While browsing the Internet, your web browser collects information on the sites you visit and the things you do there. There are many reasons for this, including automated login on secure websites, faster page loading, custom advertising, etc. Over time, however, this data can become corrupted, leading to problems displaying web pages or loading content. In addition, some malicious software might hijack or change settings on your browser such as your homepage or search engine. Knowing how to avoid unwanted changes is a good start, but sometimes something is missed and now your browser is broken. Let’s take a look at how to get things back to normal.

Internet Explorer
Although no longer the top web browser, Internet Explorer is built into nearly every edition of Windows, so most people have or use it. Here is how you clean Internet Explorer.

Start by opening Internet Explorer. Once your homepage has loaded, click on the gear-shaped icon near the top-right corner, this is the Tools menu (Hint: if you have the Menu bar displayed, you can just click on Tools). Next, click on Internet Options and a small window will open. On the General tab you will see your homepage. If your homepage isn’t what you want it to be, you can change it here by highlighting the address, deleting it and then entering the address you want. We typically recommend www.google.com as there are no ads and the page loads quickly. Farther down the window you will see a section titled Browsing history and two buttons, Delete and Settings. Click on the Delete button (don’t worry, nothing will be deleted yet). A new window will open allowing you to select different items for deletion. Since the selections are clearly labeled, simply check the ones you want to clear then press Delete. Usually we recommend selecting the following options: Temporary internet files and website files, Cookies and website data, History, and Download history. Once you’re finished, close both windows.

Now we will want to check the Add-ons section of Internet Explorer, this is where you can change your search provider other settings. Once again, click on the gear icon or Tools, then Manage add-ons. The Manage add-ons window will open, on the left is a menu with different sections; we’ll start in Toolbars and Extensions. If you have any toolbars we recommend disabling them here. Toolbars are generally a nuisance and often hijack other browser settings. Select an entry, then click on Disable. Note that while the toolbar will disappear from the browser window it is still installed on your computer. To completely remove it you will need to go to Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, then select the toolbar and click Uninstall.

Next up, click on Search Providers in the menu. On the right, all of your installed search providers will appear. One of them will be set as “default.” While there is nothing wrong with having multiple search providers, we want to make sure that the ones we’re using are safe. The most commonly used search engines are Google, Bing and Yahoo. Which one you choose is entirely up to you but Google and Bing tend to deliver better results, Bing is typically enabled by default, but we personally prefer Google. Before we delete any entries we want to set one as the default provider. The default provider is the search engine that will be used when you run a search (unless you choose another). To do this, select the provider you want and then click on the Set as default button in the lower right corner. Now we can delete the extra entries by selecting them and then clicking on the Delete button in the lower-right corner. To find or add additional search engines click the Find additional search engines link in the lower-left corner of the screen. This will open a new webpage where you can select new search engines and other add-ons from Microsoft. When you install a new search engine you will have the option to set it as default. Of course you can always change this later. When you are finished, close the window.

Those are the basics of cleaning Internet Explorer. In our next post we’ll talk about how to clean Google Chrome. 

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In our last edition, we discussed how to use a device to stream media to a TV or other larger-display option. This week we’ll talk about how to get the news, movies or other things on your device in the first place.

Let’s say you have a smartphone, computer or other device. You’ve had cable in the past, but you’re simplifying a little bit and that’s one thing you’ve cut out of your budget. However, you still want to catch the news, watch your favorite TV program, or maybe enjoy some classics like “I Love Lucy,” “Bonanza,” or “Knight Rider.” Well you’re not out of luck, let’s talk about some of your options.

News Networks
You can catch all your national and international news on the web by visiting your preferred network’s webpage. Often times stories get reported here first, plus you can customize your news feed to get updates on the topics that matter most to you. Networks like NBC, CNN and Fox all stream news on their websites. They also have custom apps available for your smartphone so you’re never out of touch. Want to get the news but without the mainstream spin? Check out some alternative news sites like The Drudge Report, InfoWars and RT News.

Local news stations also post news to their websites so you don’t have to miss out on local content. Many local news stations only stream content while they are “on air,” meaning the 6 o’clock news will only be online at 6. These stations are also available over the air, so if you've dropped your cable plan a simple antennae may fill that void.

Movies and TV Shows
The big three of online streaming remain Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, although you can rent movies on YouTube and other sites as well. Like your cable plan however, none of these sites offer absolutely everything, so you may find some shows are missing. On the plus side though, most of these companies are starting their own “TV” shows that rival anything the major networks have. While Amazon and Netflix require subscriptions for access to their content, Hulu still offers classic shows including “The Fall Guy” and “The A-Team” for free (with ads), as well as old seasons of modern shows such as “Iron Chef America” and “The Flash.”

A great alternative to YouTube is Vimeo. While similar in concept, Vimeo caters toward more professional content, (you probably won’t find cat videos here) no ads, and a cleaner interface.

Livestream is a website that collects live “TV” streams from other providers so you can access them from one site. You can also upload content to Livestream yourself. So instead of just watching the news, why not try making the news yourself?

Rental Kiosks, Libraries and Theaters
In spite of the tremendous amount of online content, DVD and BluRay discs can still be rented from devices like Redbox or their local alternatives. Your local library may also have a good selection of movies and TV shows on DVD that you can borrow. These options are not only convenient, but also cost effective when compared to cable or subscription-based services.

Don’t forget The Stanley Theater is a great local option too!

A Note of Caution
Some “news” sites have advertisements that appear to be news stories, these ads often take you to a different website and may be a source of infections. An excellent way to avoid these ads in the first place is to use Google Chrome as your web browser with the Adblock Plus extension installed. Adblock Plus will prevent these ads from showing in the first place so you won’t be tempted to click on the “news” ad for “New Drug to Burn Fat”!

When searching for content to stream online, it might be tempting to find “free” movies. Sites may advertise the latest Hollywood blockbusters for “free,” but content like this is often obtained and distributed illegally, and may contain malicious software that can harm your computer.

Remember, if you have downloaded malicious content because you begin to get popups or other suspicious things showing up, we’re just a phone call away and are happy to help keep your computer running fast and securely.

This is another topic suggested to us by a customer. Let us know if you have a subject you want us to cover! 

There are several ways to “stream” information. One is to use your smartphone, computer or other device to watch movies, news, or other online content. Another is to use your device as a means through which you can display that content to a bigger screen, such as your TV. Today we’re discussing the latter.

Streaming Video
Most have a computer, tablet or smartphone these days, but for many the screen is rather small--anywhere from 5-24 inches depending on the device. Wouldn’t it be nice to watch your movies on your big screen TV? Well, you can and it’s even pretty easy!

There are many methods and devices you can use, but let’s look at some of the more common options.

iPhone and iPad
iPhones and iPads can mirror their displays to your HDTV or projector, this means that everything you see on your iPhone or iPad is displayed as big as life on your TV. This makes it really easy to show grandma those videos of the grandkids, without having to squint at a tiny screen. If you have Apple TV then you can stream wirelessly, but we’ll cover the more affordable (and more portable) wired connection here.

What you need: an iPhone 5 or above or an iPad 3 or above, an Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter, an HDMI cable and an HDTV or projector.

Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the Lightning adapter. Connect the Lightning adapter to the charging port on your device. Now connect the HDMI cable to an open HDMI port on the TV. Turn the TV on and switch to the correct HDMI input. You should now see your home screen on the TV! Open whatever content you want (videos, pictures, etc) and show them off.

Windows Computer
If you have a desktop, laptop or tablet running Windows 7 or 8 you’ll find it is very easy to connect them to your TV. Again, there are many different methods (including wireless) that can be used, but for the purpose of simplicity we’ll look at two wired connections.

What you need: a computer running Windows 7 or 8 with an HDMI or VGA port, an HDMI or VGA cable and an HDTV or projector.

Connect one end of the HDMI or VGA cable to your computer and the other to the TV. Turn the TV on and switch to the correct input (HDMI or VGA). Sometimes your computer will detect the additional display automatically, but if it doesn’t, simply press and hold the Windows key and tap the “P” key. This will cycle through your display options: “PC Screen Only,” “Duplicate,” “Extend,” and “Second Screen Only.” The first option will use your monitor and the TV will be blank. The second option will show the same image on both screens. Option three will extend the image across both displays, effectively merging them into one display. The final option will deactivate the native display and show the image on the TV only. Most people will choose either “Duplicate” or “Extend,” but you should use whichever one works best for you.

Android Devices
There are many apps for Android that will stream content to your TV, but unlike Apple and Microsoft devices, there isn’t a simple cable arrangement available, and only select devices are capable of mirroring the display. Most of the streaming apps are limited in what they can stream. Possibly the easiest option is Google’s Chromecast device.

What you need: an Android phone, a Chromecast device, a wireless network and an HDTV.

First, connect the Chromecast device to an open HDMI port on your TV, switch the TV to the correct input, and connect the Chromecast to your wireless network. Next install or launch the Chromecast app on your phone. Ensure your phone is connected to the same wireless network as the Chromecast device. Now, launch the Chromecast app on your phone, slide out the menu on the left of the screen and tap “Cast Screen.” Your display should now appear on the TV.

Other Wireless Options
There are many ways to wirelessly connect your mobile devices to your TV, including Miracast, Roku, Slingbox, Chromecast, Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and AirPlay. Most of these require either more expensive hardware, additional setup, subscription fees, etc. Which one is right for you depends on many factors, if you need help choosing one or getting them set up just call us!

This is another topic suggested to us by a customer. Let us know if you have a subject you want us to cover!