Category Archives: Security

Three quick tips every computer user needs to know

Security, , ,
Keep your device locked down by using long, complex passwords, and look into ways to disable it remotely in case it gets stolen.

Keep your device locked down by using long, complex passwords, and look into ways to disable it remotely in case it gets stolen.

One of the most pressing issues computer users face is keeping their device secure. A study on cyber-security, reported in mid-2014, estimates roughly 445 billion dollars in annual loss to the global economy due to cyber-crime, and up to 160 billion dollars in losses for individuals.

Whether you’re using a computer for business or personal reasons, your device contains sensitive data such as financial information and log-in credentials. If you want to get the most benefit out of your device, and keep it under your control, the following are three quick tips every computer user needs to know:

 

  1. Keep your device locked down. This means using long, complex passwords with a variety of characters – and not something like your dog’s name (or worse yet, ‘abcd’ or ‘admin’). It also means using a firewall and an anti-virus/anti-malware program. You also should look into ways for disabling your device remotely, in case it gets stolen.
  2. Know what you’re introducing to your computing device. For instance, if you’re using a Wi-Fi network, is it secure? (Or is it a potentially dangerous, free non-secure public Wi-Fi hotspot?) Whenever you download a certain software, are you sure it’s from a reputable company and website? (Some hackers try to get you to download something that looks authentic, but will introduce malware onto your device.) In addition to security concerns, there are other reasons for questioning downloads; unnecessary downloads can slow down your device, and sometimes the software won’t interact well with other programs.
  3. Maintain good documentation. If you’re experiencing problems, for example, note important details such as when they started, how they affect your device, and how you’ve tried to fix the problem. You should keep track of log-in credentials, software license keys, and similar important information about your computer, operating system, and software; you’ll have a greater insight about security vulnerabilities and when to carry out upgrades.

If you have any additional questions about using your computing device optimally, please contact us. Even if you already have a lot of experience with computers, you might still have questions and concerns, and find ways of improving your computer habits.

What Malware Is and How to Avoid It

Malware,
20141201

One of the most nefarious types of malware is spyware, which can result in a stolen credit card, or even a stolen identity

Malware can be a bit of a pain, can’t it?  Nobody really likes malware.  It is malicious software, after all.  It comes in many forms, but it doesn’t encompass all viruses.  Generally speaking, malware does one of a few things.

The first type of thing it does is destroy your system.  None of your information will get sent to the people who made the virus, but your computer can’t be used afterwards without a ton of work or, sometimes, an entire re-install of your Operating System.  These tend to be a pain, but are mostly harmless after a couple of weeks.  There are other viruses that aren’t so forgiving, though.

Those types of viruses are Spyware.  These are usually hard to notice, and they gather your information and send it back to the developers of the virus.  These are the kinds that will do lasting damage to you, usually resulting in a stolen credit card, or maybe even a stolen identity.  The damage done by these forms of viruses can be very difficult to repair.

Credit card companies have gotten better about spyware in recent years, and have made it easier to spot when this happens.  This usually comes in the form of a text message to your phone saying that it’s amazing how you went from California to Italy in 5 seconds, and blocking your card’s use until further notice.

In all of these cases, viruses can often be preventable.  Using an advertising blocker on websites you’re not familiar with can stop viruses leaking through advertisements, and running regular virus scans can help remove any unnoticed viruses before they do too much damage.  If you’d like to figure out more, you can contact us.

Protect Your Small Business-Top 7 Anti-Virus Programs

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Choosing the right anti-virus package for your business can be confusing, but there are some top contenders you should definitely

Choosing the right anti-virus package for your business can be confusing, but there are some top contenders you should definitely

Small business owners work very hard to make their company well-known and successful. The amount of work required to successfully run your own business is phenomenal, and you want to protect that work from anything that could damage it. Some people might consider just using the free antivirus software that comes with your machines-why not? After all, it’s free, and being a small business owner also means cutting costs… Some of these free options might provide you with adequate protection, but the hassle of installing it separately on each machine and then trusting users not to fiddle with any of the settings-well, that’s where it becomes a real headache. Most top-notch antivirus programs offer easy installation across your entire network, restrict users from being able to change any settings, and give you enhanced management options. Choosing an anti-virus package can be confusing, but consider the following top contenders during your research:

  1. Bitdefender. Bitdefender continuously tops the list of antivirus software for small businesses. The Small Office Security software boasts fast and easy installation, and can be used to protect multiple devices. Features include protection from  malware, rootkits, viruses, phishing, and data loss, as well as a centralized management dashboard. Bitdefender is always on and automatically updates-for added security, users do not have the option to change the settings or deactivate protection. Bitdefender uses Windows Network Discovery to find all network devices through remote, link, or email deployment options.
  2. Kaspersky. Kaspersky is another top name in network security, receiving very high scores in independent testing. Kaspersky Small Office Security is a less expensive choice than Bitdefender, but it does provide excellent protection for up to 25 on Windows-based machines and Android devices. Features include antivirus protection, secure online banking, backup tools, and mobile device protection.
  3. AVG. AVG Antivirus Business Edition is a highly effective choice for safeguarding your business and customer information. Features include AVG’s award-winning firewall, Smart scanner, network antivirus, file server security, and remote management. AVG’s antivirus package offers greater control by allowing you to remotely manage your protection from a single console. Smart scanner only scans PCs while they are not being used, ensuring efficient operation during work time.
  4. Symantec. Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition is simple to use, and can be installed on a single machine or across the whole network. Symantec has both cloud-management and on-premise management options, and offers the typical protection against viruses, worms, trojans, and spyware without slowing down performance. In addition, Symantec Insight and SONAR technologies are able to detect new and mutating malware, including unknown threats.
  5. Panda. Panda Cloud Office Protection is one of the more expensive options out there, although independent tests rated it as only fair for network protection.  The package does offer many unique features in addition to antivirus and firewall-features such as device control, which allows you to restrict how different devices are used. The top-notch web-based management system offers many installation options and gives constant reports on security status. The package offers more hands-on management options than other security programs, but isn’t top of the line for core antivirus protection.
  6. Avast!. Avast! Endpoint Protection is a good choice for very small business owners who may not be able to afford all the bells and whistles available in more comprehensive antivirus programs. Avast! is akin to ordering food a la carte-you pick and choose and then pay only for options you want. You can choose the most basic antivirus protection and have a very simple product that offers core antivirus, browsing protection, and remote management.  Upgrading to Endpoint Plus will add a firewall and spam filtering and still be less expensive than most competitors.
  7. VIPRE. VIPRE Antivirus Small Office offers small and home-based business owners an integrated patch management that protects against infections from out-of-date software. VIPRE also offers top notch features such as protection from viruses, spyware, trojans, worms, and adware without slowing down your systems, business-class support, and network defense against bad links.

These are some of the top-rated antivirus packages on the market right now, but if you are still unsure of what your business really needs, please feel free to contact us.

Tape-based Backup is Dead

Security

tape storageTapes are probably something you haven’t heard about in a while, unless you’re referring to them in the past tense. It may surprise you to realize some businesses continue to use tapes in various capacities to protect data and it sounds antiquated, but is there something more to this than meets the eye?

Why are Tapes Still in Existence?

In answer to the question proposed in the introduction, that’s a no. Tapes are old and inferior to current backup methods. You have disks and cloud storage, to name just two options available to you. There are no situations where tapes are better.

The reason people still use them is history. They were once the king of the backup. People generally don’t like to change unless they’re forced to. As long as tapes exist, people will continue to use them because they’re familiar with them.

You’re damaging your security by doing this though. Here are some of the reasons why you should be moving away from tapes.

 Data Storage Limits

A tape will never hold as much as a disk. With computers being able to hold more data than ever, carrying big files is no sweat. It will be a problem when you attempt to store these important files on a tape. They can’t hold as much data, which means you’ll need to buy more of them or you will need to span several tapes to create a backup set.

Not only does this increase your storage costs, it’s also an organizational issue. You try making a corporation run their backups off of disks. You would have to implement a complex organizational structure to make sure you can access the correct data when you need it.

Fragility

Tapes are notoriously unreliable. They were always problematic back when they were the prime storage method of choice and nothing has changed today. The slightest jolt can damage the internals and cause it to corrupt data. As a business, you can’t afford for this to happen.

In some industries, losing important data can leave you open to legal action. Is this what you want?

No Difference in Ease of Use

What stands out most of all is the fact tapes are no easier to use than disks. Modern technology is so often more difficult to use than what came before, but this isn’t the case with disks and cloud storage. Anyone can use them, plus in many cases it’s easier and more convenient to store something online than on a tape.

Unless you’re already familiar with tapes, it would be harder to introduce someone to tapes than to simply upgrade.

Let it Die

You can store more data, save money, and become more efficient by storing your essential files on a modern storage device. Tapes have no advantages and are inferior in every single way. Don’t let your natural resistance to change damage your business security. Invest in a modern backup system today and let the tape become a relic of the past!