5

Apple Mac hardware failures… (hard drive, power supply, video card) Why so high?

Here’s a question for you all… Why is the apparent rate of hardware failure higher with Apple Mac products than with Microsoft Windows based products? Homeland Secure IT’s typical client is a Windows based small or medium business, and a little less than 5% of those businesses and individuals have Apple Mac products that we support as well. A larger …

Secure IT Alert: CERT Issues Security Recommendations to Prevent Cyber Intrusions

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Wednesday, July 21st, 2011 The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team has issued their recommendations for protection against network intrusions.  I have included the entire document below, but the most current version of the document can be found here.  Please keep in mind that these recommendations are not related to any one platform. These are …

Computer theft can be reduced dramatically with simple & inexpensive devices #SRMC

Last week I wrote about hard drive encryption which could protect your data in the event your notebook, desktop or even a server were to be stolen…  Odd that I mentioned one particular organization, Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, which had suffered two computer losses as of the date of that posting, because yesterday found SRMC back in the news with the …

Did you secure your Wi-Fi acess point yet?

Last week I was discussing RIAA letters to people who had supposedly downloaded music illegally and it turned out it was neighbors using their wifi connection. I wonder if anyone was paying attention?  If you did not secure your wireless access point after that, then maybe THIS will encourage you to do so… A dispute with neighbors turned ugly back …

Sensitive data on your computers? Get it encrypted… NOW!

The Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System notebook that was stolen from an employee’s car this year has caused concern for many individuals who’s records were contained on that device. (Story Here) What can you do to protect your data from prying eyes in the event your notebook or even a desktop computer is stolen?  Easy, you can utilize disk or file …

Happy birthday to our son, Brett! #sweet16

I just wanted to give everyone fair warning… If you will be driving in the Easley/Greenville, SC area, please keep your eyes open for a bright yellow Jeep Wrangler…. Our son, Brett, turned 16 today and as so many do, took his driving test and somehow managed to pass it. He said they told him he had a perfect score, …

IP Surveillance System Adoption Destined to Overcome Standard / Analog CCTV in 2012

Acording to the IMS, by 2012 more network cameras will be sold in the Americas than analog cameras… And the growth rate continues to climb dramatically after that…. This should come as no surprise to anyone who is familiar with the two technologies. IP Surveillance Systems offer a multitude of advantages over analog, including return on investment, ease of deployment, …

Secure IT Alert: Windows Critical Updates Address Wireless Bluetooth Attack & More

Homeland Secure IT Alert for Tuesday, July 12, 2011 If you are running any current version of Windows, then Microsoft has something you want, and need. Today’s “Patch Tuesday” brings a correction to a Bluetooth vulnerability that would permit an attacker to gain complete control over your machine. Here’s the rundown from the Watchguard Security Center: Severity: High 12 July, …

Have you received a letter or email from the RIAA? Unsecured access points could cause this…

A friend of our was near tears recently when they received the following email: From: abuse@charter.net <abuse@charter.net> Subject: [xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx] Notice of Copyright Infringement To: user@someaddy.com Date: Saturday, July 22, 2011, 5:51 PM Dear Charter Internet Subscriber: Charter Communications (“Charter”) has been notified by a copyright owner, or its authorized agent, that your Internet account may have been involved in the exchange …

1

Toshiba Thrive Android 10.1″ Tablet – Another iPad stomping device…

If you are one of the many looking for an alternative to the iPad and can’t bring yourself to like Windows based tablets, Toshiba may have the device for you. The Toshiba Thrive 16GB tablet is a brand new product featuring: Android 3.1 Honeycomb (Yes, it has Flash!) 16GB storage, 1GB DDR2 memory 10.1″ Display with 1080p resolution (1280×800) NVidia …