posted Jul 20, 2011 3:42 AM by E S Ong
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updated Jul 20, 2011 3:45 AM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter July 2011
Some
businesses don’t need the presence of a formal office building to be
successful. If your services are primarily delivered at your client’s place
(e.g. for trades like electricians, plumbers or even professional services like
bookkeeping) or if you are a sole trader or small family partnership, there are
benefits and disadvantages to running your business from home. This month we
take a look at 5 technology considerations for home-based businesses. The
computer:
We’ll ignore
comparing brands and the Apple versus PC debate, but let’s look at ‘workstation
versus laptop’. If your computer really doesn’t need to move from your home
office, you’ll get more computing power for your money with a workstation.
Consider investing those savings in a dual-monitor setup if your work involves a
lot of data entry, writing or graphic design. But remember, there’s nothing
stopping you using a laptop if you want to sit outside in the sun occasionally!
The
printer:
As with any
office, the key consideration for a printer is how much do you print and how
often, and is that printing primarily text or pictures? Home offices also may
have to consider how much space they have, so a printer with a smaller
‘footprint’ would be better. It’s also handy to have the ability to send faxes,
especially when dealing with signed documents, so either look at software for
faxing and a document scanner, or consider a multi-function printer with a built
in fax. If you occasionally need to print large volumes, it may be cheaper to
use a printing service at a store for large volumes, instead of buying a fast,
high-volume laser printer that hardly ever prints more than 5 pages at a time.
Remember to also compare replacement ink costs before you commit to a printer
purchase.
The
Internet:
A home office
can feel quite isolated, so your internet connection is an important gateway to
the outside world. Out of all of your technology components, this one will
drive you the craziest if it’s slow or if it drops out. Use a reputable
internet provider and invest in the fastest internet speed you can afford with a
monthly data limit that matches your needs.
Email:
Without a
corporate email system, you still have a few choices for email services. Don’t
think that you have to resort to using @hotmail.com or @gmail.com for your
business email communication, when you can have @yourbusinessname.com without
the expense of your own email server.
File
sharing: Do you need
to share files with anyone outside of your home office? Instead of just emailing
attachments, consider other file sharing methods if you collaborate with others
on large documents or if you regularly need to send large picture files. Your
options vary from USB storage with security mechanisms (e.g. encryption &
passwords) to secure internet file sharing services or even direct file transfer
between computers. |
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Next month,
we’ll look at backups, security and other considerations for your home office.
If you are thinking of starting a business from home, or moving back home, or if
you’d just like some advice on your current home office setup, talk to your
local Computer Troubleshooter. | Contact US for more details. |
posted Jul 20, 2011 3:37 AM by E S Ong
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updated Jul 20, 2011 3:44 AM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter June 2011
Recent news reports have surfaced about the internet running out of
space. I.T. people have known about this limitation for some time, but there
has been little incentive to do anything about it. This month we look at what
the problem is, what impact it may have and how it may be fixed. When your computer connects to the internet, it is given a unique ‘IP
address’. It’s like being given a room number when you check in to a hotel.
Some computers (e.g., email servers) get to keep the same room number all the
time so people know where to find them, but your computer might actually get a
different room number each time you connect. Your room number will look
something like ‘216.27.61.137’.
The problem is that computers talk in binary (ones and zeros), so in
binary your address looks like 11011000.00011011.00111101.10001001. With a
finite number of ones and zeros in this 8 character.8 character.8 character.8
character number, that’s a total of 4.3 billion unique addresses. But now that’s
not enough and some of those addresses are reserved for internal company
networks and other reasons, which make the usable number even smaller. The
world now has too many computers that want to be on the internet and we’re
running out of hotel rooms. If we did nothing about it, we would literally not be able to connect
any new computers to the internet.
But the internet boffins have been aware of this problem for some
time and in Dec 1998 they launched a new standard for hotel room numbers (called
IP v6). This new address would look like 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334
and would allow
for 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 unique
addresses!! If you want to read that out loud, it’s 340 undecillion, 282
decillion, 366 nonillion, 920 octillion, 938 septillion, 463 sextillion, 463
quintillion, 374 quadrillion, 607 trillion, 431 billion, 768 million, 211
thousand, four hundred and fifty six.
The challenge is that the old address and the new addresses can’t
natively talk to each other. If your computer can handle a new IP v6 address
(Windows XP Service Pack 2 or newer software like Windows 7), it won’t be able
to talk to anything on the internet that’s still using the old IP v4 address.
And because the internet is literally a collection of other people’s computers,
we can’t just pick a date and change every computer over at the same
time.
The whole situation then is kind of similar to the Year 2000, ‘Y2K’
bug. The good news is that the internet boffins know about this problem too, so
they are working on transition mechanisms to allow the old and the new to talk
nicely to one another. There has been no sense of urgency until now to do
anything about it, as it’s going to cost them time and money to fix, but it’s
not going to make anyone any money. |
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If you have any questions or concerns about the Internet or any
technology need, talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter. | Contact US for more details. |
posted May 11, 2011 4:42 AM by E S Ong
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updated May 11, 2011 4:49 AM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
May 2011
The Federal Bureau of
Investigation wants access to computers in the United States, but this might be
a good thing. In an unprecedented move, the FBI has gained access to the
‘command and control’ servers that have been controlling the internet nasty
‘Coreflood’. With this control, the FBI could use these servers to send a
command to all infected computers to uninstall the Coreflood
software.
Coreflood
has actually been around since 2002. Known as a ‘botnet’ it works by infecting
your computer through a file that you open or a link that you click on, which is
disguised as something you might want to read. In the background, the software
embeds itself into your computer and starts communicating back to the control
server, doing whatever it is told to. These commands could range from the
annoying (changing your wallpaper, opening your CD tray, randomly playing sounds
or shutting down your PC) through to the dangerous (recording your keyboard
strokes & sending your personal information back to the command
servers).
With
an estimated 2.3 million infected computers, a command to uninstall itself would
be a very effective way of eradicating Coreflood. However, the FBI has to watch
its step and is working with the US Department of Justice to ensure it doesn’t
violate the USA’s privacy protection laws. It is currently seeking ‘request and
authorization to delete’ from government agencies and corporations and may issue
‘notice of infected computer’ alerts through internet providers to home
users.
In
the meantime, Microsoft has added a further update to its Malicious Software
Removal Tool to tackle the latest instances of Coreflood and this will be
released to Windows computers with Microsoft’s next batch of security updates.
Most anti-virus software manufacturers will now also detect Coreflood on an
infected computer.
While
it’s interesting to see the FBI taking this approach to clean millions of
computers, it once again highlights the need for computer owners to be vigilant
about security measures. It’s easy to forget about older, rarely used computers
and if their software isn’t kept up to date, they can easily be targeted by
botnet infections. Your security strategy needs to include regular updates to
your operating system software and your security software, as well as checking
that your security software is functioning correctly and performing regular
scans. You also need to practice safe internet habits, such as being careful
about suspicious-looking file attachments and not visiting dubious
websites. |
|
Coreflood
is one of thousands of examples of botnet software currently in existence. Talk
to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the best protection strategy for
your computers or about any of your technology needs. | Contact US for more details. |
posted May 11, 2011 4:39 AM by E S Ong
[
updated May 11, 2011 4:48 AM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
April 2011
Apple’s much
hyped iPad gave a boost to a now thriving ‘tablet computing’ industry. And with
the recent launch of the iPad2, many business owners are wondering if this
technology should be invested in or not.
The latest
iPad is thinner, lighter and faster than the original and now boasts a front
camera in addition to the rear-facing camera. Other manufacturers can also be
found in the small, touchscreen computer market, including Samsung, HP, Toshiba,
Motorola, Dell, Lenovo and Sony. They predominately use either Google’s Android
software or Microsoft’s Windows.
But is this
technology just for nerds, high flying corporate executives and people addicted
to the Angry Birds game? If you’re thinking about a tablet computer, learn
about its limitations and focus on what benefit it could add to your
business.
With a tablet,
you can read information on a screen much larger than your phone, without having
the weight and start-up time of your laptop. You can browse through documents,
emails and websites, check your calendar or find telephone numbers or
directions. They can also handle small amounts of data entry easily, replacing
your paper & pen at the meeting table. However, they would never replace
your ‘full-function’ computer completely as they are not suitable for long hours
of data entry, printing can be problematic and not all of your preferred
software titles will run on them
So, let’s look
at how tablets are being used in the small business market:
Real
estate – A great website is a realtor’s dream, enabling them to showcase
multiple images of many properties. Add a good search function and you can
narrow down your portfolio as you discuss the needs of the prospective buyer
that’s in front of you. The tablet now gives you that website on the road, ready
to hand to the prospective buyer for them to thumb through property images as
you sip coffee between open home sessions.
Anyone in
sales – As many small business sales meetings are conducted at coffee
shops or at the buyer’s premises, see ‘Real estate’ above, but add the ability
to showcase product presentations and customer testimonials during your
meeting.
Competitions – If you are
running a promotion where people have to enter their details to win, the tablet
is a great device to have at fairs and trade shows. Let people enter their own
details and save you the data entry. This works even better if your entry form
is already on your website anyway.
Subscriptions
& registrations – See
‘Competitions’ above, but think of newsletters, sports teams etc. In fact, this
can apply to nearly anywhere that you need to get capture people’s information.
Just make sure they’re not going to run off with your
tablet! |
|
As with any
technology purchasing decision, you want to know that your investment is going
to enhance and improve how you do business. Talk to your Computer Troubleshooter
about your technology needs and whether a tablet is right for your business, or
whether it’s just another gadget. |
Contact US for more details. |
posted Mar 22, 2011 8:27 PM by E S Ong
[
updated May 11, 2011 4:38 AM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
March 2011
Audit – it’s a very painful word that conjures up images of the taxation department. If done correctly though, an audit of the technology in your small business should be quick and painless and yield you with some valuable information. Here are our top 5 reasons why your business would benefit from a technology audit:
1. Find immediate areas for improvement - If you’re thinking of replacing your computer, an audit may reveal that upgrading the memory would give you a significant performance boost. It could also highlight incorrect system settings or poor security configurations that could easily be fixed. With a clear picture of what technology you have, it might be easy to find some quick, inexpensive areas for improvement.
2. Budget for longer-term areas of improvement - An audit may reveal out-dated hardware that should be replaced with newer, faster components. It could also highlight disks that are close to their capacity, but still have some spare space. You can then plan and budget to address these areas in the future, instead of having to react tomorrow to an unforeseen full disk.
3. Know what software is on your computers - If your employees are able to install software onto your computers, do you know what they have been installing? An audit will reveal if your computers have illegal file sharing software or other programs that may be relevant to their hobbies, not their work (e.g. share trading).
4. Know you have the correct software licenses - In some cases, it is a software manufacturer’s right to randomly audit your business and check that you have the correct license number and the right kind of license for their software. If you’ve taken on more staff since you started, or you’ve had employees installing software on your computers, an audit can reveal where your software licensing might need some attention.
5. Compile an asset register - Your business will have certain assets listed for accounting purposes. That audit may not include many of your IT devices that are under a certain monetary value. If a theft or natural disaster hit your business, wouldn’t it be great to have a full list of all of your technology components? Ask your I.T. guy to store a copy of your audit results, off site, in case you need to refer to that asset list to make an insurance claim. The outcomes of your audit should be a comprehensive list of your I.T. assets and recommendations for improvement that fit in with your business plans (both short and long term). If your I.T. guy uses your audit as an opportunity to sell as much of his products and services as he can, call Computer Troubleshooters for an independent trusted second opinion.
Contact US for more details. | |
posted Mar 22, 2011 8:23 PM by E S Ong
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
February 2011
As our children grow up in the presence of the Internet, computer skills have become as fundamental as learning to swim or ride a bike. In fact, a recent survey showed that more small children know how to play a computer game than ride a bike, and more small children can use an application on a smartphone than can tie their own shoelaces. While it’s cute to see our little ones master technology, the Internet has opened up a whole new set of life skills that we must also equip them with. Once they’re old enough for their own Facebook account or instant messaging ID, children need to know the boundaries for keeping their information private and what to do if they are being harassed online.
The European Union has made an investment in its children through supporting the INSAFE co-operation network (http://www.saferinternet.org), which exists to empower citizens to use the internet, as well as other online technologies, positively, safely and effectively.
On the second day of the second week of the second month of the year, participating INSAFE countries observe ‘Safer Internet Day’, with the 2011 date falling on Tuesday 8 February. This day highlights programs and events to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially amongst children and young people across the world. Safer Internet Day was launch in 2007 and last year 500 events were held across 65 countries. Events include schools running age-appropriate internet safety lessons, webinars, radio broadcasts and a Young People’s Symposium (where 40 UK teens will add their thoughts on how to create effective educational campaigns). To find out about activities in your country visit http://www.sidfair.org
This year’s theme is “It’s more than a game, it’s your life” which aims to address how the virtual world of gaming and social networking impacts the real lives of our youths. Though young people think they can hide behind their keyboards, the impact of these online interactions leaves a very real, emotional imprint.
Computer Troubleshooters encourages you to participate in a Safer Internet Day event. Ask if your local school is part of the program or even just make a point to sit down with your child and talk to them about the internet. And as we’ve seen adults fall prey to email scams, online harassment and fraud, children aren’t the only ones who may have little internet experience and could benefit from some cyber safety tips. If you have any questions about online safety, cyber-bullying or any other technology needs, call your local Computer Troubleshooter.
Contact US for more details. | |
posted Jan 11, 2011 12:55 AM by E S Ong
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
January 2011
In January 2010, we revealed your list of technology needs for the upcoming year. You said you’d be focusing on protection, upgrades and replacements, problem-prevention, remote support, netbooks, mobile web access and home technology. For most of our clients, the first four topics were indeed very important over the last 12 months, and they will continue to be critical pieces of a strong technology foundation. Netbooks were overshadowed by the release of the iPad and the competing ‘tablet computers’ from rival brands. Mobile web access is still in its infancy, though social media sites like Twitter and Facebook have ensured that mobile phone browsers deliver a cut-down view of their main features. In the home technology arena, photo sharing websites flourished and the hype of the 3D television has started to fade behind the shine of new internet-connected televisions.
So what are the I.T industry’s biggest players predicting for 2011? Here are some of the most popular trends currently being talked about:
3D Without The Glasses – At a recent conference, brands like NEC, Samsung and Toshiba have paraded 3D television images without the need for you to wear special glasses. Unfortunately due to current cost, the target market is commercial advertising and not your living room.
Social Media Money – Facebook game users will be familiar with earning or buying credits for virtual upgrades or additions to their games. It’s thought Facebook may extend this to allow more businesses to use Facebook as a commerce platform for selling their goods. Twitter also may also add a financial component, as businesses seek to capitalize on the fans (followers) that they’ve attracted.
Location Based Services – When Google adds nearby businesses to your search results (Google Places), you know that location-based content is going to be big. Instead of wading through information that spans your entire city, perhaps this year it will be the easiest to find the ‘nearest’ product, service or special deal. Watch to see if advertisers target this ‘close by and ready to buy’ market.
Tablets Move Into Business – The tablet computer has developed a reputation for addictive games, but its portability means it naturally crosses over to your work desk from your coffee table. This year you may see more business-focused applications, especially those designed to assist sales teams. One day you may even see every realtor carrying one.
Cloud Computing – This is the one that the I.T industry is placing all of its bets on. Though still fairly quiet in the small business sector, larger businesses have already been strategizing how using other people’s servers could reduce their infrastructure costs. This year, more small businesses will attempt to figure out if paying for technology on-demand will be significantly more affordable than purchasing their own I.T infrastructure.
Contact your local Computer Troubleshooters to discuss how you can benefit from the advances in technology this year or for any of your computing needs.
Contact US for more details. | |
posted Dec 31, 2010 11:21 PM by E S Ong
[
updated Dec 31, 2010 11:26 PM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
December 2010
Google has recently completed the biggest change to its service in at least 5 years. This will impact how your website appears in the search engine’s list of results. The impact is being felt the most by small, local businesses who may have suddenly disappeared to page 2 or beyond of the search results.
The new ‘Place Search’ sorts information around locations, making it easier to compare results in your local area. These results will automatically appear at the top (under the paid ads) if Google thinks you’re searching for local information. It’s important to note that as these appear before any other free search results, all other free listings are pushed further down the page. You can also click on the Places link to the left of your search results to see the Places listings.
To be listed in the Places results, you need to have a free Google account and claim your own Places listing. It’s a simple process and only takes a few minutes:
1. Visit Google Places (http://google.com/places) and click the Business Owner link.
2. Log in, or if you don’t yet have a Google account, you can sign up for free. Make sure that you use an email address that will not change as it’s permanently tied to your Places listing.
3. Take the time to completely fill in your business information, not just the required fields. If your business only provides onsite services and you don’t want to display your address, you can choose to not show your address on the listing. Specify your operating hours, accepted payment methods and add any additional details (such as on-site parking or years in business). It’s also recommended that you add photos and video links.
4. Google will then seek to verify your listing by sending you a PIN number, either via a postcard mailed to your listed address (within 3 - 4weeks), a recorded message phone call to your listed phone number or an SMS to your mobile phone. Enter this PIN number into your listing and it will then show as an owner-verified listing, which will also help with its ranking.
Your Places listing is not the only thing that Google takes into consideration when ranking the Places results. You also need to make sure you have a page on your website containing your physical address and phone number, as well as employing other search engine optimization techniques on your website.
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter if you need any help claiming your listing in Google Places or any other technology needs.
Contact US for more details. | |
posted Dec 31, 2010 11:14 PM by E S Ong
[
updated Dec 31, 2010 11:27 PM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
November 2010
If you answered your phone and it was Microsoft, telling you that your computer had a problem and they could fix it, should you believe them? What if they said they were your internet provider? Unfortunately this telephone scam leads innocent computer users to hand over their credit card details and allows an unknown person full remote access to their computer.
The caller pretends to be from some reputable internet provider or Microsoft itself, telling the victim they are following up on a report of a computer problem or virus infection that has been detected on their computer. They then direct the victim to visit a website to install software that allows the scammers full remote control of the computer. Then, they spend some time opening log files and other system areas to show where the problems are and convince you to pay a subscription fee for them to fix everything.
They now have your credit card details and full access to your computer and all of your personal information.
Computer Troubleshooters franchisees worldwide have seen a recent increase in this alarming scam, especially in the USA, the UK and Australia. Law enforcement agencies, Microsoft and other major technology companies have issued press releases warning of these calls. Stuart Strathdee, Microsoft Australia’s chief security adviser says “Do not be fooled. Microsoft is not cold calling consumers in regards to malfunctioning PCs, viruses or any other matter.”
In reality, Microsoft, your internet provider and other third-party companies do not have access to see any errors on your computer. They also can’t match your computer to your home telephone number.
If you or someone you know has fallen victim to this scam, call your local Computer Troubleshooter. We can thoroughly investigate your computer and remove all traces of their remote control software, to give you peace of mind that they can no longer access your system. You may also want to consider calling your credit card company, cancelling your current account, and requesting a new account number.
To combat these spammers, the best thing you can do is to spread the word to your friends, family and colleagues to never give an unknown person remote access to their computer. If you receive a call of this nature, simply hang up on them. Develop a trusted relationship with your local Computer Troubleshooter. They can use secure software tools to remotely monitor your computer for problems and give you the best advice on how to address them.
Contact US for more details. | |
posted Oct 10, 2010 2:37 AM by E S Ong
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
October 2010
Remember when your computer was shiny and new? Windows ran smoothly, applications opened fast and error messages were few. Over time you may have noticed some changes though. As applications were installed, patched, upgraded and uninstalled, as data files were created or downloaded, and perhaps as the occasional virus or malware jumped in (and hopefully was promptly squashed by your protection software), your shiny new PC began to slow down. Between leftover temporary files, changes to the configuration files, and other debris often left behind by normal applications, it’s no surprise that your computer is slower, less reliable, and more prone to errors than it was when you first unboxed it. The best way to give your computer a new lease of life is to wipe all of the information and start again with a new software load (commonly known as a ‘rebuild’ or a ‘wipe & reload’).
Computer experts regularly rebuild their own computers to restore their performance and sometimes it’s a better alternative than trying to remove a particularly nasty virus. However, before the rebuild proceeds, there are a number of things that you can do to make the process easier:
1. Know where you’ve been saving your files: If you create a new document or copy some photos from your digital camera, where do you save those files to? Whilst we can search for common file types, it’s a much quicker process when we know that you’ve been keeping everything under ‘My Documents’ (for example).
2. Know what software you use: Let us know if you use any specific software packages (such as accounting, sales or customer management software), so we can check other locations for hidden data. These types of software can store your information in locations which may not be obvious.
3. Know your account details: Your computer may be set to store and ‘remember’ your login details for certain websites. This information will be lost during a rebuild and will need to be re-entered, so make sure you have a list of any usernames and passwords. You may also have username, password and mail server details in your email client that will need to be re-entered.
4. Locate your software installation files: Get into the habit of storing all of your software CDs in one box, to make it easy to find the original files when you need them reinstalling. If your software was obtained via an internet download, store all of your downloads in one folder on your computer (e.g. name ‘Source’). You also may need to provide a serial number, license number or product key, which would have been supplied when you originally purchased the software. Keep these details filed in a box or in a folder on your computer to ensure they can be easily retrieved for the rebuild.
5. Your computer’s new look: If you’ve spent some time customizing your icons, menus, screen saver etc, much of this will be lost as your computer returns to the default software settings. Take a photo of your menu layout before the rebuild or take the opportunity to create a new look afterwards.
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the benefits of rebuilding your computer and how you can help to make the process go much smoother by providing the above important information.
Contact US for more details. |
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