Security software has been recently discovered to be not as safe as advertised, according to a study conducted by Concordia University in Montreal.

Mohammad Mannan, assistant professor in the Concordia Institute for Information Systems Engineering (CIISE), and PhD student Xavier de Carne de Carnavalet examined 14 commonly used software programs that claim to make computers safer by protecting data, blocking out viruses or shielding users from questionable content on the internet.

“While a couple of fishy ad-related products were known to behave badly in the same set-up, it’s stunning to observe that products intended to bring security and safety to users can fail as badly.”

Central to the issues is how security applications act as gatekeepers to unwanted sites by inspecting a website’s certificate (which has been issued by a Certification Authority).

Usually, browsers themselves have to check the certificate provided by a website, and verify that is has been issued by a Certification Authority. However, security products trick the computer into thinking that they are themselves a fully entitled CA, allowing them to fool browsers into trusting any certificate issued by the products.

It is important for users to keep their software up-to-date, so that they can benefit from the latest security patches.

For companies that do not have time to assess whether their security protocols are stringent enough, there are ways to make security redundant: professional IT teams.

Although in-house IT teams are expensive, having a remote monitoring program in place can catch malicious websites before they take root in your company’s network.

Concordia University. “Not so safe: Security software can put computers at risk: Concordia University research reveals pitfalls of antivirus programs and parental controls.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 4 May 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160504161650.htm>.

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As the technology field continues to develop, more and more small businesses are taking advantage of the improved technology. According to an SMB Routes to Market Study, 85% of small businesses planning to increase their technology investments are more likely to anticipate higher revenue. Here are some of the latest ways small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) are using technology to solve common problems:

1. Mobile Application

Most small businesses are constantly on the go, and do not have time to sit in front of their desktops and update information.

With the proliferation of smartphone devices, internet access is now ubiquitous. Over 94% of small business users believe mobile devices make them more efficient, said a recent report from the Mobility Edge, CDW. Smartphones are far and away the most popular device for small businesses, while tablet use is growing. Square is a mobile-payment device that attaches to a smartphone to accept credit card payments on the go.

2. Analytics

Analytics is a tool that takes measurements of your business. It helps break down marketing campaigns into bite-size chunks, as well as determine where traffic is going.

“Companies that figure out how to harness and turn data into insights most effectively will gain huge competitive advantages,” said the SMB study. There are several analytics programs that help users track web traffic.

3. Cloud Storage

Businesses that lack IT resources are turning to Cloud-based web solutions to fulfill common tech problems. 52% of small and medium-sized businesses are adopting cloud services to outsource IT tasks like data storage, said the SMB study. For instance, Apple’s iCloud allows users to backup media and personal files. Dropbox facilitates file and photo sharing across multiple devices.

4. Mobile Security

Mobile security is a growing problem, especially as most devices to not have sufficient encryption or verification technologies. Furthermore, lost and stolen devices are becoming a top mobile security concern.

Securing mobile devices with encryption or data-wiping technology prevents thieves from accessing sensitive business data. New apps allows users to remotely lock, wipe and locate their devices.

5. Web Teleconferencing

In the modern workplace, employees may be scattered all over the world; from telecommuting to far-flung locales – it’s important to have the technology to connect face to face.

Web-based teleconferencing services let large groups make video and voice connections, without special equipment, or additional hardware.

As technology continues to develop, small and medium-sized businesses will continue to benefit from the growing networks of mobile and social media connections.

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Need of IT support:

Businesses require IT support so that they can take care of all the other hats like dealing with operational issues, installation process, maintenance and security of the system and allows the businesses to have a complete concentration on their visrs.com/computer-tech-suion and goal for the company. Let’s get a clear view of the issues that are handled by the IT support company:

Operational issues:

This section covers the issues that affect the efficient operation of commercial enterprises. Hiring an IT support professional proves to be beneficial in such a situation mainly for small size businesses. The IT services come with a flexibility that allows clients to choose their plan according to their budgets and allows the IT support technicians to be their troubleshooters. If a business is not ready to compromise on their productivity and efficiency it is essential for them to receive managed IT services.

Maintaining Security:

Having a secure system is important for both small and large size businesses. It is necessary for businesses today to have a complete security so as to avoid any kind of breach. The tech support companies start the security package from the basic level that includes installation of firewalls and anti-virus software and then go towards the advanced level that covers securing of the most vulnerable parts present in the system and detecting an unwanted intrusion.

Data storage & recovery:

When a computer is down for a considerable amount of time it leads to loss of important data which hold a great importance for businesses. This is when a PC Tech Support Company comes to the rescue by helping the company in regaining their lost or corrupted data.

Things to consider when choosing an IT Company:

Speed and reliability:

One should prefer an IT support company that is reliable and provides support when required. Remember that you usually need the help as soon as possible and the company should provide you with service instantly not in some hours or days.

Confidence:

When making a choice about the IT support one should look for IT Company that not only gets the computer into running state but also get to the root of the problem and make sure that it does not affect the cash flow of the business again. The selected IT support should be the one in which you can place your confidence and it always considers your business at first.

Experience matters:

In the field of IT support experience matter ,more is the experience more easily the IT support company can identify the problem and present the client with a solution that avoid the occurrence of the problem again in the future. The IT support companies that are having the experience of working with large size companies proves to be beneficial as they also dedicate themselves in finding a solution that proves to beneficial for the organization.

Go for a company that offers flexibility:

Choose a company that offers flexibility i.e. the one that is available for its clients even on weekends and evening call outs, provides an alternative contact and gives a solution that is within one’s budget constraints. Go for an IT company that gets the work done according to the client’s desire and demands.

Choosing the one that has a vision:

While settling on an IT support company one should go for a company that not only proves to be beneficial in the down time but also give a priority to the use of proactive measures and also keep the client systems updated according to the recent advancements.

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Have you ever noticed that tech guys tend to lead with the same questions? Well there’s a reason for that. Certain points within your network are notorious for failing time and time again. These network security failure points have nothing to do with your network, per se. Connections and elements that are subject to external factors are weak points in all systems. So your tech guy might not be reading from a script when he asks you to check your connections, for example. He, in fact, wants to eliminate the common security failure points so that he can get to the root of the problem the fastest way possible.

Ports Protected?

Having a network firewall is a must in this day and age. However, how effective is that firewall if it was improperly chosen or configured? There are thousands of ports through which a hacker could access the system – are those protected?

Malware can also be introduced through other avenues – such as email, a USB port, or an infected website. A firewall alone cannot protect a computer from these threats.

Common Network Security Failure Points

• Database connection
• Website connection
• Configuration file
• Network resource
• Registry key

The Real Security Threat

While all this emphasis on hardware and software security it important, it is not the most important. According Dr. Pattinson, a research fellow in the University of Adelaide’s Business School, failure to incorporate security awareness in company culture is the biggest threat to a business’ network:

“While high-quality hardware and software plays a critical role in the security of an organization, there is now a growing body of research that suggests the behaviors of computer users can be one of the biggest threats to an organization’s information security.”

“For example, the best password processed by the most sophisticated software, using the latest in computer facilities becomes useless when the password is written on a sticky note and stuck on a monitor for easy access,” Dr. Pattinson notes.

Keeping security protocol is important not only online, but increasingly, is necessary in the workplace. Although most organizations have secure bins where documents can be shredded of, it is still up to individuals to dispose of them correctly.

A Thorough Security Policy

Organizations must constantly update their security policy to deal with the growing security threats in cyberspace. Furthermore, it is important to have a team that can respond the second there are security-related issues.

Reactive (vs. Proactive) Network Management

Unfortunately, network management has become a reactive discipline, with companies only paying attention when a crisis emerges. Too many organizations do not utilize their tools internal to their network components so that they can be proactive in this area. Critical network areas can be highlighted by the acronym FCAPS: Fault management, Configuration management, Accounting management, Performance management, Security management.

Review Emerging Technology

This is not to suggest that a complete overhaul is necessary every time new technology is announced, rather, it is an opportunity to assess whether emerging technologies can help scale your existing network efficiencies or streamline business goals. You can start with a pilot program for a cost-benefit analysis of new technology.

Before Contacting IT Support…

Delete Cookies & Empty Your Cache

Too many cookies can make you fat, and similarly, create a slow internet speed. It is important to clear your cookies and empty your cache periodically, so that your user experience can remain fast.

Quick Computer Restart 

Your computer can benefit from periodic restarts, as suddenly-slow computing can be traced to a “tired” computer.

Not a Telx Computers IT Support Member?

The benefit of having managed IT support is that you don’t have to think or figure out your IT issues, we do that for you. Having a team of dedicated support professionals managing your network security, and fixing any failure points, is a necessary step for a successful organization. Telx’s reputation for delivering comprehensive network solutions to your team ensures protection of your data and recovery of your system in the event of an attack.

To learn how we can expand the scope of your network’s data solutions, contact a representative today.

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Back in October 2016, United States Federal Officials approved a set of privacy rules designed to prevent large communication companies, such as Comcast, AT&T, etc., from collecting and selling out the information of individuals who are their customers. Examples of such information are browsing habits, specific websites their customers have visited, internet connected applications, etc.

These privacy rules were basically shaped to protect consumers from large Internet Service Providers. Even though the F.C.C. had already provided consumer protection rules in the past, those were shaped to rule regular phones and cable television. However, up to that point, there were no rules protecting consumers of high-speed internet products.

It is needless to say that those rules were a blow to Internet Service Providers and huge cable companies; who wouldn’t think twice about selling the private customer information that is transmitted through their networks. The rules specifically obliged ISPs to request permission from their customers every time they wanted to start tracking or recording their internet habits.

Fast forward to 2017 and the rules of the game are changing once again. On Thursday, March 23^rd, 2017 United States senators scrambled to start dismantling the internet privacy protection rules that had been established a year prior.  Allowing for future deregulation that will strip away consumers off their privacy rights. The Senate’s 50 to 48 vote on Thursday is the first step which will probably be followed by a similar decision at the House.

If the decision is finally signed by POTUS, telecommunication conglomerates will be able to continue recording and sharing their customer’s information and browsing habits without permission. This is obviously a blow to consumers.

According to lawmakers and the new chairman of the F.C.C., the previous set of rules strapped unneeded regulations on telecom carriers. Their perspective is that the regulations were unnecessary and confusing, thus hindering innovation. Telecom and broadband providers expressed satisfaction yesterday; stating that the new ruling will allow for competitive neutrality.

On the other side of the spectrum, consumer protection groups are warning that internet services consumers will suffer as a result of the changes. “Senate Republicans just made it easier for Americans’ sensitive information about their health, finances, and families to be used, shared and sold to the highest bidder without their permission,” Senator Edward J. Markey expressed after the ruling.

Visit the Telx Computers blog for the latest news and tips regarding IT support and IT services.  For information on Managed IT services in Miami or South Florida, call 305-935-3876 today or live chat with one of our representatives.

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Jigsaw

Deleting files at regular intervals to increase the urgency to pay ransom faster, Jigsaw ransomware operates like this: for every hour that passes in which victims have not paid the ransom, another encrypted file is deleted from the computer making it unrecoverable even if the ransom is paid or files decrypted via another method. The malware also deletes an extra 1,000 files every time victims restart their computers and log into Windows.

Peyta

Encrypting entire drives, Petya ransomeware encrypts Master File Table. This table contains all the information about how files and folders are allocated.

RansomWeb

Instead of going after a company’s computers, RansomWeb takes a road less traveled: they infect web servers through vulnerabilities and encrypt website databases and hosted files, making the website unusable until ransom is paid.

Cloud Malware

Deleting or overwriting cloud backups: In the past, backing up your data to cloud storage and file shares was safe. However, newer versions of ransomware have been able to traverse to those shared file systems making them susceptible to the attack.

Cerber

Using the computer speaker to speak audio messages to the victim, Cerber ransomware generates a VBScript, entitled “# DECRYPT MY FILES # .VBS,” which allows the computer to speak the ransom message to the victim. The decryptor website says, “Attention! Attention! Attention!” “Your documents, photos, databases and other important files have been encrypted!”

Tox

Ransomware as a service is a model offered on underground forums networks. It will provide the malicious code and infrastructure to facilitate the transfer of funds and the encryption key for the victim to be able to access their information. Tox ransomware does this.

Be Proactive and Preventative

The best way to disarm ransomware is by taking appropriate preventative measures to safeguard your data; Don’t allow redirects; don’t open emails from those you do not know; stay away from web browsers that have not been updated, such as Internet Explorer; and do not download files that you do not know the source of (e.g., an “exe. File”).

A proactive way to protect your data is to hire a remote management service that will secure your servers and enable effective firewalls. Telx Computers is one of the top IT companies in Miami, specializing in protecting your data. Our systems can detect invasive software far before it lands in your computer. Don’t let Ransomware happen to your organization.

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IT Companies

1. Every Company is a Data Company.

The realm of data is no longer an abstract concept relevant only to the tech industry, it has become inextricably linked with every facet of the global economy – many economic activities and IT Companies spesifically, could not function without its input.

Data aggregation, known more formally as ‘Big Data’, provides large quantities of information that can be further analyzed and dissected to provide companies with an understanding of industry trends and actionable insights – an application that has become the basis of competition and the platform by which the quality of goods and services of industries can be increased.

The successful implementation of Big Data is becoming the industry standard by which companies either outperform their peers or get stuck treading water. Newer companies will attempt to leverage data to innovate upon strategies, compete, and capture value.

2. Focus on awareness and the results will follow

Big Data’s efficacy is self-evident, however, the more important question to ask is: How can Big Data strategies be applied successfully to my business?

Understanding Big Data’s scope is an important first step. Although it can provide all manner of information, from streamlining product inventories to better understanding consumer preferences, it will be useless unless your business objectives are taken into consideration.

Once your objectives are defined, the next step is to implement applicable metrics.

3. Getting into the Data

So, which metrics will provide me the answers to these questions?

Here are some examples as to how data strategies can be successfully leveraged (and the metrics used to evaluate them):

Creating Information Transparency.

Many organizations still have significant amounts of information that have not been recorded digitally. Bringing offline data into an organization’s network can make company processes become more efficient and reduce redundancies.

To accomplish these aims, a company would adopt ‘Process Metrics’. Process metrics evaluate business processes, set improvement goals, and measure progress against those goals. Process Metrics provide visibility into the effectiveness of the changes they make to business processes.

Transactional Data

As more and more data becomes available to an organization, they can collect and review performance information such as workflow processes and even employee sick days. Some companies may even collect and analyze data to make more informed management decisions.

For this kind of data, a company would look at ‘Workload Metrics’. This type of reporting looks at quantifiable information: the number of transactions registered, the number of people trained, hours expended, resource utilization, etc.

Develop better products and services

For companies involved in manufacturing, products can be outfitted with sensors that detect product malfunction and transmit necessary maintenance information to prevent future failures.

Manufacturing companies that use sensors on their devices could use ‘Compliance Metrics’ to measure the performance of their products through activity reports. Compliance metrics can be evaluated against company goals over time and give information into risk exposure (e.g., what is the compliance status of a company’s products, and does that change over time).

4. Engage with your Data

Methods and techniques are wholly dependent on what a company wants to evaluate, however, much will depend on which outcomes a company is seeking.

Nevertheless, developing a framework to assess data is as important as the data itself. Here is an example of how to manually process data:

1. Find as many products or services as possible to measure.
2. Cross-examine with several categories:

• Individual metrics
• Specific categories
• The whole

3. Compare results across products and services for consistency.
4. Compare results to uncover gaps: is something not being measured that should be?

Look into other frameworks to compare your process, such as a support frameworks or user experience.

5. Conclusion

Although ‘data driven’ processes are effective for businesses, they can be quite exhausting to implement manually. The best way to navigate data analytics is by using business intelligence software. Telx Computers, a Miami-based business intelligence analytics company, offers an integrated analytics platform where users can simultaneously aggregate, display, and report on company data.

Having a company provide the framework for data analysis helps business owners save time, money, and resources – freeing up time for decision-making and action-taking.

See how Telx Computers can help make the most of your information. Contact us for more, today!

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How does it work?

Opera’s new ad blocking feature will be switched off by default. However, when an ad is causing a web page to slow down, the user will be prompted to turn on the adblock.

Why is Opera doing this?

An Opera spokeswoman remarked, “Ad-blocking technology is an opportunity and a wake-up call to the advertising industry to pay attention to what consumers are actually saying.” In other words, consumers are annoyed with intrusive ads that are irrelevant, and Opera is creating an opportunity for advertisers to develop more relevant, and more meaningful advertisements.

How will this affect business?

Ad blocking has been around for some time, but it is only in the Opera browser where it is built directly into the platform. Opera has said that with the use of their native ad blocker, their browser on average runs 45% faster than using Google Chrome with the AdBlock Plus extension and 21% faster than using Firefox with that same extension. In today’s browser competition, speed is money. This fact alone could make users abandon their current browser and adopt Opera.

What can your business do?

Large companies, such as Forbes and The New York Times, are already experimenting with ways to prevent ad blocking users from accessing their site. However, this may not be an option if your company is on the smaller side. Luckily, for businesses that primarily use content marketing, the Opera update will have little effect on their traffic.

Curious about ad blocking, cloud computing, or technology in general? Get in touch with us. Telx Computers is here to make your IT needs happen.

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Cordell Schachter, the CTO of the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), who went through Hurricane Sandy in 2012, says climate trends will increasingly impact IT operations.

“At one time, you could go through a whole career without facing one of those situations” – something like a Sandy – said Cordell. But now he believes if “you have a career spanning more than a decade” you may see multiple major weather systems.

Weather-related disturbances are the leading source of grid outages, and that includes heat that increases grid load and effects its efficiency, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

2015 was the warmest year on record for the planet, and 2016 is on track to exceed it.

Allocating funds for disaster recovery (DR) tools and systems is rising, but not exponentially. Improving disaster resilience is one of the many reasons businesses are migrating to the cloud, experts say.

For disaster recovery tools and services specifically, IDC says the global market for data protection and recovery services is about $6 billion, which grew at 7.2% in 2014.

Interest in disaster recovery tools increased significantly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but “many pulled back because of the cost of maintaining two centers,” and paying for idle equipment, said Phil Goodwin, a research director at IDC. The cloud is changing all of that.

Before Hurricane Sandy hit NYC, New York’s DOT began using Amazon Web Services for some of its applications. Those services remained operational during the historic power blackout that ensued from the storm.

“If you’re not in the cloud in some way right now – even if it’s just for testing purposes – it’s really malpractice if you’re in IT,” said Schachter.

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The purpose of sales outsourcing is to reduce costs, improve focus, and share risks. It often reduces a business’s costs because the business no longer has to worry about recruitment, benefits, or training of a sales team. If a company is being pulled in too many directions or sales is outside of its core focal points, then outsourcing with a third party allows them to focus on what they need to while the IT service providers take care of the sales aspect. This also allows a business to take advantage of experienced sales professionals when it is unable to afford hiring a full-time staff.

It takes time and resources to get new promotions, marketing materials, and information out to an entire market through indirect marketing sources.  Hiring and training staff on product knowledge, sales and communication skills, and back end administration also takes time and resources.  Even after training employees, they still may not meet expectations.  Computer IT support providers at Telx Computers have years of experience in dealing with all aspects of IT services support and can provide businesses with the sales support they need.

Some small companies run campaigns less frequently or invest less money in ongoing marketing. If the company decides it wants to increase brand awareness or to introduce a new product, it can typically get the work done by a firm for less than the costs of hiring and paying employees.

IT Support

Product companies are also choosing to outsource their sales organizations as a means to diversify into new markets and create specialized distribution channels. The outsourced sales model allows a company to explore new markets and new ideas without the major financial commitment involved with rebuilding, retraining, and retooling company-direct sales forces. Outsourcing the sales function to target the establishment of new markets allows a product company to expand its business through the outsourced sales channel while continuing to maintain a focus on the core business. The outsourced sales channel helps minimize the risk of distracting a company’s existing sales force.

Outsourcing business function is for the benefit of outside expertise. IT services Miami providers are experts at marketing. Managers of a manufacturing company may feel inadequate in hiring and managing the marketing process for top results. Instead, they hire a marketing company that assesses the situation, works with the company to establish communication goals and prepare persuasive messages.

Outsourcing marketing lets fresh perspectives and ideas flow into the company. The creative element of marketing requires originality. In-house marketing employees may be too wrapped up in the company to come up with ideas that focus on customers and their specific needs. Outside influences can conduct research and look at a company’s industry trends and goals to work to develop a creative and persuasive campaign theme that will meet the needs of customers.

The computer support Miami professionals at Telx Computers provide outsourced sales marketing solutions to provide businesses with cost savings and improved efficiency.

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