Coming this October 11th – Microsoft brings you patchy goodness!

Microsoft is bringing you patchy goodness this coming “Patch Tuesday”, October 11th.

Please update your machines to insure your network is secure. There is a little something for everyone!  Desktops and servers will receive Microsoft’s love.

This is from the Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for October 2011:

 

Critical Security Bulletins

============================

 

Bulletin 1

 

– Affected Software:

– Windows XP Service Pack 3

– Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems

– Windows Vista Service Pack 2

– Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)

– Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)

– Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2

– Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems and

Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1

– Windows 7 for x64-based Systems and

Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1

– Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems and

Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1

(Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core installation affected)

– Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems and

Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems

Service Pack 1

– Microsoft Silverlight 4

– Impact: Remote Code Execution

– Version Number: 1.0

 

Bulletin 2

 

– Affected Software:

– Windows XP Service Pack 3:

– Internet Explorer 6

– Internet Explorer 7

– Internet Explorer 8

– Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2:

– Internet Explorer 6

– Internet Explorer 7

– Internet Explorer 8

– Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2:

– Internet Explorer 6

– Internet Explorer 7

– Internet Explorer 8

– Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2:

– Internet Explorer 6

– Internet Explorer 7

– Internet Explorer 8

– Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems:

– Internet Explorer 6

– Internet Explorer 7

– Windows Vista Service Pack 2:

– Internet Explorer 7

– Internet Explorer 8

– Internet Explorer 9

– Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2:

– Internet Explorer 7

– Internet Explorer 8

– Internet Explorer 9

– Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2:

– Internet Explorer 7

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)

– Internet Explorer 8

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)

– Internet Explorer 9

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)

– Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2:

– Internet Explorer 7

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)

– Internet Explorer 8

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)

– Internet Explorer 9

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation not affected)

– Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2:

– Internet Explorer 7

– Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems and

Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1:

– Internet Explorer 8

– Internet Explorer 9

– Windows 7 for x64-based Systems and

Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1:

– Internet Explorer 8

– Internet Explorer 9

– Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems and

Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1:

– Internet Explorer 8

(Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core installation

not affected)

– Internet Explorer 9

(Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core installation

not affected)

– Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems and

Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems

Service Pack 1:

– Internet Explorer 8

– Impact: Remote Code Execution

– Version Number: 1.0

 

 

Important Security Bulletins

============================

 

Bulletin 3

 

– Affected Software:

– Windows XP Service Pack 3

– Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems

– Windows Vista Service Pack 2

– Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation affected)

– Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation affected)

– Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2

– Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems and

Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1

– Windows 7 for x64-based Systems and

Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1

– Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems and

Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1

(Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core installation affected)

– Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems and

Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems

Service Pack 1

– Impact: Remote Code Execution

– Version Number: 1.0

 

Bulletin 4

 

– Affected Software:

– Windows Vista Service Pack 2

– Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems and

Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1

– Windows 7 for x64-based Systems and

Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1

– Impact: Remote Code Execution

– Version Number: 1.0

 

Bulletin 5

 

– Affected Software:

– Windows XP Service Pack 3

– Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems

– Windows Vista Service Pack 2

– Windows Vista x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2008 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 2

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation affected)

– Windows Server 2008 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 2

(Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation affected)

– Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based Systems Service Pack 2

– Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems and

Windows 7 for 32-bit Systems Service Pack 1

– Windows 7 for x64-based Systems and

Windows 7 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1

– Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems and

Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems Service Pack 1

(Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core installation affected)

– Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems and

Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium-based Systems

Service Pack 1

– Impact: Remote Code Execution

– Version Number: 1.0

 

Bulletin 6

 

– Affected Software:

– Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010

– Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 Update 1

– Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010 Update 2

– Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010

Service Pack 1

– Impact: Remote Code Execution

– Version Number: 1.0

 

Bulletin 7

 

– Affected Software:

– Windows XP Service Pack 3

– Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition Service Pack 2

– Windows Server 2003 with SP2 for Itanium-based Systems

– Impact: Elevation of Privilege

– Version Number: 1.0

 

Bulletin 8

 

– Affected Software:

– Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004 Service Pack 1

– Microsoft Host Integration Server 2006 Service Pack 1

– Microsoft Host Integration Server 2009

– Microsoft Host Integration Server 2010

– Impact: Denial of Service

– Version Number: 1.0

 

If you require assistance with these or any other Microsoft related security updates, please contact us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com – We provide service and support for Microsoft products throughout the Upstate of South Carolina!

Seven must-have technologies for your small business

One conversation new or potential business owners may want to have with their IT professionals is about what technologies exist that can improve their life. Below you will find some that are must haves…

Apple iPhone

Smartphones: Whether it is an Android, iPhone or even a Windows based phone, you cannot survive without one. These devices provide instant communication with your clients through email, text message and phone, along with the ability to browse the web and select from tens of thousands of applications to assist in your business. Your clients will not wait for you to get to your office to respond to an email. Even a quick, “I’m driving, will respond as soon as it is safe” auto-response is better than no response. The cost of a typical phone can range from 100 to 300 dollars per phone depending on features and term of contract from the carrier of your choice.

Square Credit Card Reader

Credit Card Processing: If you expect to get paid, then you need to accept every form of payment possible, including plastic. Yes, you will lose a little bit on the sale, but you will gain an instant payment. If you are just getting started, without purchasing a machine or paying a monthly charge, you can accept credit cards anywhere you have a cell signal using the Square credit card application with your smart phone and the free reader device that they provide to you. No per-swipe fee, and less than 3.0% charge. Fast, secure, and in your account the next business day. Find it in your phones’s marketplace.

Reliable & Fast Internet: There are a lot of choices these days for fast internet, from DSL to cable to fiber, and the old tried and true T1 standard, but some businesses may find that a wireless broadband internet plan may be enough for them. We recommend Charter Business in most situations, but that varies depending upon what is available at the business location. One advantage to using a cellular based broadband internet connection is that you can take it with you, which is great for businesses that are not tied to one specific location. Typical 4G plans will provide over 5 meg down and up to 2 meg up. Verizon Wireless offers the MiFi devices for around 50 dollars with 5GB plans for 50 dollars per month.

IP Surveillance Cameras

IP surveillance: Sure it sounds like the CIA, but IP security cameras at your business will decrease loss of inventory, increase productivity, and may provide an insurance savings. You can even keep tabs on your employees using a smartphone or any web browser to view these camera. Recordings can be reviewed after events occur, and most systems can email you when there is movement in a particular location. Prices range from $150 for a single entry level camera into the $2000 range to cover an entire business. You can install yourself, or get an IT provider to handle this for you for the most professional results.

Email: This is a no-brainer, but many small businesses will cut corners here. A Hotmail account will work for sure, but who wants AcmeWidgetCo@hotmail.com on their business cards. At the very least, your business should use a service that allows for linking a domain to your mail, such as Google Apps (Gmail) or Microsoft Office 365. This gives you a professional appearance, and provides for important features such as linking of your smartphones, sharing of calendars between users and so much more. Microsoft Office 365 costs about 5 dollars per person per month and gives you up to 20GB of storage.

Anti-Virus & Security: Far too often this is overlooked, or taken for granted. A business that is vulnerable to viruses or malware is a business that could experience costly downtime and repairs, not to mention, open yourself up for compliance violations and potential fines or legal issues depending upon the field you are in. The components of a secure network are as simple as a quality firewall like those offered from Cisco, Watchguard or SonicWall, an anti-virus software package from Trend Micro or Symantec, and taking the time to apply updates to the Operating System (Windows, Mac, etc) and support software (Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, JAVA).

Backup: When disaster strikes, you need to be prepared for it. Having backups of your important files will insure you are not out of business when a computer or server fails. Backups technology can be as simple as an external USB drive or remote backup solution, or on the other end of the spectrum, as complicated as auto-loader tape drives. One thing is for sure, ANY attempt to backup your data is better than none. For automated cloud backup solutions, consider Servosity or Mozy Pro.

Here at Homeland Secure IT, we utilize a vast array of technology and we also help many small and medium businesses and even home offices stay up to date. If we can help you with decisions regarding your Greenville or Upstate technology infrastructure, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We offer sales, service, repair and consultation of everything from computers to VoIP.

What is your “must have” business technology? I would love to hear about it.  VoIP phone systems? iPad, Android or Windows based tablet computers? A favorite app (We love TiKL & Waze)?

My Pleasure! The lost art of providing customer service…

Happy Customers are Good Customers!

Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation.

The quality and level of customer service has decreased in recent years and this has been driven home for me in the last few weeks causing me to reflect on my own personal definition of customer service.  A couple of weeks ago, I helped a customer at McAbee’s Custom Carpet as he was picking up a piece of carpet he ordered a few days prior.  This nice gentleman felt the need to tell me how Customer Service in our country was a dying trait and he was so glad to find a small entrepreneurial company that once again cared about providing customer service.  Really?  I guess I’ve taken this for granted… great service is what my father founded this business on nearly 50 years ago.

Just today I was met with having to deal with a local vendor that had managed to get me to the point of being very upset and disgusted with their lack of customer service… or even response.  The ability to provide a high level of service requires both obligation and responsibility as I see it and somewhere between the two lays a level of comfort.  It’s not a matter of control or money but rather a need to see through the problem to the pain trigger and address it head-on.

So many service providers these days are working for a large Corporation, whether larger than our Upstate SC business area or even Worldwide businesses and they are losing their hold on great customer service.  If you even get to speak with an actual person, they tend to hide behind someone else in their pyramid of business (be it supervisor or manager) and they lack the ability to accept responsibility for wrong doing or making a situation better.  They tend to pass-the-buck as we have all experienced and this tactic must be an attempt to where the customer down to the point that they no longer even care to pursue their point of concern.  It just serves to enrage me!

Where does this leave us – the consumer?  What leverage do we have when a product or contract of service goes astray?  Does anybody really care?  I think we are just beginning to see a change in customer service in our society.  Take the banking industry for example:  Bank of America announces that they will begin charging their customers to use their own debit cards.  They must have known this would cause BoA customers to go elsewhere.  Was it worth risking?  I say bravo to the customers that find another bank with better customer service.  When did it become customary to raise your profit margin by charging additional fees to your already existing customers?

As an entrepreneur with Homeland Secure IT, I’ve followed my own father’s footsteps in starting a business with my husband.  My Dad instilled two business traits in my mind:  quality and service and the two go hand in hand.  I remember hearing him say, “When business becomes so large that you no longer care about one or the other, quality or service, you might as well give up and lock the door.”  I’ve watched both Homeland Secure IT and McAbee’s Custom Carpet go to extremes to make certain that a customer is happy, even if it means losing money in the end.  There is so much more than the dollar amount to a business venture, there’s reputation of service that will keep customers coming back again and again.  If employees of large companies feel no obligation to the satisfaction of their product or service, what do they care if they see a customer walk in the door again?  The only leverage I can find at times is the threat of internet reviews for a business and we need to take this more seriously.  I know John and I are constantly looking to reviews on Yelp, Yahoo, Google, and other forums to see just what other consumers have experienced before we decide to invest in a business.  Perhaps the time has come where we do not have to feel like an unheard voice among so many, your opinion matters!

The businesses I’m invested in will continue to provide top-notch service to our customers.  I am a firm believer in my father’s theory, why would we continue to grow a business if we are not giving our community reason to support us?

Pamela Hoyt – Homeland Secure IT / McAbee’s Custom Carpet

@PamelaHoyt   –   http://www.facebook.com/PamelaMHoyt

HTC logging tools may expose your EVO 3D, 4G or Thunderbolt Android smartphone information

An interesting article was pointed out to me over on the AndroidPolice.com site that says, “Massive Security Vulnerability In HTC Android Devices (EVO 3D, 4G, Thunderbolt, Others) Exposes Phone Numbers, GPS, SMS, Emails, Address, Much More“…

This article pretty much says it all…

There is even a work-around, but not an official fix for the security vulnerability from HTC as of this date.

The authors of the above article also state that you should be careful as to which apps you load, as you never know which one could actually exploit the vulnerability and expose your information to the world.

 

 

Secure IT Alert: Microsoft Security Essentials & Forefront classifying Google Chrome browser as malware

Secure IT Alert Header

Homeland Secure IT Alert

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Friday, September 30, 2011

An update to Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection was causing grief for many users today as it incorrectly flagged the Google Chrome browser as malware.

The typical behavior was for an alert to be displayed stating that “PWS:Win32/Zbot” was found and that it needs to be removed. What is really removed is the Chrome.exe, so you are left without your favorite browser.

Attempts to reinstall Chrome fail with additional warnings.

Microsoft has stated that a faulty virus definition update was the cause. and by 10AM Pacific time, an additional update was released to correct that behavior.

If this has happened to you, a manual update of the MSE or FEP should fix you up! Of course, you will still have to reinstall Google Chrome.

Homeland Secure IT Alert Footer

Homeland Secure IT Alert

 

Something has crashed on my computer and my mouse seems to be missing…

Purrrrrrr

Purrrrrrr

“Sorry, I can’t respond to my emails today as something has crashed on my computer, and my mouse seems to be missing…”

This cracks me up every time I see it.   It’s from over on icanhascheezburger.com I believe, but was posted to someone’s facebook timeline today and made me smile all over again.

BTW: If you call us up to perform computer repair on this issue, I think my response would be, “I’m sorry, I can’t find anything wrong with it, it seems to be working purrrrrrfectly.”

Muahaha

 

IronKey D200 32GB USB storage devices offer high speed transfer and auditable encryption

IronKey D200 32GB USB secure device

IronKey D200 32GB USB secure device

I’m often asked which is the best USB flash drive you can buy. My answer varies with the requirements of the individual or business that will utilize the device.

The average person requires a fast and reliable storage device to shuttle files to/from work or school, and does not require security features at all, but for those who do require encryption, there are a number of options available.

One manufacturer stands out from the crowd and that is IronKey and their line of flash drives from “Basic” to “Enterprise”, touted as “The world’s most secure flash drive”.

IronKey has recently released the D200 32GB “Personal” flash drive which you can read more about on their website.

This is an excerpt:  Your identity and personal data are too valuable to risk. IronKey Personal keeps you protected with military-grade encryption and easy-to-use identity management. The result of extensive R&D and the collaboration of some of the world’s leading experts in cryptography and the Internet, IronKey is the world’s most secure flash drive. IronKey Personal comes loaded with a secure private browser that lets you surf anonymously and protects your passwords whenever you go online. IronKey Personal simplifies your digital lifestyle while giving you added peace of mind.

IronKey secure 32GB USB devices provide higher speeds, managed and auditable encryption required to prevent data breaches with always-on encryption and achieve a safe harbor for compliance.

Who needs 32GB devices?

Uses for higher capacity drives include…

  • Government: Military personnel needing to transport sensitive documentation.
  • IT Department: Transporting patches, operating systems, applications and large files.
  • Executives: Carrying company sensitive data including M&A, financials, strategy, and organizational data.
  • Entertainment Industry: Digital Rights Management – studios can control the number of times trailers are viewed.
  • Other Examples: High volume sensitive information that requires encryption outside a network include CAD files, Medical Imaging files, Financial, Legal and Mortgage Documents.
If you would like more information about the IronKey product line, would like to purchase one or a thousand, or have general storage questions, please do not hesitate to call upon us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

 

mysql.com website hacked and used to serve malware to visitors

In what is becoming way too common, the popular site, mysql.com was exploited, and used to distribute malware by redirecting visitors to another site this week.

Anyone browsing to mysql.com yesterday would have been redirected, and without even being prompted, then likely been exploited themselves by the software running on the rogue website which apparently looked for vulnerable browser plugins to use for an injection point.

Trend Micro’s smart web filtering may have caught this and stopped it, but one thing is for sure… Doing everything you can to protect yourself from this type of exploit is more important than ever.

You should always insure you are running up-to-date and mainstream/quality anti-virus software (Such as Trend Micro), and also keep your operating system (whether Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X or even linux), browser, and all support software such as Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Reader and JAVA, as well as Microsoft Office fully updated!

Another thing you should consider is backups! With the cost of USB hard drives at an all time low, and online backup (Like our Servosity offering) being an easy install, configuration and affordable, there is no excuse to not have backups.

Should you need assistance in the Greenville / Upstate SC area determining what you or your business needs, please contact us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We provide sales of Trend Micro, Symantect & McAfee anti-virus protection, virus cleanup & removal, and can handle your computer service & computer repair tasks!

 

Cisco OnPlus service available now to small & medium businesses

Cisco OnPlus

Large businesses have full-time IT staff or fully outsourced IT support that provide monitoring of their infrastructure and keep them up to date and now small & medium (SMB) businesses can have the same level of support when it comes to devices on their network.

Cisco OnPlus works by allowing Homeland Secure IT or your Cisco SMB service provider to place a Cisco OnPlus Network Agent at your location and configure it for reporting.  The Cisco SMB specialist will be able to monitor your site from remote on a variety of devices, from handheld to tablets, to desktops and take action when needed.

OnPlus is the latest tool in the Managed Service Provider’s arsenal. Using it, Cisco products can be backed up, restored and fully managed remotely. Other devices are supported as well!

As always with Cisco, security is the name of the game and OnPlus provides a secure environment for your IT service provider to manage your network. Your data is safe from prying eyes, only the devices themselves can be managed and use of this system does not permit access to data outside of configuration and management.

If you would like your business to have monitoring, alerting, reporting and managing capabilities, then ask your Cisco SMB provider about this exciting offering. No need to wait for a service or repair technician to visit your location, management is handled in real-time, remotely! This service is one of the most affordable methods for managing your firewalls and security appliances, IP surveillance systems, switches, routers, VoIP phone systems and more.

Homeland Secure IT provides Cisco SMB sales and support in the Greenville & Upstate SC area. Call us today at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com.

 

Want to buy a computer for half off or more?

Whoa, I bet you clicked on the link to come here because you thought Homeland was having some awesome sale??? EVERY DAY is an awesome sale when you compare our prices to the prices in the following post:

http://www.iheartchaos.com/post/10489506835/best-buy-ads-from-1996-look-like-they-might-as-well

 

 

You likely buying your computers at half the cost of those listed in the ad.

Remember when RAM was that expensive? What about CRTs, or whole computer systems? It’s been ages since we sold a notebook with the same price tag on it as in the Best Buy ad from 1996.

Have a great weekend, and be glad you don’t have to put one of those big flip phones up to your head still!