3 Safety Tips for Children and Internet Security

The Internet can be a dangerous place for a child if the proper steps aren’t taken to protect them. That’s why KingPin Computers offer Internet security for children and households. Here are a few tips on how to keep your child safe while they cruise the Internet:

Step 1: Create a list of sites that your child can visit safely on the Internet and provide children’s security

Navigate the Internet and visit sites that you feel are appropriate for your child. Make sure the sites do not collect personal information and read their privacy statements. If you find inappropriate sites, which you will, use Microsoft software to block it. For example, for Windows 7 and Windows Vista you can use their parent control features to block sites. If you find that this method is weak, then we offer powerful software that makes it easy for you to blockthese sites.

Step 2: Block or limit downloads for children’s security on the Internet

It is up to you whether or not you want to block or only limit downloads. Keep in mind that downloads like games, music and toolbars can expose your computer to spyware and other malicious software. KingPin Computers can teach you how to use your browser to monitor your child’s Internet activities to make sure they are not visiting sites that are known to carry malicious software. We recommend that if your child is old enough, you should teach them to ask for permission before they download.

Step 3: Tell your child not to talk to strangers online through chat rooms, social networks, and forums

Social networking is not only popular with kids, but with adults as well. There are predators who pose as children while they use social networking sites, real-time chats and instant messaging. KingPin computers recommend that you teach your children to use only a first name or nickname for themselves, never disclose personal information, never send photos and never agree to meet with anyone without your supervision.

KingPin Computers can also help you set up the appropriate security levels to only allow approved contacts to talk to your child while using instant messaging.

Stay Competitive Using IT Consulting in Cleveland OH

You have a business that needs to incorporate innovative software and networking technology to stay competitive, but you don’t have the know-how to do so. You understand that IT creates the ability for businesses to reach their goals at lightening speeds. You just need someone to show you how. You need IT consulting in Cleveland, Ohio and KingPin Computers provides it for businesses in Cleveland, Ohio.

Learn how to use advanced software, the Internet, detailed databases and other innovative applications to meet your business goals. Receive the expertise to help create a business plan that incorporates cutting edge IT, so have the IT experts at KingPin Computers help you. The last thing you want is to be left in the dust by your competitors. Furthermore, learn how you can use IT to save you money and increase your overall ROI.

KingPin Computers has been providing IT consulting not only in Cleveland, Ohio, but also throughout Northeast and Northwest Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan. So what’s stopping you from giving them a call about IT consulting services?

5 Last Minute Tech Gifts

People who are into computers and electronics can be hard to buy for, especially if you don’t speak much tech lingo. What makes a good computer? How many gigs should a good MP3 player have? How many digital camera megapixels is enough? If you’re still fretting about some last-minute electronic gift ideas, then don’t worry. Kingpin Computers has rounded up 5 great last-minute gift ideas for the electronics lover in your life.

1. Carbonite: There are a lot of ways to back up your most important files these days, and an extra external backup hard drive would make a good gift. But one of the easiest to use backup tools is Carbonite, a software package that that will work in the background of your PC to upload your most important files onto a secure online server.

2. Myka Ion: Thanks to the success of online services like YouTube and Hulu, more and more people are regularly watching videos online. But watching a video on a laptop or desktop computer can be a pain. In the past, connecting your computer to your TV was an ordeal that involved cables, converters and a good video card. But the Myka Ion makes it a lot easier. The Ion is really a small, fully-functioning computer. Through a wireless connection, it can download and stream videos from Netflix, Hulu and other services directly to your TV.

3. Hand-Held Printers: Know someone who’s constantly snapping photos with their digital camera? Give them the chance to print out photos instantly with a hand-held printer from Polaroid or Dell. Just hook up these printers to any camera or computer and you can create a 2” x 3” photo print in less than a minute.

4. Snap Circuits: Know an adolescent or teenager who likes electronics? Give them the chance to create something cool with these Young Techs electronic kits. It’s easy to put together things like radios, doorbells or simple robots.

5. Novelty USB drives: If you’re just looking for an affordable and handy stocking stuffer, you can’t do much better than a cool USB drive. With a little searching, you can probably find a great-looking USB drive for any taste. From college USB drives to cartoon USB drives to USB drives that double as bracelets, there’s a portable drive for everyone on your list.

3 Print Spooler Problems You can Fix Yourself

Printers can be the source of a lot of PC headaches, and some of the most common problems that people encounter with printers have to do with the print spooler. That’s the application on a PC that tells a printer what to print and when. If you’re trying to print a document and you’re getting error messages that mention the print spooler, then here are 3 easy ways you can fix it.

First Option: Check Your Component Services Settings

1.)   Go to the Start Menu and select Control Panel. Then select Administrative Tools and in that menu, select Component Services.

2.)   At the bottom of the Component Services menu will be a selection for Standard. Choose that.

3.)   Scroll through the list of services until you find Print Spooler.

4.)   Make sure that the Print Spooler is set to Automatic.

5.)   Click on the button to START Service.

6.)   Reboot your PC to ensure that the new settings take effect.

Second Option: Reinstall the Driver

It that doesn’t solve the problem, then the issue may be a corrupted file within the printer driver. The best approach to fixing this would be to uninstall the printer, update the driver, then reinstall the printer.

Third Option: Clean Your Registry

If you’ve tried the above two methods and are still not getting anywhere, then the next step should be to try to fix any errors that are on your computer’s registry. This will require a registry-cleaning program. The good news is that there are many free registry cleaners out there, the most popular being CCleaner. Keep in mind that cleaning your registry can be a little risky; it may lead to even more errors. But most programs like CCleaner give you the option to backup your registry before they make any permanent changes. It’s highly recommended that you do this before attempting to clean your registry.

If that fails to do the trick, then your printer problems are likely a little more complex that most. But don’t worry—at Kingpin Computers, we know how to handle printer problems. We offer printer solutions for both large companies and individual users.