Ransomware - Another Good Reason To Backup.
Ransomware, the newest and most dangerous form of Malware, is more than a potential source of identify theft or an inconvenience slowing down your computer and driving you nuts with pop-up ads. Now they actually encrypt your data and demand you pay them to decrypt it and give it back to you. On top of that, since they've had access to your data, your identity is also in danger.
One of the latest cyber-hostage takings took place at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, where employees were reduced to using manual paper forms and FAX machines, while many patients were redirected to hospitals over an hour away for treatment. The Ransomware authors demanded $3.6 million in Bitcoin for the data held hostage. Of course, on top of the insult of having to pay the money, there's no guarantee the hostage takers will actually deliver the goods!
There are many ways to backup your data, ranging from built-in utilities to third-party software, and backup services providers like Carbonite and Mozy.
More recent versions of Windows allow you to set up a backup process by clicking on Start->Control Panel->Security->Backup. The software will walk you through the backup process. A large USB memory stick or larger external drive to store the data on will work for you, depending upon how much data you have. In a pinch, you can even backup to your DVR/CD drive.
As always, feel free to contact ACS should you require professional consulting services to assist you in implementing a backup process.
Windows 10 Tweaks For Your Privacy
Microsoft has been long known to release their Windows products with a multitude of security holes, and Windows 10 is no different. Like many of the security holes of the past, many are intentional and can be disabled! I have yet to figure out why, from a liability standpoint, a company with such deep pockets continues to put their users at risk and get away with it.
Nonetheless, if you've decided to run Windows 10 then you may want to address the several security issues we know about at this point, which range from minor to downright scary.
Windows Sense
This is one of those features that, even if you think is a great innovation, you'd think would be turned off by default. Windows Sense is a WiFi sharing feature, recommending open hotspots and potentially sharing your secured wireless network information over Facebook.
Web Design Services
Advanced Computer Systems can be your one-stop shop for web site design and hosting. We can provide "static" web sites, much like an online billboard, or more elaborate sites with interactive services, online customer support services, remote access for employees, and support for regular updates to the site by your own employees.
Naturally, this web site was produced by Advanced Computer Systems. Here are some examples of our work, so feel free to take a look at a plastics recycling site, this political activist website, an amateur radio operator website, an electrical contracting company website, an interactive weather website, an extension of the weather website that allows people to sign up for weather alerts, a club website, and this metal recycling website (a little different).
As you can see from these examples, we can produce relatively simple "basic" sites or more elaborate database driven sites, depending upon your needs.
About ACS
Advanced Computer Systems is a 30+ year young small business support company, started by Brian Keahl, specializing in telephone, computer. networking, implementation, and technical support, including data recovery and virus protection/removal; We also offer custom software, database, and web development services. We'll be glad to help you design and implement your small business computer systems, support them, and even develop custom solutions where needed.
We've developed custom software for manufacturing, barcode/RFID based asset tracking systems, custom web applications for real estate, online payment/contributions, and event registration (such as conventions). We've set up offices from one person to twenty-five and production plants with as few as twenty and as many as two hundred employees.
What we want to do now is help you make computers a useful tool for your business! So feel free to contact us by phone or online and we'll be glad to arrange a meeting to discuss the future of your business or work to solve your current technical issues.
Cloud Recycling Software Announced
ACS announces the release of our cloud-based recycling application. The software was written primarily for the needs of the metal recycling industry, but functions well for other industries as well. The software eliminates much of the paperwork and record-keeping headaches by storing the information electronically for easy recall.
For industries that require keeping a copy of the driver license or a picture of the peddler, the software allows scanning of the peddler's ID into the system. Once in the system the information can be recalled the next time the person comes in, as long as they haven't renewed their ID/Driver's License. A friendly name search feature makes recalling a repeat peddler quick and efficient.
Pictures of the material can be taken with a webcam or cell phone / camera and uploaded for permanent storage on the server, tied to the individual transactions. Instant recall of an individual and all transactions is built into the system as well, for easy compliance reporting.