|
|
|
|
|
Tech News from FlexITechs
| March 11, 2016
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15% Off Office 365 Installation!
Dear (Contact First Name),
Thank you for your continued interest in FlexITechs. If you'd prefer not to receive our occasional email newsletters, use the "Unsubscribe" link above.
Also, be sure to:
Sincerely, Eric Magill, FlexITechs |
|
|
Microsoft Forces Windows 10 Upgrade
Microsoft, in its zeal to reduce its support of multiple operating systems, has begun to force, or trick, Windows 7 and 8.x users to upgrade to Windows 10.
Don't panic if you look at your computer and suddenly find a Welcome to Windows 10 screen on your monitor, though. This can be reverted but is still extra work and potentially money to do so.
In general, I have advised against upgrading existing computers to Windows 10 -- too many problems from the upgrade and too few benefits to justify it.
In this case, Microsoft installs a Windows Update that can best be described as a trojan horse because it installs the upgrade software as part of a needed security update without telling you that. Worse, you can't separate the updates. You either leave that patch off and open a security hole or deal with what is now dubbed the "Windows 10 Nag".
There have been conflicting reports from other technicians and customers about how this upgrade is offered and installed:
- Some have been originally presented with a "Microsoft recommends upgrading to Windows 10" ad with a button to "Get Your Free Upgrade". At that point, you can click the white X in the upper right of the ad but many people will click the "recommended" Get Your Free Upgrade button. Your only options then will be to Upgrade Now or Upgrade Later.
- Others have reported that the upgrade starts automatically and they are only given options to Upgrade Now or Upgrade Later.
If you choose Upgrade Now the upgrade begins. If you choose Upgrade Later, you get a list of upgrade times over a period of a couple of days. There is no Don't Upgrade option.
When you opt to Upgrade Later and choose a time, the upgrade will perform at the scheduled time and you'll be greeted with the Welcome to Windows 10 screen.
If that happens, go to the Windows 10 End User License Agreement screen that allows you to Decline or Accept. Click through these prompts with care so you don't miss the Decline button. Click the Decline button.
Clicking Decline will begin the process of reverting Windows 10 to the Windows you had before (7 or 8.x). The reversion process takes about 15-30 minutes (from what I've seen) and when complete, it will boot back into your previous operating system.
You can also, as always, call me at 302-537-4198 before you start clicking.
|
Handle Passwords Securely
I have written before about the importance of setting complex passwords to be as secure as possible online.
But it doesn't do much good to set a password of at least 8 characters with capital letters, numbers, symbols and no real words in them if they are handled carelessly.
I've seen a spike recently in customers emailing passwords or posting them on post-its on their monitors. I've even seen IT vendors who should know better emailing passwords in unencrypted emails.
The bottom line here -- if you don't use encrypted email (and I only know of one customer of mine who does) -- then don't email sensitive information like passwords. This goes for personally identifiable information such as credit card and Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, etc.
If a hacker intercepts your unencrypted email en route to its destination, the hacker will be able to easily copy the information in it before sending it on to its destination and neither you nor the recipient would be the wiser.
Always CALL the recipient with such sensitive information. If you need to do this on a regular basis for, say, a business, invest in an encryption email service such as Zix email encryption.
I don't have a problem with writing down passwords either as long as the paper they're written on isn't stored in plain view. It should be stored under lock and key.
|
|
BizTech Talk -- Email Encryption
We've reached a point in cybercrime where information has become as valuable as the money in your bank account to hackers.
Personally Identifiable Information (Pii), such as names, addresses, phone numbers, SSNs, driver's license numbers, etc., can not only be used to open fake accounts and steal identities but can also be re-sold on the black market for up to $3 per record. A hacker stealing 1,000 Pii records from your network could earn a handsome sum there.
In fact, it's not uncommon for cyber criminals to routinely receive an ROI of 1,400% over 30 days, so it should be easy to understand why a small business with low security barriers would be of interest to hackers.
If you deal regularly with sensitive information, you should consider using an email encryption service to hide your data from prying eyes that might intercept it en route to its destination.
Attorneys, Accountants, health service professionals, real estate agents ... anyone who needs to transmit sensitive information on clients, employees or vendors on a regular basis should consider one of the email encryption services.
Email encryption services have historically been cumbersome to operate and expensive, which has limited their adoption in businesses. That has changed over the years and some, such as Zix, have become as easy to use as regular email after the initial setup on the sender's and recipient's networks.
Some of the email encryption options include Zix, Proofpoint, and Office 365, as well as some anti-virus solutions.
Pricing is reasonable -- $112 per year for Zix for a single user license, for example.
As always, you can call me at 302-537-4198 for a consultation on the best option for protecting your sensitive emails.
|
|
|
We thank you for your business the past 11 years and hope we can continue to fulfill your technology needs in the future. If you have any questions about current technology issues, feel free to contact us at 537-4198.
|
|
Sincerely,
Eric Magill
FlexITechs
Microsoft Small Business Specialist |
|
|
|
|
|
15% Off Office 365 Setup
Now through March 31, 2016, you can receive 15% off installation services to install Office 365 for your organization. Print out this coupon and call us at 302-537-4198 to schedule an appointment.
| Offer Expires:
March 31, 2016
|
|
|
