How can I update Windows 10 faster?
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-25T08:00:44-07:00
Updating your Windows 10 is an essential security measure for protecting your business from threats such as malware or ransomware. It’s free! And you don’t have to do much, all you have to do is wait. However, for some, that’s the downside. Can’t stand waiting? One of these will speed up your Windows 10 update.
Why do updates take so long to install?
Windows 10 updates take a while to complete because Microsoft is constantly adding larger files and features. What’s more, internet speed can significantly affect installation times, especially if your network is overburdened by multiple people downloading the update at the same time.
If multiple downloads aren’t being attempted and you still experience slowness, then either some broken software components are preventing the installation from running smoothly, or apps and drivers that run upon startup are likely to blame.
When you experience any of these issues, try the following:
Free up storage space and defragment your hard drive
Because many Windows 10 updates take […]
Is your computer infected with malware?
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-24T08:00:16-07:00
With the rise of eCommerce and online banking, cybercrime has evolved. Like criminals who pull smash-and-grab jobs, they go where the money is. However, unlike bank robbers, cybercriminals do their best to avoid detection by letting malware do the work for them. Viruses and ransomware sneak into PCs to quietly steal passwords, financial credentials, and other personal information to be sold on the black market for profit. Not all malware is stealthy though. Here are some telltale signs.
Slow computer
Are your operating systems and programs taking a while to start up? Is your data bandwidth suspiciously slow? If so, your computer may potentially have a virus.
However, just because your PC is running slower than usual doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s infected, as there could be other causes to your computer slowing down. First, check if you’re running out of RAM. For Windows, open task manager (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and go to the Performance tab and check how many […]
Not sure what to do with a new iPad? Start here
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-23T08:00:32-07:00
Even though Apple devices are less customizable than their Android counterparts, new iPhones and iPads still have dozens of settings to configure. Tackling the most important ones takes only a few minutes if you know where to start. Check our recommendations for the top five most useful settings.
Touch ID
The first thing you must change is iOS’s fingerprint recognition features. When configured properly, this technology does much more than unlock your device. Open the Settings app and then tap Touch ID & Passcode (or Face ID & Passcode if your device supports it) to record several fingerprints and configure what Touch ID can authorize. You can even use it to automatically fill in saved passwords.
Notifications
How embarrassing would it be if someone sent you a private message and it popped up on your iPad’s lock screen where everyone could see it? You can prevent that from happening by opening the Notifications window from within the Settings app. From there, you can change […]
5 ways to enhance your new laptop
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-22T08:00:32-07:00
Getting a new laptop, especially one of the latest models, can be very exciting. You can look forward to a better user experience with faster speed, more memory, and better battery life. But it’s all for nought if you don’t take certain preventive steps before using your new machine. Do these five things before you start exploring your new toy.
1. Update your laptop’s operating system
One of the first things you should do before using your laptop is upgrade its operating system (OS). Assuming you did not purchase the laptop when it was first released, your laptop will still be running an older OS. With important patches and fixes released with each new update, it is recommended that you install the latest one to ensure your laptop is free of any vulnerabilities.
2. Remove bloatware
When turning on your laptop for the first time, you might notice that there are several preloaded software in the system — some of which you will probably […]
Tips to improve your business website
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-19T08:00:19-07:00
Your company website creates an initial impression on potential customers. And because first impressions last, your website must be visually appealing, responsive, and up-to-date with web trends. Your visitors must have a seamless experience while navigating your site. These design trends will make them click on that “Buy Now” button.
Scrolling
Scrolling is a convenient method to navigate a website. Instead of clicking on confusing menus and drop-down tabs, you can just scroll through a one-page site that has a cleaner look and is usually more intuitive to users. This web design style is definitely more important now that people have grown more accustomed to mobile web browsing.
You also have to decide how far visitors will have to scroll to get to know your company. While a long scrolling page gives you more white space and content to work with, a short scrolling page can quickly convey your company’s message and encourages action.
Animations
One way businesses have been setting themselves apart from others […]
BCP tactics to keep your business running
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-18T08:00:01-07:00
Whether your business is hit with a brief power outage or by a natural disaster, any kind of interruption to your organization’s productivity cuts into your profits. A business continuity plan (BCP) is critical to ensuring your organization stays open. Here are some of the key strategies many companies rely on.
Backup your data, applications, and servers
Today, companies are more dependent than ever on IT and data. If these critical components suddenly become inaccessible, there’s little chance your business will survive. Regularly backing up these elements ensures they can be restored quickly in the event of a disaster, security breach, or damage to IT equipment.
In the past, most businesses would create backups on-site and with tape backups, but today more and more businesses are using the cloud, and here are several reasons why:
- Cloud backups are affordable and cost much less than onsite backups
Backups can be automated, therefore saving you time - Cloud providers usually back up your data to multiple locations (so if […]
Stop Android location settings
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-17T08:00:43-07:00
When you use your Android smartphone for the first time, you’ll be asked about location services and whether you want to turn them on. Google and your carrier will ask you to approve their own location services as well. What you might not know is that there are other options for location services with Android that can affect your device’s security. To that end, let’s look at how to change some of these settings.
Photos and GPS tagging
Your Android smartphone gives you the ability to attach GPS coordinates to the pictures you take, known as geo-locating or GPS tagging. This lets you arrange pictures in albums by location. Geo-locating images in itself isn’t a bad thing, but you can get into trouble when you broadcast sensitive locations to the world. For instance, a picture of your expensive watch with a GPS tag of your house isn’t the best idea.
Here are four ways to control geo-locating photos:
- Go to your camera settings and […]
The vulnerabilities of hypervisors
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-16T12:02:45-07:00
The efficiency of hypervisors against cyberattacks has earned them a reputation as a reliable and robust software application. But the persistence of hackers who never run out of creative ways to breach systems keeps IT experts on their toes. You should know the vulnerabilities of hypervisors so you can defend them properly and keep hackers at bay.
A hypervisor is a software application that distributes computing resources (e.g., processing power, RAM, storage) into virtual machines (VMs), which can then be delivered to other computers in a network. This gives people the resources they need to run resource-intensive applications without having to rely on powerful and expensive desktop computers.
System administrators can also use a hypervisor to monitor and manage VMs. So if hackers manage to compromise hypervisor software, they’ll have unfettered access to every VM and the data stored on them.
While hypervisors are generally well-protected and robust, security experts say hackers will eventually find a bug in the software. So far, there have been limited reports of hypervisor hacks; […]
Improve collaboration with G Suite
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-16T12:02:23-07:00
G Suite has made accessing emails, sharing files, and working remotely much easier. This all-in-one computing, productivity, and collaboration tool can revolutionize small- to medium-sized businesses’ (SMBs) work processes. Here are some tips to configure it.
Allow display views inside and outside your business
Activity dashboards typically provide limited details on file activity that one can view. Not so when you enable G Suite’s view history. With this function, you can determine which users have opened the file and the time and date they accessed the file.
What’s more, G Suite can also provide the details of external users who viewed your file, and whether they used a non-office-issued device. To access these data, you have to:
Open Google Slides, Docs, or Sheets.
Select Share.
Type in the email address of the external user.
People outside your organization can access your files only when you authorize them, and at the same time, you can see their viewing history. Note that you won’t have access to external users’ viewing history if you share files using […]
Choose the right VoIP solution for your SMB
Chris Wanamaker2019-04-16T12:02:27-07:00
Many small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) turn to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as their telephony solution. This allows them to make calls either through the traditional desk phones (hardphones) or software-based phones (softphones). Find out the pros and cons of both phone options to help you pick out which is most suitable for your business.
What’s a hardphone?
A hardphone is a desk phone that is connected to your business’s IP network, just like a normal phone. There’s no learning curve associated with VoIP hardphones, and they allow your staff to call anyone worldwide at a more affordable price. The more advanced hardphones have built-in video displays and touch screens to accommodate video calls, eliminating the need for separate equipment for video conferencing.
What’s a softphone?
A softphone is any electronic device that uses a software program that allows users to turn their PCs, laptops, and tablets into high-tech phones to make and receive local and international calls. Softphones let you dial a number on your computer or mobile device […]