Archive for the ‘safety and prevention’ Category
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Mobile Devices & Your Network
For most, smart phones & tablets (smart devices) are a necessary part of our lives…both personally and professionally and become our constant companions. So it stands to reason that we should be selective in who or what we chose to spend so much time with.So, what should you look for in a new smart device to ensure that your needs are met and that your new companion will play nicely with the rest of your technology?
Here are some points to consider during the selection process:
- All smart devices are NOT created equally and it’s the applications that set them apart. When looking for a smart device, don’t be sold on all the bells and whistles packaged in a sleek sexy package. Instead plan out your needs. Do you need access into your business network? Remote apps connect differently. While some devices connect natively, others may require special applications on the server side ($$) to make it work. Even better (or worse if this is you), some smart devices might not run the applications needed AT ALL.
- Compatibility: Will they play nicely with your other devices and network or will you need to add other hardware and or software to make them work properly?
Now, being a dutiful companion means that we take our beloved devices to work with us and so do our employees. This leaves your company network exposed (and who really likes being exposed).
Here are some tips/points to remember to keep your network safe and secure when using mobile devices:
- Remote connections to the network: There are several apps that allow you to remotely connect to your business network – almost all of these allow you to save your username/password credentials. A lost phone or tablet makes it very EASY to access the network because most people allow the device to store these credentials. Never allow an application, website, browser, device to store your login information no matter how much simpler it will make your life.
- More on remote connections: It is important to also be aware that there are devices out there designed to steal and clone your network logins. What can you do about it? Set device passwords and make sure when you do connect to your network that you do it through a secure server. By doing so login credentials can be changed immediately once a device is lost or stolen. Swift action will minimize your risks.
- About those passwords: People I can’t stress this point enough. USE COMPLEX PASSWORDS. It’s your first line of defense. A complex password is a minimum of 8 characters in length and uses a combination of upper/lower case letters, numbers and symbols.
- Be wary of wifi. Accessing critical corporate data via unprotected means such as the public wifi is an issue waiting to happen. Again, only login through a secure server. To do this, utilize a VPN connection or a direct firewall pass through that requires login credentials.
- Siri on the iphone: Ask yourself…do you know more about technology and what it does more than IBM? Well IBM has banned Siri from their networks. Why? Because everything their employees say is sent to Apple and transcribed into text then stored for some unknown length of time and can be accessed by some unknown amount of people who have permission do unknown things with it. Additionally, in order for Siri to do a good job answering their question in the first place, it accesses contacts and other “unspecified” user data. This may not only compromise sensitive company intellectual property but put the company and/or the employee in violation of non-disclosure agreements. Are you okay with that? If you are…carry on then.
While mobile devices and nifty applications are increasingly important tools in our multi-tasking work/home life it is important to understand that just because the products are out there doesn’t mean that security holes that they create have been plugged yet.
Before you invest in any new smart device make certain that it will meet your needs, works well with others and take the steps necessary to protect yourself and your business when using it.
Copyright © 2012 Help Me!!® Tech Team, a division of HELP ME!!® Computers, LLC
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Can I just ignore a virus and save some money?
Do you run better in crutches?I Didn’t think so.
Continuing to operate a system that you know full well is infected is tempting. Many people do just that and continue to limp along until the system comes to a grinding halt or they get the blue screen of death. Why is this a problem? (Do you like seeing the blue screen of death? I don’t know about you but MY nerves can’t take it!)
Besides all of the annoying things that happen with an infected system – like running sllloowwwllly, obnoxious pop-ups and inexplicable bouts of freezing there are also more worrying things that accompany them such as malware, spyware and scareware. Not only do these things threaten your identity and bank balance but viruses will destroy your data bit by bit (literally). Further, some can do damage to your hardware. If caught early, you can largely avoid these problems and spend far less to repair it. If you are thinking…”so what, I can just buy another system!” Are you going to by one every time you get infected? How cost effective is that solution?
The better solution is to go ahead and get it taken care of properly (by a real professional) as soon as you suspect an infection. Then, purchase and properly configure top quality anti-virus for your system to help cut down on infections.
Copyright © 2012 Help Me!!® Tech Team, a division of HELP ME!!® Computers, LLC
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fix my PC
If it’s displayed in a prominent TV or internet ad, it must be good…right? I mean who doesn’t love their pajama jeans or shamWOW?! But when we are talking about things that can “make your system run faster,” as in computer repair, buyer beware.
These days everyone is in the computer repair/tune-up business. I mean everyone…even popular search engines have gotten in on the act. One doesn’t have to look far to find in-your-face ads claiming that with a quick click of the mouse your system will run smoother and faster than ever by fixing hundreds of problems (you didn’t even know you had) thereby returning your computer to “like new” condition. Additionally, it will KEEP your systems running smoothly for a small annual fee if you wish.
It seems safe enough, a phone call to that 1-800# or a little click here and there and presto you’re all done. No need to get ripped off again by that local repair house…that is for suckers!
Let’s explore this shall we?
Most of these quick fix services charge about $30-60 or so. Luckily most do not access your system remotely and seems safe enough. You just click to install their software onto your system. What they don’t tell you is that their software is one of those unnessary items that helps make your system run slower in the first place. They also don’t tell you that you can delete your own cookies and run the same defrag scans yourself for free…but now I’m just getting picky. Another thing they don’t tell you is that you may have just installed a program that was already infected with malware, spyware and viruses. But hey…it comes with UNLIMITED tech support…so they can fix it. Oops except that they can’t really diagnose (it’s okay this is probably covered in the fine print somewhere) hardware except for the super obvious “eminate failure of hard drive”…which again they can’t fix…double oops. Of course, your internet must be working to partake in these convenience services in the first place. Oh, and darn it…you can’t really completely remove all viruses this way…no matter what they tell you.
Our advice? Don’t engage in risky behavior no matter how good of a deal it appears to be. Downloading software and/or allowing remote access to your system is risky unless you KNOW who/where it’s coming from.
Keep your systems running smoothly by:
- Investing in a good anti-virus, properly configuring it and keeping it updated
- Allow ligitmate system updates
- Use your common sense when clicking on websites, links, emails, facebook invitations or allowing anyone access to your system remotely.
- Pay a professional a minimal fee to do a system tune-up a few times a year or do it yourself. I recommend the first who can also check for viruses/malware/spyware/scareware and remove it for real if they find them.
- Keep unnessary software and files off your system – in addition to food and beverages (seems obvious I know).
- If you hear strange noices, feel heat, suffer from pop-up hell, your system freezes up often or doesn’t turn on…contact a local professional that you trust immediately.
Copyright © 2012 Help Me!!® Tech Team, a division of HELP ME!!® Computers, LLC
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Di-agnostics
“Ag•nos•tic ” to be a doubter, disbeliever or skeptic.It’s no wonder people doubt the importance of diagnostics…heck doubt comes built right into the word. By nature, we just hate the diagnostics process as a whole…don’t we? Why can’t the doctor just take one look at us and instantaneously KNOW what is wrong?! Why must you spend good money and time on figuring out the exact problem? Can’t they just take their best guess and treat that?
Unless we have walked into the emergency room with a pair of gardening sheers through our eye socket (ouch just saw that on the news)…chances are, in most cases, it’s just not that obvious why we have this pain or that (unless we’re married in which case it might be really obvious).
Additionally, do we really want our Doctor taking their best guess and treating us with what they think is wrong?
I’ll help you out here. Well of course we don’t. Sure, the Band-Aid might stick for a little while but could later fall off to expose an even bigger gangrenous problem. (Like the metaphor?)
Anyhoo…you’d be surprised how many times a day we get asked “Why are diagnostics so important? If I think that I am infected with a virus…can’t you just fix it?”
How do we say this nicely?
While your input is an important part of determining what the problem is, things are not always that simple. Taking the time to do complete diagnostics is the right way to do things and it saves you money in the long run.
Bottom line, you don’t want to waste money on repairs that you don’t need. Computer systems are complex and not every issue is attributable to a virus, as common as they are.
By performing thorough diagnostics your technology professional will be better able to pinpoint what the exact problem is and thereby do a better job of making your repair successful…the first time. Plus other unforeseen issues can be caught before they become a problem.
Make sure that your diagnostics:
- Test Hardware
- Check for Viruses/Malware/Spyware
- Check Log for Errors
- Check System Resources
Equally, if not MOST importantly…make sure that you have your systems diagnosed through an actual trusted technology professional (not your neighbor’s teenager…sorry kid). While not the cheapest route, it will prove to save you time, money and headaches in the future.
Copyright © 2011 Help Me!!® Tech Team, a division of HELP ME!!® Computers, LLC
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Gone Phishing
I don’t have to tell you that identity theft is a big problem in today’s highly electronic society. I also don’t have to tell you that cyber criminals feed off of our private information. Now, given that our private information is so vital to their mere existence it stands to reason that they are going to find a way to acquire it. Right?So, they can go about it the hard way – like having to actually “hack” into your account(s), tap your network or physically steal your computer. OR they can go about it the easy way – which in fisherman terms – is to cast out a great big net onto naïve victims to see who might literally hand them the information they require.
Now, being a fisher of men is a pretty good thing. Phishing to steal from them is another story. To protect oneself from being a victim of the later kind you must first understand what “phishing” is.
Phishing is a way of attempting to acquire private data such as a person’s username and password, credit card information, and/or account numbers by masquerading as a seemingly trustworthy entity. Phishing is typically carried out by e-mail or text message, and it often directs the user to enter details at a fake website that looks almost identical to the legitimate one.
The first thing to know without question is that no legitimate bank (for example) will ever lose your username and password nor send you an email requesting that you “update” your account information. Period. The same can be said for Facebook, Ebay or any other site that you may have purchased from or joined.
With that said, they might send you an order confirmation but typically you would know if you just ordered something. At least I hope you would. Further, if you just joined a site you would know that too. So you could expect a “thank you for joining” email. Pay close attention to emails that confirm a password or username change. These requests are a little harder to ignore. In fact, you may very well have just engaged in these very things. Remember timing and stupidity gullibility are what “phishermen” are hoping for but there are some rules of thumb that will help keep you out of their nets.
First is action. When you receive any email asking you to respond in some way – DO NOT click on the link provided within the email. Instead, go directly to the site yourself. This will insure that you have gotten to the legitimate site and not the fake phishing site. Once there, look for the https:// in the URL before entering in information that you prefer be kept secure. Keep in mind that “security questions” are helpful to include when you set up new accounts and be sure to always use “complex” passwords.
Second is avoidance. Enlist the help of an “email filtration device” that will help weed out many of these phishing emails and spam in general. This piece of hardware is especially helpful to businesses that receive email messages in greater volume. They lower the risk by catching most spam, phishing and virus infected emails in their OWN nets and keep the user from being confused by them in the first place. They also keep your inbox clean and keep your network running proficiently.
Finally, embrace your inner skeptic and second guess everything you receive in an email or text message – including items that give the appearance that they came from a friend OR your friendly neighborhood banking institution.
Copyright © 2011 Help Me!!® Tech Team, a division of HELP ME!!® Computers, LLC
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Recent Posts
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