February 2013
2 posts
Exciting new tech in 2013
We are now living in the future. We carry around in our pockets more computing power than NASA used to send an actual man to the actual moon. This is mesmerizing stuff, and it’s only getting more exciting. We’ve listed below the tech that we’re most excited about in 2013. If you think we’ve missed anything, let us know over on Twitter!
Google Glasses
(image: abcnews)
The Google Glass project is...
Pick your password
Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a number of high profile cases of big brands on Twitter having their accounts compromised. First Jeep, then Burger King had their accounts hacked into due to simple passwords that luckily did no lasting damage other than leaving them publicly embarrassed – you may not be so fortunate.
(image: zdnet)
If you use the same password for every account, you leave...
December 2012
1 post
Christmas goodies for the tech lover in your life ...
Have you bought your Christmas presents yet? If not, you’re cutting it a little fine. The ‘delivery by Christmas’ date is getting closer and closer, and high street shopping at this time of year is only for the iron willed.
Don’t panic though. We’ve had a thorough look through the internet and have found a few gifts – from stocking filler upwards – for the tech lover in your life. If you think...
November 2012
1 post
7 tags
Password Dos and Don'ts
The importance of using varied, strong passwords is one that really can’t be understated. If you use the same password across the board, all it takes is for one site to be compromised and your personal details, money and reputation can be in immediate jeopardy.
There have been countless studies and reports on the importance of good online passwords, and most of them present some pretty...
August 2012
1 post
18 tags
Virgin Digital Help Virus Guide: ZeroAccess Virus
Viruses come in a range of shapes and sizes. Some are fairly benign – they’ll pop ads up, make your computer run slowly and not much else. Some, however, you really don’t want to mess with. The ZeroAccess virus is one of them.
(Image: Precise Security)
If you’re unlucky enough to fall foul of ZeroAccess, you may experience a slow computer, files that won’t open, regular disconnections from the...
July 2012
6 posts
11 tags
Virgin Digital Help Virus Guide: Twitter Spam
Are you a tweeter? Do you love the constant, immediate stream of information to which you have access 24 hours a day? If so, you may have been followed by some accounts that seem unusual. They may have no bio, they may just tweet links constantly. They may even tweet completely incomprehensible, baffling nonsense (though a lot of normal accounts do this too).
These accounts are Spambots. They are...
8 tags
Virgin Digital Help on Mashable
“Technology is supposed to make our lives easier — that is, until something goes wrong. While only about a third of people say that technology as a whole stresses them out, that figure more than doubles when it comes to specific technologies, according to a new study.
The top three stress-producers are related to connecting to the Internet. Respondents say problems with Wi-Fi caused the...
11 tags
VDH: What causes you digital stress?
Everyday tech stresses us out! Don’t get mad, get help!
For the last month we have been conducting an ongoing survey to find out how everyday tech can raise your stress levels and today we’re proud to reveal the results! We’ve made an infographic to showcase the results - what do you think?
Over 60% of respondents said everyday technology stresses them out, citing computers,...
10 tags
VDH Virus Guide: Digital Currency
The internet carries its own currencies. Zynga Coins, Facebook Credits and XBOX Points are all online equivalents of cold hard cash that can be used to buy virtual goods, enhancing gaming, social networking and a bundle of other activities that require some sort of monetary outlay to be made complete.
Well, you probably don’t need us to tell you that exchanging cash online is fraught with...
5 tags
Virgin Digital Help Virus Guide: QR Codes
Do you scan QR codes? They’re the square, pixelated symbols you may have seen in magazines, shops, restaurants and on products you’ve bought in shops. Scan them with your phone and you will be taken to a website, shown an image or linked to a video. Usually, these links, images and videos give you more information on whatever the QR code relates to. Sometimes, however, they can lead you to...
The VDH Virus Guide: Facebook Clickjacking
Facebook recently overtook Google as the most visited website online. We all have a Facebook profile, and if we don’t, we know someone who does. The volume of people using the site makes it a very attractive target for scammers keen to make themselves rich using tactics like clickjacking, which can make them millions from pay per click advertising.
(Image: Digital Breed)
The way clickjacking...
June 2012
8 posts
6 tags
The VDH Virus Guide: Ukash Metropolitan Police...
An online threat for our UK readers here, the Ukash Metropolitan Police Virus. This is a particularly nasty virus for your computer to contract, as it prevents you from accessing anything, telling you that you will only be allowed to access your files and programs again once you have entered a code for payment of £100 (the amount may vary).
Image: Spyware Removal News
The virus will prevent you...
7 tags
The VDH Virus Guide – Rogue AV: Windows Protection...
Using the internet can be littered with risks. Malware, phishing scams, viruses and a plethora of other nasties that can threaten your system and personal information. Most people know that some kind of protection is necessary – but what happens when a wolf in sheep’s clothing arrives offering just that?
(Image: Trojan Killer)
Rogue Antivirus is just that. It pretends to be helping, all the while...
Rogue Antivirus: System Fix
Each week, we’ll be posting another section from the VDH Virus Guide, our comprehensive look at keeping your computer safe while you use the internet. This instalment of the Virus Guide deals with the System Fix virus, a particularly insidious nasty that renders your computer virtually unusable.
Read on, and keep safe!
System Fix
The System Fix virus has a number of symptoms that can panic...
9 tags
We've received a clue!
We’re getting closer to the truth, thanks to all your expert help. We really couldn’t do it without you - so thanks. We’ve just received the following clue from the thief, sent over email. It’s a piece of Richard’s diary, but we need your assistance deciphering the code. Can you help us? If you’ve got the answer, head over to Facebook and visit our app - kindly designed by our in house...
5 tags
Richard's diary has gone missing!
Oh no! We’ve just had reports from Virgin Head Office that Richard Branson’s diary has been stolen! We can only imagine what must be going through his head right now - all his business secrets, Facebook logins, private memories, stolen by some crook!
We need your help in order to be able to find the culprit, and to make sure they’re punished! Keep your eyes on our Facebook page throughout today...
6 tags
The VDH Virus Guide - Rogue AV Scanner
Vigilance is an essential trait of the modern computer user. We all must be watchful at all times that what we’re doing isn’t putting our device in harm’s way. So what happens when we encounter the proverbial wolf in sheep’s clothing? Something that comes along claiming to help, but is actually designed solely to infect your computer with malware?
This is the practice of Rogue Antivirus malware....
7 tags
VDH Virus Guide
Introduction to Virus Guide
At VDH we receive an awful lot of requests for help. This covers all sorts of areas, from setting up new computers to recovering deleted files. However, one issue crops up again and again for people in need of our expert assistance: computer virus prevention and cure.
It is for this reason that we’ve written the VDH Virus Guide, the first in a series of guides that...
5 tags
Give the Geek A Break
We were delighted to be featured on the great Freaky Frugalite blog this week, with a post about our service. Take a look below.
Tech Support for the Tech Support, or, give the geek a break
I had to reformat *another* one of our computers this week. The Windows Updates ALONE took THREE days, a staggering wait, I think. I am the chief tech support person in the house, and now that everyone has...
May 2012
5 posts
7 tags
Summer is here!
The sun has got his hat on! In this weather, you want to get out of the house, hit the beach, relax in the park, dance the night away at festivals and generally shake off all of the remaining winter blues. Getting out into the sun presents a few extra challenges with your tech. The beach, for example, is full of hazards for your camera, tablet or MP3 player. Sea, sand and sun may be great for...
7 tags
Life without Richard Branson
Our friends over at Virgin shared this great Forbes infographic recently, and we thought we’d pass it on to you. It’s an illustration of a few of the great things Richard Branson’s been up to over the years, and a glimpse at what life would have been like without him.
In addition, Richard recently took part in Ask Richard, an opportunity for anyone to ask him pretty much anything theyliked....
10 tags
Be Safe, Back Up
How much important information do you have on your computer? How many photos of the kids, holiday videos, songs you recorded with that band you were in (you’re never going to play those to anyone, we know, but stick with us) and countless hours of work you’ve saved to your home PC? We’d wager the answer to at least some of these is ‘a lot’, and these are things you should really be looking after...
10 tags
Be Safe, Back Up
How much important information do you have on your computer? How many photos of the kids, holiday videos, songs you recorded with that band you were in (you’re never going to play those to anyone, we know, but stick with us) and countless hours of work you’ve saved to your home PC? We’d wager the answer to at least some of these is ‘a lot’, and these are things you should really be...
7 tags
Tech Fixes You Wouldn't Necessarily Think Of
We’ve all been there; your tech is damaged or won’t work, you don’t have any fancy specialist equipment in the house and you don’t know what to do. Well, have no fear. There are a number of things you may have lying around that can help you get your tech back into tip top shape. Here’s a few of our favourite repair methods you may not have thought of.
Hard drive in the freezer
Has your hard...
April 2012
4 posts
8 tags
Twitter Tips for avoiding spam
We were delighted to be featured on Leader Post this week, with our article on protecting yourself from spam on Twitter. Take a look:
Twitter continues to be a breeding ground for cybercriminals. Just this week a wave of twitter spam emerged which infected 500+ Twitter accounts in just hours, a media release from Virgin Group says. These tweets were designed to look like helpful links to check...
7 tags
VDH: Here to Help
Here at VDH we’re available to help you 24/7. No matter whether you turn your computer in the morning and are faced with the blue screen of death, or if you’re stuck trying to get your smartphone working at 3am, we’re here to help, in a way that suits you.
There’s a number of different ways that you can get in contact with us, including through our live chat service, by phone, or if you’ve got...
11 tags
VDH's iPad Alternatives
If tablets are not already all the rage, it’s certainly looking like they will be very soon. The iPad is currently on its third iteration, and leads the field admirably, with a razor sharp screen, instinctive functionality and a comprehensive app store, iPad sales outstrip competitors by some distance.
However all of this comes at a price. The latest iPad ranges from £399 (16GB, wifi only) to...
The Virgin Digital Help Stress Test
Does your tech stress you out? Do you feel like there’s something new released every week, and you’re struggling to keep up? Is your high tech too high maintenance?
(Image: HPower Computing)
We want to hear from you.
We’ve just launched a survey to find out just how people are coping with their tech. We want to know what stresses you out, what companies could do better,...
March 2012
5 posts
9 tags
Virgin Digital Help's Weekend Briefing
Here at VDH we like to be on top of the latest technology news. Therefore we’ve put together this weekend briefing of all the interesting things that have happened in tech over the last week.
We hope you enjoy it, and would love to hear your feedback.
Amazon releases Kindle Touch
The much lauded e-reader Kindle has this week seen the release of its latest iteration, the Kindle Touch. This new...
9 tags
Setting up your new iPad
When you get a new iPad, you might want to sync it with your other Apple devices. In this article we aim to show you how - and also explain how the iCloud works, so you can transfer your data seamlessly between devices.
<Image courtesy of Topicsites>
The first thing you need to do when you get a new Apple device is...
9 tags
Virgin Digital Help comes to Pinterest!
We’ve launched on Pinterest! Those of you with your fingers firmly on the pulse of social media may be aware of a new social network called Pinterest. This website allows users to take photographs from across the web and ‘pin’ them to boards, much like you would pin messages to a message board offline. This concept has really taken off, and we decided we wanted to...
6 tags
Protect your kids online
The internet can be a bit of a minefield at the best of times. Lewd content, spam, malware, scammers and a host of other nasties call the world wide web their home. It pays to be vigilant, but how do you ensure those without as much worldly knowledge are completely safe from harm online?
There are a few measures you can take to keep your kids safe when using the internet....
7 tags
‘Virgin Digital Help’ to Help Consumers Conquer...
Virgin Launches New Personal Tech Support in the US New York – March 5, 2012 – We love our digital lifestyles, but sometimes the stress of dealing with technology that is confusing or failure-prone is just too much. That’s why Virgin, today, announced a new service, Virgin Digital Help, to support the growing number of US consumers who feel overwhelmed by the ‘digital stress’ associated with...
February 2012
4 posts
What to do if your phone gets wet
It happens to the best of us. There you are, washing the dishes, your phone on top of the microwave next to the sink when all of a sudden ‘SPLASH!’, £250 worth of smartphone has joined your crockery for a swim. An icy fear courses through you as you fish your phone out of the sink and stare at its now damp form.
(Image - Technical Jones)
1/3 of phone owners surveyed recently admitted that...
7 tags
Cut down on your power use. Save the world, save...
Everything we do these days involves using power. Browsing the internet, taking a shower, cooking – even reading a book has become an electronic pastime. With all this energy consumption going on all over the place, what can you do to not only save energy, but also save a few pennies?
Turn things off
When you no longer need to use your devices, turn them off. Leaving your PC or laptop on sleep...
9 tags
How to call anywhere in the world – for free!
If you could call anyone in the world right now, who would it be? And, if you have their number, what’s stopping you? If the answer is your phone bill, or the price of international calling, then have no fear. There are ways to make phone calls – and even video calls – online for absolutely no cost. We’ve put together our three favourite services that allow you to do just that. Now go and put the...
5 tags
How to speed up your computer
Has your PC or laptop seen better days? Are you experiencing loading times that are so slow they can only be measured by seasons? Well, have no fear! Our quick and easy steps will help you to restore your machine to its former glory and leave you more free time to do that thing you keep meaning to do.
Remove all spyware and other nasties from your computer
This is an essential not only from the...
January 2012
4 posts
11 tags
Helpful technology
Remember the visions of the future television used to show us? Charming robot butlers attending our every whim, cars that drove – sometimes flew – themselves, mirrors that offered fashion advice? Well, we’re in the future now, and last time we checked cars are still badly parked, robots are working in factories and mirrors remain boringly predictable.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some...
10 tags
Top Five from CES
Last week saw 3,100 companies descend on Las Vegas for the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012, one of the world’s most venerated expos for new tech, gadgets and other assorted electrical wizardry that set tech press tongues wagging and filled a million Christmas lists 12 months in advance.
In total, over 20,000 products were showcased. We’ve been following the announcements...
5 tags
CES Las Vegas 10-13 January
This week I will be attending the CES event in Las Vegas, the International Consumer Electronics Show. This is the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow, where top brands gather together to share some of their plans for the coming year, the trends and ideas that are set to influence the technological space.
Often products are launched at CES, and many companies use the platform to...
9 tags
Tech in 2012
2012 promises to be an exciting time for technology, with many new products in the pipeline to be released this year. Last year we saw an influx of e-readers, tablets and other gadgets designed to make life simple, and this is set to continue this year with new versions of the Apple iPad and Amazon Kindle in the offering.
Technology has come on leaps and bounds in the last ten years, with the...
December 2011
3 posts
10 tags
Five iPhone apps for the Holiday Season
Many of you may receive brand new iPhones under the tree and in your stockings this Christmas, and so we thought we’d share some Christmassy iPhone apps for you to play with. These will keep you entertained for hours once the excitement of the festivities has passed!
Elf Command
A free app, Elf Command is a game requiring quick reflexes. The aim of the game is to help the elves sort out their...
6 tags
Best gadget gifts for Christmas 2011
Stuck for ideas on what to buy this Christmas? Unsure which gadgets will make the best gifts? There are so many gadgets out there buying a suitable present for a tech fan can seem a little overwhelming.
To help you on your way, we have looked into the best gadgets out there this Christmas and listed our favourite four below. We hope that picking something from this list will truly impress your...
10 tags
Xmas App: Instagram
You may have seen our recent post about Instagram, a popular photo sharing social network for iPhone users. With Christmas fast approaching we thought it time to give you a rundown of the hottest photography app for the iPhone (and now Android too) so you can capture your Christmas snaps in style!
Even though Instagram has only been around for little over a year, it has already amassed twenty...
November 2011
6 posts
9 tags
A Guide to Computer Security
It is vital to protect your computer against the nasties of the outside world. It’s important to protect yourself against potential dangers as your computer may be under threat from a virus, malware or hacking.
Most computers experience some kind of security breach during their lifetime but as long as you are aware of how you can prevent this from happening you will be in the best possible...
6 tags
Facebook timeline is coming!
You may have heard people talking about the new Facebook layout, referred to as Facebook Timeline. According to Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, the Timeline is a way of using Facebook to show ‘the story of your life’. Your Facebook profile will change to become less of a news stream and something much more interactive, representing your entire personal history in a single place.
There are...
8 tags
Virgin Social Media Marathon
We were delighted to take part in the second Virgin Social Marathon on Wednesday this week. This time Virgin companies from around the world got together in their respective countries to share our First Times on all our social channels. We even had a special First Times app created which you can still visit now to view you and your friends’ first times together, whether it be the first photo...
8 tags
Virgin First Times
Join us today as we take part in the Virgin Social Media Marathon. We want you to share your first times with us today - when did you first use a computer? When did you pick up an iPhone for the first time? What was it like the first time you logged on to the internet?
Let us help you find your Facebook memories on with our First Times app. You can...
7 tags
Top of the Apps 2
There are always new apps coming out but which ones are actually worth downloading?
Cut the Rope
IGN is a casual/news website which is a mecca for all games, and they have recently announced that Cut the Rope is the best game on iPhone, and this game deserves a mention.
Cut the rope is a great puzzle game, easy to understand yet very difficult to master. With more than 55 million people who...
8 tags
Our guide to uploading photos from your phone to...
Many people now use their mobile phone as their camera too. If you have pictures on your phone, but aren’t sure how to upload them to your computer, look no further. Here is our easy step-by-step guide to uploading pictures from your mobile phone to a computer.
You may think “why would I need to upload photos to my computer when I have them all on my mobile?” It is useful to transfer your...
