Category: IT Support Page 5 of 6

Using Unsecured Wi-Fi Hotspots

On July 15, 2013

July 15, 2013

Public Wi-Fi hotspots are trendy and popular, for the obvious convenience that they offer. No wonder most restraints, cafes, hotels, and other public places are jumping on the bandwagon and allowing visitors to freely access their Wi-Fi networks without needing a password. Despite how tempting it is to simply go ahead and connect to these networks, you need to be prudent while doing so, as you could unknowingly put your computer at a risk of getting hacked.

The following tips guide you on how to use unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots smartly, while keeping your computer protected:

Remember that Wi-Fi hotspots are always unsecured connections, even if they require a password to access them. This means that hackers can easily access your private information if you are not careful.

Some operating systems like Mac OS X and Windows have built-in security features that can protect your computer when you are accessing the internet through such a connection. Make use of your “Firewall” by checking the “block all incoming traffic” option. Another effective security measure is to disable fire sharing.

One of the most targeted personal information is passwords. Installing a browser add-on like LastPass could be effective in keeping your passwords safe. Normally, a hacker can easily view your passwords by accessing your Registry or viewing your keyboard activity through something like keyloggers. LastPass stores all your passwords in a cloud which means that neither do you have to type your passwords, nor will they be stored in your computer.

Websites that encrypt your activity are usually safe to use, since all the information accessed on these sites remains confidential. You can identify such websites either by looking for a padlock in the address bar, or checking the URL for https:// Even if a website does not have HTTPS, you can download an add-on like HTTPS Everywhere, which will convert the connection on most popular websites into an encrypted one.

Before accessing any public Wi-Fi network, you want to confirm from the owner of the venue that you have the correct name of the network. This is because hackers can create their own fake network with a similar name to the original, putting your information at a high risk.

Finally, even after taking all the above-mentioned measures, you still need to exercise some common sense while using an unsecured Wi-Fi network. Avoid activities that expose your private details, such as banking and online shopping.

Centex Technologies based in Dallas and Killeen TX provide Computer Network Security solutions. Call us at (855) 375-9654 for more information.

How To Get Rid Of Spam In Your Email

By centexitguy

On June 17, 2013

In IT Support, Tech Buzz

June 17, 2013

Are you fed up of your inbox being loaded with unwanted junk emails? Do you miss the good old days when emails were exclusive, and receiving an email actually meant that there was something worth reading in your inbox? The following simple tips tell you how you can manage your emails, ensuring that spam stays out of the way.

The single most effective way to get rid of spam is to avoid giving your email address to unknown sources. This might be difficult, with most websites requiring users to provide a valid email address to move forward, and some even going to the extent of offering free merchandise or discounts in exchange for your email address. An easy way to cope with this is to have an alternate email id exclusively reserved for such purposes, and a separate one for friends and family.

You can also make use of your email application’s filter service to send emails from a specific source directly into your spam folder.

Avoiding an easy-to-guess email address is another effective way to stay safe from spammers. In most cases, these spammers do not go through the trouble of finding real email addresses from the net, but simply make guesses of obvious names, like say, michael92@xyz123.com.

Using the options of “unsubscribing” or being “removed from this list” should be exercised with caution. While it may seem like the easy way out, it could work against you in some cases. This is because requesting to unsubscribe tells the spammer that there is a real person at the other end, and that this is a valid email address. This could make you their target when they sell their lists to other spammers.

If you are willing to put some extra effort into curbing these spammers, you could report them to their ISP. The first step to doing this is determining the origin of the spam. You can easily do this by displaying the entire information in the email’s header. Working from top to bottom on the “received” lines could help you identify the spam’s origin. Most ISPs will block spammers from their service upon receiving the complaint.

How To Eliminate Security Threats For Your Computer

By centexitguy

On May 8, 2013

In IT Support, Networking

May 8 2013

With the increasing number of internet hackers and miscreants, it is every computer user’s responsibility to understand how computer security works, and ensure that they are taking the necessary steps to safeguard their computer from security threats. With just a few simple precautions, you can go a long way in keeping your computer safe from these negative elements. The following tips guide you on how to eliminate security threats for your computer-

The internet browser you choose has an impact on the security of your computer, so ensure that you are using a safe and trusted browser. Also remember to adjust your browser settings to avoid pop-ups and other auto downloads on the websites.

Be careful about the source that you choose to install antivirus software and other computer protection. Using a shady website for free downloads of these software could do more harm than good, infesting your computer with malicious code.

Use one reliable antivirus software with positive user reviews, instead of installing multiple software on your computer. Also be sure not to play around with the settings of the antivirus, unless you are absolutely sure about what you are doing, as you could end up leaving loopholes for threats.

It is recommended to delete all your browsing data, including cookies and passwords, after each browsing session. Making this a habit could help to save your sensitive information and protect your accounts from hackers.

Do not overlook the need to scan external storage devices for viruses each time you use them on your computer.

Be cautious before submitting your credit card details online, as phishing scams are getting alarmingly common.

Beware of emails from unknown sources and think twice before responding to these emails, as you could end up being permanently listed on spam lists. Also do not click on links to websites that you are not sure about.

Make the most of your antivirus by running weekly scans, and keeping it regularly updated.

Keeping a backup of all the important files and data on your computer is a good idea, as this could be of great help in the event of an attack on your PC.

You need to be particularly careful and install a firewall in you are using the internet on a shared network. Sometimes the worst hackers could be right next door to you.

Centex Technologies is a Central Texas based networking and IT firm engaged in providing complete networking and IT security solutions. For more information, call us at our Dallas office – (972) 375-9654

How To Achieve Customer Satisfaction In Online Businesses

By centexitguy

On July 12, 2012

In Internet marketing, IT Support

July 12, 2012

Customer satisfaction is amongst the most important considerations that any online retailer needs to make. A little extra effort put into assuring that your customers get what they need and are not disappointed in any way, can go a long way in setting you apart from your competitors. The following tips can help you in improving the support offered to your customers, and leaving them satisfied each time they visit your website.

Provide valuable information – Working on the content that you provide on your website, whether it is about your products and services, or information related to what you offer, is one of the best ways to have satisfied customers. By doing so, you let your customers know that you are knowledgeable about your field, and also give them a reason to revisit your website.

Share information about yourself – Make the maximum use of your “about us” section by giving your customers an insight into who you are, where you are, how you got into this business, and what makes you different from other sites offering similar services. Also include a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section to address common doubts in the minds of your customers, and to let them know how you shall assist them should anything go wrong during or after they make a purchase.

Be helpful and honest – Just having an active online customer support team is not enough. You need to train your customer support representatives to treat each customer with genuine concern, and to look beyond the metrics like turnover rate or wait time. You can also engage in proactive interaction with customers who appear to be in the need of help, like a customer who seems to be revisiting product pages repeatedly, or one who is spending longer-than-average time at checkout. It is equally important to encourage honesty in all interactions.

Under-promise, and over-deliver – Having satisfied customers is all about delivering more than you promise. Take your customers by surprise by giving them unexpected gifts and surprise offers. An easy return policy is also a key factor in customer satisfaction. However, your principal aim should be to enhance customer support at the pre-sale stage to reduce the likelihood of returns in the first place.

With the power of social media being at an all-time high, every small effort that you make towards customer satisfaction will result in an amplified boost to your online reputation. We at Centex Technologies provide Internet Marketing, IT Support, Web Development and Website Designing services to our clients in Austin, Dallas, Killeen and other areas in Central Texas. For more information, feel free to call us at toll free no – (800) 236-1497

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Why Regular Data Backups Are Important For Businesses?

By centexitguy

On November 2, 2011

In IT Support

November 2, 2011

Data backups form a vital part of any business so as to make adequate provisions for sudden loss or elimination of existing data that is necessary for carrying out daily operations. There are several ways in which important data may be lost including virus attacks and technical issues that may occur in a computer system. As most offices require twenty four hour internet connectivity in order to maintain effective communication with clients and customers, your systems can be exposed to a host of threats that may result in the deletion, alteration or complete loss of information that is stored on a particular system. This can cause a complete halt to your business operations that may not be able to function due to loss of data thus leading to huge financial losses.

In order to prevent such issues from occurring, backups of useful information must be maintained so that your business is not interrupted in any case. Having adequate backups in place can help you resume work as soon as you restore the lost information thus leading to no substantial losses. The decision regarding the kind of data that should be stored in the form of back up files should be made on the basis of how important the information is for your daily business activities. The backup should be maintained on removable disks that do not form a permanent part of the system so that any discrepancies in the working of the system do not have any effect on the backups being maintained.

They can also be maintained on an offline computer system that is not connected to the internet.
You should not wait to provide backups for new data that you enter. Any important files that are created should be cloned onto removable disks as soon as they are created as the loss of data can occur without any warning. There is certain software available for this purpose that can simply be run on your system to provide effective backup of vital information as and when it is entered into the system. You can also hire services of qualified network specialists who would periodically maintain your systems and take regular backups.

We at Centex Technologies provide complete IT services including data monitoring and regular remote backups. We have our offices in Dallas and Killeen Texas. For more information call us on our Toll Free no : (800) 236-1497)

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