Security – Technical Action Group

Why You Need To Replace Your 3+ Year Old Firewall

27 Jan

Your IT support provider should insist on good quality, modern firewall to give your business the best protection from intruders.

In all likelihood your business has at least one firewall (and if you don’t, you’re asking for all sorts of trouble if you haven’t experienced it already). You know a firewall is one of those “must have’s” for a secure network, but do really know why it’s so important to your business? A firewall is the device that bridges the connection from your internal network to the outside world. Anything you do that connects to the outside world (e-mail, accessing internet directly or indirectly) goes through this firewall before your data reaches its … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Internet, Security, TAG Blog

4 Hidden Dangers Elecricity Poses To Your Network…and One Simple, Inexpensive Solution To Prevent Them

20 Jan

Your IT Support provider should recommend the best battery backup suited to your business.

Is your computer plugged in? Do you use a power strip with a surge protector? If so, you are a heartbeat away from disaster and don’t even realize it. The same electricity you depend on to run your computers and network is also trying to destroy your data. Believe it or not, electricity is one of the biggest threats to your computer network and the data it contains. Here are four computer power problems you must know about and how to prevent them. 1) Transients – Commonly known as surges and spikes, these are caused by lightning storms, wind, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Desktop Computers, Security, TAG Blog

The Top 5 Worst Technology Habits to Break in 2012

5 Jan

Your computer support provider should urge you to break these bad habits!

Admit it; some of you have some bad habits when it comes to maintaining the security and “health” of the high-tech tools you dearly depend on. Since it’s a fresh, new year, we thought it would be appropriate to point out the top 5 bad habits you should work on fixing in 2012. 1. Not backing up your data. Funny how most people start their confession of not backing up their data with the words, “I know it’s bad, but…” If you know, then why are you still doing it? There’s absolutely no good reason to let this one continue. Your IT support provider … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Backup and Disaster Recovery, Is Your Current IT Support Looking After You Properly?, Maintenance, Security, Spam, Spyware, TAG Blog, Viruses

How To Keep Your Laptop Secure When Using Wi-Fi

28 Oct

You can’t beat the convenience of checking e-mail and hopping on the Internet at (Wi-Fi) hotspots found in airports, coffee shops, bookstores, and even in some major parks. For the uninitiated, Wi-Fi hotspots are areas where you can use your wireless laptop to surf the Web and check e-mail. But the question you have to ask yourself or your IT support provider is, just how safe is it to connect? With the proliferation of hackers, viruses and identity theft at an all time high, you are smart to be concerned. Wi-Fi spots are very attractive to hackers because they can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Internet, Laptops, Security, TAG Blog

9 Warning Signs Your Computer Is Infected With Spyware

28 Sep

Managed Computer Services Toronto, IT support Toronto

Spyware is Internet jargon for hidden programs that advertisers install on your PC without your permission to spy on you, gather information, and report this information about you and your online activities to a third party. Spyware is NOT harmless; it can be responsible for delivering a boatload of spam, altering your web browser, slowing down your PC, and serving up a bounty of pop-up ads. In some of the more extreme cases, spyware can also steal your identity, passwords, e-mail address book, and even use your PC for illegal activities. Most spyware finds … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Security, Spyware, TAG Blog

How Using Pirated Software Can Cost Your Business Tens of Thousands of Dollars In Fines and IT Support Fees AND Wreak Havoc On Your Computers

19 Sep

ALERT! If your business or your IT outsourcing knowingly uses pirated software (or if you're not 100% confident it's not), you MUST read this to learn the expensive hot water your business can get into if it gets caught. According to the Business Software Alliance, Software piracy is defined as the unauthorized copying or distribution of copyrighted software. This can be done by copying, downloading, sharing, selling, or installing multiple copies onto personal or work computers. It ‘s illegal, increases security risks, and can wreak havoc on your computer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Security, TAG Blog, Viruses

Careful! Phishing E-Mails On The Rise!

26 Aug

IT Outsourcing Toronto, network support Toronto

A phishing e-mail is an e-mail sent by a hacker designed to fool the recipient into downloading a virus, giving up their credit card number, personal information (like a social security number), or account or login information to a particular web site. Often these e-mails are well designed to look exactly like an official notification from the site they are trying to emulate. For example, a recent phishing e-mail was circulated that appeared to come from Facebook stating that videos or photos of Osama Bin Laden’s death were posted online. These e-mails looked … [Read more...]

Filed Under: E-Mail, Phishing, Security, TAG Blog

Even Your Most Loyal Employees Could Be Your Company’s Biggest Security Risk!

19 Aug

If you’re like most technology-reliant businesses, you’ve spend a great deal of time and money making sure that you have a good firewall, your servers are secured, controlling who logs onto your network and what they have access to. While all of these activities are a vital component in a secure network, very often the workstations (desktops / laptops) are least secured in the entire network and poses the greatest amount of risk because of users trying to get their work done as quickly as possible and don’t understand the security implications of their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Laptops, Maintenance, Security, TAG Blog

7 Simple Ways To Keep Your iPad Secure

12 Aug

IT services Toronto, technical support Toronto

1. Don’t leave it lying around. Although this is common sense, you’ve probably violated this rule more than once. iPads are easy targets for thieves, so don’t let it out of your sight when in a public place – and don’t leave it in plain view in your car or you might end up with a broken window in addition to a stolen iPad. 2. Use a passcode. Although it’s not 100% hacker-proof, it will block unauthorized users from accessing your information. 3. Consider enabling automatic data erasing. You can configure your iPad to erase your data after … [Read more...]

Filed Under: iPad, Security, TAG Blog

How Would You Like To Have This Corporate Embarrassment On Your Record?

6 Jul

Back in April, the largest known e-mail security breach took place when Epsilon, an online marketing corporation, had their clients’ lists of e-mail addresses stolen by cyber thieves. Epsilon was in charge of maintaining the e-mail databases and campaigns of some of the largest corporations in the country, including 1-800 Flowers, Best Buy, Walgreens, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, and more. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’ve received “apology” e-mails from one or two vendors. While some said the breach didn't cause a whole lot of damage, we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Security, TAG Blog