Category: Blog

Michigan State University and Lansing Community College students! Take advantage of our $10 off coupon when you have your smartphone or tablet repaired at our locations at the Meridian Mall and Lansing Mall.

Just show us your school ID and like us on Facebook or Twitter to get the discount!

After spending hundreds of dollars on a new smartphone, you don’t want to end up staring at a scratched screen all the time. These scratches are annoying to see on the display screen, and you can never get rid of them. Smartphones are fragile and always prone to gashes, but you can help prevent these from happening by using screen protectors.

An extra layer of defense provides easy protection on your smartphone’s glass screen. With low-cost screen protectors, you can take better care of your valued smartphone without breaking the bank. But there are many different types of screen protectors in the market so you need to find one that best suits your needs and budget. Here are a few types of smartphone screen protectors:

PET Film Screen Protector

PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, which is a type of plastic. PETs are great screen protectors because of its scratch-resistant coating and very affordable pricing — they usually come in packs of three. It has a silicone adhesive that makes it easy to put on your smartphone, but of course, it’s better to have an iCare technician do it for you.

PETs are not a perfect solution, though. It doesn’t have a glassy texture and discolors easily due to the sun rays and oil build-up from our fingers. (TIP: iCare technicians will give you a free PET if you like us on Facebook!)

TPU Screen Protector

TPU stands for thermoplastic polyreuthane, which is chemically enhanced plastic that makes it even more tough and durable. Unlike PETs, TPU screen protectors are oil- and grease-resistant and will definitely protect your phone display screen from scratches. It’s made of military-grade material used to protect jet fighters. It’s also very elastic and can absorb impact from pressing heavily on the screen or small drops.

TPUs are better and more expensive than PETs but they still can’t handle extreme conditions like long drops. It’s a great screen protector but it’s not the best.

Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Speaking of the best screen protector in the market today, that will be the multi-layered tempered glass. It has shock-absorbent silicon on the bottom and a PET film, sandwiched by tempered glass and olephobic coating using a clear adhesive. It might sound like a thick glass but it’s not, and is only less than 0.4 mm thick. Application is easy enough but it is better to have an iCare technician do it for you.

Having a tempered glass screen protector can potentially save your phone’s screen from more serious damages. The tempered glass will break into small pieces first before it gets through your phone. So that’s a great additional protective layer on your expensive smartphone.

iCare Phone Repair carries tempered glass screen protectors for smartphones for only $19.99. It’s slightly more expensive than the other types of screen protectors but it’s the best protection that you can find in the market today. Plus, $19.99 is still cheaper than a hundred dollars’ worth of screen replacement. So visit any of our locations today and we’ll apply the tempered glass for you for free!

Smartphone malware has started to be increasingly prevalent, and it has become more necessary for users to be aware of how to protect their devices. The more information we store on our phones, the more reason to ensure that we protect our devices because the consequences of such loss become more significant.

But let’s face it. Users are generally careless about the latest malware and how to find out if their devices have been attacked. Take note that there are threats that are able to hide unnoticed from users’ devices. By the time the victim learns about it, the device has already been attacked – your passwords, contact information, private photos and files may have already been compromised.

There are many ways for malware to conceal itself, but once it kicks into action, you will notice signs of illegitimate activity that you should pay attention to.

Signs that your mobile device has been infected by a malware attack

Sign #1. The system or apps start behaving irregularly.

If you have apps that have suddenly failed to work even though they used to work just fine, there might have been a malware attack. Signs of strange activities are the sudden closing of the app or displaying of various error messages. This means a malicious code is running in the background and interfering with the normal processes.

When malware has taken over an app, it can take illegally access the permissions that have been previously granted to the app and run commands with administrator permissions. These attacks can be noticed by the user if it happens to him.

Other signs of malware activity: the battery goes empty faster than usual, your calls and messages do not reach their destination, and other overuses of the device’s resources.

What you should do: Know the app before you install them on your phone and download it from official sources, such as the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Check all the apps installed on your phone and know if something is not supposed to be there; maybe you didn’t authorize it in the first place. Check the app permissions and see to it that it is not charging you for online purchases that you didn’t make.

When installing and running apps, be careful with the permissions that you grant especially if it asks for administrator permissions. You may end up unable to uninstall the app through the system settings.

(See also: App Store Hack: WeChat and Other Apps Infected with Malware)

Sign #2. Your call and SMS logs include unknown numbers.

These unknown numbers may be international numbers that the malware is calling or sending messages to at your own expense. WeLiveSecurity.com identifies this type of malware under the Android/TrojanSMS family, which has been growing exponentially – about 50 new examples are detected every month and no signs of decreasing in the near future.

What you should do: Always check your call and SMS history so these unknown numbers won’t be running up your bill undetected. Don’t download from unofficial sources and be careful of the permissions you grant when installing apps.

Sign #3. Data usage has increased much greater than normal.

If you notice an excessive amount of data exchange even when you don’t use the device, there is a good chance of the presence of malware in the device. Malicious apps take advantage of your available data plan to exchange information with command and control centers operated by cybercriminals.

What you should do: Find out how much data your device has been devouring. For iPhones, tap on “Cellular”, then scroll down to “Cellular Data Usage”. For Android phones, swipe down from the top of the screen to bring up the notification shade. Tap on the top right corner gear icon, and then the “Data usage” icon.

(See also: KeyRaider Malware Affects Jailbroken Apple Devices)

Sign #4. The device sends and receives strange text messages.

Cybercriminals infect mobile devices by sending text messages that contain commands to be interpreted by the malware, which then takes the corresponding action. Lots of malware are able to delete such messages so they go unnoticed by the user.

The phone numbers in your contact list may also receive these test messages, and the recipient may unknowingly download the malicious content when they click the links.

What you should do: If you see these strange text messages, don’t just ignore them. Your device has a malicious app that has to be safely removed. If you receive a text message asking you to click a link, use common sense and don’t do it. And immediately inform the sender of this malware.

(See also: One Simple Text Can Hack 950 Million Android Devices)

Sign #5. You are getting charged for actions you did not make.

As mentioned above, there are malicious apps that make calls, send text messages, or use data without your knowledge. You’re in for a surprise when these show up on your phone bill. Your credit card data saved in your apps may also get stolen and used to make online purchases.

What you should do: It’s a must to identify malicious activity as early as possible so you can control these unwarranted charges before they pile up. If you can install a trustworthy security solution to scan our device, the better. They can identify if there’s a real threat in your device and they can also provide solutions to remove the treat.

Also, it is best to change your passwords immediately to bar any more entries from the malware if you suspect that sensitive information from your device has been compromised.

How to protect your device from malware attacks

Mobile technology should not be feared, and you should be able to enjoy the significant developments that it brings. But at the same time, you have to take a proactive and preventive approach to keep your data secure at all times.

1. Update your device’s operating system and apps to the latest versions.
2. Back up your data regularly.
3. Download apps from official stores only, such as the Apple Store and the Google Play Store, to greatly reduce the chances of getting infected by malware.
4. Use a screen lock and use a password or pattern that is hard to guess.
5. Encrypt the content on your device.
6. Avoid rooting or jailbreaking your device.
7. Use security solutions from a trusted company.

Are you thinking of switching to another mobile carrier? You might have been told that you need to “unlock” your phone first. This guide will explain what unlocked phones are, why they are locked, and how to unlock them.

Locked vs Unlocked Smartphone

When you purchase a smartphone in North America, it is going to be likely “locked” to a mobile carrier. This means that you can only use that smartphone for that specific carrier’s network. Before you can switch to another carrier, the phone has to be “unlocked” first. Phone unlocking is different from jailbreaking and rooting, which involves removing the software restrictions imposed by iOS and Android.

Locked smartphones can only work on its carrier’s network. For example, you bought an iPhone from AT&T on contract. Your iPhone will only accept an AT&T SIM card and function on AT&T’s network. So if you insert a T-Mobile SIM card into it, the iPhone will reject the T-Mobile SIM card and the phone won’t function.

Having a locked phone can get in the way if you travel to another country because you will have to pay additional fees per minute every time you call or use data. You won’t be able to use a local SIM card in the country you’re visiting because your locked phone will reject it.

Why Are Smartphones Locked?

High-end smartphones like the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are very expensive – at least $649 and $749 respectively. Mobile carriers make these phones more attractive to customers by bringing down their prices in exchange for a two-year contract. They subsidize a big portion of the purchase price so you end up paying only a fraction of the cost.

The contract ensures that customers will stay with the carrier until it is able to recoup its subsidy over the course of the contract. That’s why there is such a thing as an ETF or Early Termination Fee if you end the contract before it expires.

What Are the Benefits of an Unlocked Smartphone?

1. You don’t have to stick to your mobile carrier. There are many reasons why people want to switch: bad network, expensive monthly fees, better offers by the competition, etc. When you unlock your phone, you can switch effortlessly between carriers. You’ll be free to choose the best carrier and plan to suit your specific needs.
2. You’ll get better coverage. GSM devices (phones with SIM card slots) that are unlocked can be used anywhere in the world as long as you purchase a local SIM card. You won’t have to worry about expensive roaming fees and loss of coverage because you can easily switch SIM cards wherever you are.
3. You can save money in the long run. You have to shell out money to unlock your phone but it is going to be worth it in the end. You won’t have to pay a subscription fee and you are free to switch to another carrier if you want to change your current plan.
4. You can customize your phone any way you want. Locked smartphones have pre-installed applications and settings by their mobile carrier. With an unlocked phone, you can change the settings however you want and you won’t be limited by a software lock.
5. You won’t have to worry about losing your phone. Yes, it is a pain to lose your phone but it’s more painful if it is still under contract. Early termination fees (ETFs) are expensive, plus you have to shell out more money to buy a new phone. With an unlocked phone, you just need to buy another phone (without that extra ETF burden on your shoulders).
6. You can sell an unlocked phone more easily. With all the benefits that come with an unlocked phone, you can ask for a higher resale price for it. You can also sell the unlocked phone even outside the United States because the phone can accept any SIM card.

How Do You Unlock a Smartphone?

You can go different routes if you want to unlock your phone.

1. Call your mobile carrier. Some mobile carriers will unlock your phone for you once your contract has expired or as long as you’ve paid off anything you owe on the phone. There may be an unlocking fee but it is still worth a shot.
2. Unlock it yourself. Phone unlocking is now legal in the US, so you won’t have to worry about breaking the law. Just do a web search and you will be able to find instructions on how to unlock your phone.
3. Have your phone unlocked by iCare Phone Repair. All iCare locations offer unlocking services on major smartphone brands and carriers. The unlocking process may take different turnaround times, from 12 hours to 7 business days, depending on how old the phone model is and the carrier. You can call any of our locations to find out more about unlocking your phone.

If you’re looking to upgrade your smartphone or tablet to a newer model, then Black Friday is the best time for it! Or if you’re looking to shop early for Christmas gifts, Black Friday deals are the greatest money savers you’ll find before the year ends.

Here are the top Black Friday electronic deals on smartphones and tablets that you can take advantage of.

Newegg Black Friday Electronic Deals

Starting November 23, Newegg will be offering more than 5,000 deals including Samsung’s 7-inch Galaxy Tab 3 Lite. From $139.99, its price is dropping to just $79.99, which makes it a perfect inexpensive tablet for kids. To check out more electronic deals from Newegg, visit https://blog.newegg.com/holiday-deals

Amazon Black Friday Electronic Deals

Amazon has been offering Black Friday deals since the start of November but there’s still better bargains to come this week. Starting November 20, Amazon will add more deals every five minutes up until Black Friday. And to top that off, there will be 10 Deals of the Day from midnight on Thanksgiving and 10 more on Black Friday.

Kindle Paperwhite will drop to only $99.99, Amazon Fire gets as low as $34.99, and they have more discounts on Amazon Fire TV, Fire Stick, TV sets, sound bars, speakers, and projectors. It’s as good as it gets! To check out more electronic deals from Amazon, visit https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=384082011

Verizon Wireless Black Friday Deal

If you’re a qualifying Verizon Wireless subscriber, you can receive 2GB of free data as part of Verizon’s “Thanksgetting” promotion. Customers with an eligible plan can get 1GB of free data on their current billing cycle and 1GB on the next cycle.

Visit their Thanksgetting page to claim your free data. Click “Get it now”, log in, and follow the instructions. The clock is ticking so you better hurry!

iCare Phone Repair Black Friday Electronics Deal

Here’s a great Christmas stocking stuffer! All our iCare Phone Repair locations will be selling ZipCord battery packs for up to 60% off on Black Friday. So if you know someone who’s always running out juice, then you’ve found the perfect gift. The ZipCord 6,000mAh is now only $19.99 (orig $50.00) and the 3,600mAh batteries will drop to $14.99 (orig $40.00). Every location will have a limited number of ZipCords for sale, two 6,000mAh and three 3,600mAh so stop by as early as you can. To find an iCare location near you, please visit https://icarerepair.com/locations.

If you’re one of the many owners of a Galaxy Note 5, or if you’re planning to buy one, make sure to read this very important pro tip: INSERT THE S PEN POINTY END FIRST. Not backwards, as some people unfortunately learned by experience. If inserted the wrong way, the internal S Pen detection sensor can get damaged when you try to remove it again.

(See also: iPhone 6s Plus vs Galaxy Note 5: A Comparison)

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Here’s FrogVomit’s experience:

Mere hours after getting my Note 5, I put the pen back in the hole without really looking at what I was doing, and stuck it in backwards. To my utter horror, I was then unable to extract it! I tried pushing, pulling, and wiggling it for several minutes without pulling too hard, and eventually it came out. BUT, my pen removal detection seems to have stopped working. Nothing happens when I pull the pen out anymore.

Is it a design flaw? Well, this is Samsung’s response:

We highly recommend our Galaxy Note 5 users follow the instructions in the user guide to ensure they do not experience such an unexpected scenario caused by reinserting the S-Pen in the other way around.

For those who never read user guides, Samsung has included a new warning label for the Galaxy Note 5 and the S Pen. Now everyone can clearly see that “inserting the S Pen the wrong way can cause it to become stuck and can damage the pen and your phone.” The label also has a pair of images that depict the correct (and incorrect) way of inserting the S Pen.

It may be annoying that Samsung designed the S Pen to be inserted only in one way, but the manual does provide a warning on how to insert the stylus with the nib pointed inward. If this advice came to you too late, iCare Phone Repair is here to get it fixed! Follow the link to find an iCare location near you.

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Since the release of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in October, we’ve already had dozens of customers coming in to get their brand new iPhones repaired. Usual cause of problem: cracked screens. Ouch!

After spending a few hundred dollars on a new smartphone, the best thing you can do for it — and yourself — is to make sure it’s well-protected. That means if you have to invest on a “pricey” Lifeproof case, do it! Because you will end up saving your money in the event that you accidentally dropped your iPhone 6s Plus onto concrete.

How much does a Lifeproof case cost? It depends on your device but it ranges between $79.99 to $99.99 at our iCare Phone Repair locations. That’s not bad compared to the cost of getting a screen repair, which can go as much as $399.99. So should you buy a Lifeproof case? We definitely recommend it!

Here’s a prime example of an iPhone 6 Plus that had a Lifeproof case. Looks bad? Not really. The iPhone only suffered a cracked screen after falling on the highway and getting run over at least ten times by cars. You would have thought that it would all be smashed into metal and glass pieces, but the touchscreen still works perfectly. Instead of having to buy a new iPhone, the customer only needed the glass screen repaired.

And check out the Lifeproof case. The edges look scratched up, which is totally understandable after getting run over, but it was definitely able to withstand the trauma of getting hit and dragged on the road.

If you’ve had your phone screen broken at least once in your life, don’t feel so bad because you’re just one of the 34 percent of people in the country who’ve had the same experience. Glass screens are very fragile and it is definitely the most popular repair that we do at all our locations. So, if you want to get paranoid, feel free to do so! Because in the long run, having a Lifeproof case will be cheaper than the cost of a new phone, or a repair especially when it’s the latest model.

Lifeproof cases are available at all our locations. Give us a call or drop by our store to get one for your phone before it’s too late!

Mobile devices have become so popular that we can’t imagine ourselves without one anymore. In fact, the number of mobile users in the U.S. is forecast to top 200 million by 2017. Moreover, a projected 40 million people will break their phones in the next year.

Our favorite smartphones and tablets are prone to accidents and getting cracks on the fragile glass, among other issues. That’s where iCare Repair comes in, specializing in helping individuals and businesses get back to their routine by fixing the problems on their mobile devices.

iCare Repair is now expanding and is opening its doors to savvy Michigan-based entrepreneurs looking for a franchise opportunity in the estimated $4 billion revenue industry. With eight locations since its inception in 2012, the phone repair company plans to add at least five more franchises throughout Michigan in 2016.

Known for its five-star ratings on Google+ and Facebook, same-day repairs, price match guarantees, and corporate discounts, iCare Repair delivers outstanding quality of repairs at affordable prices. With exclusive territories offered, the company offers a low-inventory, low start-up cost business model with a potential for exceptional return-on-investment.

The required investment for a single franchise unit ranges from $55,900 to $117,000, which includes the franchise fee of $20,000, 3-month operating expenses, and free training. To augment its growth, iCare Repair is seeking tech-driven and business-savvy Michiganders to be part of its energetic team and own their share of a brand that is all about great repair services and customer service.

To request more information, please visit https://icarerepair.com/franchise/request-more-info.

About iCare Repair

Founded in 2012 by a mobile device repair and sales professional, iCare Repair provides fast and effective smartphone and tablet repair to individuals, schools, and businesses. iCare Repair ensures quality services through in-depth repair training of its team. It now has eight locations in Michigan and Washington and has recently started franchising.

The iCare Phone Repair team put a rose gold iPhone 6s to a durability test — because why not? Is it really as “tough” as Apple claimed it to be compared to other iPhones? How durable is the new iPhone 6s?

We lined up at the Apple Store in Eastwood Town Centre on the first day of its release to be one of the first iPhone 6s owners. Although it broke our heart (and those of the other Apple fans) to subject a brand new rose gold iPhone 6s to “torture” to test its durability, we were up for the challenge.

After all, according to Apple’s website:

The iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus are made with 7000 Series aluminum, the strongest alloy we’ve ever used in an iPhone.

How true is this statement? Watch our video to find out! And don’t forget to enter our iPhone 6s Giveaway Contest to celebrate our 3rd anniversary! Don’t worry, it’s a different iPhone 6s. *wink*

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After the news about the Keyraider Malware broke out a few weeks ago, another hacking news has alerted the iOS community. When before it was only jailbroken Apple devices that were affected, now legitimate apps that you may have downloaded from the App Store have been infected. So even if your iPhone, iPad, or iPod is not jailbroken, your device’s security may still have been breached.

The security threat is called XcodeGhost, which was able to bypass App Store security and now potentially affects hundreds of millions of Apple users. The App Store has a strict approval team, making it difficult from hackers from China to infiltrate it so they went for the middleman instead. The hackers inserted malicious code in a customized version of Xcode, a tool used by developers to package iOS apps, and made it available to developers in China. The unofficial Xcode was released from untrusted servers in China, and downloaded by unsuspecting developers.

The counterfeit Xcode was then used by developers to work on their apps, and more than 50 apps containing the XcodeGhost were accepted in the App Store. This includes the popular chat app WeChat, which has around 600 million users. These infected apps have been removed from the App Store since it was discovered by research company Palo Alto Networks.

The developers are currently rebuilding these apps using the official Xcode software, but while you wait until the malware has been removed, it is wise to uninstall them from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod right away.

Source: http://bgr.com/2015/09/21/app-store-hack-iphone-malware-apps-list/