-
Recent Posts
Our other Web Properties:
Recent Comments
Archives
Categories
Meta
Category Archives: Desktop
Top 5 Ways To Stay Safe on the Web
The internet is a not a safe place. Oh sure, it looks like it on the surface, but millions of websites are infected with malware-spreading scripts that make infecting your PC as easy as visiting the wrong web page. Indeed, as the web becomes more and more sophisticated and more commercial transactions utilize the web, the more incentive there is for the creation of new vectors for malware transmission and threats that no one could’ve even imagined a few years ago. So bearing that in mind, here are the top 5 things to keep in mind to stay safe when browsing the web:
Apple WWDC 2011: The Top Ten Upgrades coming for MAC OS X Lion
Apple announced today that their next version of OS X will be released in July, and will cost just $29.99 (the same price as the previous upgrade). Unlike previous releases, however, Lion is not going to be released into retail channels. It will be available solely through the Mac App Store. This is the first time a major desktop OS update has not been available as a retail product. This decision may annoy some system administrators for its relative lack of flexibility, but most consumers are likely to see it as a benefit. Another first that should please consumers and business owners alike is the fact that you’re only required to purchase a single license, which can then be installed on any authorized Mac you own. Here’s hoping Microsoft makes a similar move, but that seems about as likely as Steve Jobs turning up for a keynote in a clown suit…
Posted in Clients, Desktop, Tech News, Uncategorized
Comments Off
Malware on a Mac? Surely you jest.
Before we get to our promised post explaining the best methods for keeping your PC clean from malware, we thought it’d be prudent to mention that it’s not just the PC users of the world who have to worry about nasty software infecting their computers. While they have oft been considered “virus-free” by their proponents, Mac computers are increasingly being targeted by the malware coders of the world. Maybe they just don’t like being made fun of for not having an iPhone, or maybe it’s because Mac computers now have a somewhat larger market share than they did just a few years ago. Either way, malware on Macs is here, and Apple’s response to it is rather telling. Here’s what’s going on:
Anti-Malware Walkthrough: Step-by-Step Guide For Getting Rid of Viruses and Spyware
Viruses. Spyware. These bogey words haunt every PC user, but many do not know what they really are or, more importantly, how to get rid of them. There is no clear-cut definition the separates a virus versus a piece of spyware, and in fact, sometimes the catch-all term “malware” is used. For our purposes, though, there is no real difference. We just want to get rid of all of it.
Posted in Desktop, Security, Tech Support
Comments Off
The Magical Self-Encrypting and Self-Erasing Hard Drive
Alright, it’s not really magical, but it is really, really useful. Toshiba has announced the production of new self-erasing hard drives. Worried about data security? You should think about investing in one of these ingenious machines: the Toshiba Self-Erasing Drive.
Perhaps you travel quite often for your business, and so rely quite heavily on your laptop for storing important sensitive information about your clients and internal documentation. Obviously your OS is already locked down, so you’re not too worried about remote attacks, but what if that drive is yanked from your laptop and plugged in somewhere else. It’s ripe for the picking. There are other solutions, but this Toshiba drive has a particularly elegant and simple one.
Posted in Desktop, Security, Uncategorized
Comments Off
5 Steps to Securing and Speeding up your Entire Office Computer Network at Every Level.
The idea that your computer can get infected was dismissed years ago, you installed antivirus protection. It should be all set right, you keep the updates going and you run Windows updates, so what do you have to worry about? But then it hits you: your computer has been getting slower and slower, you’ve been getting way too many pop-ups on the ‘net and the websites you go to seem to redirect to other sites. Something fishy is going on.
Posted in Clients, Database, Desktop, E-mail, Networking, Security, Servers, Tech Support
Comments Off
Japanese Disaster Causes Slowdown in Global Semi-Conductor Supply
The New York Times is reporting that the recent calamity in Japan is expected to cause a somewhat serious disruption in the global supply chain for manufactured semi-conductors. “Plant shutdowns in Japan have halted production in factories accounting for 25 percent of the world’s silicon wafers used to make computer chips.”(source)
This could potentially create a ripple-like effect throughout a number of industries, the implications of which are difficult to predict. Will this constrain product announcements from companies that rely heavily on the predictable supply of semi-conductors? Apple, Intel, AMD, Nvidia, and many others beside are no doubt keeping a close eye on the situation in Japan and how it could potentially effect their product lines in the near future.
Time to Upgrade: 5 Reasons Why You Should Install Internet Explorer 9
As you may or may not know, Microsoft just recently released the latest version of Internet Explorer. You can and should go download Internet Explorer 9 right now, located here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/internet-explorer/downloads/ie
(Quick note: Unfortunately, Microsoft has chosen not to support Windows XP in this release. If you are still on a machine running XP, make sure your Internet Explorer is at least up to the latest version of Internet Explorer 
While we here a Server Support Desk have never been big fans of Internet Explorer, this latest version is actually a very nice upgrade in both speed and accessibility. Here’s a quick run down of what we think the top 5 most important and useful updates are:
Posted in Desktop, Tech Support
Comments Off
2011 PC Do’s and Dont’s
Want a hassle-free computer experience in 2011? Then here is a list of do’s and don’ts:
Do’s
• Install good antivirus software.
• Install critical updates for your operating system.
• Create a back up of your files!
• Update your web browser. (Or better yet, switch over to Chrome)
• Clean your computer, inside and out: Remove or archive old files, uninstall unused programs give the hard drive a good de-frag. Oh, and a little dusting never hurt anything.
Posted in Desktop
Comments Off
