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Relia-Tech’s remote server monitoring
by Andy Sakellarios on 08/26/11
For less than the price of a cup of coffee, we’ll conduct a thorough check each and every morning before you start work. We’ll check:
- Your backup is complete to make sure your data is safe
- Your anti-virus pattern file to make sure your protection is always up-to-scratch
- Your disk space to ensure your system won’t crash and your workers aren’t left unproductive while you recover
- Your Exchange email system to make sure it doesn’t fill up and collapse leaving you floundering till it’s fixed
- Your hard disk and memory health to ensure your system is always in peak operating condition
- Your Critical Event Logs to spot other developing problems that could cause downtime during the day
This service is performed automatically – so it’s guaranteed to happen even if staff are sick or on vacation. If we find problems, we’ll immediately alert an engineer so he can act fast to cut potential downtime. We’ll even send you a short note to confirm the checks carried out and their results.
And all this for less than the cost of a cappuccino!
For more information about this service email Andy at andys@relia-tech.com
Malware...explained.
by Andy Sakellarios on 08/26/11
Malware, which is tech-jargon for malicious software, is menacing software authored by clever programmers to covertly download itself on to your computer through sly Internet means, and then perform secret operations without the owner's informed consent. Usually they will “piggyback” on innocent-looking web page components or web searches and otherwise-benign software such as game demos, MP3 players, search toolbars, free subscriptions, and other things you download from the web.
Malware is a direct cousin to viruses with a broader portfolio of wicked intentions, and includes spyware, dishonest adware, root kits, worms and backdoor Trojan horses to name a few. Once in place, malware may log your keystrokes, steal your passwords, observe your browsing choices, spawn pop-up windows, send you targeted email, hijack your web browser and redirect you to advertising/phishing pages, report your personal information to distant servers, and serve up pornography. One common method disguises itself as a rogue anti-virus or internet security program, which appears to automatically run a scan, and finds infections on your machine in every folder possible. When you attempt to cancel or stop these scans, you either get prompted that you are infected and need their software, or the annoying program returns to “scanning” within minutes. Of course to remove these “infections”, you have to purchase their product; the end result - you losing your money and rendering your computer useless.
Malware can operate invisibly, often without displaying itself in your Task Manager or disabling many of the administrative features that allow you to stop its processes. To top it off, malware usually refuses to be uninstalled through your control panel, is designed to be undetected by legitimate anti-virus software and requires special tools to delete them from your drive.
No PC user is immune to malware due to its stealth properties. There are several steps you can take to prevent malware from being downloaded onto your computer:
- Be aware of how your computer is operating. Unusual activity or sudden slowness can be a red flag for malware
- Set your Internet browser so that you are notified anytime a program attempts to download.
- Don't download software or programs from unknown Web sites. These seemingly innocent programs may contain malware that will install on your computer when the original program is installed.
- Read the fine print when downloading programs. Those user licenses seem boring and repetitive at times, but there can be a wealth of information in them as well, such as giving a company permission to place malware in the form of adware or spyware on your computer.
- If you suspect malware presence, contact Relia-Tech and let the experts free your PC of infection!
AT&T V-Tech Phone systems Certified Reseller
by Andy Sakellarios on 08/26/11-Tech has just been Certified to be an AT&T VTech Synapse, SynJ and Cordless Headset reseller.
Why are we selling telephones you ask? These phones use the same wireing as your network infrastructure and are managed by a web interface over TCP/IP so we are very well suited to do this type of work. It requires TCP/IP network configuration and we've found we are better at doing this type of work than your average phone system company. You could know everything there is to know about a telephone and still have no idea how to setup one of these systems - you need to know how anetwork communicates.
Synapes is good for any size company needing up to 16 phone lines and supports up to 50 extension. The SynJ system will support 4 phone lines and up to 10 extensions. Both systems have voicemail, call forwarding, corded and cordless options.
If you would like more information on these phones, please email me at andys@relia-tech.com
Windows XP: The facts about the future
by Andy Sakellarios on 08/26/11
Microsoft will stop selling Windows XP on October 22, 2010. What does this mean for you? Nothing...if you don't have any proprietary software that won't run on Windows 7. You may have issues if you have older hardware or software that is no longer supported. Those of you who NEED Windows XP can still purchase new PCs but when you get them you'll have to format the drive and install Windows XP from scratch instead of being able to get it pre-installed from the manufacturer.
I personally have been using Windows 7 since December, 2009 and only have had a handful of issues, all of which I was able to correct. I called the manufacturer of that hardware or software and either got a work around or upgraded to a version that worked with Windows 7. Obviously this was not a big problem for me because it was just me, but if you have an office with multiple PCs/laptops that need replacing with multi user software running on a server, the cost could be substantial.
Bottom line - if you must have XP it can be done.
See full detail on the Microsoft site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-xp/end-of-sale.aspx
Automatic Windows Updates
by Andy Sakellarios on 08/26/11
Microsoft works constantly to release updates to Windows and other Microsoft products, including Office. At Microsoft Update, you can find and install all these updates-not just the critical ones. Often, these updates will improve your computer's performance.
You can make life easier by automating Microsoft Update so your computer downloads and installs all the updates without you having to worry about them.
To automate Microsoft Update:
- In your Start menu, click Control Panel.
- In the Automatic Updates dialog box, check the Automatic (Recommended) check box. You can define the time of day when your computer checks for updates. If the computer finds any updates, it will download and install them automatically for you.
- Click OK.
