrive and your computer.

With Windows 10’s latest update, Windows Search indexes your computer. As such, typing a filename into the search box in File Explorer brings up a dropdown menu with a list of suggested files on both your local drive and OneDrive cloud. You also have the option of right-clicking on one of the search results to open the file’s location. This means you don’t have to sort through all the files that come up during a search, saving you some precious time.

You could still search non-indexed locations by pressing Enter after typing in the filename you’re looking for.

Battery life and other performance improvements

In general, some PCs will experience an improved battery life with the new update. This also means better power efficiency that leads to longer battery life for your laptop. The November 2019 Update also brings improvements to the scheduling on multicore CPUs, rotating work better among the cores to enhance performance and reliability.

Also, if your computer has digital inking features, you’ll experience lower latency with the new update. This means fewer lag or delay issues when you’re drawing, so you can complete tasks much faster.

Activate Alexa on the lock screen

Cortana’s not the only digital assistant with access to your computer’s lock screen anymore. A tweak in the November 2019 Update now allows you to voice activate third-party digital assistants from the lock screen. Those “third-party digital assistants” actually mean just Amazon’s Alexa for now, but this change could pave the way for a future wherein you could use several digital assistants on a single device.

In fact, earlier this year, Microsoft announced the Voice Interoperability Initiative (VII). This would enable users to use several wake words on a single desktop or laptop, including those running on Windows 10.

For instance, you could use Spotify’s own voice-guided navigation directly if you want to play a specific song. This is opposed to how current AI assistants work; right now, if you want to play a song on Spotify, you’d have to direct your request through Cortana or Alexa. VII basically does away with this extra step.

But again, the tech is limited to launching just Alexa from the lock screen — at least, for now.

Add new events to your Calendar from the taskbar

Windows 10’s calendar application is a nifty tool for staying organized and on top of tasks. The latest update makes it even easier to use by allowing you to create calendar events directly from the taskbar.

Simply click the clock on the taskbar to open the Calendar. Click on a date and type in the name, time, and location of the event or task in the textbox that comes up. You can also view and edit any events or tasks you create here in the Calendar app.

Other useful tweaks

The Start menu has been made more user-friendly. Hovering over icons in the navigation pane on the left side of the menu shows what you’re about to click on, so it’s easier to understand what the icon does before you click on it.

Also, Microsoft’s screen reader Narrator tells you where the Fn key is located on your keyboard and whether it’s locked or unlocked. This is especially helpful to users who can’t easily see the keys.

Finally, before the November 2019 Update, you had to disable notification sounds separately for each app that shows notifications. But now you can easily mute all notification sounds by going to Settings > System Notifications > Notifications & Actions.

Microsoft is always seeking ways to improve their products and, in turn, user experience and productivity. If you want to learn more about the different Microsoft products and devices, drop our experts a line today.

With the Windows 10 November 2019 Update, your desktop or laptop will get some small but important tweaks to its systems. If you haven’t already, install the latest update to start enjoying the latest performance-enhancing improvements to Windows 10.

Also known as Windows 10 version 1909 or 19H2, the Windows 10 November 2019 Update can be installed by heading to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click Check Updates > Download and install now. Once the update is installed, that’s it — there are no long reboots and old Windows installation purges needed, unlike with previous updates. Just restart your PC and enjoy the small but helpful tweaks to your OS.

Windows Search and File Explorer integration

Previously, files on OneDrive were considered separate from those on your computer. Later versions of Windows 10 allowed file syncing between OneDrive and your PC. Doing a “This PC” search would show you a long list of the files stored on both OneDrive and your computer.

With Windows 10’s latest update, Windows Search indexes your computer. As such, typing a filename into the search box in File Explorer brings up a dropdown menu with a list of suggested files on both your local drive and OneDrive cloud. You also have the option of right-clicking on one of the search results to open the file’s location. This means you don’t have to sort through all the files that come up during a search, saving you some precious time.

You could still search non-indexed locations by pressing Enter after typing in the filename you’re looking for.

Battery life and other performance improvements

In general, some PCs will experience an improved battery life with the new update. This also means better power efficiency that leads to longer battery life for your laptop. The November 2019 Update also brings improvements to the scheduling on multicore CPUs, rotating work better among the cores to enhance performance and reliability.

Also, if your computer has digital inking features, you’ll experience lower latency with the new update. This means fewer lag or delay issues when you’re drawing, so you can complete tasks much faster.

Activate Alexa on the lock screen

Cortana’s not the only digital assistant with access to your computer’s lock screen anymore. A tweak in the November 2019 Update now allows you to voice activate third-party digital assistants from the lock screen. Those “third-party digital assistants” actually mean just Amazon’s Alexa for now, but this change could pave the way for a future wherein you could use several digital assistants on a single device.

In fact, earlier this year, Microsoft announced the Voice Interoperability Initiative (VII). This would enable users to use several wake words on a single desktop or laptop, including those running on Windows 10.

For instance, you could use Spotify’s own voice-guided navigation directly if you want to play a specific song. This is opposed to how current AI assistants work; right now, if you want to play a song on Spotify, you’d have to direct your request through Cortana or Alexa. VII basically does away with this extra step.

But again, the tech is limited to launching just Alexa from the lock screen — at least, for now.

Add new events to your Calendar from the taskbar

Windows 10’s calendar application is a nifty tool for staying organized and on top of tasks. The latest update makes it even easier to use by allowing you to create calendar events directly from the taskbar.

Simply click the clock on the taskbar to open the Calendar. Click on a date and type in the name, time, and location of the event or task in the textbox that comes up. You can also view and edit any events or tasks you create here in the Calendar app.

Other useful tweaks

The Start menu has been made more user-friendly. Hovering over icons in the navigation pane on the left side of the menu shows what you’re about to click on, so it’s easier to understand what the icon does before you click on it.

Also, Microsoft’s screen reader Narrator tells you where the Fn key is located on your keyboard and whether it’s locked or unlocked. This is especially helpful to users who can’t easily see the keys.

Finally, before the November 2019 Update, you had to disable notification sounds separately for each app that shows notifications. But now you can easily mute all notification sounds by going to Settings > System Notifications > Notifications & Actions.

Microsoft is always seeking ways to improve their products and, in turn, user experience and productivity. If you want to learn more about the different Microsoft products and devices, drop our experts a line today.

Microsoft rolled out the latest Windows 10 update on November 12. And though it’s a relatively small update, it comes with new features that will improve your Windows 10 computer’s functionality and performance.

Also known as Windows 10 version 1909 or 19H2, the Windows 10 November 2019 Update can be installed by heading to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click Check Updates > Download and install now. Once the update is installed, that’s it — there are no long reboots and old Windows installation purges needed, unlike with previous updates. Just restart your PC and enjoy the small but helpful tweaks to your OS.

Windows Search and File Explorer integration

Previously, files on OneDrive were considered separate from those on your computer. Later versions of Windows 10 allowed file syncing between OneDrive and your PC. Doing a “This PC” search would show you a long list of the files stored on both OneDrive and your computer.

With Windows 10’s latest update, Windows Search indexes your computer. As such, typing a filename into the search box in File Explorer brings up a dropdown menu with a list of suggested files on both your local drive and OneDrive cloud. You also have the option of right-clicking on one of the search results to open the file’s location. This means you don’t have to sort through all the files that come up during a search, saving you some precious time.

You could still search non-indexed locations by pressing Enter after typing in the filename you’re looking for.

Battery life and other performance improvements

In general, some PCs will experience an improved battery life with the new update. This also means better power efficiency that leads to longer battery life for your laptop. The November 2019 Update also brings improvements to the scheduling on multicore CPUs, rotating work better among the cores to enhance performance and reliability.

Also, if your computer has digital inking features, you’ll experience lower latency with the new update. This means fewer lag or delay issues when you’re drawing, so you can complete tasks much faster.

Activate Alexa on the lock screen

Cortana’s not the only digital assistant with access to your computer’s lock screen anymore. A tweak in the November 2019 Update now allows you to voice activate third-party digital assistants from the lock screen. Those “third-party digital assistants” actually mean just Amazon’s Alexa for now, but this change could pave the way for a future wherein you could use several digital assistants on a single device.

In fact, earlier this year, Microsoft announced the Voice Interoperability Initiative (VII). This would enable users to use several wake words on a single desktop or laptop, including those running on Windows 10.

For instance, you could use Spotify’s own voice-guided navigation directly if you want to play a specific song. This is opposed to how current AI assistants work; right now, if you want to play a song on Spotify, you’d have to direct your request through Cortana or Alexa. VII basically does away with this extra step.

But again, the tech is limited to launching just Alexa from the lock screen — at least, for now.

Add new events to your Calendar from the taskbar

Windows 10’s calendar application is a nifty tool for staying organized and on top of tasks. The latest update makes it even easier to use by allowing you to create calendar events directly from the taskbar.

Simply click the clock on the taskbar to open the Calendar. Click on a date and type in the name, time, and location of the event or task in the textbox that comes up. You can also view and edit any events or tasks you create here in the Calendar app.

Other useful tweaks

The Start menu has been made more user-friendly. Hovering over icons in the navigation pane on the left side of the menu shows what you’re about to click on, so it’s easier to understand what the icon does before you click on it.

Also, Microsoft’s screen reader Narrator tells you where the Fn key is located on your keyboard and whether it’s locked or unlocked. This is especially helpful to users who can’t easily see the keys.

Finally, before the November 2019 Update, you had to disable notification sounds separately for each app that shows notifications. But now you can easily mute all notification sounds by going to Settings > System Notifications > Notifications & Actions.

Microsoft is always seeking ways to improve their products and, in turn, user experience and productivity. If you want to learn more about the different Microsoft products and devices, drop our experts a line today.

If you’re noticing a significant slowdown in your Windows PC’s performance, it may be because it’s bogged down by too many unnecessary files. Free up some disk space and revitalize your machine by using the Disk Cleanup tool. It’s a program that can identify such files and remove them without adversely affecting your PC.

How to operate the Disk Cleanup tool

Disk Cleanup can easily be accessed through the start menu or by searching Disk Cleanup. Once opened, this tool automatically selects Drive C (though you can switch to other drives) and shows a list of file locations containing files that can be removed. Next to each file location is information about how much space it is taking up in your hard disk.

Each file location has a corresponding checkbox that needs to be selected in order to delete the unnecessary files it contains. Upon clicking a file location, a description of the files it contains will appear at the bottom of the window so that you’ll know exactly the types of files you’ll be removing.

When Disk Cleanup is finished, you’ll need to restart your system to remove unnecessary Windows Update files. Remember, the Disk Cleanup tool only removes those Update files that are no longer needed, hence usually very few are deleted.

The benefits of Disk Cleanup

• Maximizes your drive’s memory – The ultimate benefits of cleaning up your disk are maximized computer storage space, increased speed, and improved functionality. These enable you to use your device to run at peak performance levels.
• Makes your computer more reliable – Some programs that are downloaded through the internet are often infected with viruses that can decrease your computer’s reliability. The Disk Cleanup tool can clean your computer and rid it of unwanted programs as well.
• Saves time and increases efficiency – The traditional way of opening folders to find old files to delete may be enough for some, but not for those who prioritize productivity. Although files can be deleted manually, Disk Cleanup is simply much faster at it.

The Disk Cleanup tool is as handy to launch and operate as any basic program. If you are looking to further improve the speed of your systems, contact us today to learn more about our IT services.

The Windows operating system (OS) tends to accumulate all sorts of files to help it complete data processes. However, once those processes are done, no-longer-to-be-used files clutter the hard drive, making it run slower through time. To regain peak performance, you must remove them from your drive by using the Disk Cleanup tool.

How to operate the Disk Cleanup tool

Disk Cleanup can easily be accessed through the start menu or by searching Disk Cleanup. Once opened, this tool automatically selects Drive C (though you can switch to other drives) and shows a list of file locations containing files that can be removed. Next to each file location is information about how much space it is taking up in your hard disk.

Each file location has a corresponding checkbox that needs to be selected in order to delete the unnecessary files it contains. Upon clicking a file location, a description of the files it contains will appear at the bottom of the window so that you’ll know exactly the types of files you’ll be removing.

When Disk Cleanup is finished, you’ll need to restart your system to remove unnecessary Windows Update files. Remember, the Disk Cleanup tool only removes those Update files that are no longer needed, hence usually very few are deleted.

The benefits of Disk Cleanup

• Maximizes your drive’s memory – The ultimate benefits of cleaning up your disk are maximized computer storage space, increased speed, and improved functionality. These enable you to use your device to run at peak performance levels.
• Makes your computer more reliable – Some programs that are downloaded through the internet are often infected with viruses that can decrease your computer’s reliability. The Disk Cleanup tool can clean your computer and rid it of unwanted programs as well.
• Saves time and increases efficiency – The traditional way of opening folders to find old files to delete may be enough for some, but not for those who prioritize productivity. Although files can be deleted manually, Disk Cleanup is simply much faster at it.

The Disk Cleanup tool is as handy to launch and operate as any basic program. If you are looking to further improve the speed of your systems, contact us today to learn more about our IT services.

Two of the first things you should do if your Windows desktop is running slow is to clean up the hard drive and free up some disk space. One of the best ways to do this is to use the Disk Cleanup tool. It’s a program for conveniently weeding out old files that are no longer needed but are likely hindering your hard disk from performing optimally. Disk Cleanup also has the innovative capability of determining which files can be removed safely from your hard disk.

How to operate the Disk Cleanup tool

Disk Cleanup can easily be accessed through the start menu or by searching Disk Cleanup. Once opened, this tool automatically selects Drive C (though you can switch to other drives) and shows a list of file locations containing files that can be removed. Next to each file location is information about how much space it is taking up in your hard disk.

Each file location has a corresponding checkbox that needs to be selected in order to delete the unnecessary files it contains. Upon clicking a file location, a description of the files it contains will appear at the bottom of the window so that you’ll know exactly the types of files you’ll be removing.

When Disk Cleanup is finished, you’ll need to restart your system to remove unnecessary Windows Update files. Remember, the Disk Cleanup tool only removes those Update files that are no longer needed, hence usually very few are deleted.

The benefits of Disk Cleanup

• Maximizes your drive’s memory – The ultimate benefits of cleaning up your disk are maximized computer storage space, increased speed, and improved functionality. These enable you to use your device to run at peak performance levels.
• Makes your computer more reliable – Some programs that are downloaded through the internet are often infected with viruses that can decrease your computer’s reliability. The Disk Cleanup tool can clean your computer and rid it of unwanted programs as well.
• Saves time and increases efficiency – The traditional way of opening folders to find old files to delete may be enough for some, but not for those who prioritize productivity. Although files can be deleted manually, Disk Cleanup is simply much faster at it.

The Disk Cleanup tool is as handy to launch and operate as any basic program. If you are looking to further improve the speed of your systems, contact us today to learn more about our IT services.

Are you using all of Windows 10’s awesome productivity features? From adjusting system and battery performance to silencing notifications, you could be missing out on powerful features and productivity enhancements — check out our four favorites.

Night Light

This feature lets you reduce the amount of blue light emitted from your screen, which reduces eye strain and boosts sleep efficiency. Night Light is disabled by default, so you need to enable it by following these steps:

• Click the Start Menu
• Open the Settings app (or press the Windows key + I to quickly open Settings)
• Select the System icon followed by the Display option in the left-hand pane
• Set Night light to “On” or “Off”

Taskbar pin

It takes only a few seconds to open a browser and enter a web address or choose a saved page from the bookmarks menu. However, Windows 10 makes the process even quicker with Edge browser’s “Pin this page to the taskbar” feature. This is an essential shortcut for anyone who relies on web-based apps such as email or company intranets.

Pin your open windows

Do you struggle to organize a screen cluttered with open windows? Holding the Windows key and pressing an arrow should solve most of your problems:

• Windows key + Left – Resize the current window’s width to half the size of the screen and align it to the left
• Windows key + Right – Resize the current window’s width to half the size of the screen and align it to the right
• Windows key + Up – Maximize the current window to fit the entire screen
• Windows key + Down – Downsize the current window

When none of those keys are enough to set you straight, holding the Windows key and pressing the Tab button will show you all the apps you currently have open.

Focus Assist

Notifications are frustratingly distracting. Windows 10’s Focus Assist feature helps you tackle this issue by customizing which contacts and applications can interrupt you during predetermined periods of time. Try it out by:

• Opening the Settings window
• Clicking the System icon
• Selecting Focus Assist from the left-hand pane
• Adjusting the notifications settings based on your preference

If you wish to disable it and receive all notifications, click “Off.”

These are just a few of our favorites. For more software and productivity recommendations, give our experts a call today.