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Windows 10 - Critical Updates for your Computer

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:40:59 GMT

Critical Updates for your Windows 10 Computer

It's absolutely essential your computer is up to date to protect against security threats, fix software bugs, and improve system performance. Follow our step-by-step guide to extend your Windows 10 cover for FREE until October 2026.

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Step-by-step instructions to enrol for Windows 10 extended support (they call it ESU- extended security updates):

Step 1: Install all pending Windows updates

- Open Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.

- Click Check for updates and install every update (including cumulative updates). Reboot if requested.

The ESU enrolment option appears only after your device is up to date.

Step 2: Sign into a Microsoft account (if not already)

- In Settings → Accounts → Your info, sign in with a Microsoft Account and ensure that account has administrator rights on the PC.

Step 3: Enrol for ESU from Windows Update

- Go to Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update.

- Look for the card/banner about Windows 10 end of support, with an “Enrol now” or “Get Extended Security Updates” link. Click it.

Step 4: Follow the on-screen wizard

- It will ask you to sign in to your Microsoft Account (if you didn’t already), confirm device(s) to enrol, and accept terms. Click Next/Enrol when prompted.

Step 5: Verify enrolment & receive updates

- After enrolling you should see a confirmation in Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update that the device is enrolled and will receive critical & important security updates.

- Microsoft will deliver ESU security updates via Windows Update as they become available; continue to check for updates regularly.

You're all set until October 2026! Well done. Any problems, you know who to call.

Stay safe,

Elliott and the Tech Angels team

01727 568869

admin@tech-angels.co.uk

Get ready, get set, get safe for summer travel

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 10:21:00 GMT

By staying vigilant and following these tips, you'll be well on your way to a safer, more secure travel season.

As we prepare for the summer travel season, it's crucial to remember that cybersecurity is just as important as packing your suitcase. Here are some top tips for staying as safe as possible through the holiday months:

1. Update your devices

Before you embark on your journey, ensure all your devices are up to date. This includes your smartphone, tablet, and laptop. Updates often include important security patches that protect your devices from the latest threats. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities in outdated software, which they can exploit to gain unauthorized access to your devices. By keeping your devices updated, you're fortifying your first line of defense against these threats. I would recommend not waiting until the last day to do this, we all have had experiences where an update went wrong, and that’s the last thing you want to happen right before you leave.

2. Secure your home network

If you're going to be away from home, consider turning off your router unless you need it for smart home devices. An idle router can be an easy target for cybercriminals. By turning it off, you're eliminating a potential entry point for hackers who might try to compromise your home network. If you need to keep it on, ensure that it's secured with a strong, unique password and that its firmware is up to date.

3. Be wary of public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi networks at airports, hotels, and cafes can be convenient, but they're often not secure. Cybercriminals can easily eavesdrop on these networks to steal sensitive information. If you must connect, consider using a virtual private network (VPN) like Avast SecureLine VPN . A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making your online activities private and secure, even on unsecured networks. There are some other benefits to the use of VPNs, such as streaming your favorite TV shows from your country even if you are traveling abroad.

4. Protect your personal information

Avoid using shared computers for sensitive tasks like online banking. Shared computers can be infected with malware that records your keystrokes , compromising your personal information. If you must use a public computer, do not log in or enter any credentials anywhere. It is very likely that the computer is compromised, and malware is spying on all activity going on there. Once done, clear the browser history before you leave to prevent the next user from viewing your browsing activity.

5. Enable two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts. It requires not just a password, but also a second factor—usually a code sent to your phone—to access your accounts. This means that even if someone steals or guesses your password, they won't be able to access your account without the second factor.

6. Back up your data

Before you travel, back up your data . This could be to an external hard drive or a cloud service. If your device gets lost or stolen, you'll still have access to your important files and photos. Regular backups also protect you from data loss due to device failures or malware infections.

7. Keep an eye on your devices

Never leave your devices unattended in public places. Not only can they be physically stolen, but a thief could also access your personal information. Always keep your devices within sight and use biometric security features like fingerprint or face recognition, if available.

8. Beware of phishing scams

Be cautious of any unexpected emails or messages asking for your personal information. Scammers often ramp up their phishing efforts during popular travel times, posing as airlines or travel agencies to trick you into giving up your personal information. Always verify the sender's identity before clicking on any links or providing any information.

Remember, cybersecurity is a journey, not a destination. Stay vigilant, follow these tips, and you'll be well on your way to a safer, more secure summer vacation. Safe travels!

Cyber hygiene - are you clean?

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 21:56:47 GMT

The best way to stay safer online? Good cyber hygiene ...

Nearly everyone is concerned about their security and privacy, both online and offline. Ever since personal computing became a thing, people have become increasingly better at using PCs to be more productive, better informed, or entertained.

Good cyber hygiene are the things we can be doing to make sure we're as safe as possible online. We can help you do this without you needing to become a techie expert. Leave that last bit to us!

Things like processing software updates, making sure you have security in place, you are backing up any important files and you are using strong passwords, are all ways you can help yourself.

We've been working with our partners at Avast (they are the security big guns!) to bring you the latest information on cyber hygiene. You can read about it here . If this it too long or a bit too techie, just give us a call to talk it through. You know we're always happy to help.

Stay safe online.

The Tech Angels team

Windows 11 - should I take the plunge?

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 21:34:06 GMT

Windows 11 - what's it all about?

Hi all - Elliott here. I've had many questions over recent months about Windows 11. Should I hit that update button? Is my computer compatible? If I click 'yes', will it move things around? What does Windows 11 give me that Windows 10 doesn't?

These are all important questions and the simple answer is ... Windows 11 isn't right for everyone at the moment. The good news is there's no need to panic! Not that you were. Microsoft are continuing to roll out updates to Windows 10 as so many computers are running that version today, and they'll continue to support Windows 10 until October2025. So, time is on our side. :-)

If you'd like to know if Windows 11 is right for you, we can run some very simple and quick remote checks on your computer and give you the answer. If you want to find out more about what theWindows 11 fuss is all about, take a look at this article straight from Microsoft HQ . Or just give us a call for a chat. We're always happy to help.

Happy computing.

Elliott

A second screen - should I?

Wed, 11 May 2022 15:41:50 GMT

Can a second monitor really make a difference to my life on screen?

Many people these days are hooking up a second monitor to their computers, but what are the real benefits of a dual screen setup and should you get a second monitor? Well that depends on how often you use your computer and what you’re using it for but there are some huge benefits to getting a second monitor that Elliott and Steve think you should consider.

If you spend quite a lot of time at your computer, either for work or play, a second screen might be just what you need. That’s especially true if a lot of your computer use is on a laptop where the screens are often smaller and it can be tricky to do banking or read smaller text. A second screen is a life and an eyesight saver!

So, why should you get a second monitor? Well, if you fit into any of the categories below then we’d highly recommend the double screen life.

Working from home

Working from home was not the norm two years ago but now we’re doing it more regularly or even permanently. If you’ve got your computer setup for working from home, then adding a second monitor can really boost your productivity by letting you view more documents simultaneously. It also makes for a better Zoom or Microsoft teams video call experience. You can look at your colleagues on one screen and a document on another. It’s life changing not having to flick between screens and you can view documents more easily when they open full size rather than in a smaller window alongside the video call.

Work and watch

We’ve all been there, when you have to do something on the computer that doesn’t really require all of your brain power, so you want to watch something or listen to some music while you work. Now true, you can do this without a second monitor, but having that dual screen setup gives you much more room to work with. You can catch up on the latest footie match or that episode of The Great British Sewing Bee you missed whilst also doing the weekly Sainsbury shop or ordering that thing from Amazon you’ve been meaning to. Easy peasy.

Gaming

Another big subset of computer users who love second screens are gamers. Many games can be played on multiple screens, essentially combining them into one ultra-wide screen. This isn’t quite as good as just buying an ultra-wide screen monitor, since there will be a visible break line in action where the two screens meet but, honestly, you stop seeing it once you get immersed into the game.

Video calls

Whilst video calls were alien to many of us a few years ago, many of our catch ups with friends or normal life ‘stuff’ (the flower arranging course, the annual local community meeting) have switched to being on screen. A second monitor can be set up to be the right size and height to really improve your experience and enjoyment of a life which is increasingly on screen.

Is a second screen right for me?

We’d highly recommend investing in a second monitor if you’re a moderate to heavy computer user, as the added convenience and multitasking capabilities are well worth it - assuming you have a spare bit of desk or table space to place the monitor on. We’re spending so much time on our computers, why not make that time as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

Just give Tech Angels a call and we’ll happily talk you through the options which are right for you.

Tips to Improve Your Wi-Fi Signal

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 11:53:07 GMT

Our top tips for improving the Wi-Fi signal in your home/home office

Wi-Fi is the backbone of the home internet experience and if you’re not getting a strong signal between your router and all your devices, you’re probably feeling a bit frustrated. Here’s how to improve your Wi-Fi experience.

Consider Upgrading Your Router

If your router is relatively new (or even fresh out of the box!) and you’re not getting the signal strength and Wi-Fi experience you expect, then all these tips will be very useful. But if your router is long in the tooth then you’re only going to get so much improvement out of small adjustments and changes. No amount of tips and tricks can magically make a ten-year-old router not, well, a ten-year-old router.

What was a perfectly serviceable router back when people had only a handful of Wi-Fi devices just doesn’t cut it in a modern home where everything from the TV to the thermostat is internet-enabled. If it feels like your old Wi-Fi router is labouring under the burden of all those new devices and their increased bandwidth demands, there’s a good chance it is.

Wi-Fi tech has improved exponentially and there’s simply no comparing early Wi-Fi routers to even modern budget routers, let alone premium routers. For lots of people, buying a mesh router system erases all their router woes—weak signal, poor coverage, devices overburdening the router, etc.—all in one swoop.

Move Your Router

Hands down one of the simplest ways to improve your Wi-Fi coverage and signal strength is to move your router, as most people have their routers in suboptimal locations. Why is moving the router so effective? Think of your router like a light bulb. The Wi-Fi radio signal radiates out from it just like visible light radiates out from a lamp (the radio topography of Wi-Fi signals is a bit more complex than that, but you get the idea).

If you were trying to read a book in the centre of your living room you wouldn’t put the lamp in the farthest corner of the room because the light wouldn’t be where you wanted it.

By the same measure, if you want a strong Wi-Fi signal, it doesn’t make sense to put your Wi-Fi router in the farthest corner of the house. Ideally, your Wi-Fi router should be placed in a location that is central to the activity and devices in your home and not placed based just on where the line enters your home.

Switch Devices Over to Ethernet

This is perhaps one of the most overlooked tips because when people are troubleshooting their Wi-Fi, they aren’t thinking about things other than wireless connections. But one of the simpler ways to deal with Wi-Fi device congestion is to look for devices you can take off the Wi-Fi network and switch over to Ethernet (wired) instead.

We understand that not everyone has a house wired for Ethernet and in many cases, Wi-Fi is the only way to get some devices online. At the same time, however, we’ve been in plenty of homes where the modem and Wi-Fi router are in the living room or home office and there are lots of Ethernet-cable devices right there (like a desktop PC, game console, or TV) that are using Wi-Fi instead of Ethernet. If you have a stationary device like a computer or TV that can easily be hooked up to the network via Ethernet there’s no downside to doing so. You’ll free up space for other Wi-Fi devices, and enjoy a faster connection with a better response time.

Remove Unnecessary Devices

Switching devices over to Ethernet where available is a good start in getting devices off your Wi-Fi network. You should follow that up by kicking devices off that no longer need to be on your home network.

The same goes for anything that you added to your Wi-Fi network but doesn’t actually need to be on your network. Boot it off and free up the space.

Update Your Firmware

Router firmware updates are important for two big reasons. First, and far more important than getting a strong Wi-Fi signal, keeping your router updated ensures that you’re running the most secure firmware available for your particular model.

Updating your firmware isn’t just about security. A firmware update can also squash bugs and improve performance. A bug fix that ensures your older router plays nice with your new computer or phone can make it feel like you got a whole new router.

Consider an Extender for Dead Spots

Overall, Wi-Fi extenders are largely a plaster on Wi-Fi problems and you should deal with the actual problem first. However, extenders are a good solution if you just want to get a stronger signal to a particular area that has a dead spot. Let’s say, for example, your Wi-Fi coverage inside your home is pretty good but when you sit out on your patio your Wi-Fi connection constantly drops. Putting a repeater in the room adjacent to the patio (especially if it has a line of sight to where you sit outside) will likely provide just enough coverage to spare you upgrading the whole router.

We hope this information helps. Tech Angels is here to advise and assist with anything you’ve read here, just give us a call.

Impersonation Scam - how to spot one

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 13:06:19 GMT

So what is an impersonation scam?

Here’s a scenario. You’re convinced to make a payment or give personal and financial details to someone claiming to be from an organisation you trust. This could include the police, your bank, a delivery or utility company, communication service provider or a government department such as HMRC or the DVLA .

These scams often begin with a phone call, text or email that appears to be from a trusted organisation. Criminals can use a tactic called ‘spoofing’ to make their call or text appear genuine by cloning the number or sender ID which is displayed on your phone. In some cases criminals even trick you by sending couriers to collect your cards, PINs or valuable items in person.

How to spot an impersonation scam.

You receive a call, text, email or social media message with an urgent request for your personal or financial information, to make a payment or move money.
You’re asked to act immediately, sometimes with the claim that ‘your money is at risk’, ‘your account will be blocked’ or ‘there are suspicious transactions on your account’. If you don’t act immediately you may be threatened with arrest or the prospect of losing all of your money.
The caller asks you to transfer money to another account for ‘safe-keeping’ or for you to buy high value goods/vouchers to cover the cost of fines.
The sender’s email address is ever so slightly different to that of the genuine sender.

Examples of impersonation scams

Transfer money to a ‘safe’ account

Roy* received a call from someone claiming to be from his bank’s fraud team enquiring about several suspicious payments on his account which he didn’t recognise. He was told that his account had been compromised and he urgently needed to move money into a ‘safe’ account to protect it. Roy did so and transferred his entire savings into a ‘safe account’ which actually belonged to the criminal.

Problems with your internet connection

Leanne* was contacted by an ‘employee’ from her broadband company informing her the internet router she was using had been hacked. The caller asked for remote access to Leanne’s computer and said that she would receive £500 as compensation for the inconvenience. Leanne provided her bank details and was told to log onto her online banking to check the money had been received. However, £5,000, not £500, was deposited and she was asked to refund the overpayment to another bank account. By then, the criminal had taken control of all her accounts and the ‘£5,000’ deposit was in fact money moved around from Leanne’s other accounts.

Police impersonation

Damon* was contacted by a police officer claiming that staff at his local bank branch were issuing counterfeit notes and his assistance was needed in an undercover police operation. He was instructed to make a large withdrawal from his account to then be handed over to the police for ‘analysis’ believing that he would receive his money back after the investigation. Once Damon’s money had been handed over, he never heard back from the police officer.

Outstanding HMRC tax bill

Sally* was busy working when her phone started ringing. She hastily answered it noticing at a quick glance that the caller ID said HMRC. The automated call from Officer Mark Wilson from HMRC took her by surprise. She was urged to call the number provided immediately, with failure to do so resulting in legal consequences, including the threat of an arrest warrant. Sally was confused and shaken, the caller’s tone, although automated, sounded official and included details pertaining to their department, which led her to dismiss that this could be a scam. She hurriedly keyed in the phone number and was informed of an outstanding tax bill amounting to £4,675 that required urgent payment. The officer urged Sally to make the payment, reinforcing that she would receive a criminal record if she refused. Panic stricken, she read out her bank details to the criminal purporting to be Mark unaware that she was in fact being scammed.

*These case studies are based on insights from Action Fraud partners

If you believe you’ve fallen for a scam, contact your bank immediately on a number you know to be correct, such as the one listed on your statement, their website or on the back of your debit or credit card.

Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk. If you are in Scotland, please report to Police Scotland directly by calling 101 or Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.

The Cloud? Is that in the sky? Here’s what you need to know

183:866922985 (Laura Moxham) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 13:48:00 GMT

What is 'the cloud'?

For some computer owners, finding enough storage space to hold all the data they've acquired is a real challenge. Some people invest in larger hard drives. Others prefer external storage devices that plug into your computer. Most people are now choosing to back up their data to the Cloud. But what does that mean?

Cloud storage has nothing to do with the weather and it isn’t in the sky!

'The Cloud' is the term used to refer to saving data to an off-site storage system maintained by a third party. Instead of storing information to your computer's hard drive or other local storage device, you save it to a remote database. The Internet provides the connection between your computer and the database.

What are the advantages of the cloud?

Cloud storage (sometimes also called cloud backup) has several advantages over traditional data storage. For example, if you store your data on a cloud storage system, you're able to get to that data from any location that has Internet access. You don't need to carry around a physical storage device or use the same computer to save and retrieve the information. With the right storage system, you could even allow other people to access the data. That means you don’t have to email documents to each other or remember to save the latest version if you are working collaboratively on something.

Cloud storage is very convenient as you only pay for the space you use. It can be set up in such a way that you choose which files you want to save. It could be that you just want to save all your photos or videos to make sure nothing happens to them. If for any reason your computer failed, you’d connect to the cloud and download your files again with a simple click of the mouse.

There are lots of different cloud storage options and it can get confusing. Tech Angels can give you the advice you need to make sure you choose something which is right for you. Get in touch with us today.