What does the future of technology look like? What is Cloud Computing — and are you doing it today but just don’t know it? We’re bringing a “crystal ball” discussion to you with Applied Tech’s James Walstad. He says the future is now - tune in to learn what that means to you!
Podcast now available! http://ibmadison.com/podcast?podcast_id=573
Microsoft’s SkyDrive: Look, Ma, No Wires!
If you’ve ever been caught away from your computer when an important business question came up, Microsoft SkyDrive is for you.
The application is part of Microsoft’s Windows Live range of online services that lets users store files and share them through the Internet cloud, accessing them anywhere from any web browser.
Accessibility is the key benefit for this app, though the cost (free!) is also compelling. But the flexibility of using simplified versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote through a browser anywhere (even printing the documents) makes this a Cool Tool worth using over and over.http://explore.live.com/windows-live-skydrive
Just think: users can upload, create, edit and share Microsoft Office documents directly within a browser. And the app also allows users to upload photos and let other users access them via a web browser. Move over Google Apps!
This Cool Tool will increase productivity and collaboration among your employees everywhere, all the time. That means less cost and overhead — and more profits!
Learn more about Microsoft SkyDrive:http://explore.live.com/windows-live-skydrive
Dying for Coffee? Yelp it!
If you haven’t tried this site yet, you must know someone who has.
Yelp is one of the emerging websites that offers a fun and easy way to find, review and talk about what’s great - and not so great - in your town.
With its easy to read and use site, www.yelp.com lets everyone become a critic of restaurants, bars, boutiques, mechanics or dentists. Overall, Yelp proves that you can’t please everybody, as even the best places may have a scathing review from a disgruntled writer. Still, a quick scan through a dozen or so Yelp reviews offers a pretty good idea of what to expect when you choose a place to get your favorite scone or brew.
And what’s even better is the Yelp smartphone app that lets you find the nearest food, gas or service you want. Just type in ”Coffee” when you come off the trail and YELP will tell you the nearest place for your caffeine bath. That alone makes it worth trying out!
Google’s Newest Baby: Meet the Wonder Wheel!
Ever heard of “mind mapping”? Well that is the premise behind one of Google’s latest innovations in the battle to be the Web’s dominant search engine.
Introduced in May, it’s called the Wonder Wheel, a wheel-shaped tool which tries to simplify and arrange your search results. It operates a bit like a story board by connecting relevant and related searches to something you’re already looking for.
Take a look at it and see if you don’t agree it is pretty cool: http://tiny.cc/zf106
The wheel is definitely taking off worldwide and has reached 1 million users already. The fact that Google defines it as a “pre-defined mind mapper which helps the user get all the related search results in a wheel shaped like display (similar to mind mapping softwares which are commonly used by many),” has given users another reason to use it in addition to the features already provided by the company.
Want to know more? Find the company’s spin on this at http://www.googlewonderwheel.com/
It seems that even the most innocuous machines in the workplace can serve as a security threat to companies. According to this report from CBS News, many office copiers save the images they copy on a dedicated hard disk installed inside them. This means that everything from mundane memos to your most sensitive information such as financial statements and contracts are stored – and could potentially extracted.
So the next time you dispose of a copy machine, if you’re not sure what’s stored on it and how to get it off – give us a call to help out.
To see the news report, watch this video.
Users beware of ransomware: malicious software that extorts money from users in exchange for freeing the user’s computer or data. One particularly nasty version was recently discovered by researchers at CA which came bundled with a software download called uFast Download Manager. The malware blocks Internet access for users until they pay the publisher a fee via SMS. Users who download the software are immediately infected, seeing a message posted in Russian demanding a ransom under the guise of activating the uFast Download Manager application. To keep your computer environment safe, always be wary of downloading suspicious free software on the Internet. If you need help or are unsure, please contact us first so we can help!
Spanish authorities report that they have arrested the masterminds behind a string of online criminal activities using the botnet dubbed Mariposa. Mariposa is the original name of a commercially distributed Do-it-Yourself malware kit, sold online for 800/1000 EUR for “wannabe” hackers. Along with the arrest, authorities seized sensitive data belonging to about 800,000 users in 190 countries, gathered from an estimated 12M+ infected host computers on the Internet.
What’s particularly interesting is that the cybercriminals arrested were not themselves the author of the malware, nor were they any more techincally adept than many ordinary users. They simply had access to malware widely available on the Internet, and were able to conduct a crime of such a wide scale and reach.
This illustrates that it’s become easier for many cybercriminals to conduct their nefarious deeds online, and highlights the need for more vigilance on the part of law-abiding netizens in keeping their network secure from hackers and malware.
Is your network safe? Contact us to find out.
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Microsoft recently released a number of security bulletins and patches addressing vulnerabilities in Windows and Office that are of high risk to users. It’s widely believed that many will be exploited by hackers within the next 30 days. One of them could potentially allow hackers or malware authors to easily compromise systems by tricking users to download malicious AVI-formatted files. Others require nothing more than just visiting a website. Another specifically targets Powerpoint Viewer 2003, and opening a malicious .ppt file could affect your system.
This latest round of patches and vulnerability updates is really nothing new – although the sheer number made public in one day is notable. This highlights the need for a comprehensive security policy, because vulnerabilities do exist in even the most mundane or old versions of software. Customers under our Managed Services plan can rest easy since we monitor and update their computers as soon as these patches and advisories are released. Find out more about what we do to make your systems safe and secure. Contact us today.
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A malicious piece of software making the rounds of news websites this week is believed to be behind the compromise of over 75,000 systems in over 2,500 international organizations – many of which are government agencies and large Fortune 500 companies.
Called the Knebner botnet after the name in the email used to register the initial domain used in the campaign to propagate the malware, the software infects computers and captures user login access to online financial services such as Paypal and online banks, social networking websites such as Facebook, and email. Infected computers can be centrally controlled from a master computer, which presumably harvests the data captured for nefarious means.
The Knebner botnet itself is not new. It’s based on the ZeuS botnet, and has gained prominence lately because it’s slipped under the radar of so many organizations. However, there are ways to prevent compromises from botnets – one of which is to have a proactive security system and policy in place. Our Managed Security customers have this assurance in place since we continuously protect their system from botnets and other malware. If you’re not sure that you’re protected, talk to us today.
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In a report by security firm Websense, an alarming rise in the growth of malicious websites was identified in 2009 as compared to 2008 – almost 225 percent. The study also found an increased focus among hackers and spammers on targeting social media sites such as blogs and wikis. Social media or so-called Web 2.0 sites allow user-generated content, which can be a source of vulnerability. Researchers identified that up to 95 percent of user-generated comments to blogs, chat rooms, and message boards are spam or malicious – linking to data stealing sites or to downloads of malicious software. Email also continues to be a target for malicious activity with tens of thousands of Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! email accounts hacked and passwords stolen and posted online in 2009, which resulted in a marked increase in the number of spam emails.
For our clients on our Managed Service plans, we work hard to ensure your systems are protected from harmful or malicious activity coming from the Internet. If you’re not under our Managed Service plans perhaps now is a good time to talk – let’s make sure your systems are safe in 2010.
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