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Basic IT Troubleshooting Tips for Maryland Businesses

November 21, 2014 by

In a world that’s increasingly dependent on technology and in a global economy that offers no “time-outs” for technical problems, a significant IT problem can cost thousands, even millions, of dollars. That’s why it’s important to entrust your business IT needs to a company with experience and training. But, it also pays to know how to fix small problems yourself. Working Nets, your Maryland business IT provider, is here with a few basic troubleshooting tips to help you easily manage small IT crisis.

Check Those Cables

The vast majority of simple IT or computer problems that Maryland businesses face are related to bad connections. Your average business computer system has a bevy of cables, wires, and plugs, each of which must be appropriately connected for the system to function correctly. An easy IT troubleshooting first step is to make sure everything’s plugged in where it’s supposed to.

Isolate and Identify

The most helpful information when solving an IT problem is knowing where exactly the trouble lies. Do your best to isolate a problem and find out exactly what isn’t working. For example, if your mouse cursor won’t respond, try to figure out if the problem is with your computer or the physical mouse by trying alternate mice, attempting to use the keyboard to navigate, or using the mouse on a different service. Make one change at a time to determine what’s causing the problem. Even if you can’t fix it, this information saves Maryland IT troubleshooting professionals valuable time.

Record, Record, Record

Make sure to write down all the steps you’ve taken trying to fix the problem, writing down as much information as possible. If your computer displays an error message make sure to copy all the information it displays. Knowing what steps you’ve taken and the various error codes displayed will help an IT troubleshooting professional fix the problem speedily.

Need Professional IT Troubleshooting?

Contact Working Nets. Doing all of your IT troubleshooting, management, repair, and maintenance in-house can be expensive and time-consuming. Outsourcing your IT can give you the peace of mind that your business’s IT needs are all taken care of, and allow you to focus on the things that are important for your company. Working Nets is a Maryland based IT Service and Security company that services small businesses nationwide. We’re always on top of emerging cyber security trends and threats so you don’t have to be.

To talk to someone about managed IT for your business, give us a call at (443) 992-7394. We’d be happy to assist you with your professional business networking needs.

You can also visit WorkingNets.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+

Filed Under: Explanations, IT services, IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: , , , ,

Baltimore Tech News: Third Major IT Security Flaw Discovered This Year

October 17, 2014 by

According to the Chinese zodiac were in the year of the Horse, but IT professionals are starting to see it as the year of the bug. With Heartbleed and Shellshock IT security has had a tough enough time keeping up with emerging security threats, but now there’s a new bug on the horizon: Poodle. Working nets is here with the details on this new IT security threat and what you can do to combat it and keep your Baltimore business safe.

So What is Poodle?

Poodle, an acronym which stands for Padding Oracle On Downloaded Legacy Encryption, was discovered, like the Heartbleed and Shellshock vulnerabilities, in a 15 year old technology: SSL 3.0, which stands for Secure Socket Layer 3.0, is a technology that is widely used today to encrypt a user’s browsing session, particularly if they are using a public network or device. The Poodle vulnerability presents the potential for hackers to observe and even hijack a browsing session, taking control of somone’s online banking, email, or social networking accounts. Three IT security researchers at Google announced the discovery of the Poodle vulnerability last month.

How Dangerous Is Poodle?

In response to the announcement the OpenSSL Project,  developers of the most used SSL applications, advised makers of web-browsers to disable support for SSL 3.0. IT security experts seem to agree that Poodle is much less of a threat than Heartbleed or Shellshock, in large part because SSL has been largely superseded by a newer security protocol called TLS. Additionally to pull off an attack the victim must be actively browsing on the same network at the same time as an attacker, giving Poodle a much smaller window of vulnerability.

How Can I Stay Safe?

To be safe, make sure your browser is up to date and not using SSL 3.0. If this is impossible, stay away from using a public network, or network that unfamiliar users can log on to, while conducting secure transactions, managing sensitive emails, or other information that you wouldn’t want others seeing. To make sure your Baltimore company’s sensitive data is being protected, consider outsourcing your IT security to a dedicated professional.

Working Nets

Staying on top of everything can be a hassle, especially if you’re already running your own Baltimore business. Outsourcing your IT can give you peace of mind and allow you to take care of the things that are important for your company.

To talk to someone about managed IT for your small Baltimore business, give us a call at (443) 992-7394. We’d be happy to assist you with your professional business networking needs.

You can also visit WorkingNets.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+

Filed Under: Cyber Security, IT industry, IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: , ,

Going Forward from the eBay Data Breach

May 30, 2014 by

The eBay data breach that we covered last week has left a lot of people worried about their online safety. While we’ve talked a lot about how you can keep yourself safe online in general, there are a few extra things that you can do to stay safe on a website like eBay. The nature of the site means that you’re monetary information is right there for any hacker to get ahold of and see. Spending your money online isn’t difficult once a hacker gets ahold of it. That being said, check out these suggestions from The Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and use them in conjunction with your previous IT safety knowledge.

  • Change your password – Most of you know to do this anytime that a data breach has occurred, with big name companies (and even full web browsers) being attacked in the past year. Creating a strong password that a hacker is going to have a hard time getting ahold of is a smart way to keep your information secure.
  • Don’t use your eBay ID or password elsewhere – If you maintain the same identification across different websites, it becomes increasingly easy for hackers to steal your information. If you decide that using it both places is something that you HAVE to do to remember your information, be sure to change your username and password elsewhere, too.
  • Never give your personal information to eBay over email – Hackers are getting better at appearing like they’re sending you information directly from companies via email when what they’re really doing is stealing your personal information. Only use the website itself and even then limit the amount of information you’re giving out. You never want to be an open book for hackers.
  • Check your credit report and bank statements – Know what money is going in and out of your account. You should also check your credit score once per year to find out if a credit card has been opened that you aren’t aware of or if there’s some change in your score that you can’t explain. This could mean someone has hacked your information and stolen your identity.

Keep yourself and your information safe by following the tips above and using good common sense on the Internet. If you own a company and are worried about people hacking into your company information, you should consider outsourcing your IT needs to a company like Working Nets who can help you figure out what the best way to keep your information safe is. To inquire about protection against security breaches, call us today at (443)-992-7394 or fill out our online form.

Find Working Nets online at Google+, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregorymcneal/2014/05/26/how-to-protect-yourself-after-the-ebay-data-breach/

Filed Under: IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: , ,

Everything You Need to Know About Passwords

May 9, 2014 by

Is your information safe? How do you know? Chances are that all of your important computerized information is password protected. But is your password safe enough? Many people choose passwords that are actually really easy to break or guess for people that know them well enough. For example, in order to remember a password, people will frequently pick their child’s name or their dog’s name. This is probably one of the most dangerous things you could do in regards to having a safe password for something you need to keep safe, like a bank account or email. There are a few precautions that you can take to make sure that people have a hard time cracking your password and stealing your information.

  • Use a password generator – Password generators will create a password for you so you don’t have to do it yourself. The cool thing about generators is that they will use as many characters as you tell them to and the password is completely random. It might be difficult to remember, though, so writing it down somewhere safe is advisable. You can also get an app for your phone or mobile device that will store all of your passwords for you safely.
  • Choose a long password – The longer your password is, the more difficult it will be to guess. If you use a generator, make sure to set it for more than 8 characters, at the very least. When you’re creating a password for something really important, though, try to make your password even longer than that. It’s advisable to choose a password of 10 or more characters for your bank account.
  • Don’t just use letters – A lot of websites will require you to use numbers, symbols, and letters now, which is a good practice. The more obscure symbols you use, the less likely another person is to guess your password. Using random strings of numbers, letters, and symbols is great for security purposes. You can also misspell words with numbers and letters to make them harder to guess (ex. w0rk!nGnet$$$$2) – not our password for anything, by the way.

Creating a strong password will help you keep your data secure, which is something that can’t be underrated in a world where hackers are constantly breaking into to computers and stealing important information.

At Working Nets in Baltimore, we support your business by providing top-notch Information Technology (I.T.) services to companies like yours: Companies that don’t need full-time I.T. services, but do need someone to turn to, when they are having a problem.  If you have any questions about password protection, please contact us at 443.992.7394 or visit our website!

At Working Nets, our focus is on your needs!

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Source: http://lastbit.com/psw.asp

Filed Under: IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: , ,

Internet Explorer Bug Patched

May 2, 2014 by

The Internet Explorer bug popped up earlier this week. It was a particularly nasty glitch that no one had foreseen – in fact, it was a type of bug that no one had encountered before, which made it difficult for Microsoft to address it.

What is the Internet Explorer bug?
Imagine you’re surfing the Internet on a normal day, just clicking through links for interesting stories on your Facebook. Then, BAM, your computer has been taken over by a hacker. This is essentially what was happening with the Internet Explorer bug. Hackers were able to easily access information to people’s computers through the click of a link. Hackers were creating websites, and if you happened to click on the link to their website, you immediately became vulnerable to malware. Through the malware, the hackers were taking over computers, accessing sensitive information, and changing things. You can see where this would be a problem. People using Windows XP were especially at risk because Microsoft had already stopped sending XP updates.

How were people able to avoid the bug?
The easiest way to avoid the Internet Explorer bug was to stop using Internet Explorer. In the case of malware that only attacks a specific browser, switching browsers can eliminate the problem. The malware was mostly running through “add-ons” like Adobe Flash, so disabling these add-ons and extras was another way that people were combatting the Internet Explorer bug. Having malware protection is also helpful in cases like these, as is knowledge of how to keep your information secure on the Internet. Never click on a link that doesn’t seem reputable and always ask if you think your friend has been hacked and sent spam.

What does the patch do?
Microsoft has created a patch that will fix the security breach. Since most people choose to have automatic updates, there’s not much you’ll need to do to fix the problem. However, if you don’t have automatic updates, you’ll need to go in and manually update Internet Explorer to get the fix. Even if you’re still running Windows XP, the update will work. Microsoft made a special point to prevent this bug from becoming a problem for too many people.

As a future precaution, you should always make sure that your computer is protected from malware and spyware and use good, common sense while on the Internet. Never click a link if you don’t know what it is and make sure that the source seems reputable. If you’re unsure of what to do or you run a business and need to make sure that your information stays secure and safe, you should consider outsourcing your IT to someone who knows how to take care of cybersecurity.

At Working Nets in Baltimore, we support your business by providing top-notch Information Technology (I.T.) services to companies like yours: Companies that don’t need full-time I.T. services, but do need someone to turn to, when they are having a problem.  If you have any questions about disaster recovery and data backup, please contact us at 443.992.7394 or visit our website!

At Working Nets, our focus is on your needs!

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Source: http://time.com/85500/microsoft-fixes-internet-explorer-security-bug/#

http://money.cnn.com/2014/04/28/technology/security/internet-explorer-bug/

Filed Under: IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: , , ,

How Can I Prevent Spyware?

April 2, 2014 by

Spyware is a prevalent problem for computer users today. With spyware, those behind it can gather sensitive data from your computer, change your computer settings, and peddle advertising to you without your permission. Occasionally, spyware can be an incredibly malicious piece of software that works its way into the depths of your computer and steals information. It tends to be very difficult to remove and can do things such as changing your homepage and invading your settings so that it’s not possible for you to change them back. Eventually, certain types of spyware can cause your computer to crash altogether. It’s important that you know how to protect your computer from spyware programs. We have some tips on how to avoid being a victim of spyware.

  • Install anti-Spyware software – As your first line of defense, this is a good one. Make sure that the software that you choose is trustworthy and will keep your computer safe from harm. The ideal anti-spyware would actually be anti-malware so that it can detect any kind of harmful program that comes into contact with your computer.
  • Use caution on the internet – The internet is full of viruses and programs looking to destroy your computer and gain information from you. Be careful to avoid clicking on links that take you to unknown sources. If something looks untrustworthy, it probably is. You should also avoid clicking on pop up ads, since they will frequently take you to places with malware.
  • Keep up with system updates – The more up to date your computer is, the better the chances that its equipped to deal with problems like spyware and malware. One way to make sure your computer stays up to date is to subscribe to automatic updates. Whenever a new update is released for your operating system, your computer will automatically install it.
  • Enable your firewall – Firewalls are meant to take down predatory programs. If your firewall settings are correct, spyware and malware will have a hard time getting through to your computer.

Your computer and information will be the safest if you’re prepared for anything. Make sure to take the above steps to avoid a spyware or malware invasion. It’s a fascinating digital world out there, and it’s important to know how to navigate it safely. If you have any questions regarding malware or spyware, please contact Working Nets by calling (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today!

Welcome to Working Nets – your virtual IT Department!

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Sources: Spyware Prevention, What is spyware?

Filed Under: IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: , , ,

Protecting Your Windows PC Against Malware

December 23, 2013 by

Over the past few months, a piece of Malware has been attacking Windows computers and extorting people for money in order to get their files back. The ransom is generally a few hundred dollars and if you don’t pay it, you can kiss your whole computer goodbye (unless, of course, you’ve backed up your files). Here are some things you need to know about CryptoLocker

  • It only affects Windows PCs. If you have a computer that runs Linux or OSX, you’re safe from CryptoLocker. As a Windows owner, though, you’ll want to protect yourself from this virus.
  • CryptoLocker is most likely to affect your JPGs, Word documents, PDFs, and PowerPoints. All of these files can be important for both companies and individual.
  • Unless you pay the fee that the malware asks for, you can’t get your files back. They are infected with no chance of recovery.
  • If a malware file is found early enough, it can be removed and stopped. However, once it has started to infect your files, there’s no longer any chance of recovery.

Now that you know a little bit about CryptoLocker, you’re probably wondering what you can do to protect yourself agains it and other types of malware.

  • Back EVERYTHING up. It’s not only malware that can cause you to lose your information. It’s best to have backups of everything that you create. As a good practice, you should update your backups at least once a week.
  • Purchase good anti-virus software. You’ll need something that will help ensure that your computer can’t be infected by any type of malware.
  • Make sure that everything that goes out or comes in is from a trusted source. Do not open any attachments from unknown or untrustworthy sources.

If you have any questions about Malware or CryptoLocker and IT Security, please contact Working Nets by calling (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today!

Welcome to Working Nets – your virtual IT Department!

At Working Nets, we support your business by providing top-notch Information Technology (I.T.) services to companies like yours: Companies that don’t need full-time I.T. services, but do need someone to turn to, when they are having a problem. We provide services like Network Design, Monitoring and Maintenance. We troubleshoot technical issues when they arise, and give you options for solving them. We help you use your technology investment to achieve your business goals.

At Working Nets, our focus is on your needs!

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Source:http://cir.ca/news/cryptolocker-malware-causes-headaches

Filed Under: IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: , ,

Cyber Security Tips for your Phone or Tablet

November 27, 2013 by

Whether you run a company or just have a phone or tablet as an individual, you want to make sure that your information stays safe and secure. Generally there is information on your mobile device that you would rather the whole world didn’t know. People frequently make purchases from phones or tablets, which means that your credit card information, address, and phone number can be floating out in cyberspace. You’re probably now asking yourself the question: what can I do to secure my phone or tablet from prying eyes?

  • Password Protect – You should ALWAYS password protect your mobile device. Use something that is easy for you to remember, but that won’t be immediately obvious to anyone else who might be interested in getting your information for unsavory purposes.
  • Don’t Use the Same Password – If you use one password or pin for something, don’t use it for something else. If a hacker gets a hold of your password and you use the same one for everything, they’re going to be able to hack every account you have. This can result in stolen identity, lost money, or worse. Make sure that each password is original and difficult to guess.
  • Two Factor Identification – You should start using this for everything. Most websites will give you the opportunity to ask for a phone number upon login, or a remotely generated pin. This may require you to use a separate mobile device to get the code, but you will ensure that your information is safe.

You should always make sure that your privacy settings are correct on your social media, as well. This will help you keep private information private as well. Don’t risk losing important information. Make sure you protect your devices.

Welcome to Working Nets – your virtual IT Deptartment!

At Working Nets, we support your business by providing top-notch Information Technology (I.T.) services to companies like yours: Companies that don’t need full-time I.T. services, but do need someone to turn to, when they are having a problem. We provide services like Network Design, Monitoring and Maintenance. We troubleshoot technical issues when they arise, and give you options for solving them. We help you use your technology investment to achieve your business goals.

At Working Nets, our focus is on your needs!

You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Be sure to check out all the information we have to offer about IT Services.

Source: Five Security Tips to Protect Your Social Media Accounts

Filed Under: IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: , , ,

The Importance of Data Backup

September 9, 2013 by

Running a small business can mean a lot of information is in one system or on one computer. Accidents and problems can occur no matter how many precautions you take. Storms can still hit too hard with surge protectors, a storm can wipe out an entire infrastructure, and hackers get better and better everyday. You may find yourself needing disaster recovery. At Working Nets, we provide you with the best possible prevention to these problems, but we also acknowledge that sometimes things just happen. This is why we also offer backup services. It’s good to know what kind of data backup is available and why it is helpful.

  • Local data backups – A local backup is one that is stored on a device that you can physically hold. Usually people use discs, flash drives, or external hard drives to back up their work. The benefit to this is that you have the backups on hand and can use them anywhere whether or not you have Internet connection. The downside to a local backup is that if a natural disaster destroys your data and your local backup is in the same location as that data, you’re going to lose all of it anyway.
  • Offsite data backups – This one essentially speaks for itself. Offsite backup has a big advantage over a local backup. It can be accessed from anywhere and won’t be destroyed in the event of a natural disaster. Offsite backups are becoming more and more popular as the Internet continues to grow and expand. People are using the different websites and programs that are emerging to ensure that their data does not disappear. One worry with an offsite backup is security. It is essential to know that your data is being put in a safe place, especially if it concerns business or finances.

Whether you’re running a business or are just a student with a lot of information stored on your computer, making data backups can save you a lot of trouble and headache in the long run.

At Working Nets, we were founded to provide small businesses, like yours, with expert information technology support they needed. Our disaster recovery services help ensure your vital business data is kept safe and secure!

If you have any questions about Disaster Recovery, please contact Working Nets by calling (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Source: The Importance of Backing Up Your Data

Filed Under: IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: ,

Why You Need a Disaster Recovery Plan

July 3, 2013 by

“Disaster recovery: it is an expense my company can do without. It is not that important.” That is, unfortunately, the opinion of 41% of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMB), according to the “2011 SMB Disaster Preparedness Survey.” Even worse, 50% of respondents did not have a disaster recovery plan in place. Of those businesses that did have a plan in place, 80% did not have a reliable backup solution.

Does your business have a disaster recovery plan in place? If not, why?

Why You Need a Disaster Recovery Plan

  1. In the past two years, more than 50% of businesses experienced an unforeseen interruption to normal, everyday business, causing 81% of these businesses to close for one or more days.
  2. Every week 140,000 hard drives crash in the United States.
  3. 31% of PC users have lost all of their files due to events beyond their control.
  4. According to a study conducted by Gartner in 2004, downtime cost an average of $42,000 an hour. In 2012, a study conducted by Aberdeen reported that this figure had ballooned to between $98,000 and $138,000 an hour.
  5. 40% of small businesses affected by a disaster will never reopen, according to research from the Insurance Institute.
  6. 93% of companies that lost their data center for 10 days or more due to a disaster filed for bankruptcy within one year of the disaster.
  7. Still, 90% of SMBs spend less than 8 hours over the course of a month planning or managing their business continuity plans, according to analysts from Hughes Marketing Group.
  8. 34% of companies fail to test their tape backups, and of those that do, 77% have found tape backup failures.
  9. Companies that do not resume operations within ten days of a disaster are not likely to survive.
  10. The survival rate for companies without a disaster recovery plan is less than 10%. 90% of businesses that lose data as the result of a disaster are forced to close within two years.

“Disaster recovery: it is an expense my company can do without. It is not that important.” Do you still feel that way now?

Disaster Recovery Services from Working Nets in Baltimore, Maryland

At Working Nets, we were founded to provide small businesses, like yours, with expert information technology support they needed. Our disaster recovery services help ensure your vital business data is kept safe and secure!

If you have any questions about Disaster Recovery, please contact Working Nets by calling (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today! You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Filed Under: IT Tips Baltimore Tagged With: ,
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