Proactive-IT

With increasing use and dependence on online services, it’s tempting to begin using more of their features without mastering details that can result in data loss. Dropbox, Google Drive, Apple iCloud and Microsoft OneDrive offer online “drives” that “save” and synchronize files for sharing, etc.
Be warned however, these are not backups! You can still inadvertently overwrite your files and find you’re unable to restore them if you rely solely on these services to protect your files. I know.
This happened to me recently when I inadvertently saved an edited file in a folder on my PC that’s shared with an online drive, that I’d intended instead to save to another folder. It turned out that I’d overwritten the original. The online drive sync software dutifully sync’ed my overwritten file to their drive. Because I also have a backup system however, I was able to restore the file I’d mistakenly overwritten.
The file synchronization feature we find so compelling prevents file version protection that backups provide. Since synchronization and services like these are here to stay, the answer is to add a backup system, especially one with the versioning and restore capabilities you need. We can help set this up for your business or organization too.

Windows versions 7, 8.1 and 10 have different tools for backing-up files or your entire hard disk. The best backup strategy includes multiple tools backing up to at least two additional hard disks. Add an off-site backup and you’re virtually guaranteed to never lose data.

However this can get unmanageable quickly! When backups don’t complete successfully, something needs fixing. Old backups need to be deleted periodically.

Whether you use Windows backup tools, software from another provider, or a combination of both, let us help keep your invaluable work product completely restorable.

U.S. Government recommends that users stop using Internet Explorer until they install Microsoft’s updates. According to the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT), IE versions 6 through 11 are affected and “could lead to the complete compromise of an affected system.”

• Microsoft has issued a Security Bulletin, but the patches must be installed.
• Other steps you can take:
  • Change your Windows account type to standard from administrator
  • Contact Proactive-IT to begin monitoring and protecting all unprotected systems. We monitored the roll-out of the required updates on our clients’ monitored systems and made sure they installed properly.

“Heartbleed” has affected many popular websites and services — ones you might use every day, like Yahoo, Gmail and Facebook — and could have quietly exposed your sensitive account information (such as passwords and credit card numbers) over the past two years.

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED!

• Change your passwords now, including Yahoo Mail, Google/Gmail, Facebook, Dropbox, Intuit/TurboTax, your PCs, etc..
• Antivirus software will not protect you! Servers are the target, however PCs with outdated apps and passwords are vulnerable. We’ve verified that servers maintained by Proactive-IT are not running OpenSSL or have been upgraded to safer versions.
• We are working with Proactive-IT clients to upgrade apps and replace passwords.

STATUS OF INDIVIDUAL APPS AND SERVICES:

• Logmein: upgrade to version 4.1.0.4144 or higher; change Logmein and PC passwords

NEAR-TERM ACTION RECOMMENDED:

• Implement more secure workplace password discipline including strong passwords that can’t be reused. Consider a password manager.
• Plan to change passwords regularly, for example every 3 months, as new vulnerabilities are discovered, and to limit your exposure in the meantime.
• Consider policies for limiting access to ‘social media’ sites (eg. Facebook) from within the workplace.

Related information:

• Bloomberg reports “NSA said to exploit Heartbleed bug for intelligence for years”
• Former Microsoft security chief implicated in Heartbleed controversy

After April 8, 2014 Microsoft will stop providing security updates and technical support for Windows XP and Office 2003. If you do not upgrade to newer versions, your systems could be exploited by malware. Proactive-IT is ready and prefer to help you upgrade or replace these systems, rather than trying to resolve avoidable problems later. What are your risks by staying with Windows XP?

• Security: Without security updates, your PC is vulnerable to harmful viruses, spyware & other malicious software. Anti-virus software will not be able to fully protect you after 4/8/2014.
• Compliance: Anti-virus software will not be able to fully protect you once Windows XP is unsupported.  More information can be found at HHS HIPAA FAQ – Security Rule
• Hardware Manfacturer Support: Most PC hardware manufacturers will stop supporting Windows XP on their PCs. Drivers required to run Windows XP may not be available

Is it Really That Serious? YES!!! Read more about the threat of unsupported software. Please contact us soon as possible for more information on how to update your systems so they don’t become at risk.

According to Logmein, users of their free version, software that allows you to remote into a PC located elsewhere, have seven days to upgrade to a premium account beginning the next time they log in. Proactive-IT has good news for you! We can offer you LogMeIn free of charge, and provide you and selected staff members with the ability to access your workplace PCs from outside the office. If you are interested in having us install the free version of Logmein, please contact us so we can obtain the necessary information to get you set up and make this transition as seamless as possible.

As always, please contact us with any IT concerns!

While few small businesses or not-for-profit agencies are the planned targets of cyber attacks, too many have fallen victim to attacks aimed at any vulnerable systems that can be reached. StaySafeOnline.org is a valuable resource for information on steps you can take to reduce the vulnerability of the systems that your organization depends on. One step we recommend is reviewing the management of antivirus and related malware protection.

Who in your organization is accountable for making sure that all malware alerts are reviewed and resolved thoroughly and in good time? It may be advantageous, if not critical, to oursource this to an organization that is accountable to you. Let us know if we can help!

If you don’t have the patience to battle the new Windows 8 Metro user interface, and especially if you don’t have a touch screen monitor, run don’t walk to classicshell.net to download and install Classic Shell. Once installed, you can select a Windows 7, Vista or even XP style start button. Stop fighting Microsoft’s arrogance and get back to work. Like all apps from sourceforge.net, its open source (free) and safe.

Backup software that works on older versions of Windows doesn’t always work as well, if at all, on newer versions such as Windows 7 and 8. These newer Windows versions include backup software that is certainly good, however there are alternatives that are at least as effective and often easier to use. FBackup in an example very good backup software. If you are in any way dissatisfied with Windows Backup, or are not backing up your PC daily due to software issues, then by all means download, install and see for yourself how easy it is to get peace of mind about the safety of your files!