Computer St. Louis Blog/News
Are hackers using your PC to mine Bitcoin?
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero are so popular because they’re secure and potentially worth thousands of dollars. But investors and consumers aren’t the only ones interested in them. Hackers are using malicious tactics to steal cryptocurrency, and they’re doing it with something called cryptojacking. Hijacked hardware Cryptojacking secretly uses your computer to calculate complex mathematical […]
Improve Business Productivity with Cortana
As an entrepreneur, you understand how essential time is. There is always a need to come up with new processes or search for new technology to keep your office organized. If you use Windows 10, you already have an underutilized tool right in front of you. To take advantage of Cortana, you should enable it […]
What Is Single Sign-On and Who Is It For?
Statistics show that the average enterprise uses more than 90 cloud services. Even if small businesses use less than half that number, securely managing account logins is still a huge problem for users and administrators. Single Sign-On (SSO) is an excellent solution to this issue, so let’s dive into how it works. What is SSO? […]
Virtualization best practices for newbies
The benefits of virtualization are so significant that deciding whether to jump on board is a no-brainer. It offers centralized IT management, faster hardware resources, improved business continuity, and reduced overhead costs. But in order to experience these benefits, there are a few best practices you need to consider. Conduct an assessment Evaluating your IT […]
How to choose the right VoIP solution
Basic internet-based phone calls aren’t new to many of our readers. Skype has been around for over a decade and there are dozens of other free apps with limited features. Picking a voice over IP (VoIP) solution for a small business is still a tricky prospect, though. Let’s take a look at what it […]
Microsoft updates Office 365 apps for Apple
Microsoft recently updated Office 365 for iOS and Mac to enhance user experience. Office apps are now better integrated into the Apple ecosystem, which means iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can expect a more seamless experience when creating, accessing, or storing Office documents. Co-authoring in Word, Excel, PowerPoint Apple users can now co-edit documents in […]
Facebook makes space for more relevant posts
Social media has proven to be very influential in shaping people’s lives, affecting everything from one’s mental health to people’s views on certain political parties. To limit this, Facebook has made a decision to limit the posts from business accounts on your News Feed to make room for more meaningful posts shared by your friends […]
Disable Windows 10’s intrusive settings
Windows 10 is undoubtedly Microsoft’s most accepted operating system since Windows XP. But that doesn’t make it faultless, many users have been complaining about the intrusive privacy settings the operating system enables by default. To reclaim your privacy, follow these tips on turning off its intrusive settings Turn personalized advertising off For those unaware, Windows […]
The dangers of distributed spam distraction
Users get around 200 emails in their inbox a day, including work messages, automated payment slips, and everyone’s least favorite email, spam. Spam messages are mostly harmless, but when you get more than 10,000 of them flooding your inbox, you’re probably the victim of a special type of spam attack. Understanding DSD Distributed Spam Distraction […]
5 things to do to your new laptop
Getting a new laptop can be very exciting. It guarantees a more seamless user experience with faster speed, more memory, and better battery life. But it’s all for naught if you don’t take certain preventive steps before using your new machine. Discover five things you should do before you start exploring your new toy. 1. […]
Fighting ransomware with virtualization
Ransomware takes your data hostage and demands a payment for its recovery. While it may seem like there’s no other choice but to pay the ransom, you should never give in to the hacker’s demands. Before the next wave of ransomware comes around, it’s important to protect your business with virtual disaster recovery solutions. Virtual […]
Is Bing the right search engine for you?
Have you ever tried asking your search engine something to no avail? With many of us facing this problem, Bing has been updated with four new features that give users more thorough answers and enable it to respond to broader search terms. Validating answers using many websites Before the recent update, Bing would answer questions […]
Azure virtual machines get a free upgrade
Virtualization is difficult to understand. The technology itself is complex, and the industry is dominated by vendors that the average business owner has never heard of. Almost everyone knows Microsoft though, and its virtualization platform just got a big speed boost that won’t cost users a thing — if they know how to take advantage […]
Why is Skype’s new feature so important
With more targeted attacks on social networking services than ever, private conversations with your business partners can become public information. To prevent this, Skype has released a new feature that ensures complete privacy by encrypting all types of communication. Here are some of the features. Benefits of using Private Conversations Named ‘Private Conversations’ by Microsoft, […]
Understanding Office 365 collaboration tools
Office 365 is chock full of so many apps that it’s sometimes difficult to keep track of them all. Sure, you have the most popular tools like Word and Skype for Business, but there are three tools in the lineup that seem like they could be used the same way: Outlook Groups, Yammer, and Microsoft […]
New Windows update for PC vulnerabilities
Two newly discovered Windows vulnerabilities, known as Meltdown and Spectre, make it possible for hackers to steal all sorts of confidential information. To resolve this issue, Microsoft has released an update. Continue reading to stay protected. Issues with Microsoft’s Spectre and Meltdown patches After the January 3rd announcement of unprecedented security vulnerabilities, Microsoft has been […]
Meltdown and Spectre fixes cause problems
It’s been three weeks since one of the worst IT security vulnerabilities in history was announced, and consumers are still receiving mixed messages about how to protect themselves. We usually encourage users to install software updates as often as possible, but when it comes to Meltdown and Spectre, that advice comes with an asterisk. Unsecured […]
Data safety: The non-technical way
Keeping up with advancements in technology as a business owner is tough, especially when those advancements relate to information security. However, it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few physical security tips you can implement to protect your data before calling us! Cover up your webcam There must be some credibility to doing this […]
Is your browser safe from Spectre?
The Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox browsers may not be as safe as you think. Security researchers recently discovered that computer chips manufactured in the past two decades contain major security vulnerabilities. One can be used by hackers to gain access to sensitive data. Read on to learn more. What is Spectre? To understand […]
Why UPS is necessary for network equipment
Fire, flood, storm, and other disasters can lead to power failure and productivity loss. Using uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for computers ensures you never lose unsaved work, but without internet, you’re practically crippled. To avoid that dilemma, we highly recommend using UPSs for your networking equipment, including cable modems, wireless access points, and routers. UPS […]
Virtualization vendors fix processor flaws
Everyone has been trying to make sense of recently discovered vulnerabilities that affect almost every computer in use today. All you really need to know about the Spectre and Meltdown bugs is that they make it very easy to spy on private information stored on a computer. But if you’re using virtual desktops or servers, […]
How will AI impact internet telephony?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings to mind robots that can perform tasks and think like human beings. While that’s certainly possible in the future, AI today is simply an intuitive set of technology that automates business processes. It’s been around for decades, and now it’s poised to make significant improvements to VoIP technology.
Beware Of Apps Bundled With Your Windows 10
Have you recently purchased new laptops or computers? Don’t get too excited. A new report proves that pre-installed software such as free trials and web browser toolbars can pose high-security risks. So if you want to maximize your new investment, here are some things you might want to know: Tavis Ormandy, a researcher from Google’s […]
Office 365 Update: New Tools You Need To Know
Yet again, Microsoft has released new AI-based features for Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and more — a continuing trend since 2016’s launch of the Microsoft AI and Research Group. If your business is subscribed to Office 365, this article will acquaint you with the newest features! Automatically Uncover Trends in Excel Data Finding useful information […]
Think before saving logins to your browser
There are a number of reasons you should be wary of saving your password to a digital platform. Just look at Yahoo’s data breach in 2013, which leaked passwords for three billion people. Even when your password isn’t compromised, saving it to a browser could have serious implications for your privacy.
5 social media trends of 2018
To say that social media is a small part of our lives is an understatement. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat are now integrated into our lives like never before. But what’s next? Can social media’s involvement go any further? These upcoming trends certainly point toward it.
IT hardware checklist for SMBs
As a business owner, you don’t want to start the new year faced with last year’s hardware problems. And although you can’t leave every issue behind, you can start implementing policies to avoid some of the most common hardware issues you’ve previously encountered. Here’s a checklist to get you started. ✓ Clean up your computer […]
Big gains for small-business IT in 2017
How many new technologies did your business adopt last year? Too many? Too few? You’ve officially made it through 2017 and there’s no better time than now to review which IT fads were worth investing in, and which ones should be left in the past. Look no further than our recap of last year’s most […]
Virtualization Containers 101
New technological developments such as cloud computing and virtualization are prying small- and medium-sized businesses away from traditional client-server architecture. In contention now lie Containers, a technology influenced by cloud computing that offers a less complex alternative to virtualization. Discover its benefits and see why they apply to your business. What are containers and why […]
Which VoIP service suits me the most?
Gone are the days when you have to spend a large amount of money each month on the telephone bill. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has made it cheaper — and in most cases, free — to place and receive calls. Whether you’re a business owner or an individual user, there is a VoIP […]
6 Microsoft Teams tips
Despite being late to the group chat scene, Microsoft Teams is equipped with a handful of features and impressive integration that set it apart from its competitors. So if you’re already subscribed to Office 365, here’s how you can take Teams to the next level. Use SharePoint to store and share files You might already […]
Microsoft unveils new Windows features
The recent Windows 10 Fall Creators update is just a few weeks old but Microsoft has already released another major update. On December 19, they rolled out a new Windows 10 Insider update to test two new features: Sets and Timeline. Sets Sets takes the tab features from web browsers and adds them to various […]
Phishers use encrypted sites to scam
Just when you thought cyber criminals couldn’t get smarter, along comes a new scamming technique. Previously used for safeguarding browsing activity, encryption tools are now used by hackers in carrying out phishing scams. This means some fraudulent sites may have HTTPS on their address, giving users a false sense of security. How hackers use encryption […]