Blog
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When Your To-Do List is Longer than Your Arm -Keeping a Tuned-Up Network is More Important than Ever. Let’s face it: The old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is an easy mantra for today’s business owners who run from one emergency to the next while trying to get more work done with fewer resources. When it comes to managing an IT network, even the most diligent companies struggle to keep up. If it’s not responding to a never-ending call for help from the end-users, it’s swapping out old hardware, ramping up new systems and, well, just keeping everything running...
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The Importance of a Network Assessment Most of us just want to turn it on and go. When our computers start throwing fits – running slow, crashing, belligerently stopping us with its freeze screens, and generally acting like a spoiled brat, our love relationship goes south. Even with a good virus protector and malware filter behind a solid internet firewall problems occur. Personal computers are bad enough, but with a business network multiply the complexity of issues by the number and types of devices that are attached to it. Even the most basic network these days has a firewall,...
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Spammers never take a holiday, and they will play on your emotions to get what they want. Their goal is to get you to click on links you shouldn't. Here's a story from the Dallas Morning News (Sept 2, 2011) "Homeland Security officials are warning the public to beware of email spammers, scams and possible cyberattacks related to Hurricane Irene and the upcoming 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. New bulletins issued in recent days by the Homeland Security Department’s cybersecurity center said computer users should be wary of emails with subject lines referring to the recent hurricane...
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For those of you still hanging onto Windows XP, here's some news: Windows 8--yes EIGHT---is just around the corner. Reports on the Microsoft "product roadmap" say Windows 8 will be released in Mid-2012. As a user, this begs two questions: 1.) Why would I want another operating system?. and 2.) Should I wait to buy a new PC until then? Why A New Windows? Here's why you will want Windows 8--it's all about touchscreens, and a user interface much closer to the iPhone/Ipad than it is to previous versions of Windows. Microsoft previewed a "Windows 8" interface, which is the most dramatic overhaul of the GUI since...
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Think the Cold War is over? If you've been the victim of one of the "fake antivirus" scams, think again. This is the error message you get that says something like "Antivirus 2011 reports you have 328 virus infections on your PC!". It then says the only way to clean these infections is by submitting your credit card information and buying the software. Tell me you didn't do that, please! Usually, a quick scan with Malwarebytes (from Malwarebytes.org) cleaned this up. Then today, I saw this news item: "On June 23, a network of web sites that were distributing fake antivirus software for Windows...
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A wise man once said, “If it’s worth doing at all, it’s worth doing poorly—the first time.” A lot of wisdom there. I think it speaks primarily to perfectionists in the world who want everything to be just right before launching out. It also brings to mind that old story about driving from Los Angeles to New York City, but waiting to leave until every traffic light between turns green. To those guys, I would say “Ships are safe in a harbor, but that is not what ships are for”! Most of you readers are probably wondering what in the world I am talking about at this point (if you’re...
