ShredDisk Onsite Hard Drive Shredding demonstrates The Shredder for @BigJonEvans – @ShredDisk

Our friend Jon Evans (@BigJonEvans) from www.4head4rent.com spent some time with another of our great friends and business partners, Brent Amyette with ShredDisk Onsite Hard Drive Shredding (@ShredDisk) yesterday…

In their live web stream, they discussed the benefits of using ShredDisk Onsite Hard Drive Shredding, and how traditional means of erasing a hard drive before donating the computer and drive to charity or even selling it are ineffective in protecting your data. The only 100% effective way to protect your data is to destroy the drive!

ShredDisk does just that by pulverizing the drive into “data confetti” and providing you with a certificate of destruction if required. ShredDisk will do this at YOUR location so the drive/s never leave your sight.

It doesn’t matter if you have a Microsoft Windows machine, Windows Server, Mac OSX, Linux or any other hard drive! ShredDisk even destroys mobile phones, smart phones, drives from multi-function machines such as copiers, flash media, and entire notebook computers!

Here’s a demonstration of The Shredder in action:

 

Homeland Secure IT is proud to partner with ShredDisk to offer their data destruction services for our computer service clients in the Greenville and Upstate SC area…  Call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.

For those interested,  @BigJonEvans rents his body out (okay, just his forehead) for advertising purposes… Check out his website or follow him on Twitter or Facebook (John Evans).

 

 

BlackHole RAT malware especially for you Mac OS X owners

A computer security post on TGDaily.com entitled, “BlackHole RAT Trojan targets Mac OS X” discusses Mac’s very own variant of a Microsoft Windows Remote Access Tool (RAT) called darkComet.

The Mac version is known as “BlackHole RAT” and it is not quite ready for prime time, though it seems to offer a great stepping stone to be used to target the Mac OSX platform. While most Mac owners still believe they are impervious to exploits, blog articles and service requests tend to prove otherwise. The Mac has mainly been an unattractive target to the authors of malware because the rewards for their efforts would be low.

This is basically “security through obscurity” which certainly can work, but Mac sales have been increasing slowly, making the operating system a little more visible on the black hat radar.

Those of you reading this blog probably feel I am beating a dead horse, but now is the time for you Mac owners to get anti-virus on your systems. It actually may be too late, since the Mac is such a great multitasking system, you may be infected, and not even know it. Another thing to seriously consider is backup!

We recommend Trend Micro for your Mac, and offer it for sale. We can also help with Greenville / Upstate SC Mac virus removal and cleanup, as well as Servosity Online Backup for your Mac. Please call 864.990.4748 for more information, or email info@homelandsecureit.com

Why do you need Microsoft Windows 7 SP1?

I am hearing that many people are opting to not install Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 which was released back in February 22, 2011.

The reasoning is that it is a large download (750MB or 1GB depending on whether you need 32bit or 64bit versions), a long install process, and there are no enhanced features.

So what does the Service Pack provide? A compilation of security patches and non-security related fixes which have already been addressed and released via Windows Update. So basically, if you have kept up to date with updates as they have been released, SP1 is not going to give you additional security.

SP1 would certainly be handy for those installing a new version of the operating system, especially computer repair and computer service techs who generally have to install a slew of updates after a fresh install. With the release of SP1, a fresh install, followed by SP1 and a few other patches, brings the computer fully up to date. The SP1 install can be downloaded and stored on a DVD for later install, or optionally it could be slip streamed into a full install for computer techs who do LOTS of installs of the OS.

There are two enhancements that are included in the Service Pack, and that is an updated Remote Desktop client that functions with RemoteFX, a new technology that is included in the Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, released in concert with Windows 7 SP1… Dynamic Memory was also implemented into the Service Pack, which allows virtual machine memory to be adjusted in real-time.

If you would like more information about Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, or if you require computer service or repair for your Microsoft Windows based workstation or server, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com – We are your Greenville / Upstate Microsoft Small Business Specialists!

Homeland Secure IT is now your Greenville / Upstate LG-Ericsson Elite Partner!

LG LIP 8050V IP Phone

LG-Ericsson LIP-8050V IP Phone

Homeland Secure IT, LLC has become an LG-Ericsson Elite Partner in order to provide Greenville & the Upstate the entire line of data and telephony products that the manufacturer has to offer!

LG-Ericsson’s product lineup include their Hybrid VoIP phone systems, IP phones, switching technology from unmanaged to managed and stackable, routers, wireless routers and other data products.

These are perfectly suited to our primary clients, the Small & Medium Business market!

More information will be forthcoming as our relationship develops further…  If you would like more information about the LG-Ericsson product line, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

Secure IT Alert: Microsoft Security Bulletin Re-Releases & AutoRun Advisory

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Homeland Secure IT Alert

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Thursday, February 23, 2011

Microsoft has released Security Advisory 967940, titled “Update for Windows Autorun”, and it covers an issue that has long plagued Microsoft Windows Operating Systems. When you insert a USB flash drive, or USB hard drive, Windows has attempted to treat them like CD/DVD material and perform an autorun on it. While most IT professionals and tech savvy individuals have disabled that feature, and anti-virus developers such as Trend Micro have provided an option to disable that function, as gaping hole has been there for everyone else.

How has it affected people? Many ways, from a person inserting their USB flash drive from home into a business computer and the autorun functionality automatically installing the malware that was on the home system directly onto a network computer, creating a huge network security issue, down to malicious people dropping a flash drive containing malicious software on it in the parking lot of a large company they wanted access to. This resulted in workers at said company picking up the flash drive and inserting it into a computer on the corporate network in an attempt to see what was on it or find the owner to return it, and unknowingly permit software that would allow remote access to the network.

So, finally, after years of this, Microsoft has addressed it!

Microsoft has also published MS10-077, a revision to a bulletin posted in 2010 for a change to the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 update package. And MS10-070, which is yet another revision to .NET Framework 4.0. These are labeled “Critical” and “Important”, respectively.

Keep your systems up to date, and be sure you have current anti-virus… We recommend and sell Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security and Titanium. In Greenville / Upstate, SC please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information…

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Homeland Secure IT Alert

Xperience Greenville is right around the corner #XperienceGreenville #greenville

Put this date on your calendar now: March 18, 2011 @ 7pm

You don’t want to be anywhere other than downtown Greenville at that time. This is the one year anniversary of Google On Main, (#GoogleOnMain / #WeAreFeelingLucky)  which made national news, and it is being organized by the same people who arranged that incredible event which changed Greenville forever!

How do you get involved? First, visit this website http://www.xperiencegreenville.org/

You need to reserve your spot, which costs a few bucks, but guarantees you will get the materials you need, such as an LED glowstick and 3D glasses.

Please tell your friends and follow the action on Twitter and when you post about it, include the #XperienceGVL hashtag.

This is a family friendly event. Though it sounds like a rave, the environment will be safe and secure!

See you there!!!!!!!!!!

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Happy Birthday Pamela Hoyt! @pamelahoyt @bigjonevans #youbrandme #4head4rent #greenville

Big Jon EvansSo it’s your wife’s birthday… What in the world do you get the woman who apparently has everything? I mean seriously, she does. She’s got great kids, a super-duper husband, outstanding wardrobe, jewelry, etc…

Hard to top all that, but I think I may have done it!  I got her a Big Jon Evans!!!!!   (@BigJonEvans on Twitter)

Okay, I didn’t purchase him, I rented him, for the day.

Jon Evans has an uber cool way of making your name known the world over, and that is through his http://www.4head4rent.com/ website which allows you to rent his forehead. He will then wear your logo around, do a live video stream with you and post a video online. Some of you may remember that I used him for Homeland Secure IT a while back.

Today, Jon Evans is known as “McAbee’s Custom Carpets”, so keep your eyes open, he’s kinda hard to miss! McAbee’s Custom Carpets is my wife’s family business, run by her and her two sisters. They have been around for years and can help you in and around the Greenville area with all your rug and carpet floor covering needs!  www.McAbeesCarpet.com for more info on that.

Happy birthday to my sweet wifey, Pamela!

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Begin using IPv6 whether your ISP is ready for it or not by using a “Tunnel Broker”

So now that we are reaching the end of the IPv4 addresses, what’s next?

You don’t have to sit back and wait for your ISP to provide you with IPv6, you can play with IPv6 today using a “Tunnel Broker”.

How does that work? Hurricane Electric is one example of a tunnel broker who allows you to use IPv6 via tunneling through the traditional IPv4 network from an IPv6 configured host or router to one of the Hurricane Electric IPv6 tunnel routers.

What do you need? A IPv6 capable router/firewall or IPv6 capable host. That’s it.

What if your router doesn’t support IPv6? It may be flashable to run one of the Open Source offerings such as OpenWRT or DD-WRT , or you could invest less than 100 dollars and purchase a compatible device.

You’ve got the hardware, now what? Go to the Hurricane Electric site or another Tunnel Broker, create your tunnel and you should be able to get it going in a short period of time.

Next point some hosts from your domain to your new IPv6 IPs and give it a try!  Now you’re ready for World IPv6 day!

While this is fun and gives you an opportunity to work with the “new” technology, I would not recommend this as your long term solution, nor would I recommend it for a corporate or even business network solution.

If you have a Greenville / Upstate business that you need to prepare for an IPv6 deployment, please contact us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com – We can help pave the way to a smooth transition.

Secure IT Alert: Potential Microsoft Windows SMB vulnerability discovered

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Homeland Secure IT Alert

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Thursday, February 17, 2011

I’m posting this verbatim from the WatchGuard security blog…

Yesterday, a gray hat going by the alias Cupidon-3005 posted details about a zero day Windows SMB vulnerability that could potentially allow attackers to gain control of fully patched Windows Server 2003 and XP computers. Microsoft is currently investigating this surprise release, but hasn’t had time to post an early Security Advisory about the issue yet, let alone deliver a patch.

Specifically, the vulnerability involves a buffer overflow flaw within the SMB component’s mrxsmb.sys file. By sending a specially crafted browser election request packet containing an overly long server name, an attacker could exploit this flaw to either crash your computer, or execute code on it, potentially gaining complete control of your PC.

Since Microsoft just learned of this flaw on the 15th, they haven’t had time to release a patch yet. However, your WatchGuard firewall can help. By default, our appliances block SMB and broadcast traffic (the exploit leverages broadcast requests), which prevents Internet-based attackers from leveraging this flaw against you (assuming you haven’t opened SMB ports, which you should never do). That said, worms quite regularly rely on SMB vulnerabilities to help them automatically spread within networks, once they infect the first victim. So in general, I consider SMB vulnerabilities high risk. I’ll continue to monitor Microsoft’s investigation into this flaw, and will post updates when they release any workaround or patch. Corey Nachreiner, CISSP

Homeland Secure IT is a Greenville / Upstate SC reseller and partner with WatchGuard – If you would like more information about their security appliances, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com

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Homeland Secure IT Alert

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Microsoft Office alternatives OpenOffice.org & LibreOffice battle it out in a steel cage

Posted today on InfoWorld is an interesting article about two competitors to Microsoft Office. (See “Open office dilemma: OpenOffice.org vs. LibreOffice“)

While you have probably heard of OpenOffice.org, or the previous incarnation of it (StarOffice), a new alternative open source office suite is called LibraOffice, and it is being brought to you by the developers OpenOffice.org. Confused? Well, it’s that same old story… People work for a big company (Oracle) and this big company starts doing something they don’t dig, so they jump ship and start their own project. Tah-Dah! LibreOffice is born.

Are either OpenOffice or LibreOffice good candidates to eliminate your dependency on Microsoft Office?

In a nutshell, if your company requires absolute compatibility with all Microsoft Office documents, and you require a standardized interface that new people can come to your business use without any type of learning curve, then you already know what I am going to say. Stick with Microsoft Office!

If you run a small operation, or even a home office, then maybe one of these two offerings can work for you. They do offer the important features of Microsoft Office, such as word processing and spreadsheets, there are versions available for your Microsoft Windows systems, Apple Mac OSX, Linux, etc. And the price is outstanding…  Maybe if they don’t offer EVERY feature you need, then you could make the sacrifice.

InfoWorld’s article compares the two offerings and may give you some insight to help you determine if either of them are right for you. Of course, you can always download them both and try them for yourself if you have time to do that.

Should your Greenville / Upstate, SC business require Microsoft Office, we can help you with that! We can sell a single license or hundreds! Call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com