Three Reasons You Should Backup Programs To An External Hard Drive

three reasons you should backup programs to an external hard drive

We have no doubt in our minds that you can backup programs to an external hard drive . You, on the other hand, might need a bit more convincing, so here are three reasons on why this is a good idea.

external hard drive

Backing up files to an external hard drive.

A simple way to back up files is to copy it to an external hard drive. Keep your device away from the computer. Place it in a safe location. This will prevent any damage, fire, or taking a risk of having someone steal the device (let along your computer). You should consider storing the external hard drive in a fireproof safe for safe keeping.

You can manually back up specific files.

The important documents (especially a school or work-related project), you can transfer files to an external hard drive.

  •  Attach the device to your computer system
  •  Click and drag those files towards the external drive

At this point, you can see a copy of the data on the external drive and the computer system.

You can back up documents automatically.

You should backup data on a regular basis because you will never know when you might need to access those files.

If your computer is Windows, then you should use windows backup (also known as file history in Windows 8). Next, you will create a system image to back up all important documents, software applications or maybe the entire hard drive. To talk more about this, or anything else, please Contact Us. Thanks.

 

Tips for Windows 10: Streamline Your Business With These Tips

tips for windows 10 streamline your business with these tips

After switching to Windows 10, you might find the new interface a little intimidating. But there are several tips for Windows 10 you can use that will give you a more intuitive, fluid, and productive experience.

There’s a hidden start menu

Just right-click the start button, and you’ll gain access to a pop-up menu with a wealth of administrative capabilities, such as command prompts and the ability to change network connections. It’s all condensed into one convenient menu. If you want an alternative to right-clicking, just press the windows key + x.

Minimize all windows, leaving the active one open

Shake the title bar of the window you wish to leave open. Once you’ve done this several times, all other windows will minimize, leaving you with only the active window.

Quick Access to Properties Menu

After you’ve navigated to file explorer, hold down the Alt key then double-click the file of your choice to see its properties menu.

Task bar shortcuts

It might seem like an inconsequential thing, but having keyboard shortcuts for items on your task bar makes things quicker and easier when you’re in the flow of things. If you press the Windows key + the number key where the number key reflects the item’s position on the task bar.

Scrolling inactive windows 

The ability to scroll through inactive windows can speed up the work process. While this feature is by default on, you can navigate through the Settings>Devices>Mouse menus, and from there you can activate the feature.

If you’re looking for IT support, please contact us.

Computer Tip of the Day – How Often Should You Shut Down Your Computer?

computer tip of the day how often should you shut down your computer

Whether you work in the office all day or take your laptop with you to work out in the field, it is tempting to avoid shutting your computer off at the end of the day.  Going through the start-up process takes a bit more time than awakening it from sleep mode and sometimes it seems every second counts while on the job. How often should you perform a computer restart?

Shut Down Your Computer

While it certainly is true it does take a bit more time to power up your computer equipment each day, there are good reasons for doing so.  Just one average computer (including a monitor) uses approximately 350 watts or .35kW.  Of course electrical rates fluctuate, but if a utility company charges 11 cents per kWh, just operating one computer 24 hours a day for a month costs over $25.

There are also wear and tear considerations for some of the internal parts of your PC.  Although they do not have to work as hard if your computer is in sleep mode, the cooling fans for your CPU and power supply wear out faster required to constantly monitor your PC to avoid a situation where they could overheat.  In addition, although solid state hard drives are becoming more and more popular, traditional hard drives still spin when not in use.

Lastly, those who rarely turn off their computer increase the likelihood of computer freezes, operating system lags or crashes since their memory systems never get a chance to clear out.  Shutting down your computer every day and restarting the next morning, gives your computer a chance to flush out its memory, stops all processes and allows it to start with a clean slate.

For more information on properly maintaining your computer equipment, please contact us.

Tips For Performing Regular Website Security Maintenance

tips for performing regular website security maintenance

Launching a business website is a great way to attract more customers and establish a strong, authoritative presence on the web. However, your site is also a source of vulnerability. It’s critical to keep an eye on it, perform regular website security maintenance, and stay up-to-date on security threats.

website security maintenance

What are some of the things you should do?

Monitor cyber security news. One example of how important this is came from a recent major data breach involving Cloudflare. A security bug wound up exposing passwords, cookies, and other sensitive identifying information from various business websites, with some of the leaked data getting picked up by search engines. Knowing about these developments is critical for acting quickly to protect your business as best you can or do any necessary damage control in the aftermath.

Keep your software updated. Let’s say you’re using WordPress as the content management system for your website. WordPress regularly releases software updates that improve performance and patch security holes; furthermore, any reputable WordPress plugin will do the same. Make sure you’re staying on top of updates and not running older versions that are riddled with vulnerabilities.

Review your site for security flaws. If you’re running an e-commerce site, for example, are there ways in which you may be inadvertently exposing customers’ personal information? Does your website contain vulnerabilities to SQL injections or other insertions of malicious code? Perform periodic reviews of your site to determine its weaknesses, and address them as quickly as possible.

If you need assistance or additional advice, please contact us. Your business website is critical for your success in a digital world. As your home on the web, it’s meant to leave a strong, lasting impression on customers.

Make sure it’s a favorable impression. By conducting regular website security maintenance, you’re in a better position to protect your customers and yourself from major problems such as malware infections and data breaches.

Computer Security: Don’t Use The Same Password For Multiple Accounts

computer security don t use the same password for multiple accounts

For the sake of convenience, many people like reusing the same password across multiple accounts. The password that gives them access to their email may also be the same one they rely on for social media, online banking, work-related tasks, or recreational activities. That is not smart computer security.

computer security

What they sometimes don’t realize is that if any one of these accounts gets compromised in a data breach, hackers will have the ability to use the password for multiple personal accounts, inflicting a broader violation on privacy and security.

That’s why our computer security tip of the day is a warning against using the same password for multiple accounts.

Computer security tips you should know!

How does Yahoo help illustrate this important point?

Recently, Yahoo announced that a massive cyber attack compromised data from more than a billion accounts. (Yes, a billion.) The attack, which took place in 2013, is a record-breaker, and it’s alarming that a few years passed without public knowledge of such an extensive breach in security.

The attack didn’t affect all Yahoo users in the same way. It also isn’t clear at this point what information got exposed from which accounts. However, hackers were able to get at data that included names, birthdays, passwords, and security questions.

Anyone who hasn’t updated their Yahoo password, and who uses the same one for multiple sites, is especially at risk. A similar vulnerability can arise for any password security questions that get repeated across sites.

Be sure to review your accounts and update your passwords, as necessary, not only to make them more complex but also to correct for repetition. For additional advice on coming up with strong passwords and managing them effectively, don’t hesitate to contact us.