News archive

🎉 Exciting News, Friends! 🎉

I'm excited to announce that APF/TMF orders are now fully automatic! This means lightning-fast setup of everything you need: Ai PC Fix, Two Minute Fix, BitDefender Antivirus, Firewall, Monitoring, Patch Management, your customized installer, and immediate access to your billing account....

Oh, and one more personal note: my wedding picture is now up at http://tatespc.com on the new About page! ~Joe Tate Sr.

Public update from Tates PC: I’m glad to put this on the record. After over 15 years of working with Hord Family Farms, I will soon be taking a position with them. Hord has been good enough to let me keep Tates PC going on my terms, same name, same bar for how clients get treated.(Read on Facebook / Read on X) ~Joe

I hope you like the new look, feel, and functionality of TatesPC.com. Sorry for the short downtime while global DNS propogated to the new site. It's been over 10 years since I updated my website, and it was due to have some outdated and incorrect information removed. Thank you for your patience as things get sorted as I still have a 60-hour weekly workload to handle while turning on some of the new features to the new site. ~Joe

TatesPC.com

Tates PC has just completed adding Acronis Protect to the service offerings. This will be white labeled as a Tates PC Protect solution and includes the Disaster Recovery created by Acronis. This is going to be a consumption based product where you pay based on devices, usage, and services. For as little as $15/month you can have a full backup that is available through VPN within 30 minutes if your computer crashes. More Details... ~Joe

TatesPC.com

Tates PC has done everything possible to keep costs as affordable as we can for years. That said, our average client has AV, Firewall, EDR, Encryption, Backup, Remote Access, Health Reporting, Patch Reporting, proactive response to intrusion automated by our @AiPCFix and remote support... All of this at a fraction of the average/endpoint cost. We appreciate your understanding as we rework our pricing and service offerings to keep Tates PC open for another 16+ years. ~Joe

Tates PC will not be available for standard service for a holiday family vacation from Dec 19th through Jan 2nd. Thank you for your understanding and Merry Christmas. ~Joe

Tates PC will be closed for a family day on September 12th, 2025. Thank you for your understanding. ~Joe

Thank you to all who made the ultimate sacrifice.🫡
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

Windows 7, Windows 8, macOS 7, and Linux 7 are considered to be EOL for our software protection. We will no longer include statistics for those operating systems in our protection vulnerability assessments as we cannot protect them from intrusion or rogue software as of February 15th.

Notice of availability: Joe will be taking off work from December 19th through the 29th. Please call for emergency downstate issues only, and expect emergency downstate holiday rates to apply. Thank you for your understanding!

As you move into the holidays, be ready for scams with fake coupons and MITM login captures. Were you thinking that item was too cheap to be real? It probably is. Cyber security can help filter some of those bad sites from your computers: https://twominutefix.com/signup.php?Code=xcode to sign up today!

How would you like your small business to be covered with a shield that guards against viruses, hackers, MITM attacks, and ransom ware; with an encrypted daily backup, remote access, and more: https://tatespc.us/?Link=monitor

Thank you for your patience and prayers as my daughter has been recovering from her surgery. Everything appears to be healing well. I should have normal hours again this upcoming week. ~@mrjoetate

🌐 @LVPCFix stores backups in the cloud and encrypts them from the endpoint! ☁️ https://tatespc.us/?Link=backup for more info on their cloud storage solutions. #CloudStorage #DataSecurity

🖥️ Is your PC acting up? @LVPCFix can help! 🔧 Get your computer running like new again with their expert repair services. Visit https://tatespc.us/?Link=repair for more info. #ComputerRepair

#TechTip: iPhone: Enable "Do Not Disturb" mode during certain times or locations to silence notifications and calls.

🎮 Game on with @LVPCFix! 🎯 Optimize your gaming PC for maximum performance. Visit https://tatespc.us/?Link=monitor for expert gaming computer services. #GamingPC #PCOptimization

NOTICE: There are reports on X and other platforms indicating that Verizon is experiencing a significant outage affecting its mobile services across the country. Users have reported their phones going into SOS mode, indicating they can only make emergency calls, and there's been... Show more on X

#TechTip: Windows: Use the Windows key + L to lock your computer quickly when stepping away.

🔒 Keep your data safe with @lvpcfix! 🔐 Get expert advice on data backup and security at https://tatespc.us/?Link=backup. #DataSecurity #ComputerBackup

#TechTip: Android: Long-press on the Home button to activate Google Assistant for quick voice commands and searches.

👨‍💻 Trust @LVPCFix for all your computer needs! From hardware installations to software troubleshooting, we've got the expertise. Visit https://tatespc.us today! #ComputerServices

#TechTip: iPhone: Use the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner (on iPhone X and later) or swiping up from the bottom (on iPhone 8 and earlier) to access quick settings and toggles.

🔄 @LVPCFix provides a hybrid backup solution for easy data access! 💾 Visit https://tatespc.us/?Link=backup for more info on their backup solutions. #HybridBackup #DataAccess

NOTICE: @AiPCFix will continue to provide antimalware support for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 until January 14, 2025. Other services will continue to an indetermined time; however, firewall and antivirus service will end on January 14th, 2025 for both Windows 7 and 8.1.

#TechTip: Windows: Press the Windows key + D to minimize all windows and go to the desktop.

Need a PC upgrade or repair? @LVPCFix has got you covered! 💪 Check out their services at https://tatespc.us and get your computer running smoothly again. #PCUpgrade #ComputerRepair

#TechTip: Android: Long-press on the Home button to activate Google Assistant for quick voice commands and searches.

👨‍💻 Trust @LVPCFix for all your computer needs! 👍 From repairs to upgrades, they've got the expertise. Visit https://tatespc.us for more info. #ComputerServices

#TechTip: iPhone: Enable "Raise to Wake" in Settings > Display & Brightness to automatically wake your iPhone screen when you lift it.

🔧 Need a PC upgrade or repair? @LVPCFix has got you covered! 💪 Visit https://tatespc.us/?Link=repair for expert assistance. #PCUpgrade #ComputerRepair

#TechTip: Windows: Use the Windows key + E shortcut to quickly open File Explorer and navigate your files and folders.

Sign up for the @AiPCFix with @TwoMinuteFix now and save $10! This offer is only good for the next 72 hours! https://twominutefix.com/signup.php?Code=x72ws

Manage your IT needs with ease using our comprehensive dashboard, making it simple to stay on top of your computer's health with @AiPCFix by @LVPCFix https://tatespc.us/?Link=monitor

Keep an eye on your network devices with our endpoint monitoring, allowing you to optimize your network performance with @AiPCFix by @LVPCFix https://tatespc.us/?Link=monitor

Ensuring you have robust security sweeps in place and firewalls is no longer sufficient. PenTest intervals are required now to resolve continued exploitation of unknown vulnerabilities. Remember this with your business. When my solution went through pentest verification, it passed with zero vulnerabilities. Can you say the same? If not, we can give you a referral for a phenomenal pentest company based in the USA that does work for small businesses straight up to the Department of Defense.

Safely and securely backup your data with our intuitive data backup solution, ensuring your files are always protected with @AiPCFix by @LVPCFix https://tatespc.us/?Link=backup

Connect to your computer from anywhere with our seamless remote access, making it easy to work from home or on the go with @AiPCFix by @LVPCFix https://tatespc.us/?Link=monitor

Keep an eye on your computer's health with our real-time monitoring, allowing you to address issues before they become problems with @AiPCFix by @LVPCFix https://tatespc.us/?Link=monitor

Effortlessly fix common system errors with our powerful software, ensuring your computer runs smoothly with @AiPCFix by @LVPCFix https://tatespc.us/?Link=repair

Stay protected from the latest threats with our advanced antivirus protection with @AiPCFix, by @LVPCFix, giving you peace of mind https://tatespc.us/?Link=monitor

#Proofpoint outbound email relay service was exploited to send millions of phishing emails. @IBM, @BestBuy and @Disney all impacted, as well as 27 others...

Let our software do the work for you with automated daily and weekly tune-ups, keeping your computer running at peak performance with @AiPCFix by @LVPCFix https://tatespc.us/?Link=repair

Safeguard your valuable information with our state-of-the-art security features, ensuring your data is always protected with @AiPCFix by Tates PC https://tatespc.us/?Link=monitor

Due to @X api changes, we're removing the feed from our website and going to something more stable and reliable. If you don't currently use our secure search, with the alternate #Elongle search option, check it out! https://tatespc.us/securesearch/

If you have the @AiPCFix with @TwoMinuteFix and you're having these issues then please submit a ticket, regardless if your computer is online or not, before following the suggested remediation. "Widespread outages impacting #Windows systems: Affected customers should follow #CrowdStrike’s remediation guidance. http://cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2024/07/19/widespread-it-outage-due-crowdstrike-update #BSOD" ~@CISACyber

Looking to sign up for service? Need to change your payment card? New links available on the bottom of every page at https://tatespc.us for updating billing and signing up for new software (please note: currently, we are only onboarding new software subscribers).

The Two Minute Fix is now exclusively available as part of a packaged software that I'm calling the @AiPCFix. The icon should reflect this change, as of today, for the monitoring portion (near the system clock). The user interface will keep the Two Minute Fix branding.

Sign up for the Ai PC Fix and save up to $20 using this link: https://twominutefix.com/signup.php?Code=dtate (new customers only)

In a recent data breach incident, AT&T has revealed that the call logs of nearly all its wireless customers were illegally downloaded from a third-party cloud platform. The breach occurred between May 1, 2022 and October 31, 2022, and also affected a small number of customers on January 2, 2023. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the breach, its impact, and the steps AT&T is taking to address the situation. (cont.)

"We're hiring! Our farm is looking for dedicated individuals to join our farm team. No farm experience? No problem! We will teach you all the necessary skills to be successful on the job. Visit http://hordfarms.com/careers to apply today!"

Did you notice the rebranding happening lately? It's still Joe behind the wheel, just moving things around so some point in the next couple weeks I'm hoping to transition all clients to my new entity as LV PC Fix LLC out of Henderson NV. I'm working to keep the DBA of "Tates PC"

Thank you all for your understanding. I'm slowly sorting through missed and delayed tickets. Please bear with me as I'm not fully available until next week.

I will be unavailable for the rest of the week for a family matter. Thank you for your understanding.

Facebook appears to be back online with all services operating as expected for some users starting approximately 19 minutes ago; however, my service was just restored about 30 seconds prior to this post. Feel free to start checking if you can get in on your phones, as they're more likely to be available to use prior to computers. I have setup a Social Media Monitoring tool here: https://stats.uptimerobot.com/W6n9ZT66yq

Update 2 on Facebook: DomainTools has claimed that a third party has attempted to sell facebook.com's domain name without authorization. This has caught some media attention; however, DomainTools has verified Facebook is not selling facebook.com and the listing was by unauthorized users. They also claim that Facebook's issues are DNS related. They are a trusted authority on DNS issues. DNS is a service that tells your computer which server on the internet you are trying to reach when you type words into your address bar (i.e. tatespc.us has DNS resolution to 104.238.99.54). Without that service, your computer will not be able to load any data from Facebook's servers. It would be like mailing someone in China a letter but only putting their name on the envelope... there is really no hope it makes it past the first postal sorting location here in the States. This appears to be unrelated to the scrape database, of Facebook account information, that was previously reported. DNS is typically something that can take days to resolve. I expect intermittent issues with Facebook to persist for some users for the next 24-48 hours.

Update on Facebook: Unverified and unvalidated early claims point toward a hack keeping Facebook down as the vulnerability is not resolved. Facebook has not made any information public; however, a dark-web hacker forum has a post where a group is trying to sell 1.5 billion Facebook account profiles with names, emails, locations, phone numbers, and genders. Via pmnewsnigeria

Facebook is down. Future support tickets will be directed to this homepage, and I will update this feed when Facebook is back up. Thank you for your understanding that I have no control over Facebook and neither does your Internet Provider.

Due to an update to backup platforms there may be a need to reset some cloud based backups. Please do not respond to ANY contacts outside of the support ticket system. I will only contact you via phone from my numbers or via the support ticket platform.

Happy Birthday to Daina Jo! 13 years old today!

Joe Tate

Vacation Notice: I will be going out of town from August 2nd through August 6th for a family vacation. Thank you all for your understanding on delays to work.

Joe Tate

Happy 4th of July! Thank you to all who served and their families.

Joe Tate

All servers covered by the Two Minute Fix have been protected against the PrintNightmare exploit unless the business SPoC has requested otherwise.

Joe Tate

Home from the hospital! Thanks for prayers and patience.

Joe Tate

Happy Father's Day. Last week, my father suffered a heart attack and is still currently in the hospital. I appreciate any patience with me and prayers for him that you have. The surgeons have done what they can and his blood pressure remains very high.

Joe Tate

Server downtime was due to security updates. All operation should be back to normal.

Joe Tate

In March 2021, the mobile parking app service ParkMobile suffered a data breach which exposed 21 million customers' personal data. The impacted data included email addresses, names, phone numbers, vehicle licence plates and passwords stored as bcrypt hashes. The following month, the data appeared on a public hacking forum where it was extensively redistributed.

Joe Tate via HIBP

In September 2020, the cashback reward program ShopBack suffered a data breach. The incident exposed over 20 million unique email addresses along with names, phone numbers, country of residence and passwords stored as salted SHA-1 hashes.

Joe Tate via HIBP

Happy 6th Birthday Lucy!

Joe Tate

In April 2021, a large data set of over 500 million Facebook users was made freely available for download. Encompassing approximately 20% of Facebook's subscribers, the data was allegedly obtained by exploiting a vulnerability Facebook advises they rectified in August 2019. The primary value of the data is the association of phone numbers to identities; whilst each record included phone, only 2.5 million contained an email address. Most records contained names and genders with many also including dates of birth, location, relationship status and employer.

Joe Tate via HIBP

Easter break: Happy Easter, He is risen! I plan to take my family out on a vacation and, as usual, I will provide prioritized response times upon my return to any issues beginning April 6th.

Joe Tate

A security patch update required the web hosting server to be restarted. Thank you for your understanding during the brief downtime today.

Joe Tate

As Microsoft continues to learn of more and more hacking groups utilizing the exploits in the Microsoft Exchange platform, Tates PC has encouraged ALL Exchange Server users to reset their passwords and look into Dark Web Monitoring options. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to open a support ticket.

Joe Tate

Microsoft said that it has detected a hacker group it named "Hafnium" exploiting undisclosed vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server. Hafnium hackers are Chinese based and Microsoft says they have previously targeted American infectious disease researchers, law firms, higher education institutions, defense contractors, and more. If you host an Exchange server, and do not use me for maintenance, it is critical to install security patches. Automatic PC Fix has already patched the servers under maintenance contracts.

Joe Tate

Short downtime to control panel login for hosting servers was due to an SSL update. It is resolved and the control panel login is back online.

Joe Tate

All remote access is now connected through the Two Minute Fix Dashboard, even on cell phones. Thank you for your understanding.

Joe Tate

In November 2020, a collection of more than 23,000 allegedly breached websites known as Cit0day were made available for download on several hacking forums. The data consisted of 226 Million unique email address alongside password pairs, often represented as both password hashes and the cracked, plain text versions. Independent verification of the data established it contains many legitimate, previously undisclosed breaches.

Joe Tate via HIBP

In June 2020, the hardware crypto wallet manufacturer Ledger suffered a data breach that exposed over 1 million email addresses. The data was initially sold before being dumped publicly in December 2020 and included names, physical addresses and phone numbers.

Joe Tate via HIBP

On 5-Dec-2020 a hack of the Pluto TV service was made public. Over 3 million accounts were exposed with information including names, addresses, emails, and passwords. Anyone with an account at Pluto TV service is recommended to change their password and any password to any account associated with the email registered at Pluto TV.

Joe Tate via HIBP

Due to an increased censorship to online social networks, I have decided to create and parse my own news feed for my client homepage. This ensures no loss of communication to clients when matters of security may be involved.

Joe Tate

Due to a large data breach that occured in December 2020, I am recommending any financial or communication related passwords (banks / emails / social / investments / retirement / etc) that have not been reset this year get reset as soon as possible.

Joe Tate

Due to an illness in my family, my availability will be limited for the near future. Thank you for your understanding.

Joe Tate

SolarWinds hacked. Largest data vulnerability that impacted government agencies from the FBI to US Cyber Command. Strongly recommending changed passwords to ensure accounts are secured as of Tuesday the 15th of December, 2020.

Joe Tate