How Proactive Computer Help Can Prevent a Disaster

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How Proactive Computer Help Can Prevent a DisasterHave you ever heard that the best way to fix a problem is to avoid having it in the first place? Consider your car. Is the time to get the brakes looked at after they’ve failed on the highway? Of course that isn’t the time. You get your brakes checked every six months to a year, to stay ahead of that disaster. This is equally true for health, relationships, and especially for computers. The vast majority of computer-related disasters, be they file loss, system crashes, or viruses, can be avoided with a bit of proactive computer help.

Software Updates

It’s easy to think of software as a static item. You install the software and then never think about it again. In reality, most mainstream software gets updated on a regular basis. When a problem crops up in the software, or someone figures out how to exploit a weakness in the code, the company that made the software releases updates and patches to repair the issue. Having someone make sure the software stays updated helps to prevent hackers from taking advantage of these weaknesses and, for example, stealing customer information or downloading proprietary information.
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Top 5 Malware Protection Rules You Should Be Following

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Top 5 Malware Protection Rules You Should Be Following

Malware infections are one of the most common types of computer complaints, with thousands of people impacted by them each day. These malicious programs take advantage of any weaknesses in a computer’s protection to install themselves and can be very difficult to completely remove. The best way to avoid computer damage from a malware program is not to get infected in the first place. Here are five easy ways to protect your computer from malware.

1: Block malicious ads

Many advertisements that you see on website sidebars or headers are harmless, but some ads run scripts that will redirect your web browser to a malicious site or attempt to install malware on your computer. The reason that websites run advertisements is to generate revenue, so many sites will ask you to turn off any adblocking extensions you have installed. This is a well-meaning request, but individual websites often do not have a lot of control over which ads appear on their pages. It is safest to block ads entirely or back up your adblocker with a trusted antivirus program.
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What Sets a Professional Apart from the IT Crowd

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One might rightly conclude, based on what is portrayed in the media, that being a qualified IT technician requires years of study, a mad scientist personality, and a room full of strange gadgets. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of the most competent and effective IT professionals don’t go out of their way to advertise their talent, mainly because what they do isn’t always “technical.”

What you will undoubtedly find most common among effective IT pros is a capacity for problem-solving and the experience to know the difference between the obvious quick fix and the innovative actual solution.

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The Importance Of Patch Management

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One of the most vital advantages to always-on network access like that provided by the Internet is the ability for software developers and hardware manufacturers to provide endless updates to their products and operating systems. Programmers usually refer to these updates as “patches,” which is simply a metaphor for a small bit of software used to modify the larger software applications.

These patches can be dramatically valuable to software users, as they often provide new features, better security and more efficient operation without the necessity of replacing one application with another. Patches can be applied to any kind of software from operating systems to mobile apps, so nearly any user of technology can take advantage of them. Here are some things to keep in mind about software updates for your technology.

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How Managed Backups Save Your Data and Money!

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How Managed Cloud Backups Save Your Data and Your Money

Data backups are absolutely vital for anyone who even casually uses a PC or mobile device. Losing your vacation photos or your financial records can be devastating, especially if your data can’t be reconstructed from other records. It is for this reason everyone should have a backup strategy and that strategy should include some kind of off-site component.

Most IT professionals will tell you backups should come in three flavors. The first is a simple copy. The second is a copy stored on a different kind of media. The third is a copy stored off-site. This is one reason “cloud” backup services have become so popular recently.

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What Is The Proper Configuration Of A New Computer?

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Buying a new computer is often a lot of fun. New machines are usually faster, have newer software and provide a wealth of possibilities. At the same time, new computers can have their share of problems, including the fact most ship with few, if any, security features.

So how can you set up a new computer to make certain it will be as secure as possible before you start to rely on it for your day to day work or entertainment?

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