Tag Archives: Steve Hilton

About 1299 days ago Business Software

Browser Wars: Does IE8 Change the Game?

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Built into Windows 7 or available as a free download for other operating systems, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) offers a number of improvements and new features to go up against the likes of competing browsers such as Mozilla’s Firefox, Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari, and Opera. IE8 delivers Internet users stepped up security against cross-site scripting attacks, downloads of malicious code, phishing, and other security risks. At the same time, the new browsing platform provides businesses with tools to centrally manage and configure group policies for the office, streamlined browser management, built-in developer tools to help save your developers time, and backwards compatibility with the earlier browser version, IE7. The question for businesses now is whether IE8 is a game-changer in the battle of the browsers and whether your organization should standardize on IE8 — or any of its well-regarded rivals. Browsing issues to consider There are several ways small and mid-sized businesses use Web browsers. Employees often use browsers to look for information about customers, competitors, or products on the Internet. At the same time, a growing number of companies are using and/or developing Web applications that need to be compatible with Web browsers. Deciding which browser is best for a small business “is like asking an Italian and a Frenchman which country has the best food,” jokes Steve Hilton, vice president of small and mid-sized business research at the Boston-based Yankee Group. The advice may depend on which computing platform your business uses, PC-based or Mac. “My advice for picking a browser is simple: Internet Explorer 8 is your default, but if you feel like experimenting consider Firefox or Chrome and you might find one particularly appealing from a user-interface point-of-view,” says Hilton. This isn’t the case for a Mac user, though, he adds. “Apple-heads should just stick with Safari.” So, does it really matter which browser you go with? Not really, say some experts. “For most companies it’s the path of least resistance, so whatever is the default on the operating system — Internet Explorer for Windows or Safari for the Mac OS — is the first one to try,” advises Michael Gartenberg, vice president at Interpret LLC, a market research firm based in New York and Los Angeles. The launch of IE8 provides businesses with a safe bet for standardization — sort of. “At the end of the day, you won’t have an issue if you go with IE8 as it’s secure and stable,” Gartenberg says. “Microsoft has done an excellent job to move the product forward over the years, but honestly, any modern browser is going to work pretty well for you.” That said, Gartenberg says Microsoft’s dominance of market share in the browser space means some applications might favor IE8 over others in the compatibility department. A company involved in writing Web apps should also take a browser-agnostic approach, both Hilton and Gartenberg say. “Web builders need to optimize sites for all of these browsers, but at least make sure IE and Firefox work, and then pick-up the Apple-centric products,” Hilton advises. “If you’re writing Web-compliant apps, you shouldn’t play favorites,” adds Gartenberg. Windows 7′s relevance Gartenberg says IE8, which is bundled in every copy of Windows 7, gives Microsoft a “home court advantage” in the browser wars. But it’s not without merit: “IE8 does work better in Windows 7, so the combo helps Microsoft — and ultimately, its users, too.” But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for competition. “While I have not tested all browser and operating system combinations, I can’t imagine Microsoft would do anything intentional to impede the use of competing browsers in Window 7,” says Hilton. Referencing antitrust issues, Hilton adds “surely Microsoft, and their legal department, would follow that old adage, ‘once bitten, twice shy,’ when it comes to their operating system and browser issues.” Quick pros and cons While some technology analysts take laissez faire approach to deciding which browser is best for your business, there are still some advantages and shortcomings to each of the big players. Here they are: Internet Explorer 8 Pros: Most websites and plugs-ins work well with IE. Faster speeds and handy time-saving tools. Compatibility View helps see older websites easier. Available in multiple languages. Built into Windows. Cons: Security holes still found. Market share leader means more susceptible to attacks. Some crashing. Mozilla Firefox Pros: Newest version is roughly three times faster than Firefox 3.0. Tabbed browsing works well. Convenient features, including location-aware browsing. Vibrant and passionate development community. Cons: Some bugs and security issues that requires “patching.” Opera Pros: Lean and fast. Secure. Mouse gestures and other extra features in Opera (including Opera Unite) are handy additions. Cons: Doesn’t fare as well on heavy multimedia sites. Not as much plug-in support than IE and Firefox. Apple Safari Pros: Good looking. Fast. Reliable. Minimalist design. Cons: Close button on left side. Not much mouse functionality (e.g. middle button). No status bar. Not all plug-ins supported. Built into Macs. Google Chrome Pros: Clean and fast. Some nice features like shortcuts. Available in 50 languages. Cons: Lack of add-ons; not all websites/plug-ins are supported. No support for Macs.

About 1391 days ago PCs, Laptops, and Notebooks

Are Netbooks Enough for Your Business?

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Portable and affordable, the trendy “netbook” is all the rage among computer makers and the consumers snatching them up in droves — so much, in fact, this young category is estimated to make up more than 20 percent of the entire laptop category by next year. But are these tiny Wi-Fi-enabled netbooks — designed primarily for Web surfing, e-mail, and word processing — ideal for running your business? What’s lost or gained in the transition? If you recognize the limitations of these scaled-down PCs, a netbook might be all you and your staff need to remain productive on the go, experts say. Price and size matter “A netbook is just a laptop whose pivotal axis is price,” says Michael Gartenberg, vice president at Interpret LLC, a market research firm based in London, New York, and Los Angeles. “Basically you need to ask yourself if the netbook has enough horsepower to manage your business, and if so, you can save some money.” However, if you or your staff need to run memory-intensive programs or require larger screens or a full-size keyboard, you might want to steer clear of this category, he says. The lack of an optical drive might be an issue for some, Gartenberg adds, but an inexpensive external drive — that can be shared among employees to install software — might be all that’s required. “Beyond that, many computer users today simply don’t need a DVD drive,” he says. Steve Hilton, vice president for enterprise and small and mid-sized business research at the Boston-based  Yankee Group, says along with a relatively inexpensive price tag, netbooks offer two other advantages for mobile workers: “They are fairly easy to replace if lost or damaged — in fact most suppliers can easily ship an exact duplicate very quickly. Plus, an IT department tends to like [netbooks] as they’re easy to manage since they have very few applications resident on the device.” Cloud computing Netbooks might carry few applications because many small and mid-sized businesses are moving towards “cloud computing,” which allows online employees to securely access programs and files on a remote server, as opposed to physically carrying sensitive data on the road. This trend is on the rise thanks to ubiquitous Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. In addition, more devices are available — such as netbooks and smartphones — with limited local memory. Much of the software is Web-based, too, therefore not requiring one particular operating system over another. “Applications in the cloud are not loaded on a netbook because applications are processing and hard-disk hogs,” explains Hilton. “Netbooks are light on both processing and hard-disk space, which is one of the reasons why they’re priced fairly inexpensively, so in order to get the value from a netbook, applications in the cloud are essential.” Looked at another way, “a Prius and a Boxster have different purposes,” continues Hilton, comparing netbooks with automobiles. “If you need a car that sips gasoline, drives your family of four to the mall, and keeps your auto insurance premiums low, your choice is obvious.” Gartenberg, however, cautions those who rely too heavily on remote applications for business. “The problem with the cloud is that it’s not always available,” he says. “There is this notion that everything will be delivered via browser, but it’s more of a coexistence [with locally stored programs]. One solution isn’t killing the other.” And they’re getting better Just two years ago, a netbook might be limited by a Linux operating system, a petite 7-inch display, and just 4GB of Flash (SSD) memory. Fast-forward to today, however, and there is far more selection, including a Windows o/s, bigger screens (up to 12-inches), a near full-size QWERTY keyboard, a minimum 160GB hard drive and better processors, such as Intel Atom chips. As far as security goes, Gartenberg says you must treat netbooks like a laptop. “You want to be cautious about what information is on the netbook,” he says, “ensure everything is password-protected, and despite its small size, try to remember not to leave it at a coffee shop or in a taxicab.”  

About 1544 days ago Telecom and Wireless

Fiber Increases Broadband Internet Alternatives

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It used to be that small businesses — especially home-based businesses — had a choice between DSL and cable modem for their broadband Internet needs. Now, several providers, including AT&T and Verizon, are offering higher speed connections over fiber optic cable. Here we assess whether or not fiber is ideal for your small or mid-sized business or home-based practice, and discuss the pros and cons of the technology. Advantages of fiber “Fiber-based solutions represent the telecommunications industry’s next great hope,” says Carmi Levy, senior vice president of strategic consulting at AR Communications Inc. in Toronto. “While cable-based Internet services have gradually become much faster over the last decade, DSL has lagged, and so the market has been ready for a viable third option, and it has it in fiber.” Levy says the move from DSL or cable to fiber can be as significant as the shift from dial-up to DSL or cable. “Next-generation speeds will also fundamentally change the face of the Internet as developers rush to bring rich new services to market that take advantage of these new, bigger, faster pipes,” adds Levy. Steve Hilton, vice president of enterprise and small and mid-sized business research at the Boston-based Yankee Group, agrees with Levy on the advantage of greater speeds and support for richer services. “The pros of fiber-based connections are blazingly fast data, bundled voice and video, which all make for a strong … offering” for small and mid-sized businesses. Another advantage, believes Hilton, is “extremely competitive” pricing, as is the case of Verizon’s FiOS. Levy says fiber-based connectivity can be especially advantageous to those who work from a home office. “Home businesses in particular have long had a need for reliable, high-performance network connections, — when you’re a small business and your only connection to the outside world comes courtesy of your Internet provider, your very survival depends on how effectively it all works,” Levy says. “A slow, unreliable connection hampers your competitiveness and [can] reduce the efficiency of your business applications.” Considering many applications are going online (often referred to as “cloud computing”), the role of the network becomes ever more important. Obstacles to upgrading According to Hilton, the main drawback to fiber at this point in time depends on where your business is: “Geography is the biggest limitation to this technology today.” “Geography has always been a major issue for carriers as well as consumers,” adds Levy. “While carriers have often focused their attention on deploying services to major urban areas, they have taken a much more conservative approach to servicing more rural regions.” This is largely an issue of cost, explains Levy, as it’s expensive to deliver distance-sensitive services to sparsely populated regions. In many cases, the payback period would be so long that the carriers would never make a profit, so they’ve held back. “The question as the age of fiber dawns is whether this same urban versus rural issue will play out as well, or whether Verizon and future fiber carriers have figured out a way to bring the capital investment down so that rural users can enjoy high-speed access just like people in urban areas,” says Levy. Wireless solutions — such as WiMAX and long term evolution (LTE) cellular technology — are also catching on, which provides a less-tethered alternative to fiber. Hilton says other potential issues include phone system support. “I don’t think you can backhaul an IP PBX over fiber-to-the-home today,” he says. Pricing by some carriers also isn’t as aggressive, and usually involves a mandatory contract which might not appeal to some businesses. Despite these kinks, many technology pundits believe fiber can help small businesses remain connected and competitive with this fatter pipe and access more sophisticated online resources than they could through conventional cable or DSL.

About 1603 days ago Hardware

The Right Touch: Touch-Screen PCs

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Touch-screen technology can be found in all the latest smartphones — with products such as the Apple iPhone, BlackBerry Storm, HTC Touch Diamond, and Samsung Instinct, to name a few. But whether or not this trend will extend to business computers is subject to opinion, and application. Certain types of small businesses, for example, might thrive with the help of touch-screen computers. In the food or retail industry, access to a touch-screen to quickly place food orders or view merchandise information provides an intuitive interface for customers and employees alike. HP has just launched its Touch Smart tx2, a convertible tablet/laptop hybrid with a multi-touch screen technology not unlike the iPhone. Users can pinch, swipe, or draw with a finger or two to write on the display, browse the Web, and control media. A feel-good interface On how to decide if touch-screen PCs are right for you and your business, here’s what the experts advise. “Touchscreen PCs are like dirty martinis: they’re right for some, not right for others,” begins Steve Hilton, vice president of enterprise and small and mid-sized business research at the Boston-based Yankee Group. For a small or mid-sized business accounting manager, for example, “a touch-screen PC is probably not so helpful because you spend most of your time on Microsoft Excel or some kind of accounting application,” says Hilton. “But if you’re a graphic designer, Web developer, or other creative type, a touch-screen PC can be a cool idea.” Hilton says Yankee Group has a test panel, a group of executives from small and mid-sized businesses, which tests new technologies for the market research firm. “One group is an online game developer and the designers at that studio simply love the idea of touch-screen computers,” explains Hilton. “So this technology fits a relevant niche in the market.” “Businesses have shown interest in having touch technology — this is untapped to date,” says Anneliese Olson, director of worldwide product marketing for business desktops at HP. “There is a need for easy-to-use, customized touch applications in vertical markets… especially designed for use in kiosks, customer-facing compute spaces, education and training, conference rooms, front desk and lobby areas, and even general office use.” A touchy subject But not everyone is sold on touch-screen PCs. “Even though we’re seeing touch devices coming to market and Microsoft supporting touch in the future versions of Windows, at the end of the day a lot of this functionality is more gratuitous than anything else,” believes Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy for the Jupitermedia research group in New York City. PC operating systems weren’t designed with touch in mind. “Unless you’re CNN that needs touch-screen devices to show information during an election, you’re better off saving the money you’d spend on a touch-screen and buy better smartphones or a better class of machine with more memory or better components,” adds Gartenberg. “There just isn’t a lot of functionality in touch for most users,” he says. “The value of these screens is more in mobile devices than personal computers.”

About 1603 days ago Telecom and Wireless

Wi-Fi in the Sky: Are We There Yet?

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If you’re one of the millions of business travelers who fly the friendly skies, be prepared to use your laptop for a lot more than just playing Windows Solitaire to pass the time. Many domestic airlines — including American, Delta, US Airways, Virgin America, JetBlue Airways, and Air Canada — have begun to offer Wi-Fi on select flights, allowing laptop- or smartphone-toting passengers to wirelessly access the Internet while in their seat. Now you can surf the Web, read e-mail, instant message colleagues, stream media, and downloads files — all that you can do in the office — at 30,000 feet. There have been failed attempts to introduce high-speed Internet access on commercial airlines in the past, such as Connexion by Boeing’s satellite-based technology on Scandinavian Airlines, Lufthansa, China Airlines, Korean Ai,r and Singapore Airlines. But it appears this new round of Wi-Fi service is here to stay. American Airlines, for example, was the first U.S. airline to implement AirCell’s Gogo high-speed broadband connectivity for $12.95 per flight. The service is currently available on American’s Boeing 767-200 aircraft that primarily flies transcontinental routes between New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami. Each Gogo session includes full Internet, virtual private network (VPN), and e-mail access. “We understand that broadband connectivity is important to our business customers and others who want to use their PDAs and laptops for real-time, in-flight broadband communications,” said Dan Garton, American’s executive vice president of marketing, in a company statement. “This is part of our continuing effort to enhance the travel experience for our customers and meet their evolving needs.” Pros of in-flight Wi-Fi “Wi-Fi a mile-high is long overdue,” believes Steve Hilton, vice president of enterprise and small and mid-sized business research at the Yankee Group, a Boston, Mass.-based market research firm. “I can’t think of anything more appealing than actually having Internet connectivity while flying rather than sipping a $5 glass of over-oaky domestic Chardonnay.” Hilton says many traveling businesspersons get their best work done on airplanes because of the lack of distractions, so “having an Internet service handy would be valuable.” This is also true for those who prefer “cloud computing,” by working on files remotely, say, in an online-only program like Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Andy Walker, executive producer of Butterscotch.com, a technology-focused video and downloads website, agrees with Hilton on how online access can increase productivity. “Wi-Fi in the sky is great because a flight is often the only real downtime time a busy person gets. Therefore it’s a great opportunity to catch up on e-mail or any other work that requires an Internet connection.”  “I have always wanted Wi-Fi en route, so I am very excited about this trend,” adds Walker. Cons of surfing while you fly Similar to what the BlackBerry has done to promote an on-demand 24/7 work culture, the downsides to Internet access on airplanes include that your boss can e-mail you while you’re relaxing between transcontinental meetings, conferences, or trade shows. “So you can’t quite escape work, or the world,” concedes Walker. “There is also something to be said for creating a few hours of, shall I say, dis-connectivity, for your mental health,” he adds. “I always let myself get mesmerized by the bubbles in my soda water on a flight and ponder the universe — the lure of Wi-Fi is going to make that option harder to do given the temptation of being connected again,” says Walker. Security can also be an issue, says Hilton. “That 900 kilometer an hour metal tube in the sky is filled with potential hackers with nothing to do except poke around your files.” “A good firewall and VPN would be a must for me if I’m doing company work on an airplane,” Hilton adds. After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, there have been concerns that online connectivity in the skies is that it could facilitate communication between terrorists who might be planning or coordinating an attack. But that doesn’t seem to have thwarted the roll out of Wi-Fi in the sky. But some privacy concerns remain. What if the passenger besides you wanted to use a webcam to chat with his/her spouse via Skype? Think about it: Do you want to hear (and see) their conversation?

About 1603 days ago PCs, Laptops, and Notebooks

The Right Touch: Touch-Screen PCs

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Touch-screen technology can be found in all the latest smartphones — with products such as the Apple iPhone, BlackBerry Storm, HTC Touch Diamond, and Samsung Instinct, to name a few. But whether or not this trend will extend to business computers is subject to opinion, and application. Certain types of small businesses, for example, might thrive with the help of touch-screen computers. In the food or retail industry, access to a touch-screen to quickly place food orders or view merchandise information provides an intuitive interface for customers and employees alike. HP has just launched its Touch Smart tx2, a convertible tablet/laptop hybrid with a multi-touch screen technology not unlike the iPhone. Users can pinch, swipe, or draw with a finger or two to write on the display, browse the Web, and control media. A feel-good interface On how to decide if touch-screen PCs are right for you and your business, here’s what the experts advise. “Touchscreen PCs are like dirty martinis: they’re right for some, not right for others,” begins Steve Hilton, vice president of enterprise and small and mid-sized business research at the Boston-based Yankee Group. For a small or mid-sized business accounting manager, for example, “a touch-screen PC is probably not so helpful because you spend most of your time on Microsoft Excel or some kind of accounting application,” says Hilton. “But if you’re a graphic designer, Web developer, or other creative type, a touch-screen PC can be a cool idea.” Hilton says Yankee Group has a test panel, a group of executives from small and mid-sized businesses, which tests new technologies for the market research firm. “One group is an online game developer and the designers at that studio simply love the idea of touch-screen computers,” explains Hilton. “So this technology fits a relevant niche in the market.” “Businesses have shown interest in having touch technology — this is untapped to date,” says Anneliese Olson, director of worldwide product marketing for business desktops at HP. “There is a need for easy-to-use, customized touch applications in vertical markets… especially designed for use in kiosks, customer-facing compute spaces, education and training, conference rooms, front desk and lobby areas, and even general office use.” A touchy subject But not everyone is sold on touch-screen PCs. “Even though we’re seeing touch devices coming to market and Microsoft supporting touch in the future versions of Windows, at the end of the day a lot of this functionality is more gratuitous than anything else,” believes Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy for the Jupitermedia research group in New York City. PC operating systems weren’t designed with touch in mind. “Unless you’re CNN that needs touch-screen devices to show information during an election, you’re better off saving the money you’d spend on a touch-screen and buy better smartphones or a better class of machine with more memory or better components,” adds Gartenberg. “There just isn’t a lot of functionality in touch for most users,” he says. “The value of these screens is more in mobile devices than personal computers.”

About 1603 days ago Printers, Copiers, and Peripherals

Must-Have Features for Your Next Printer

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It might seem like a simple enough task, but buying a computer printer for your office could be an intimidating endeavor. Before you purchase a machine you’ll need to ask yourself a few questions first. For example, should you opt for a laser or inkjet? Color or black and white? Do you need collating or duplex functionality, large paper trays, or wireless networking? What about an all-in-one solution that can also scan, copy, and fax? Naturally the features you’ll look for depends on your specific needs, company size, office environment, and budget. This is what the experts suggest that you consider in features for your next office printer. Multifunction All-in-one units are popular with consumers, but whether or not you should you pick one up for your business depends on your requirements, says Steve Hilton, vice president for small and mid-sized business and enterprise research at the Boston, Mass.-based Yankee Group. “All-in-one printers are a great idea for small businesses with limited faxing needs — lightweight, small, and fairly reasonably priced, they afford small businesses a lot of functionality for the money.” But you might have to sacrifice some performance with these multitasking units, says Hilton. “Offices with heavy faxing requirements should have dedicated machines,” plus standalone copiers tend to have more features and handle large volume tasks better than a multifunction unit. Andy Walker, executive producer of Butterscotch.com, a technology-focused video and downloads website, agrees with Hilton. “Multifunction machines are useful especially when paired with a laser print engine — and good when space is an issue in a smaller office — but the idiom ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ applies here,” Walker says. “All the functions — print, fax, copy, and scan — are in one handy machine but each tends to perform at a mediocre level relative to their standalone counterparts.” Laser vs. inkjet The choice between inkjet and laser depends on your company’s needs. “Inkjet produce cheaper color output and great for photos, if you are willing to wait for a slower print process,” says Walker. “Laser is good for fast high volume printing and professional print quality business output.” Most small businesses should have at least one color laser print in-house to meet its needs, Walker adds. There are other (less popular) printing technologies, too, such as dye-sublimation or thermal wax printers. But most businesses chose either inkjet or laser printers for office use. Less is more If your small or mid-sized business is watching its budget, be more selective about what’s being printed out. According to Xerox, office workers throw away 45 percent of documents within 24 hours of printing them. “In addition, if you want to save a little money, make sure you print in black-and-white mode,” adds Hilton. “Those color ink cartridges need to be replaced quickly, therefore save color copying for your marketing or creative literature or other customer-facing work.” Also, if you want to save cash and help the environment, use both sides of the paper, which is often referred to as “duplex printing.” Therefore, choose copiers, digital printers and multifunction devices that can print on both sides of the paper, and add duplex as your “default” mode. Other features Walker says another “must-have” feature in small business printers is an LCD screen, and the reasons are two-fold: “You can preview what you are printing to avoid wasting ink, paper, and time, plus you can see actual useful troubleshooting tips as opposed to cryptic flashing lights.” Depending on the size of the company and office space, network connectivity can be quite useful so multiple employees can print from any computer in the office. To remove clutter, wireless connectivity, opposed to an Ethernet connection, is preferred by many businesses, but this feature will likely add to the cost of the unit.

About 1634 days ago Computer Security

Help for Recovering Stolen Laptops

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If you’re one of the millions of Americans who travel with a laptop for business, it’s critical to make sure you’re doing enough to properly protect your computer companion. According to security vendor Symantec, a laptop computer is stolen every 53 seconds in the U.S. — 97 percent of which are never recovered. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, a variety of software and services available today are designed to help recover a lost or stolen notebook computer. Some of the more popular solutions include LoJack for Laptops and GadgetTrak Laptop Security. Experts speak out But losing the computer itself may be the least of your worries if you consider the valuable data that resides on it: sensitive company information, financial records, passwords, and other private documents. In fact, Symantec and the Ponemon Institute predict the value of an average data breach exceeds $10 million, usually caused by theft or loss of a laptop or storage device. “It’s not about how much your laptop costs but rather, how much is your data worth to you,” says Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy for Jupitermedia in New York City. “A device can be left behind, so you must make sure you’re safeguarding your information and have a back-ups of important files.” Products like LoJack for Laptops, which is a tracking device installed on a laptop that helps pinpoint location when the laptop connects to the Internet, are a “great way” to physically recover the laptop, adds Gartenberg. But, he adds, passwords and encryption must also be employed to ensure sensitive company information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. “At the end of the day these services are a good idea, they can be useful indeed, but it’s all about how secure your data is,” says Gartenberg. “In the end, protecting your data and having back-ups is what you need to care about — not recovering the laptop itself.” Steve Hilton, vice president for small and mid-sized businesses and enterprise research at the Boston, Mass.-based Yankee Group, agrees with Gartenberg on prioritizing your concerns: “If you have a top-of-the-line laptop a tracking application might be worthwhile, but more likely than not it’s the data you care about,” says Hilton. “So make sure you do regular back-ups of data on a NAS [networked-attached storage] box or through an online back-up service; if you’re concerned about PC theft call your insurance agent and see if your business contents’ policy covers you.” Track it Companies like Computrace, which makes LoJack, and WestinTech, which manufactures GadgetTrak, specialize in helping the authorities track down your laptop if stolen, while a few PC manufacturers also offer this as an additional service. Available for Windows and Macs, tracking services are usually subscription-based — so you’ll have to assess if you can justify the annual costs — and they typically use GPS signals or silent alarms when the stolen laptop connected to the Net. Computrace’s software, for example, is embedded in the firmware of computers, capable of surviving operating system reinstallations as well as hard-drive reformats and replacements. A premium edition of LoJack for Laptops includes a powerful “data delete” service that can remotely erase sensitive files, such as banking records and Internet cookies (as well as a service guarantee of up to $1,000 if the computer is not recovered or a data delete service cannot be performed). LoJack for Laptops costs $39.99 for one year or $89.99 for three years. The premium edition costs $59.99 a year or $109.99 for three years. On a related note, GadgetTrak sniffs out the whereabouts of the laptop once it detects changes in location and network environments, and sends that info directly to you including IP address, internal network address, host names, and more. A one-year license costs $29.95, while a three-year license is $59.95.

About 1664 days ago Data Security

Secure Your PCs for Free

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Given the state of the economy, many small and mid-sized businesses and small office, home office (SOHO) workers might be tempted to trim essential services, such as anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, firewall, spam detection, and offsite back-up. The question isn’t whether or not you can afford security software — rather, it’s can you afford not to? Don’t fret, there is an alternative. Free software exists Rather than putting your company’s data at risk by not doing anything at all, consider a handful of downloadable tools that offer protection for your PC, without costing your company a dime. “Free is the best four-letter word in the English language” for small and mid-sized businesses, says Steve Hilton, vice president for small and mid-sized business and enterprise research at the Boston, Mass.-based Yankee Group. “Try out free solutions and talk with someone who’s already used the product to avoid any gotchas.” What “gotchas,” you ask? Hilton says free software is free for a reason. “The vendor might support the free product, hoping you’ll upgrade to the pay-version, or some vendors rely on ad-sponsored revenues to support free products.” But in some cases the software might conflict with your operating systems or applications on your PC, adds Hilton. “Therefore, the best idea is to work with your tech advisor or IT department to make sure you won’t have any unfortunate surprises, because free software often doesn’t come with vendor-provided tech support.” Not everyone believes these free options are a good idea for your business. “While most of these tools, such as free anti-malware, are very good for consumers I don’t think they are a good idea” for businesses, says Peter Firstbrook, research director for information, security and privacy at Gartner, a Stamford, Conn.- headquartered technology market research firm. “They key requirement for business is centralized management and reporting and that is absent from these tools,” explains Firstbrook, and “in some solutions commercial use is specifically prohibited by the license agreement.” Recommended freebies  Anti-virus software is important to safeguard your PC from the latest threats out there in cyberspace, which usually make their way into your e-mail inbox. Without anti-virus detection, all it takes is for you or an employee to click on an attachment, such as an .exe file, causing an immediate infection and perhaps propagating itself through your contacts list (and yes, your clients and customers will just love that). On a related note, spyware refers to other “malware” (malicious software) that can do everything from slow down your PC and spy on your Internet surfing behavior to causing inappropriate pop-up ads and hijacking your browser’s home page or toolbar. Some of the anti-virus software programs experts recommend include the award-winning AVG Free and Avast!, while competent anti-spyware tools include Windows Defender and Ad-Aware 2008 Free. On a related note, make sure you have a powerful firewall and intrusion detection to protect your PC from predators, such as Personal Firewall by Sunbelt or Comodo Firewall. Online storage Backing up important files is critical — but saving them to a local external hard drive, USB thumb-stick, or recordable DVD means they’re still vulnerable to theft, fire, or flood. It’s no wonder, then, why many companies prefer to upload data to a secure offsite location. An added advantage to these online back-up and storage solutions is the ability to access those files anywhere in the world you’ve got an Internet connection. While some services let you back a couple of gigabytes for free, such as MozyHome, Microsoft gives you up to 5GB of free storage per month with its Windows Live SkyDrive. All that’s required to use this password-protected virtual drive is a Windows Live I.D. (a Hotmail e-mail address will do). And if you need to send large files to someone — such as sending a huge PDF to a coworker or client — you can set up a separate folder on Windows Live SkyDrive only for shared files. Spam protection Spam, or unsolicited junk mail, isn’t just a productivity drain as you and your employees can spend hours deleting these unwanted messages per week, but often they contain viruses, spyware, or phishing attempts that try to lure you to authentic-looking websites to steal your identity for financial gain. If you use Microsoft Outlook, however, a free plug-in program called SPAMfighter dramatically reduces the amount of junk mail you get by segregating suspicious messages and dropping it into a folder. It catches quite a bit (with few “false positives,” meaning it thinks mail is spam when it’s not) and doesn’t slow down your PC. A word of warning: while free, SPAMfighter adds a “signature” to the end of your outgoing e-mails that is meant to spread the word about the software (and no, you can’t remove it), plus the company hopes you’ll upgrade to the paid version with additional bells and whistles.

About 1664 days ago Spyware and Malware

Secure Your PCs for Free

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Given the state of the economy, many small and mid-sized businesses and small office, home office (SOHO) workers might be tempted to trim essential services, such as anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, firewall, spam detection, and offsite back-up. The question isn’t whether or not you can afford security software — rather, it’s can you afford not to? Don’t fret, there is an alternative. Free software exists Rather than putting your company’s data at risk by not doing anything at all, consider a handful of downloadable tools that offer protection for your PC, without costing your company a dime. “Free is the best four-letter word in the English language” for small and mid-sized businesses, says Steve Hilton, vice president for small and mid-sized business and enterprise research at the Boston, Mass.-based Yankee Group. “Try out free solutions and talk with someone who’s already used the product to avoid any gotchas.” What “gotchas,” you ask? Hilton says free software is free for a reason. “The vendor might support the free product, hoping you’ll upgrade to the pay-version, or some vendors rely on ad-sponsored revenues to support free products.” But in some cases the software might conflict with your operating systems or applications on your PC, adds Hilton. “Therefore, the best idea is to work with your tech advisor or IT department to make sure you won’t have any unfortunate surprises, because free software often doesn’t come with vendor-provided tech support.” Not everyone believes these free options are a good idea for your business. “While most of these tools, such as free anti-malware, are very good for consumers I don’t think they are a good idea” for businesses, says Peter Firstbrook, research director for information, security and privacy at Gartner, a Stamford, Conn.- headquartered technology market research firm. “They key requirement for business is centralized management and reporting and that is absent from these tools,” explains Firstbrook, and “in some solutions commercial use is specifically prohibited by the license agreement.” Recommended freebies  Anti-virus software is important to safeguard your PC from the latest threats out there in cyberspace, which usually make their way into your e-mail inbox. Without anti-virus detection, all it takes is for you or an employee to click on an attachment, such as an .exe file, causing an immediate infection and perhaps propagating itself through your contacts list (and yes, your clients and customers will just love that). On a related note, spyware refers to other “malware” (malicious software) that can do everything from slow down your PC and spy on your Internet surfing behavior to causing inappropriate pop-up ads and hijacking your browser’s home page or toolbar. Some of the anti-virus software programs experts recommend include the award-winning AVG Free and Avast!, while competent anti-spyware tools include Windows Defender and Ad-Aware 2008 Free. On a related note, make sure you have a powerful firewall and intrusion detection to protect your PC from predators, such as Personal Firewall by Sunbelt or Comodo Firewall. Online storage Backing up important files is critical — but saving them to a local external hard drive, USB thumb-stick, or recordable DVD means they’re still vulnerable to theft, fire, or flood. It’s no wonder, then, why many companies prefer to upload data to a secure offsite location. An added advantage to these online back-up and storage solutions is the ability to access those files anywhere in the world you’ve got an Internet connection. While some services let you back a couple of gigabytes for free, such as MozyHome, Microsoft gives you up to 5GB of free storage per month with its Windows Live SkyDrive. All that’s required to use this password-protected virtual drive is a Windows Live I.D. (a Hotmail e-mail address will do). And if you need to send large files to someone — such as sending a huge PDF to a coworker or client — you can set up a separate folder on Windows Live SkyDrive only for shared files. Spam protection Spam, or unsolicited junk mail, isn’t just a productivity drain as you and your employees can spend hours deleting these unwanted messages per week, but often they contain viruses, spyware, or phishing attempts that try to lure you to authentic-looking websites to steal your identity for financial gain. If you use Microsoft Outlook, however, a free plug-in program called SPAMfighter dramatically reduces the amount of junk mail you get by segregating suspicious messages and dropping it into a folder. It catches quite a bit (with few “false positives,” meaning it thinks mail is spam when it’s not) and doesn’t slow down your PC. A word of warning: while free, SPAMfighter adds a “signature” to the end of your outgoing e-mails that is meant to spread the word about the software (and no, you can’t remove it), plus the company hopes you’ll upgrade to the paid version with additional bells and whistles.