Tech Talk – April 2018
A Note from the President
Happy April! Someone wrote last week that it’s not April 18th, it’s actually January 108th, I thought it was funny and it certainly felt true! But we are heading in the right direction, nothing but Spring and Sunshine ahead. I can smell it at my son’s baseball games. We’ve made it and survived!
Spring cleaning is a term used often this time of year, another term I have been hearing a lot is “tune up.” Whether it’s the air conditioner, the sprinklers or lawn, everything has to be tuned up in preparation for the weeks and months ahead.
The same can be done with your IT environment, specifically aspects that haven’t been touched in a while. Items that can go without being touched can be anything from your security policies, your phone systems, your backup routine, your website and beyond.
Think of this time as tune up season for your IT environment, and let us know if you want us to come in and go over anything in particular that you might want to discuss tuning up. Reach me directly, would love to talk.
Below is our monthly blog from our CEO titled 65th Gear. Give it a read and click the link so that you can read the entire piece.
Have a wonderful rest of your week!
Scott Shatzkamer
President
65th Gear
by Larry Shulman, CEO
In a few month’s I hit 65. My dad will hit 105. That’s a lot of life between us. Last week I was running along the LIE trying to catch up on my training for a yearly half marathon in less than 4 weeks. A few bumps and a torn meniscus is getting in the way.
As usual I wondered about my dad, how he has enjoyed over a century of life, and even more amazing, he is still sharp. Sharp mind and still a sharp tongue. We will never know his secret, we all have a little of it, but more importantly is that he has lived all those years, with family and friends. I still consider his ability to pace himself as a key ingredient. His DNA is a large factor, but lets just say his magic mix centers around his ability to always keep his life in control, not too fast, not too slow.
Are your IoT devices easy to hack?
used with the permission of http://thenetwork.cisco.com
by Stephanie Chan
Internet of Things devices are reportedly becoming easier to hack — Channel Partners reports that in 2016, a malware called the Mirai botnet took over household cameras in a distributed denial-of-service (DDOS) attack, effectively shutting down the cameras. A botnet is a network of computers or Internet-connected devices that use bots to automatically spread malicious software.
The huge demand for IoT devices means lots of low-cost IoT tech in the market with little regard for security measures. The Cisco 2018 Annual Cybersecurity Report also found that adversaries are exploiting these weaknesses to gain access to systems like industrial control systems or business process systems. The report also warns that organizations should see IoT bots as imminent threats.
Keyboard Shortcuts in Outlook
Did you know there are shortcuts for common actions in Outlook? Instead of hunting for the right buttons, just hit these keyboard shortcuts.
- Create a new email: Ctrl + Shift + M
- Send an email: Ctrl + Enter
- Reply to an email: select email and hit Ctrl + R
- Create an appointment: Ctrl + Shift + A
- Create a new meeting request: Ctrl + Shift + Q
Update on Spectre and Meltdown security updates for Windows devices
used with permission from Windows Blogs
by John Cable
Microsoft continues to work diligently with our industry partners to address the Spectre and Meltdown hardware-based vulnerabilities. Our top priority is clear: Help protect the safety and security of our customers’ devices and data. Today, I’d like to provide an update on some of that work, including Windows security update availability for additional devices, our role in helping distribute available Intel firmware (microcode), and progress driving anti-virus compatibility.
Additional steps being taken to address Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities