Monthly Updates Service (MUSe™)

Overview

Existing clients of Allogro™ who have been configured for remote access can use the following form to register for our Monthly Updates Service (MUSe™).

Our MUSe™ subscription helps you stay current with critical and recommended updates for your Windows-based personal computer. Each month, our staff will connect to your computer and check it for patches and updates that are missing from your system. We check for both critical updates (the kind that are security vulnerabilities) and recommended updates (the kind that improve your computer’s performance and/or functionality). Usually we install all critical and recommended updates for you, but if a recommended update is known by our staff to cause stability or performance issues, or if it adds functionality that only a small number of users benefit from, we will send an e-mail in clear language asking you if you would like it before we install it.

These updates are typically performed following the second Tuesday of each month (commonly referred to as “Patch Tuesday”), which is the day that Microsoft regularly releases its updates. Additionally, if a critical security update is released outside of the normal schedule, we will make an extra connection to your computer and update it at that time.

Requirements

• Become a client of Allogro™ Business Networking Specialists.
• Have a high-speed Internet connection (DSL, Cable, etc.).
• If possible, a static IP address (standard with business class Internet service, optional for residential service) will make connecting to your computer much easier. Otherwise, we may need to contact you prior to each service connection to determine your current IP address.
• Schedule a technician to come out and configure your Internet router/firewall and computer to accept remote support connections. You may already be set up for this if our staff currently provides you with remote support.
• Provide us with a username and password to use to connect to your computer. It can be your own logon ID or a new one created specifically for us. If you change the account’s password, you will need to notify us of the change so we can continue to connect.
• Tell us when you would prefer we work on your computer: business hours (9–5), evenings (5–11:30), or late night (11:30–5:00).
• Choose the appropriate subscription option from below and select Subscribe. Complete the subscription process using PayPal. You can pay by credit card without joining PayPal, or you can use a PayPal account to pay by PayPal or checking account debit. Subscriptions are month-to-month or annual with a small discount.

Note that charges will appear from Acorn IT Group, the parent company of Allogro™.

Quantity

1 PC : $16.00USD – monthly 2 PCs : $32.00USD – monthly 3 PCs : $48.00USD – monthly 4 PCs : $64.00USD – monthly 5 PCs : $80.00USD – monthly 1 PC : $15.00USD – yearly 2 PCs : $30.00USD – yearly 3 PCs : $45.00USD – yearly 4 PCs : $60.00USD – yearly 5 PCs : $75.00USD – yearly

Customer # or Telephone & Name

The process

• You will need to leave your computer powered on (the monitor and printer can be off). If you have left applications running when we connect, we will attempt to close them. If you have unsaved changes, we will attempt to save the changes to a file on your desktop or we will abort our attempt and notify you by e-mail of the problem and reschedule.
• During the update process, we often need to restart the computer one or more times. This may result in your computer making shutdown and startup noises. You may want to keep the volume low if people are sleeping near the computer.
• Sometimes computers “hang” during shut down or the subsequent startup. If this happens, we will not be able to reconnect to complete the process. We will send you an e-mail (which you probably won’t receive until the computer is successfully restarted), and we will follow up with a telephone call during the next business or evening hours (depending on your preferences).
• If you ever notice your computer looks odd following our service, please contact us for assistance.

Important notes

• You should continue to have your computer perform automatic updates for critical threats and antivirus definition updates. We will configure your computer to do so if necessary. This helps ensure that updates are applied as quickly as possible. Automatic updates are not as thorough as our manual MUSe™ subscription, but they are still an important part of the overall security plan.
• Internet connectivity issues, firewall configuration, and other factors can all make remote connections temperamental, especially in the beginning. After the initial service call to establish connectivity, there is no charge for routine service to keep the connection working, even if we have to return to your site. However, if you change equipment, install new or updated software, or otherwise make changes to your network or computer that breaks the connection, you may be charged if a service call is necessary to restore connectivity.
• A MUSe™ subscription is one step you can take to help make your computer more secure, but you must also practice safe computing practices and not do things that put your computer at unnecessary risk.
• Note that if we can connect to your computer, it is theoretically possible for others to do so, too. However, we believe that by allowing us to keep your computer properly maintained your computer will be more secure and better protected than one that is connected to the Internet or a local network but not maintained properly. Since any computer, even one with all released security patches installed, may be vulnerable to attack through numerous vectors, Allogro™ does not make any guarantees concerning security, stability, reliability, or compatibility. However, installed updates are supplied by manufacturers and software publishers who may offer some form of guarantee if you encounter problems.

Troubleshooting information

Your current IP address is listed as: 38.107.191.109
Your current hostname is: 38.107.191.109

Which resolves to:

Array
(
    [0] => 38.107.191.109
)