Frequently Asked Questions

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This is a list of frequently asked questions. Please read through these to see if your question may already be answered here.

You may also call us at: 021 2429752

Business Questions

What are your business hours?
What makes you different from other service companies?
What areas do you serve?

	Business Questions
Q.	What are your business hours?
A.	Normal business hours are Monday to Thursday 9am to 6pm, and 9am to 5pm on Friday. Evening or weekend service is also available by appointment.
Q.	What makes you different from other service companies?
A.	People and Businesses around the world depend on Computer Troubleshooters. We are the world's #1 network of computer professionals. There are many reasons our customers call Computer Troubleshooters instead of someone else. Here are just a few - We understand computers and technology issues. We come to you with onsite and professional service. Computer Troubleshooters care about our customers. We won't call a job complete until the problem is resolved. Computer Troubleshooters provides the service and peace of mind you deserve. Call us today!
Q.	What areas do you serve?
A.	We service Ballincollig Ballygarvan Belgooly Carrigaline Cork Airport Crossbarry Crosshaven Inishannon Kinsale Monkstown Ovens Passage West Ringaskiddy Riverstick and the surrounding areas. If you need service out of this area, please call 021 2429752 or 087 7412939 for availability information.
	Computer Related Questions
Q.	What is a virus?
A.	A computer virus is a program - a piece of executable code - that has the unique ability to replicate. Like biological viruses, computer viruses can spread quickly and are often difficult to eradicate. They can attach themselves to just about any type of file and are spread as files that are copied and sent from individual to individual. In addition to replication, some computer viruses share another commonality: a damage routine that delivers the virus payload. While payloads may only display messages or images, they can also destroy files, reformat your hard drive, or cause other damage. If the virus does not contain a damage routine, it can cause trouble by consuming storage space and memory, and degrading the overall performance of your computer. Several years ago most viruses spread primarily via floppy disk, but the Internet has introduced new virus distribution mechanisms. With email now used as an essential business communication tool, viruses are spreading faster than ever. Viruses attached to email messages can infect an entire enterprise in a matter of minutes, costing companies millions of dollars annually in lost productivity and clean-up expenses. Viruses won't go away anytime soon: More than 60,000 have been identified, and 400 new ones are created every month, according to the International Computer Security Association (ICSA). With numbers like this, it's safe to say that most organizations will regularly encounter virus outbreaks. No one who uses computers is immune to viruses.
Q.	What is a worm?
A.	A worm is a computer program that has the ability to copy itself from machine to machine. Worms normally move around and infect other machines through computer networks. Using a network, a worm can expand from a single copy incredibly quickly. For example, the Code Red worm replicated itself over 250,000 times in approximately nine hours on July 19, 2001. A worm usually exploits some sort of security hole in a piece of software or the operating system. For example, the Slammer worm (which caused mayhem in January 2003) exploited a hole in Microsoft's SQL server. Worms use up computer time and network bandwidth when they are replicating, and they often have some sort of evil intent. A worm called Code Red made huge headlines in 2001. Experts predicted that this worm could clog the Internet so effectively that things would completely grind to a halt. The Code Red worm slowed down Internet traffic when it began to replicate itself, but not nearly as badly as predicted. Each copy of the worm scanned the Internet for Windows NT or Windows 2000 servers that did not have the Microsoft security patch installed. Each time it found an unsecured server, the worm copied itself to that server. The new copy then scanned for other servers to infect. Depending on the number of unsecured servers, a worm could conceivably create hundreds of thousands of copies.
Q.	What is a Trojan?
A.	A Trojan is a piece of code that performs unexpected or unauthorized, often malicious, actions. The main difference between a Trojan and a virus is the inability to replicate. Trojans cause damage, unexpected system behavior, and compromise the security of systems, but do not replicate. If it replicates, then it should be classified as a virus. A Trojan, coined from Greek mythology's Trojan horse, typically comes in good packaging but has some hidden malicious intent within its code. When a Trojan is executed users will likely experience unwanted system problems in operation, and sometimes loss of valuable data.
Q.	How do I know if I have a virus?
A.	You must remember that there are very many things that can go wrong with your computer and a virus is not always to blame. The only way you can know whether or not your computer is infected is by scanning your machine with an up to date anti-virus program.
Q.	What is Spyware?
A.	Spyware applications sneak onto your machine when you download many file-sharing services, open infected e-mails, or click on dubious Internet pop-up ads. They can manipulate your system, record your habits, and steal your passwords and credit card numbers. Depending on their degree of aggressiveness, they can steal your privacy or even your identity and they can be terribly difficult to remove.
Q.	What is Phishing?
A.	Phishing is an attempt to steal personal data by impersonating a legitimate organisation. Often initiated by email the perpetrators can produce very convincing replications of web sites and email correspondance in an attempt to fool the recipient into divulging personal and financial information. You should be extremely careful of any email or web site that asks for bank details or passwords.
Q.	What is Open Source Software?
A.	Open Source is a generic term for a software licence that provides the source code for the aoftware along with the product itself. This is opposed to 'closed source' software where you have no rights to the source code. Open Source software is often thought of as free of charge; but this is not necessarily the case. Open Source software can be charged for provided the source code is made available. Often companies providing Open Source software will also provide a 'community' edition of their product that is freely available; but somes with no official support.