RAM Computer Services Blog

Recover your stolen laptop

Ron — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:19:07 +0000

Prey is a lightweight application that will help you track and find your laptop if it ever gets stolen. It works in all operating systems and not only is it Open Source but also completely free.

http://preyproject.com/

Hurricane Preparation

Ron — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 14:32:27 +0000

When preparing for a hurricane it is important to take some precautionary steps beforehand to help prevent damage to equipment, and ensure that your business can be up and running again as soon as power, and other services are restored.
Here is a basic checklist of things to do to prepare your network for a storm:
1.) BACKUP: Ensure that you have a backup of your most important data. Think about what information
you would need to operate if your server/computers/network were completely destroyed. You will want to
take this backup OFF SITE, and treat it as if it were the only copy. If possible make 2 copies to take off
site.
2.) UNPLUG: Turning off equipment and having them plugged into surge protectors is not enough. To
protect against direct lightening strikes and strange line activity that can occur during extended power
outages, it is important to UNPLUG power cables, and network/phone lines. If possible locate and
unplug internet equipment, such as cable and DSL modems and routers. Electrical surges can
come in on those lines as well.
3.) GENERATOR POWER & BATTERY BACKUPS: If power is not restored in a timely manner, and you
are forced to run off of a generator, please take some precautions. You will want let the generator run for
some time to let it even out the power that it generates. Even after that, you do not want to run
sophisticated equipment, such as computers, directly off of that generated power, as it tend to have
voltage spike and dips that can damage it. Use a UPS, or battery backup unit, as this will regulate the
power (you actually run off of the battery, and the battery is charged by the “dirty” power”. A surge
protector is not enough.
4.) BACKUP: This is such an important step I have included it twice. Equipment can be replaced, data
cannot.
If you or your business need any help with preparations, or getting back up and running, please give us a call.

Automatic Printer Switcher Changes Default Printer for Different Programs

Ron — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:31:54 +0000

Windows only: Freeware utility Automatic Printer Switcher maps different default printers to different programs, so you can skip the step of switching to the printer you want every time you print from a different application.

AVG puts spotlight on Facebook

Ron — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:47:57 +0000

Just how much personal information are you releasing when you useFacebook? Facebook may be giving third-party advertisers your personal information without you realising.

The social networking site has come under fire recently for its privacy policyand concerns have been raised about what information is being used by third-party Web sites. This doesn’t bode well for Facebook’s 400 million users, half of whom log on to the Web site everyday, according to Internet security company AVG.

The Cleverest Geeky Windows Tricks Everyone Should Know

Ron — Mon, 24 May 2010 12:25:10 +0000

Anyone can sit down at a Windows PC and get along fine, but with the right tips and tricks, you can get around much faster. Here’s a handful of clever tricks to boost your Windows skills (and show off to friends).

Should I Upgrade to Office 2010?

Ron — Fri, 14 May 2010 15:24:23 +0000

That’s a great question! We’ve toured Microsoft Office 2010 in videos and screenshots, highlighted its killer features, and explained how to get the lowest price on the productivity suite. But between all the solid free alternatives and previous versions of Office, is it worth upgrading?

Wi-Fi key-cracking kits sold in China mean free Internet (and hacked networks)

Ron — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:31:27 +0000

Read the article below on how easy it is for someone to hack into your Wireless network if you are not using the latest WPA2 encryption method. IF you don’t know if your network is protected, give us a call for a free evaluation.

Google: Fake antivirus is 15 percent of all malware

Ron — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:00:23 +0000

That’s a five-fold increase from when the company first started its analysis, Niels Provos, a principal software engineer at Google, said in an interview.

Meanwhile, fake antivirus scams represent half of all malware delivered via advertisements, which is becoming a problem for high-profile sites that rely on their advertisers and ad networks to distribute clean ads.

Windows 7 is a Win for Businesses, 64-Bit Computing, Survey Says

Ron — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:24:12 +0000

Microsoft’s new OS is drawing fanfare from the IT community

Windows 7 may go down in history not only as the most popular commercial Windows operating system to date, but also as the operating system that convinced regular consumers and business users to switch to a 64-bit operating system.

Microsoft’s new OS is drawing fanfare from the IT community

View all types of files online with Box.net

Ron — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:34:47 +0000

This is a really cool new feature. I can definitely see a use for this when you get an attachment from someone and you don’t have the software to open it.

See it in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNMBvZWL0Pw