Conspiracy theory – Anti-Virus companies are the ones releasing viruses

I bet at some point, you thought to yourself, “The same companies that provide anti-virus programs are also the people who write viruses.” The logic behind that is, if Symantec releases viruses, then people need anti-virus software, right? If I had a quarter for every time I had heard that, I would easily have enough for a steak dinner! I don’t …

‘Twas the night before Christmas – Old school computer version

I first read this story on a University of Arkansas computer system sometime before 1985 and promptly typed it up and put it on my BBS (Non-Prophet BBS) for people to read. I have sent it in email, and “snail mail” for the last 25 years or so…  I still get a kick out of it.   If anyone knows the …

Secure IT Alert: Merry Christmas! Microsoft has a package for you!

Microsoft didn’t forget you, in fact, they already have your Christmas present, which will be delivered in the form of patches on the infamous “Patch Tuesday”… So, whether you have been naughty or nice… Please update your computers! If you require assistance with managing updates for your personal computer, your server, or your entire business network in the Greenville and …

What does free really cost?

What follows is a guest blog post from our friends at EPC, a company providing data destruction services for your end of life computer equipment. What Does Free Really Cost? You’ve met the “guy with the pick-up truck” that can take your PC in for free. All of us have. But where does your data on that PC “go?” Even …

Trend Micro Internet Security anti-virus giveaway and Black Friday special

Homeland Secure IT wants you to be protected… So much so that we are giving away *FIVE* free 1 year Trend Micro Internet Security packages to random people subscribed to this blog.  We’ll do it on Friday, November 23rd. This product retails at $49.95…. To be eligible, you must be able to pick up the product at our office here …

Secure IT Alert: Multiple updates for Microsoft and Adobe products for November 2012

Microsoft “patch day” for November is upon us like the cool autumn nights…. It looks like the Microsoft has a total of six bulletins with four of those being CRITICAL. In all, 19 vulnerabilities will be corrected and they will affect the .NET Framework, Internet Explorer and Office, in addition to Windows itself. But wait, that’s not all! You also …

Not to beat a dead horse, but even MORE social security numbers likely exposed in SC DOR hacking

The news only gets worse…   This morning, officials in the South Carolina Department of Revenue data breech investigation are saying that the number of tax payer social security numbers that were reaped in the hacking event is much higher than initially thought. They have expanded it to an additional 200,000 SSNs, taking the grand total up to an estimated …

Firewall your business network! Don’t rely on home routers for protection!

This is pet peeve of mine: Business networks should be behind firewalls, not behind home routers! When we visit a client location, we generally find one of the following configurations. Absolutely NO firewall – just the router provided by the ISP A Linksys, TrendNet, Netgear, D-Link wireless router designed for home use An actual firewall such as a Cisco, WatchGuard, SonicWALL, …