Which devices does this service apply to?

 We can carry out a software tune up on any Laptop or PC running Windows, any Apple Mac, so that’s MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro or Mac Studio. This service is not available for iPhones, iPads or non Apple tablet devices.

What is included in our tune up service?

It’s very common we see bloated storage space on customers devices, and we know how frustrating this can get.

We can run a suite of applications to break down what is taking up what space and where.

The software we use is designed to give us a representation of the data on the PC or Mac, meanwhile respecting your privacy. This software means we don’t have to go through all your files. Instead, the application will show us a colour coordinated graph that tells us what file type is the largest on the system.

We will never delete your personal data, instead we look more at system files.

We may notice that some of your personal data is taking up a large amount of space, we can inform you of this and let you know solutions to help store this without clogging your PC or Mac.

We will then look into your security settings and check everything is enabled to protect you the best. Whilst we can enable pre-emptive measures, we still recommend caution and safe browsing whilst using your PC or Mac. This is standard practice in today’s day and age as scams and viruses evolve daily and become more deceptive. If you are ever unsure about something, it’s best to avoid it and ask someone with experience.

Firewall, this setting is typically not enabled by default, but it can add an extra layer of protection for PC or Mac.

This setting, when enabled, doesn’t allow programs or applications from accepting incoming connection.

Whilst in your settings, we can check what applications have access to hardware on your PC or Mac and disable them from accessing what they either don’t need access to our shouldn’t.

For example, some malicious applications may have access to your webcam or microphone, we will check this and make sure they can no longer do this.

We can also look into enabling encryption on the PC or Mac if you are wanting the most amount of protection.

Encryption essentially locks all data on the device down using a XTS-AES-128 Encrypting method. This means none of the data on the device can be accessed without a 256-bit key, securing all the data on it.

This process can take hours or even days to complete, it can run in the background, so you can use your device in the meantime.

This encryption may not be suitable for yourself, we may or may not recommend it.

If you ever lose or forget your password and have no means of resetting it, the data is essentially lost.

We will then carry a virus scan on the PC or Mac to pick up and securely remove anything malicious on the device. We can leave a free version of an Anti-Virus on the PC or Mac, to keep you protected even after you’ve collected the device. We also won’t leave the program running in the background, instead we can have it on the PC or Mac, ready to scan when you decide.

We are aware of a number of applications that claim to help with your PC or Mac but actually cause more issues, we may suggest removing certain applications you may have installed believing they are legitimate. We are happy to suggest alternative applications if needs be.

We can also check your Operating System; this can help with security also. Certain operating systems have released patch updates in order to fix security flaws. If we notice you are running an operating system, featuring a flaw, we will certainly let you know and can update it for you.

Everyone uses their PC or Mac differently; we can’t guarantee that we can free up loads of space if your device is full of items you wish to keep. But what we can do at this point is advise how to help outside deleting items, this could be a cloud storage solution, external drive or even upgrading the internal storage of your PC or Mac, if possible.

The entire service is catered around you and how you use the PC or Mac, we may ask you what you do on the PC or Mac, whether that’s general usage such browsing the internet or editing massive videos. We can return the PC or Mac to you and give you the confidence that your device is secure and operating as it should be.

What do I need to do?

Simply book an appointment and show up with your PC or Mac, no need to bring any other accessories. We will double-check a few of your details and ask for your password, this service does include full access to your settings and without it cannot be completed. If you are sure about leaving your password, then check our £10,000 protection privacy guarantee here in our terms and conditions.

Is it really free?

Yes, for Stray Ferret readers we are offering this service completely free (normally £49), with no obligations or strings attached. We may give you some recommendations for future repairs or upgrades if we see anything, but no need to go ahead, just consider them for the future. This offer is strictly limited to online bookings and is exclusive to Stray Ferret readers.

How long will it take?

It should take approximately 3-4hrs, but can differ between devices due to how much is required to be removed.

Do I need an antivirus installing?

The option to sign up to an additional service is something you should consider to have maximum protection. The service we offer does not guarantee your protection, but is similar to a spring-clean, and will clear your PC or Mac of any already installed malware/bloatware/viruses you have collected along the way. We would also advise cautious browsing and considering the origin of emails and links before clicking on them, the majority of our customers that have security issues have willingly given the details to someone rather than having a virus installed. We will leave a trial version of an antivirus program installed on your PC or Mac, and we find this is usually adequate, but would never discourage the purchasing of a paid version of a reputable antivirus software.