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Hackers 61 Microsoft 00
Last month we spoke about the Department of Homeland Security's bulletin to make sure you have the latest security updates on your computer. Last week (Sep 26, 2006) Microsoft issued its highest security advisory (926043) - again - urging you to keep your computer up to date! 
With this latest threat, your computer can be taken over by a hacker - just by visiting a web site! Let me repeat that - A hacker can gain total access to your machine, just by your going to a web site they have "modified". By Microsoft's account there are "only" a few thousand sites affected at this point.
Three solutions:
1) Do not use your computer to go on the Internet <really>
2) Manually run the update program on a weekly basis
3) Contact us to put your concern to rest and so you can focus on YOUR business.
The frequency and severity of these warnings should be an alert to practice safe computing. The cost of recovering a machine and data from an infected can be as much as a year's worth of maintenance, not including the opportunity cost of new business while the recovery takes place.
Wireless Routers Who is on Your network?
WiFi is easy to install and easy to connect to. You need to make sure you have security enabled so that visitors outside your walls aren't using your connection. If you are in a office complex, you may be supplying Internet connections for multiple offices within the building without knowing it. Even worse, these visitors may be able to gain access to your business data.
Are your B's dragging down your G's?
802.11G routers also support the 802.11B protocol. Unfortunately, when a slower 802.11B connection is made, the router slows all traffic to match the slower protocol connection. That means that even if all your corporate devices have been upgraded to G, if a visitor or someone in the next office connects with a B connection, everyone slows down.
Are you ready to revamp your WiFi infrastructure?
The 802.11N protocol has not yet been fully approved as a standard. Nonetheless, many wireless networking manufacturers are selling what they call Pre-N devices that enable the current version of the N protocol. While it's still a gamble that what you buy today may be obsolete when the final version is approved, the current equipment will continue to work and may even be upgradable to the final version. By replacing your existing 802.11 equipment with 802.11N routers, access points, and interface cards you will increase the overall throughput of your WiFi LAN and optionally set up a barrier to users of the other protocols by blocking their access to the new equipment.
Swiftec installs both residential class and commercial class wireless solutions. Commercial solutions can carry voice and data and can cover multiple buildings or open space areas. Contact us today with your needs!
The high cost of (old) technology A few months ago we installed new hardware to increase the speed of a client's network. The install went flawless and the client was very happy with the faster response time for their applications. Last week the client called to say that the network was very slow again. After investigating we noticed a new computer was plugged into the network - actually it was an OLD computer.
The OLD computer had an old network card which was running at 1/10 the speed of the new network. Well, in order to exchange information, all components must be running at the same speed. So the machines that could run at 1000MB/s had to slow down to 100MB/s - hence slowing everything down. This is the weakest link theory as it applies to computers - all computers are limited to what the slowest network card can handle.
The same holds true for wireless networks (as mentioned above). If all your equipment supports 54MB/s (802.11g) and you attach an old computer using an 11MB/s card (802.11b), then you will slow all of your other wireless connections down.
If you think your network is slow, or you are having connectivity issues, please let us know and we will pinpoint your issue.
Humor: Abbott & Costello for the 21st Century
If the old routine were written today about computers. (source unknown)
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COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about buying a computer.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
ABBOTT: Your computer?
COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
ABBOTT: Mac?
COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
ABBOTT: What about Windows?
COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look at the windows?
ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business.? What do you have?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
ABBOTT: I just did.
COSTELLO: You just did what?
ABBOTT: Recommend something.
COSTELLO: You recommended something?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: For my office?
ABBOTT: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
ABBOTT: Office.
COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal.? What do I need?
ABBOTT: Word.
COSTELLO: What word?
ABBOTT: Word in Office.
COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".
COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers.? What about financial bookkeeping? You have anything I can track my money with?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
ABBOTT: Money.
COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
ABBOTT: One copy.
COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.
COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
(Later that day)
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
ABBOTT: Click on "START"........... |
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