January 11, 2011

Setting up a Business Network

Filed under: Data Doctors, E-mail, Internet, PC, Passwords, Tips, Wireless Internet — admin @ 3:32 pm

Setting up a small business network allows you to get more out of your systems and components, you’ll be able to access the internet on any computer, as well as share files on computers within the network.

The first thing you need to do is make sure you have the correct equipment for your needs, If you want your business wired, Ethernet cables will be needed, if you choose to go wireless, a wireless router will be required. You are also able to use a combination of the two.

There are two ways you can set up your network:

PEER TO PEER

When using a peer-to-peer setup, each computer acts as both the client and server, and is able to communicate directly with the other computers on the network. You will only need a router, and have the computers on the same work or homegroup, and enable print and file sharing. Windows offers a Network Setup Wizard that you can access to walk you through your setup.

CLIENT-SERVER

A client-server setup allows several computers to connect to a single sever where public data can be stored. This is more typical in a larger office setting. For this set up a server is needed, a computer with a ‘server-friendly operating system’ can be used. (For little companies, Windows XP, Vista or 7 Professional will work just fine.) Making sure everything is hooked up properly is the main thing, as well as making sure all of your client computers have separate names.

Setting up a business network is all a matter of preference and layout, call your local IT Company with any questions or concerns!

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-set-up-a-small-business-computer-network/

February 19, 2010

Get a Deal on Craigslist!

Filed under: Online Safety, Tips — Tags: craigslist, internet safety, internet shopping, safe, savvy shopping tips, shop, shopping, shopping online, stay safe — admin @ 8:26 am

Craigslist is a cheap matchmaker, for buyers and sellers. It represents an affordable way for millions of people to connect, whether they are searching for a new couch, a new job or a new love.

If you’re a Craigslist newbie–or looking to sharpen your buying skills–here are a few tips to help you make the most of your transaction as a buyer.

First, be smart to stay safe. There have been millions of people who have happily bought and sold via the site. A minute fraction have led to dangerous situations, which have garnered a disproportionate amount of media attention. We’ll say no more about it, other than to urge you to always meet strangers in public places, take someone with you when visiting a private home and to trust your gut instinct–if you get into a situation that makes you uncomfortable, get going. Quickly.

Next, study the site. It’s straightforward enough. Spend a little time playing around in different categories to get a feel for what’s available and at what price.

If you see a good deal–grab it. Often the offerings are one-of-a-kind. If you think it’s a great bargain, so will others. Send an e-mail expressing interest. It does not commit you to buy the item, but it does put you in line for it. The treasure hunt aspect of Craigslist is what makes it both so much fun and so addicting.

Once you are in touch with the seller, make sure you agree on the method of payment. Most sellers want cash or checks.

If the item has been for sale for a while, you may be able to negotiate the price. Don’t be afraid to counter offer.

When you show up to see the item, be prepared to pay for it and haul it away on the spot.  If the item is not as it was described, you are under no obligation to purchase it. And if the seller tries to change the terms you had agreed upon, you are well within your rights to walk away.

Finally, there are great deals to be had on Craigslist on gift cards. But before you buy someone else’s unwanted gift card at a deep discount, verify the balance on the gift card. Cards often contain printed instructions on how to verify a balance.

Remember that not every item for sale on Craigslist is a bargain. Do your homework to see what an item is truly worth. It’s easy to get carried away!

For more information on Craigslist, check out this article with other savvy shopping tips.

February 17, 2010

McAfee, Inc. Names Jessica Biel the Most Dangerous Celebrity in Cyberspace

Filed under: Tips, Viruses — Tags: beyonce, cybercriminals, cyberfan, dangerous celebrity, dangerous cyberspace celebrity, dangerous online celebrities, jessical biel, justin timberlake, kim kardashian, lidsay lohan, mcafee, megan fox, miley cyrus, most dangerous celebrities, most dangerous celebrities in cyberspace, scammers, tom brady — admin @ 9:00 am

It’s not just Justin Timberlake who is infatuated with actress Jessica Biel.  The comely starlet is the object of thousands of Internet searches. But the quest for pictures and information pertaining to the actress could leave her cyberfans with a crashed computer. Internet Security Company McAfee, Inc., reported that fans who search for Jessica Biel info, whether as photos, videos or wallpaper, have a one in five chance at getting a nasty surprise–landing at a website that tests positive for adware, spyware, phishing schemes, viruses and the like.

In a culture that is increasingly fascinated with celebrities, cybercriminals use their photos as bait. The scammers latch onto stories and pictures about high profile figures to hook fans, who can inadvertently download malicious software while simply trying to get the latest news about their favorite star. And it appears younger consumers are often the most vulnerable.

Celebrities who have strong appeal to the youth market pepper the list of Most Dangerous Celebrities in Cyberspace. Second to Jessica Biel is Beyonce. Others on the list include Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian, Megan Fox and Tom Brady.

The best advice to avoid the harmful downloads? Play it safe. Avoid sites you’ve never heard of in favor of surfing mainstream websites with a reputation for safety and trustworthiness.

January 25, 2010

Is airline Wi-Fi any good and is it safe?

Filed under: Internet, Tips, Viruses, Wireless Internet — Tags: airline, airline wi-fi, airline wifi, cloud computing, computer, computer recovery, computer repair, computer service, computer services, computer stores, computer support, computers, data recovery, file recovery, Gogo, internet safety, IT, IT department, laptop repair, recovery, repair computer, Row 44, safe airline internet, safe internet, Virtual Private Network, VPN, Wi-Fi, Wi-FI safety, WiFi, wifi safety — admin @ 3:17 pm

In-flight Wi-Fi brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘cloud computing’! In past years, the offerings were expensive, restrictive and inconsistent. But not anymore!

In our experience, speed, reliability and cost have all been reasonable. We’ve tried Gogo and expect Row 44 to be good, too. Just check with your airline before you go to see what is being offered.

Although Wi-Fi on airlines only works above 10,000 feet, the providers and airlines are not currently blocking access to any specific content or websites and are relying on passengers to behave themselves (this could change)!  One exception is voice traffic. The airlines decided that their passengers didn’t want to get stuck next to loud, obnoxious ‘deal makers’ flapping their gums about their latest conquests during these long flights.

Any device that is Wi-Fi enabled and has a browser can make use of the connection:  laptops, Netbooks, smartphones and even the iPod Touch and some handheld gaming systems should work.  You must have a browser in to get past the ‘I Agree’ terms of use gateway page.

As far as safety goes, this shouldn’t be approached any different than any other public Wi-Fi connection.  If you aren’t careful, you could expose your computer to others on the flight, just like in the airport or at a hotel (our column on public Wi-Fi safety is posted here: http://bit.ly/2ldfHp.)

Be very mindful that those in the row behind you can easily see through the gaps in the seats to your screen or lots of folks if you are seated in the aisle seat.  This means you should avoid typing in any sensitive information or websites that will display sensitive information.

As should be expected, if your company requires you to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to connect to the company network, you may have problems getting it all to work depending upon how restrictive your IT department has set the VPN to be (check with them before your flight for the best results).

December 11, 2009

Fun holiday tips from Data Doctors

Filed under: Google, Tips, Viruses — Tags: beware of virus', computer, computer recovery, computer repair, computer service, computer services, computer stores, computer support, computers, data recovery, data recovery software, disk recovery, e-commerce, easy recovery, file recovery, Google, hard drive recovery, holiday shopping tips, holiday tips, laptop repair, partition recovery, recover files, recover my files, recovery, recovery software, repair computer, shopping, shopping tips, virus removal — admin @ 7:45 am

As the holidays near, shopping online continues to grow.  Great deals are out there and consumers are more savvy than ever when it comes to online shopping, but there are a few things that you want to watch out for while shopping online.

Sadly the holidays are a big time for virus’ because more people are spending time online, scouring the internet for deals on gifts so hacker’s and virus’ are in full swing as well.  Copycat sites and “cheap deals” are the main sources of virus attacks.

Here are some tips to remember:

Know where you are.

As you shop, try to stick to sites that you are familiar with and are reputable.  Sites like Amazon, Ebay and large retailers, Target, Walmart, etc. have great security on their sites so you are less likely to have to worry.  There are smaller stores who run great deals but be sure you know where your credit card information is going.

Beware of Flogs

The internet is one of the most used resources for finding information and is increasingly becoming a major spot for shopping.  As the e-commerce continues to grow, consumers need to be aware of reviews and what are called flogs.  Flogs are a form of “electronic communication that appears to originate from a credible, non-biased source, but which in fact is created by a company or organization for the purpose of marketing a product, service, or political viewpoint” (Wikipedia).

Flog can appear as consumer reviews and information about great deals, tips of where to shop, etc. but the perception is skewed.  Companies have created these to promote their own products and services, with great reviews no matter what.  The easiest way to decide if a blog is fake or not is to see if the only topic being discussed on the site pertains to only one particular product or service. Most bloggers generate new posts on a regular basis, covering a variety of topics or services.

Check reviews before entering credit card

An easy way is to see what information other consumers have.  Go to Google and type in the name of the store and reviews or the website address and reviews.  If it is a well-known scam site there, other people will be talking about being scammed.

Wifi

Public wifi’s  are a really nice feature when you are out and about, but can cause issues when shopping online.  The fact is that anyone can connect to that same internet that you are using and while not everyone is a hacker there are people out there that have the ability to electronically see what you are doing.  It is not a good idea to enter credit card or other personal information while connected to a public wifi. Another tip is to not have your user ID and passwords saved on web sites as hacker’s will be able to access this information over the public wifi as well.

E-commerce is rapidly growing and a great tool to decrease the amount of time and money spent shopping for the holidays.  Taking care while shopping online will keep that experience positive for you and allow you to continue to utilize the internet.

Safe Shopping!

From Data Doctors in Wayzata, MN

October 5, 2009

Dropped my phone in water, ugh!

Filed under: Tips, mobile — Tags: battery, computer, computer recovery, computer repair, computer service, computer services, computer stores, computer support, computers, data recovery, data recovery software, disk recovery, easy recovery, file recovery, hard drive recovery, laptop repair, partition recovery, phone recovery, recover files, recover my files, recovery, recovery software, repair computer — admin @ 7:34 am

Ker-plunk. There goes my phone, down into the dark depths of the lake, a burial of yet another phone costing me hundreds of dollars. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was something that I could do to attempt lifesaving measures on this electronic device?

The first thing to do is turn the phone off and take out the battery (iPhone users don’t have the battery removal option, so turning it off is critical.) The biggest mistake that’s made in these panic situations is repeatedly trying to get the device to power up hoping that everything will be ok; each attempt could be your last!

Your best chances of recovery will be to not turn it back on until you are absolutely certain that all of the moisture has been removed or has evaporated – this could take days.