Zebra Computers

It is that time of the year again, please take a moment and vote for your choices for Best Of Lewis County, we are in the running for the second year in a row for, you guessed it, the best computer repair place! Stiff competition, we all have been at this for going on 2 or 3 decades...
Check it out here: https://www.chronline.com/stories/2026-best-of-lewis-county,407820

Wishing you all a relaxing Labor Day weekend. FYI: Zebra Computers will be closed from Saturday through Monday returning on Tuesday to regular business hours. Take care folks and thank you all for your support through the years and let us know if there's anything we can do to make your computing experience better.

For over 20 years, Zebra Computers has been dedicated to maintaining the technology that keeps our community connected . Throughout these two decades of service, we have witnessed many technological shifts, but none as concerning as the recent surge in financial cybercrime . We have observed a drastic uptick in individuals having their bank accounts compromised by criminals seeking to steal hard-earned money . This trend is particularly devastating for our elderly neighbors living on fixed incomes, where such thefts can cause profound and lasting hardship .

Because we are committed to your digital safety, we have put together this guide to help you recognize the signs of fraud and implement simple, effective defenses.

Proactive Defense: Simple Steps to Secure Your Accounts:
Protecting your finances does not require a degree in computer science; it requires consistent, small habits that make you a much harder target for criminals . Based on our years of experience in tech support, we recommend the following safeguards:

Enable Multi-Access Authentication (MFA):
Whenever possible, turn on "two-factor" or "multi-factor" authentication for your banking and email accounts . This adds a second layer of security, such as a code sent to your phone, ensuring that even if a criminal steals your password, they cannot access your funds.

Beware of Phishing Scams: Be extremely cautious with unexpected emails, text messages, or phone calls claiming there is an "issue" with your bank account . Criminals often use these tactics to trick you into clicking malicious links or providing login credentials.

Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Avoid using the same password for your bank that you use for social media or shopping sites . We recommend using long "passphrases" that are difficult for computers to guess but easy for you to remember. Using a password manager like LastPass or 1Password etc. is highly recommended to setup and maintain "password hygiene".

Keep Your Software Updated: Regularly updating your computer's operating system and web browsers is vital, as these updates often include critical security patches designed to block new types of attacks .

Emergency Protocol: What to Do If You Suspect a Compromise
If you notice unauthorized transactions or believe your information has been stolen, time is of the essence to prevent further loss . Please follow these steps immediately:

Contact Your Financial Institution:
Call your bank or credit card company right away using the official number on the back of your card to report the fraud and freeze your accounts .

Change Your Credentials:
Immediately update the passwords for your banking, email, and any other sensitive accounts that may have been exposed.

Scan Your Devices:
If you suspect your computer may be compromised, it is important to run a thorough malware scan to ensure no "spyware" is lurking in your system . Many financial institutions will require customers that been compromised to have their devices professionally scanned/cleaned before the bank will allow the accounts to be enabled again.

This video explains what to do step by step to prevent your accounts from getting compromised and to let you know immediately if someone does mess with your money:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RH1s7jYygQ

Report the Crime: File a report with local law enforcement and consider reporting the incident to national identity theft resources. Like the I3C https://www.ic3.gov/

We Are Here to Help
At Zebra Computers, our mission has always been more than just fixing hardware; it is about protecting the people who rely on us . If you are feeling overwhelmed by these digital threats or if you need a professional security audit of your home computer, please do not hesitate to reach out to us . We have spent 20 years navigating these changes, and we are ready to help you secure your digital life.

Full disclosure: we use AI to improve our quality and effectiveness of our messages.

Another thing we have been working on is Artificial Intelligence, AI Servers. Most folks are familiar with Google, Copilot, and Claude, these are "frontier" models that charge you for each bit of computer you use. This can be prohibitely expensive, if you really use it and then there is the concept of privacy. For Doctors and Lawyers and other businesses that have Private Information that cloud and Claude may not be your cup of tea. We have successfully built Local Large Language Model (LLM) AI servers and have a working formula, to be able to use AI to automate routine tasks, to be a confidential search engine on steroids. So many things that this tool can make more efficient. Like: a lawyer firm can use AI to integrate with their Customer Relations Management (CRM) software and then do things like: Please create a new contract for XYZ client for XYZ proceeding. It will do this in a minute or 2, and then one can look it over and see if it is accurate before printing or emailing it. So many things that AI can do, that are safer when used locally as opposed to the Cloud. So if you are interested in what a Local LLM AI server can do for your business, let us know.

Send a message to learn more

As we move into the fall and back to school, we see the demand for refurbished and new computers increase. At Zebra We have over 40 years of experience in doing data and computer migrations. We can take even an old Windows 7 computer and eventually get it to the latest version of Windows on a modern computer, leaving programs and data intact. So if you need more than a new computer with a fresh load and have to install all your stuff again, let us know!
And Happy Back to School for all of you that are having to return to the grind!😀

Send a message to learn more

I just became aware that Microsoft is extending the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for another year, until October 2027 now.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/extended-security-updates?r=1
The consumer ESU program can’t be used in commercial scenarios, let us know if need help with that, we have other options for Business computers that need to stay on Windows 10, and still need to be secure.

If you are already enrolled, then it will automatically continue.

You can enroll in ESU in one of the following three ways:

At no additional cost if you are syncing your PC Settings. Or using Windows Backup, mostly just need a MS account to use it.
Redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points.
One-time purchase of $30 USD or local currency equivalent plus applicable tax.

Both enrollment options provide extended security updates through October 12, 2027. You can enroll in ESU any time until the program ends on October 12, 2027; however, devices will be more vulnerable and susceptible to viruses and malware before enrollment. If you’re already enrolled, your coverage will automatically continue through that date—no action needed. You will need to sign in to your Microsoft account to enroll in ESU. You’ll be given these options to choose from when you enroll in the ESU program. You can use your existing ESU license for up to 10 devices.

Windows 10 Extended Security Updates | Microsoft Windows Use Windows 10 securely with the Extended Security Updates program. See how it helps protect your PC and find out how to get it.

Well it appears that international law enforcement is actually taking action against these fraudsters that are taking advantage of people across the world. Read this article and notice that even China is actively trying to stop this kind of fraud :

Police arrests 5,800 suspects in global anti-fraud crackdown Law enforcement agencies have arrested 5,811 suspects and seized $293 million in illicit assets in a global anti-fraud operation spanning 97 countries.

Just FYI, we are closed on Friday July 3rd and Saturday July 4th in honor of our country's 250th anniversary! Feel free to call and leave a message, or send us an email if there are emergent issues that just can't wait til Monday.
And thanks to all that we support.
And of course a big round of applause to the USA on its 250th Birthday!!!

So, Microsoft has been busy, getting products discontinued. This time it's Microsoft Publisher. Got this message when I opened it today: Publisher is retiring. More information: https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/publisher/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026
Basically if you use the subscription based Office 365, you won't have access to Publisher and won't be able to open those documents. They recommend you convert them to PDF, and that is a step on the wrong direction for folks that still use it.
Another solution is to use LibreOffice Draw, that will open and edit .pub files.
If you have the perpetual license, then I am pretty sure that will still work, but you will get messages about end of support etc.
Also, Windows 10 support ended On October 14th 2025. They have extended an olive branch by offering the Extended Security Updates ESU program for free to home users and at some cost to business users. I just saw today that the Big M will continue ESU for another year, but will cost $30/computer.
For those that really just want to stay with Windows 10, there is Windows 10 IOT LTSC 2021, that will get updates until 2032!
For those that just want to install Windows 11, and be done with it, there are simple ways to bypass the hardware checks in Win11 setup.
If you have any hardware or software questions or needs. Just let us know.
We fix computers right since 2006!!

A big atta boy, and girl, to all the 2026 graduates!

Send a message to learn more