The super-techs at Ace Computer Service are (from left) Blake Futch, Kyle Jones, Willie Sparrow and Daryl Vernon. Futch and Sparrow have worked at Ace Computers for 10 years. Says Jones: ‘I’m the new guy — I’ve been here four years.’ Consistency and competence are two qualities customers can expect from the techs at Ace Computer Service. Photo by Suzanne Freeman
Malware, viruses, damaged hard drives. If you’ve got one of these on your Mac or PC, Ace Computer Services can most likely take care of it for a reasonable price. The company at 5890 Everhart Road has been fixing computers in Corpus Christi since it was founded by owner Daryl Vernon more than 14 years ago.
The gang of four — Vernon and three service techs (two who have been with the company for 10 years) — are organized, trained, competent and certified. The evidence can be seen in the orderly way the jobs are lined up and tagged, in the division of labor, the specific work stations and, most important, the success stories.
“We try to be as perfect as we can,” Vernon said. “We fix everything on a computer. It takes extra time, and we babysit [the computers] to make sure they are right.”
The storefront at The Market on Everhart is simple, clean and ordered. Customer comfort is part of the equation. Vernon went to an extra expense to put an automatic opener on the front door because most customers come in and leave with their arms full of computers and accessories.
The most common problem making its way through that front door enters the afflicted computers though a backdoor: viruses and malware.
“It’s a scary computer cyberworld out there,” Vernon said. “Regular innocent people are targets. We’re the fish in the sea, and these bad guys are the fishermen trying to snag us.”
Malware, or malicious software, can get into computers via downloads, links sent in emails and with your very own permission. One prevalent scam invades your computer, convinces you something is wrong and has you call a company to get it fixed. For several hundred dollars, the scammers are granted remote access to your laptop or desktop to “fix” the problem. Many people never even realize they’ve been scammed — until the problems and calls continue.
“Hang up on these people,” Vernon said. “Don’t give them money.”
Often, the malware downloaded for the remote fix stays in your computer. Some of it is even coded to prevent uninstalls.
“Some people hang up, but leave their computer on and the scammer still gets in,” Vernon said. “We can go in and fix it. We have to go in and change the passwords. Most of the time, we can fix everything.”
While most of these scams target the elderly, the hardest one to fix targets professionals: lawyers, doctors and others with proprietary information on their hard drives. Called a crypto wall, these viruses encrypt all the documents, photos and other information on a computer. When users open the computer, they get a ransom message with a timer on it — don’t pay up in a certain number of hours and all the information is gone.
“Fixing that is more difficult,” Vernon said. “It’s a 50/50 chance.”
The best way to fight it is to prevent it, he said.
“Be careful about what you click on in your emails, where you go on the Internet and what you download,” he advised. “More importantly, make backups of your content on an external hard drive that is not constantly connected to your computer or use an online backup service. It’s a good way to protect yourself from a crypto wall virus.”
Failed hard drives rank second in the most common customer demands. Requests for saving data happen daily, from crashed servers in professional offices to fire-damaged drives with family photos. Ace Computer techs work on location to get businesses up and running as quickly as possible. The in-shop techs put their hearts and souls into saving family memories.
“Money is just money,” Vernon said. “But memories — the photos of you children or your deceased family members you’ll never see again — it’s those that come in that we consider our most awesome saves. And they are usually willing to pay anything, but we just charge the regular fee.”
Vernon considers the techs at Ace Computers the backbone of the company.
“The technicians are the ones who truly make this company,” he said. “Without them, the company would be nothing. I place a great value in my employees. They are the real story. I’m just the guy behind the curtain.”
As for the future of Ace Computers, Vernon and his techs plan to continue their training and their hard work.
“We want to be known as the premier Apple/Mac repair people in town,” he said.
He is also considering opening a shop in Calallen, where he has a large number of clientele.
He also pointed out that, unlike most computer repair companies, Ace Computers does not require contracts with its clients.
“You can use us as often or as little as you want,” he said. “Some call us a few times a year, some a couple of times a week. You usually get the same technician, and we have a quick response time. Most others want a contract of a minimum amount of hours. We only charge when we work.”
If you get caught with a virus or malware, or want Ace Computers to keep your business computer systems running, call Daryl Vernon at (361) 906-9373. Visit the website at acecomputersvc.com.
