tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54640811563994410782024-03-05T19:16:17.092-05:00From The Office of Hughes I.T. SolutionsAs part of the family, you'll get access to all of our new work and maybe some savings. It pays to visit :)Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-39491596567208643422012-08-09T10:46:00.000-04:002012-08-09T10:46:21.194-04:00Please create safer passwords<br />
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<strong><a href="http://h30458.www3.hp.com/us/us/smb/1225508.html?jumpid=em_taw_US_jul12_xbu_1843134_hpgl_us_1225508_0&DIMID=1171965916&DICID=taw_aug12&mrm=1-4BVUP" target="_blank">Thanks to HP for the great article!</a></strong><br />
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8-9-2012<br />
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If juggling a ridiculous amount of passwords for your various online accounts is driving you crazy, you’re not alone. For security reasons, passwords are required for everything from email to social media networks to online banking and shopping accounts, and even logging into your computer. But if you aren’t careful about how you choose your passwords or where you store them, the very thing that’s supposed to your make personal information secure might actually be putting it in jeopardy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lH0e0VgxsCVLjzoSFZn7ydeoxIkqdUFlwc4mkGQI9Da8vI_jFEDVovzjb1A74HYonQ4WpjCII6jE6qxUwXbiT7_752xyw1IZ8iqGCDX0GxWRxxF7PagUr92XoUNwEoN2PNpFvCrcLnny/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-20+at+6.54.00+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 381px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 545px;"><img border="0" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5lH0e0VgxsCVLjzoSFZn7ydeoxIkqdUFlwc4mkGQI9Da8vI_jFEDVovzjb1A74HYonQ4WpjCII6jE6qxUwXbiT7_752xyw1IZ8iqGCDX0GxWRxxF7PagUr92XoUNwEoN2PNpFvCrcLnny/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-07-20+at+6.54.00+PM.jpg" /></a></div>
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">How to choose a secure password</span></strong><br />
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Using the same password for multiple accounts or choosing a word or phrase that’s easy to remember (such as a house address, birthday, last name) is very common—and a big mistake. Those kinds of passwords happen to be the easiest for hackers to crack. There are several things to consider when creating a password that will keep your information safe.<br />
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Choose passwords that use a variety of letters, figures, symbols and cases. Try putting your hands on the keyboard and just typing randomly—a gibberish password can be very secure.<br />
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Use similar-looking substitutions to create alternatives for words that you remember easily. For example, the number zero can replace the letter “O” and the dollar sign can replace the letter “S.”<br />
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Phonetic replacements are also a good idea (e.g., “Luv2Laf” for “Love to Laugh”).<br />
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Avoid including personal information, words or acronyms that can be found in the dictionary, phrases that can be tied back to you, sequential numbers and repeating characters.<br />
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Many websites will let you know whether your password is safe when you’re in the process of choosing it. Pay attention to that, and if the site indicates that your password is not secure, pick a different one.<br />
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To keep your passwords safe, never send them to anyone via email—even yourself. It’s also recommended that you change passwords every 30 to 90 days and never write them down or keep them anywhere near your computer.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>How to remember your passwords</strong></span><br />
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So when you have a variety of passwords composed of random characters that you’re not supposed to write down and that (should) change every few months, how on earth are you supposed to remember all of them?<br />
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There are several password management solutions online that are secured by one ultra-strong password and can store all of your passwords for you and recall them as needed. They range in price from free to varying monthly and yearly fees. Many of them have enhanced mobility so you can access your information from anywhere on a smartphone.<br />
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While password security may eventually give way to more precise and manageable ways to keep data secure, it’s still unavoidable right now. That’s why it’s important to keep in mind the various strategies to limit the vulnerability of your personal information and remember what’s at stake when you’re creating your passwords.Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-62101421580610533822011-01-03T13:01:00.000-05:002011-01-03T13:01:45.945-05:00New Year, New Post - Facebook Lockdown Guide<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/golf/Images/facebook.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/golf/Images/facebook.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a quick heads up from the folks at CNet.com. They put together a very comprehensive overview of Facebook and how you can secure your account. Check out their page at the link below. Facebook hacking and password security are becoming more and more of a problem, so please make sure to read this carefully if you have a Facebook account.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From CNet...</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"New Year’s resolutions are among us, though voluntary and often roll over from year to year. This time around, though, take one New Year’s resolution as a wild card, and lock down your Facebook profile like your own personal Fort Knox, and get it out of the way for the year ahead.</span></em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The bad news is that damage could well have already been done, as some features are hidden away and are difficult to find. But, don’t panic. You will be surprised how much you can recover in the space of five or ten minutes of clicking on a few buttons."</span></em></div> <div style="text-align: right;"></div> <br />
<a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/january-2011-the-definitive-facebook-lockdown-guide/7439?tag=nl.e539"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/january-2011-the-definitive-facebook-lockdown-guide/7439?tag=nl.e539</span></a>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-220592739608183072010-07-19T08:46:00.000-04:002010-07-19T08:46:27.123-04:00Orlando Family Attorney Rhonda Parnell<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy-SGSXPvg1a69oqiXo8xLa0J3yVCUU1rCGk_Wc9QyHkMrfypelPEJxPhtaipRmtNMNGs_-CVpcPtNU0BZVQ4MQve50_9lkGqTg6ayIKfzVbdHA0hq-WnbMki30uNp4n_xs0LozGCIp_j/s1600/logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy-SGSXPvg1a69oqiXo8xLa0J3yVCUU1rCGk_Wc9QyHkMrfypelPEJxPhtaipRmtNMNGs_-CVpcPtNU0BZVQ4MQve50_9lkGqTg6ayIKfzVbdHA0hq-WnbMki30uNp4n_xs0LozGCIp_j/s400/logo.jpg" width="400" /></a>We just finished up the new website design for Rhonda Parnell's law office. The site color scheme was based on Rhonda's office just outside Orlando in Winter Park. We think the site turned out great! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">When you get a second, check out the site and leave us a comment.</div>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-35486337588137916162010-07-19T08:36:00.000-04:002010-07-19T08:36:24.125-04:00Google Analytics and your website.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEYbLqhQWS4UJXMxdZItmkJ-cArlMsNHWvzSHkgb6Gqkfm90cvVyT5X5CLyuInvcz5F5KCHXd1HIW7b4YQltwxYHdrM7WR9verfMlJDo21qvhwU7Xvz32HGp6Srze9lsp1q6O-8QN-caK/s1600/home-right-image1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" hw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEYbLqhQWS4UJXMxdZItmkJ-cArlMsNHWvzSHkgb6Gqkfm90cvVyT5X5CLyuInvcz5F5KCHXd1HIW7b4YQltwxYHdrM7WR9verfMlJDo21qvhwU7Xvz32HGp6Srze9lsp1q6O-8QN-caK/s320/home-right-image1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>If you've talked to us before about building a website, you've probably heard us mention Google Analytics at some point. Google Analytics is the free suite of tools that we use to track visitors to your website. Think of it like the turnstalls at Disney, only more accurate. With Google Analytics, we can not only track who comes to the site, but also how long they stay, what they look at, where they live, and alot more.<br />
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If your website doesnt have Google Analytics monitoring, you need to call Hughes I.T. Solutions soon. You'll never know how your website is doing, or what it could be doing without this information. Our Search Engine package includes the setup of a variety of Google tools, along with link building and other SEO changes to your site. We make sure that your website is as Google "Friendly" as possible.Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-35987515724489866362010-05-19T16:39:00.000-04:002010-05-19T16:39:30.038-04:00Why am I getting viruses on my computer?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOApyPI8U_5g41MLCOiY2tEFxA544fmaHlmNoJI1nVnKrcqfGk_GI5YSZKC4pTG2HqeBM464yfamPTqsvSVEPEohF-RrXKq_hV7vNvOUx5jppi2nGeuxiYmNJzesFwszFscfdfnnoniIM/s1600/malvertising_trends_scareware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOApyPI8U_5g41MLCOiY2tEFxA544fmaHlmNoJI1nVnKrcqfGk_GI5YSZKC4pTG2HqeBM464yfamPTqsvSVEPEohF-RrXKq_hV7vNvOUx5jppi2nGeuxiYmNJzesFwszFscfdfnnoniIM/s400/malvertising_trends_scareware.jpg" width="400" wt="true" /></a></div>I've had a handful of clients who asked me similar questions. They are always curious how these viruses get onto their systems. One of the tacticts used to get viruses on your computer is called "Malvertising". It's a technique where a advertiser pops up an ad that looks like it's a security warning about your computer. When you click on that "warning", the virus or scareware is installed.<br />
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This technique is becomming more common, with a recent study concluding that 1.3 million ads are viewed per day. 1.3 MILLION!!<br />
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Here's some more information below from the ZDNet article that I read.<br />
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New research released by Dasient indicates that based on their sample, 1.3 million malicious ads are viewed per day, with 59 percent of them representing drive-by downloads, followed by 41 percent of fake security software also known as scareware<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;"><blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394;">The attack vector, known as malvertising, has been increasingly trending as a tactic of choice for numerous malicious attackers, due to the wide reach of the campaign once they manage to trick a legitimate publisher into accepting it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">More findings from their research:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">•The probability of a user getting infected from a malvertisement is twice as likely on a weekend and the average lifetime of a malvertisement is 7.3 days</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">•97% of Fortune 500 web sites are at a high risk of getting infected with malware due to external partners (such as javascript widget providers, ad networks, and/or packaged software providers)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">•Fortune 500 web sites have such a high risk because 69% of them use external Javascript to render portions of their sites and 64% of them are running outdated web applications</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">The research’s findings are also backed up by another recently released report by Google’s Security Team, stating that fake AV is accounting for 50 percent of all malware delivered via ads.</span><br />
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</span></blockquote></span><a href="http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/research-13-million-malicious-ads-viewed-daily/6466?tag=mantle_skin;content">Thanks to Dancho Danchev for the great article.</a>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-65530306760459858892010-05-17T12:41:00.000-04:002010-05-17T12:41:40.547-04:00Which web browser should I use? Not IE6Afternoon Gang,<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgEX2P12is2XiZbOxlL7xfQ-FvmYC-E_IgMo9-nBezYyIuSKB-xhtwuClou8rIeZ9ulFB4FT_r51Zd25GLsJ4OutjpP6sqWc_DmfFfE2kr79XlI_0IPmbDwRBT7A1jO6rbNq3Jov_2wX1/s1600/ie6_funeral_illustration_new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifgEX2P12is2XiZbOxlL7xfQ-FvmYC-E_IgMo9-nBezYyIuSKB-xhtwuClou8rIeZ9ulFB4FT_r51Zd25GLsJ4OutjpP6sqWc_DmfFfE2kr79XlI_0IPmbDwRBT7A1jO6rbNq3Jov_2wX1/s320/ie6_funeral_illustration_new.jpg" width="233" wt="true" /></a>As web developers, the one thing that drives us nuts is the amount of users still using old web browsers. They fail to provide security and a rich experience online, and they're just plain out-dated. You just dont know what your missing when you're browsing the web. When I can across the IE6 funeral page, I couldnt help but post it up here.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Check out the Funeral site at the link below.<br />
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<a href="http://ie6funeral.com/">http://ie6funeral.com/</a><br />
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If you're still using IE6, please visit this site and upgrade your browser today. You wont lose any settings, and your experience online will be improved dramatically, both in security and content richness!<br />
<a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/Internet-explorer/default.aspx">http://www.microsoft.com/windows/Internet-explorer/default.aspx</a><br />
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Thanks for stopping by,<br />
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Dave<br />
Hughes IT SolutionsHughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-82073601066781325892010-05-15T17:55:00.000-04:002010-05-15T17:55:23.976-04:00Designing with HTML 5 - What it means now.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy6Xm4NtoNRUSkoIsfXEQJV1STc83kWHvdiEBWg-wL-VjSB3Y6xrJB3jOYHVz3jIoXpHVVJhQg0wkcLp_wJzfzlB6ntrZbz0sOiGdLSU-P123gUhYUVlTL5vbGNVJOEEjxf2HvQLCW5cl/s1600/theiad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgy6Xm4NtoNRUSkoIsfXEQJV1STc83kWHvdiEBWg-wL-VjSB3Y6xrJB3jOYHVz3jIoXpHVVJhQg0wkcLp_wJzfzlB6ntrZbz0sOiGdLSU-P123gUhYUVlTL5vbGNVJOEEjxf2HvQLCW5cl/s320/theiad.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div>Since Steve Job's announced to the world that Apple <strong>would never support Adobe Flash</strong> on it's mobile devices, the design world has become energized by the concepts of HTML5 and CSS3. I've seen more articles on the subject in the last 2 weeks than I've seen in the last 6 months. This momentum is slightly premature, because the majority of older browsers simply don't work with HTML 5. <br />
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Where this new standard in web design comes in handy though is when you are developing for mobile users. For the most part, modern smart phone browsers will support HTML5, which means that you can encode video on your websites that your mobile visitors should be able to watch without the use of Flash. This has been on of the biggest complaints amongst mobile users (and <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">iPad</span> users).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ErfxdEcdCQFt9_hg2wy0AL1BQ4tKJCXeqyfsRJHX3k_NxOKJ2deb04tH1jzRNtK_wgtb9wXiLw8tAfBxzip9l2ODCV4DC61v8hGY9Mina1u019mi1fUEkSiUKCAhXKESi36EZ-pVQfos/s1600/HTML5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ErfxdEcdCQFt9_hg2wy0AL1BQ4tKJCXeqyfsRJHX3k_NxOKJ2deb04tH1jzRNtK_wgtb9wXiLw8tAfBxzip9l2ODCV4DC61v8hGY9Mina1u019mi1fUEkSiUKCAhXKESi36EZ-pVQfos/s320/HTML5.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div>There are some extra bits of code that need to be included on the site in order to make this work, but this is just the beginning. When all the grandparents of the Internet switch from their outdated Internet browsers to something a little more up to date, I hope to see a real change in the way we view our browsing experience. It's going to be really amazing!<br />
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Hughes I.T. Solutions will be there on the forefront of HTML5 and CSS3, designing sites that are modern and standards compliant. We look forward to making your design ideas a reality. Give us a call anytime to discuss your needs and how we might be able to help!<br />
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Thanks,<br />
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Dave <span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">Nevill</span><br />
Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.<br />
407-284-1192<br />
<a href="mailto:dave@hughesitsolutions.com"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">dave</span>@<span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background: yellow;">hughesitsolutions</span>.com</a>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-43998527091175720152010-04-11T11:04:00.000-04:002010-04-11T11:04:44.306-04:00Adobe Security Problems - What To Do?If you use any Adobe products, like Flash Player, Adobe Reader, or Acrobat, it would be a good idea to <strong><span style="font-size: large;">run your updates</span></strong>. Several patches in the last 6 months have clearly indicated that Adobe is having trouble keeping their products safe. <br />
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<strong>Adobe Reader users could fall prey to PDFs loaded with malware warns Adobe</strong> <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.documentmanagementnews.com/images/stories/pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.documentmanagementnews.com/images/stories/pdf.jpg" wt="true" /></a>Adobe is working on a permanent security fix for its Adobe Reader software after a security researcher demonstrated how users could be attacked with PDF documents loaded with malware.</div><br />
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The attacks use the "launch" functionality of the Adobe Reader/PDF technology, with the attacker able to bypass the security warnings given to users when they choose to open PDF documents from unknown sources.<br />
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"This is a good example of powerful functionality relied upon by some users that also carries potential risks when used incorrectly by others," said Adobe in a blog on the threat.<br />
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"The warning message provided in Adobe Reader and Acrobat includes strong wording advising users to only open and execute the file if it comes from a trusted source. The default option within the dialog box is to not execute," it said.<br />
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Adobe has offered workarounds to mitigate the risk of attacks while it works on a full fix.Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-8649715098243445622010-03-08T16:45:00.001-05:002010-03-08T16:47:54.744-05:00The iFail<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to the crew at ZDNet for this great article that really helps me to sum up my feeling around the iPad.</span><br />
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<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.smh.com.au/2010/01/28/1072091/ipad-420x0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="http://images.smh.com.au/2010/01/28/1072091/ipad-420x0.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>March 8th, 2010 iPad: Perfectly flawed<br />
<a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=7590&tag=nl.e539">Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</a> @ 5:09 am<br />
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This Friday Apple begins taking pre-orders for the new iPad, which will be available April 3rd. While I really like the device, I’m very aware of the fact that the device is flawed … perfectly flawed.<br />
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Nowadays $500 buys you a lot of hardware, and since I’m not obsessed by having a particular logo on my hardware, I try to make <span style="font-size: large;">rational</span> decisions when it comes to spending my cash.<br />
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I like the iPad, a lot. I like the screen, I like the form-factor, heck, I even like the broad base of apps already available for it from the App Store. But there are aspects of the device that I don’t like, and which I find really hard to overlook.<br />
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<strong>DRM, DRM, DRM</strong><br />
Just because Apple’s given up on DRM for music, don’t think for one moment that it’s given up on DRM. Expect audio books, movies and other stuff to be locked away nice and tight.<br />
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<strong>The lock-in</strong><br />
Basically, the device is one big lock into the Apple ecosystem. Sure, there’ll be jailbreaks I’m sure, but that puts my device in the middle of a tug-of-war between Apple and the jailbreakers.<br />
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<strong>No Flash support</strong><br />
I hate Flash, but web minus Flash is a pretty poor web experience.<br />
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<strong>No removable storage</strong><br />
It would be really cool to be able to store files and on a removable media, such as an SD Card, and swap that data between other iPads and other devices. It would be a good way to bring photos from digital cameras onto the iPad without having to have a PC or Mac as a go-between. Alas, this is not possible.<br />
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<strong>No USB support</strong><br />
I know that Apple likes to have an iron grip over its hardware, and that it likes the revenue stream it gets from licensing the dock connector to third-parties, but I’d really like a USB port on the iPad because it would offer interoperability between my existing hardware and the iPad.<br />
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<strong>Built-in battery</strong><br />
Yes, I still hate the built-in battery.<br />
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I think I’ll be holding onto my money for a little while … maybe another vendor will come out with a tablet that offers most of the upsides but without so many downsides.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dave Nevill</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Hughes IT Solutions</span>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-22320056907781256302010-02-12T11:43:00.001-05:002010-03-08T16:49:38.822-05:00Where can I get a cheap used computer?In the last year or so, i've had a variety of business clients looking for a good deal on a cheap computer. The options used to be ebay, craigslist, or hand me downs from home computers.<br />
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Well, now you've got a real option. Southeastern Data is the place to go for used desktop and laptop computers, as well as monitors and printers. They have an entire warehouse full of used equiptment. The best part is that they offer an additional warranty. For $20-25 you can purchase a one or two year warranty. That's better than any of the retail stores in town!<br />
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Check them out at <a href="http://www.southeasterndata.com/">http://www.southeasterndata.com/</a>. Desktop PC's start around $125.00 for a decent system.<br />
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When you call them, ask for Jon and tell him Dave from Hughes IT sent you :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.fischer-law.com/">Orlando Criminal Lawyer</a>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-12493956034585620782010-02-06T20:09:00.001-05:002010-02-06T20:11:06.216-05:00Should I fix my old computer or buy a new computer?<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Should I fix my computer or buy a new one??</strong></span><br />
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This question comes up at least once a week with clients of mine. They often don't know when to call it a day and purchase a new system. With prices at an all time low for new computers, it's becoming a much easier decision. You can head to your local retail store and purchase a desktop PC for under $400.00 any day of the week. If you need a high performance system, they can be custom built for under $1000.00, which would have been hard to pull off 4 years ago.<br />
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<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/discarded-old-computer-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" kt="true" src="http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/discarded-old-computer-1.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><strong>The general rule of thumb that we use is...</strong><br />
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<strong>A Business Computer</strong> - If it's older than 3 years, <strong>replace it</strong>. The cost of repairs and the fact that reliability starts to become a concern around this time period make it a no brainer. You can write it off on your taxes anyway. A new system will make you and your employees more productive and new security features will keep your office network safer.<br />
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<strong>A Home Computer</strong> - 5 years is about the average lifetime of a home computer. They get used far less than a work computer, and for most people, are just for email and surfing the internet. After 5 years, consider donating it to charity and writing it off on your taxes.<br />
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If you've got an aging computer, and don’t know which road to take, just give us a call at 407-284-1192. We can go over all the options, costs, and can hopefully get you going in the proper direction. And don’t worry about your old data. We offer services to destroy that information so you can safely dispose of your computer without all your information going along with it :).<br />
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Thanks for stopping by,<br />
<br />
Dave Nevill<br />
Hughes IT Solutions Inc.<br />
<a href="mailto:dave@hughesitsolutions.com">dave@hughesitsolutions.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/</a><br />
407-284-1192Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-75502769175986950052010-01-20T12:00:00.002-05:002010-02-06T19:57:29.928-05:00Save a few bucks on your Internet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static-p3.fotolia.com/jpg/00/00/46/98/400_F_469852_9oghEN2vvxyz01XYDMWghjNYhDEtPZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" mt="true" src="http://static-p3.fotolia.com/jpg/00/00/46/98/400_F_469852_9oghEN2vvxyz01XYDMWghjNYhDEtPZ.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cutting expenses has been a personal hobby of mine for a long time. When I start working for a new client, one of the first things I usually discover is that they are paying way to much for their Internet service.<br />
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Not surprisingly, Internet service providers are content for companies to continue using previously negotiated plans. With the cost of Internet connectivity on general decline though, it is downright foolish to continue relying on these old arrangements.<br />
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I was able to successfully renegotiate the Internet connectivity costs for a couple of the organizations I work for. In the cases I encountered, the market rate for Internet connectivity had dropped quite a bit in the couple of years since their previous contracts were signed. <br />
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Because the terms of their contacts had already been completed when I took over, I was able to reduce the cost of the Internet service quite a bit. On top of that, I was able to double the speed of the Internet, thanks to improvements that the Internet provider had "forgot to mention" to my clients.<br />
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The process of changing Internet service providers or making changes to your existing plan can seem a bit overwhelming. That's why were here :) . Give Dave or Gary a call at 407-284-1192 or email <a href="mailto:info@hughesitsolutions.com">info@hughesitsolutions.com</a> if we can help.Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-53132228009112165192009-12-11T22:41:00.005-05:002009-12-11T22:44:29.643-05:00Mystery Science Theater 3000I was browsing through <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hulu</span> and I noticed that they had old re-runs of Mystery Theater Science 3000! It's my favorite show of all time! Just thought I'd get the word out that you can watch it online, anytime.<br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.hulu.com/">www.hulu.com</a> for a crazy amount of TV Shows, movies, documentaries, and more!Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-76340208357639493842009-12-09T14:08:00.006-05:002010-02-06T20:12:40.860-05:00Court Reporters in Seminole CountyUPDATE 2-5-10 - We have launched Seminole Reporting! You can check their site out at the link above<br />
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<a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/logo-763777.png"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/logo-763775.png" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 86px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 280px;" /></a> Just wanted to let you all know that we'll be launching the new Seminole Reporting website in the next week or two. You can check the design preview at <a href="http://www.seminolereporting.com/">http://www.seminolereporting.com/</a>. It's still under construction, but the basics of the home page are in place.<br />
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We'll be creating the flash animation using pictures from around the Altamonte area using Gary's Canon 5D Mark II. Should be pretty neat!<br />
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Thanks for stopping by, and make sure to check back soon for the final launch post!Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-68669150632946528742009-11-26T11:45:00.003-05:002009-11-26T11:57:40.833-05:00Happy Thanksgiving to all friends, family, and clients!<div>Hi Everybody,</div><div></div><br /><div>Thanks for making 2009 a memorable year for Hughes I.T. Solutions! We've worked with alot of new clients on some really cool projects, and we've had a lot of success making our existing clients live easier. We are thankful for each and every one of you! Have a great Thanksgiving!</div><br /><div></div><div>Dave Nevill & Gary Hughes</div><div>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc</div><div><a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">Orlando FL Website Design</a><br /></div><br /><div></div><a href="http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2009/09/08/pomturk_153_s4x3_lg.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 487px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://img.foodnetwork.com/FOOD/2009/09/08/pomturk_153_s4x3_lg.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-48397440690013816172009-11-21T19:46:00.001-05:002009-11-22T15:03:43.689-05:00Sunrise Farms Sport Horses, Inc.: It takes a Team<a href="http://sunrisefarms.blogspot.com/2009/10/it-takes-team.html#links">Sunrise Farms Sport Horses, Inc.: It takes a Team</a><br /><br />Shelley is one of our clients who is an equestrian trainer in North Florida. She's a pretty amazing rider. If you are looking for a riding coach, or want to get into competition training, look no further. Check out her website at the link below.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.srfsporthorses.com/">Florida Horse Equestrian Training, Lessons, and Clinics</a>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-16507475895600120632009-11-21T19:30:00.005-05:002009-11-22T15:22:50.589-05:00Florida Travel PhotographyWe just completed a new website for Melanie Monte Photography. Melanie knew exactly what kind of website she wanted, and even provided us with the images and overall layout. This made her site easier than others to build. We then added a variety of Flash animated Galleries to show off her work, and a music system that when loaded, can play throughout the site continuously.<br /><br />Melanie has some really intersting photography to show off, so I thought we'd plug her website. If you're looking for someone to provide you with amazing photography, Melanie is your photographer. She is available for travel worldwide. Check out her website below for more information and to check out her galleries.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.melaniemonte.com/">Florida Travel Photographer</a> Melanie Monte<br /><br />"From Melanie"<br /><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 31.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>My work is focused mainly around <strong>travel photography</strong>, but my branches can go in many different directions. Keeping myself immersed in the world, I prefer shooting on location rather than in a studio. My shooting style revolves around travel, architecture, people, nature, animals, on set photography. I also revitalizie images within Photoshop to give new life to photos both old and new.</em></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 31.5pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 31.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em></em></span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 31.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><em></em></p><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 31.5pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>The backdrops can range from cityscapes to landscapes, and beaches to mountains. Interior shots with a hard brick background or exterior with a part of history attached. My images are geared towards catalogue, advertising, events, film, and other print and web styles. I have a background as an art director for film, and a creative mindset for designs through Photoshop. I have created material for brochures and other advertising materials.</em> </span></p>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-63868959194347393312009-11-18T11:04:00.004-05:002009-11-22T15:20:39.435-05:00What is Scareware You Ask?<p align="left"><a href="http://www.tech-linkblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Alpha_Antivirus_Warning.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 341px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 125px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.tech-linkblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Alpha_Antivirus_Warning.jpg" /></a></p>If you've been the victim of a virus recently, it's almost definitely been "<strong>Scareware</strong>". This is the new name given to the <strong>fake antivirus</strong> programs that are installed when you visit a hacked website. There is no notification that the program is being installed, and within minutes you are infected.<br /><br /><strong>Scareware masquerades</strong> as a legitimate antivirus program, and proceeds to inform you that you have hundreds of viruses on your computer. Then it practically begs you to purchase the full version. You see hundreds of pop-ups a day sometimes. Each of them is trying to scare you into buying their program. Less experienced computer users aren't aware that the program is a fake, and willingly "buy" the program.<br /><br />The problem is that when you "<strong>buy</strong>" their software, you're actually just sending your credit card information off across the internet to someone who's going to <strong>steal your identity</strong>. This scam is so lucrative and so successful that it may <strong>not be stoppable</strong>. More and more websites are created or hacked every minute, in an attempt to compromise your computer and hopefully steal your information.<br /><br />SOOOO... How do we help minimize the risk?<br /><br />1 - Please be very careful what you click on when visiting websites. If you're doing a Google search, please <strong>slow down and carefully read</strong> each of the search results before clicking on them. You can often tell by reading the websites address alone. For instance, if the website doesn’t end in .com or .net, it's probably going to another country. If you weren’t looking for information from another country, then you can easily skip that one.<br /><br />2- Hackers often target very popular search topics like <strong>celebrities names</strong>. They also tend to target age demographics that are known to be <strong>computer novices</strong> like kids and people over 50. They go after websites that they know people will be looking for. Be aware of this and <strong>read your searches carefully</strong> before you click on a link.<br /><br />3 - <strong>Carefully type the name</strong> of the website in the browser when going to a site. Spelling the name of the site wrong can often land you on a hacker’s site. They prey on people going to the wrong site in the hopes that they can install their "drive by" virus. <a href="http://usatodayeducate.com/wordpress/?dl_id=74">This article </a>will teach you a lot more about typo problems and what you can do to prevent them.<br /><br />4 - Keep your Antivirus up to date. This is one that I really can’t say will make a big difference. These hackers are often a step ahead of the antivirus companies, so you won’t always be able to block one of these Scareware attacks.<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by, and be careful out there!<br /><br />Dave Nevill<br />Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc<br />Orlando FLHughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-30443183806589815522009-11-09T19:32:00.005-05:002009-11-18T11:02:54.807-05:00Orlando's Best Computer Repair SolutionWe've been working with computers for as long as we could talk. Literally.<br /><br />If you've got an office or home computer that needs some attention, please give us a call. We also dabble in Home Theatre, although we recommend Specialized Electronics Inc for the bigger jobs.<br /><br />If you're computer is acting up, and you're in the Orlando area, please give us a call. We also service the greater Orlando area including Kissimmee to Deltona and Clermont to Bithlo. If you're not from around here, we might be able to help using a <a href="http://www.logmein.com/">remote access tool called LogMeIn.</a> They offer free accounts, which allow computer guys such as ourselves to access your computer from anywhere in the world. It's secure and FREE :).<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by, and let us know if there's anything we can do for your home or office computers.<br /><br />Dave Nevill<br />President<br />Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-57454643650339785312009-11-03T22:01:00.005-05:002009-11-03T22:08:30.996-05:00Basic Website Design Lessons Are Available<a href="http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4535428/websites_Full.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 165px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4535428/websites_Full.jpg" /></a>If you're interested in maintaining your website, we can help. Simple changes to a website don't have to be complicated, and with a little time, you can change text and pictures on your site like a pro. <a href="http://download.cnet.com/1770-20_4-0.html?query=wusiwyh&tag=srch&searchtype=downloads&filterName=platform%3DWindows&filter=platform%3DWindows">Free programs </a>are available all over the internet that will allow you to make simple changes to your site as if you were using a word processor. This won't be for every site, but for the majority of small businesses websites, we can help.<br /><br />Give Hughes I.T. Solutions a call anytime to learn more about how we can help you maintain your website. Visit us at <a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/</a> or call 407-284-1192<br /><br /><br /><br />Thanks for stopping by,<br />Dave Nevill<br />President<br />Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.<br />407-284-1192Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-88262379611326606272009-10-21T19:31:00.002-04:002009-10-21T19:42:26.098-04:00Windows 7 Cometh<a href="http://thepcreport.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/windows-7-logo.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://thepcreport.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/windows-7-logo.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Windows 7 is going to be available to the public starting tomorrow. Before you run out and install it on your favorite business computer, give us a call. There are some checklists that we would love to run you through to be 100% sure that you wont shut your business down for the day. :) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>In all seriousness, I think it's going to be a great new version of Windows. The reviews are positive in the press, and i've been running it with some great success for about 2 months on my laptop. Not only is it faster than Vista, it's more stable too. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>If your new computer comes with Windows 7, and you need some help getting over the initial learning curve, just give Hughes I.T. a call. And DONT FORGET, if you purchased a computer within the last month, you will most likely be eligable for a free upgrade from Vista to 7, so look for that information from the manufacturer of the computer.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks again for stopping by!</div><br /><div></div><div>Dave Nevill</div><div>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.</div><div><a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">Computer Training and Service</a></div><div>407-284-1192</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Also, if you're a stressed out small business owner who just cant stay motivated, you need to talk to Jenn Edden. She runs an amazing business coaching program that teaches you how to deal with the stresses of business and life while you get focused and in control. She's done wonders for alot of people and I know she can help you. Check out <a href="http://www.jecoaching.com/">Jenn Edden Coaching </a>to learn more. </div><div><a href="http://www.jecoaching.com/">NY Business Coaching and Wellness.</a></div><br /><div></div>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-34612435925161820962009-10-20T17:07:00.005-04:002009-10-20T17:17:05.584-04:00Windows Desktop Clutter Solved, Thanks to Your Favorite Web Designer!<div><div><strong>Hey Gang!</strong></div><br /><div>Thanks for stopping back by. I have spent the better part of the last hour or so testing out a really amazing program for people like me. It took my cluttered up desktop and literaly transformed it into a managable and pleasant place to be. All my icons are nicely arranged into groups, and if I dont feel like staring at them, it's just a double click away.</div><br /><div>Not wanting to write a whole book about the program however, I decided to take the following from my favorite site for software, <a href="http://www.download.com/">http://www.download.com/</a>. So head on over to their site to learn more about this program, and download it for yourself. IT"S FREE :)</div><br /><div><strong>The following is courtesy of </strong><a href="http://download.cnet.com/Fences/3000-2072_4-10909535.html?tag=mncol"><strong>Download.com</strong></a></div><div></div><br /><div><em><a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/DesktopFences_ss6-783946.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/DesktopFences_ss6-783935.jpg" /></a>If you're losing the battle over your workspace to your desktop icons, a secret weapon is one click away. Fences quickly and easily organizes your icons into separate windows on your desktop, either automatically or manually. Labeling these boxes helps keep programs, photos, files, and Web links together, or you might choose to group by project rather than by file type. Whatever your logic, you'll be able to drag and drop fences (and the shortcuts within them) anywhere on your desktop.</em></div><div><br /><em>You can furthermore drag and drop shortcuts anywhere, and resize the fence. A scroll bar pops up so you can find your icons in fences that you've resized to be smaller than their contents. In addition to sorting shortcuts, you can cleverly hide them completely by double-tapping the desktop; double-tapping again resurfaces them. Fences helpfully lets you<a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/fences_image_4-763008.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/fences_image_4-761989.png" /></a> exclude select fences from hiding. Customization tools can change the color scheme or take snapshots of your layout at any time, in case you'd like to switch among them without completely redoing your arrangement. </em></div><div><br /><em>We just wish that creating a new fence was smoother and took fewer steps, and that you could create rules for certain files types to automatically download into specific fences. Perhaps we'll see that in a future premium version. In the meantime, we recommend Fences to anyone looking for a fast, fresh solution to persistent desktop clutter.</em></div><div></div><div><em></em></div><br /><div>And dont forget, <a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">if you need a great website</a>, and you're anywhere in the world, just give us a call.</div></div>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-11740547261692483762009-09-22T14:52:00.002-04:002009-09-22T15:02:06.998-04:00Facebook Scams and Other Issues You Need To Know About<a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/64x64-756291.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 64px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 64px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/64x64-756289.png" /></a><br /><div><strong>This article is from Switched.com, so I hope they dont mind. The information is extremely valueable to anyone who uses Facebook, even casually.</strong><br /></div><div>by <a href="http://www.switched.com/bloggers/terrence-obrien/">Terrence O'Brien</a> (<a href="http://www.switched.com/bloggers/terrence-obrien/rss.xml">RSS feed</a>) — Sep 15th 2009 at 1:31PM - <a href="http://www.switched.com/">Switched.com</a></div><div><br />Just as bearded hipsters migrate from bar to bar in pursuit of young ladies to ogle, so too have <a href="http://www.switched.com/tag/scammers">scammers</a> and hackers followed their prey <a href="http://www.switched.com/2007/11/19/myspace-to-get-a-facelift/" target="_blank">from MySpace to Facebook</a>. As a result, the <a href="http://www.switched.com/tag/socialnetworking" target="_blank">social network</a> once deemed the "safe" option is now plagued by legions of <a href="http://www.switched.com/tag/419" target="_blank">419 scammers</a>, <a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/08/22/rogue-phishing-applications-plague-facebook/" target="_blank">phishers</a>, and peddlers of <a href="http://www.switched.com/tag/malware">malware</a>. Fortunately, there are a few simple rules Facebookers can follow to stay safe: Never click on suspicious links from friends; use a service like <a href="http://longurl.org/" target="_blank">LongURL</a> before following any shortened links; and assume that anyone begging for money is up to no good. And if you do happen to fall victim to a scam, quickly alert your friends (to prevent spreading the damage), then alert Facebook administrators and, if it's serious, law enforcement as well. Since a reputable source once counseled that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KXCD5BQiM4" target="_blank">knowing is half the battle</a>, here's a rundown of the Facebook scams most demanding of your awareness and good judgment:<a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/01/26/nigerian-419-scammer-busted-on-facebook-chat/"></a><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>1) </strong></span><a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/01/26/nigerian-419-scammer-busted-on-facebook-chat/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>The friendly 419 scam</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>:</strong></span><br />The notorious 419 scams have sadly become ubiquitous on the Internet. While they began as e-mail cons, usually involving promises of a vast fortune from a Nigerian prince, they have morphed into a new and more sophisticated ploy that involves hijacking the Facebook account of a friend in order to fool kind souls into thinking they're helping a pal. Thieves use an account to garner sympathy as they claim to be in desperate need of cash, often because they've been robbed or detained while traveling abroad. One duped Missouri woman wound up <a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/09/04/woman-loses-4k-to-scammer-posing-as-friend-on-facebook/">handing over $4,000</a> before she realized she'd been had.</div><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">2) </span></strong><a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/06/10/facebook-phishing-scam-bills-your-cell-phone/"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Hidden fee apps</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">:</span></strong><br />There are plenty of Facebook apps and <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10318842-36.html" target="_blank">quizzes</a> with questionable <a href="http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/does_that_facebook_app_have_a_privacy_policy_probably_not.php" target="_blank">motives</a> and <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/11/AR2008061103759.html" target="_blank">privacy policies</a>, but there are some that are outright scams. Take, for instance, the sad tale of <a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/06/10/facebook-phishing-scam-bills-your-cell-phone/">Leanne Saylor</a>, who fell prey to scammers after taking a simple IQ quiz on the service. To receive her results, she was required to submit her cell phone number and wait for a text. When she didn't receive anything, Saylor entered her phone number two more times. When she opened her next cell phone bill, she discovered three charges from the app, totaling a whopping $44. AT&T blocked future fees, but Saylor learned the hard way that she should never give out her cell phone number to strangers, much less strange apps.</div><div><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">3) </span></strong><a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/new-phishing-scams-hitting-facebook-users/"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Fake login pages</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">:</span></strong><br />A particularly sneaky method of ensnaring Facebookers lies in the <a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/04/30/new-facebook-phishing-scam-will-hijack-your-account/">loads</a> of <a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/05/22/new-phishing-scams-hitting-facebook-users/">phishing</a> <a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/05/15/new-151-phishing-scam-emerges-on-facebook/#continued">messages</a> that lead to convincing-but-fake versions of the Facebook login page. Typically, these spam e-mails are brief and contain a link, usually ending in ".im" or ".at." (We received one that simply read, "Look at goodmall.be.") Once you enter your e-mail and password to 'log in,' it's game over; a hacker has control of your account and will quickly use it to perpetrate any one of the scams listed here. What's worse, they'll impersonate you to spread phishing e-mails to all of your friends.</div><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>4) </strong></span><a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/08/14/coooool-video-facebook-spam-message-totally-uncoooool/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Malware links</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>:</strong></span><br /></div><div>Once an account is hijacked, it can be used to deluge that account holder's friends with messages containing links to malicious sites. It's rough stuff. These poisonous software packages leave you vulnerable to the theft of even more data, including all the passwords, account numbers and credit card information you may have entered into your PC. Recently, a barrage of spam messages featuring a link to "<a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/08/14/coooool-video-facebook-spam-message-totally-uncoooool/">CoooooL Video</a>" actually led to nothing but a nasty malware infection. If you have experience a malware infection, and live in the <a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">Central Florida (Orlando)</a> area, call Hughes I.T. Solutions today to get it removed. </div><br /><div></div><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">5) </span></strong><a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/08/22/rogue-phishing-applications-plague-facebook/"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Facebook apps that are malware</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">:</span></strong><br /></div><div>Creating Facebook applications has become so easy that hackers have created apps with the sole aim of tricking you into handing over your personal data or Facebook password. Some versions <a href="http://www.switched.com/2009/08/22/rogue-phishing-applications-plague-facebook/">impersonate one of the standard Facebook</a> features, like "Your Photos" and "Friend's Gifts," and send convincing notifications, like "someone has commented on your photo," or so-and-so "has posted on your wall." But clicking on them either leads to a fake login page, or a window asking for permission to access your Facebook account. These scams are particularly tough to spot because they mimic actual Facebook notifications. The only way to protect yourself is to look for tiny inconsistencies in the false apps <strong>(e.g., odd or incorrect icons, clunky wording and poor English usage).</strong> It seems your teacher wasn't lying after all when she said learning grammar was important.</div><div> </div><div>Thanks for stopping by, and remember, Hughes I.T. Solutions is here for you. If you've experienced any of the issues above, we can help!</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">Orlando Virus Removal - Orlando Website Design</a></div>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-87668876181414353772009-09-12T11:19:00.004-04:002009-09-22T15:05:46.728-04:00AMD vs Intel - Who is the best value?<a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/max-733761.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 283px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/max-733758.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I just got done building myself a brand new computer! It's amazingly fast compared to my old computer, and I love it. But I labored hard on the choice of my processor. After about a month of research, I chose AMD. I know that the Intel is a faster chip, but the prices just didnt make sense. I'm not here to compare specs or speeds between the two chips, because it's not that important. The simple fact is that in most situations, the AMD will be the best bang for the buck.<br /></div><div> </div><div>If value for the money is important to you , like it is to so many people these days, then AMD is the way to go.</div>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5464081156399441078.post-84583721419738744462009-09-01T16:40:00.006-04:002009-09-01T18:18:06.607-04:00Fix It Or Replace It?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/OrlandoComputerRepair-735254.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 293px;" src="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/blog/uploaded_images/OrlandoComputerRepair-735248.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />This is the first thing that I get asked by clients who have older computers with problems. If you computer is getting a little long in the tooth, it may be difficult to choose between fixing it or replacing it.<br /><br />Hughes I.T. is here to answer this question for you. We take into consideration the original value of the computer, it's age, it's performance up to the time of the problem, what you use it for, etc. Having these answers will give us the ability to present you with the best option.<br /><br />As a general rule of thumb, if the computer is more than 5 years old, we would recommend an upgrade, budget willing. If the computer is 3-5 years old, and the repair isnt more than the value of the computer, then we usually say fix it. If the computer is less than 3 years old, we almost always say fix it.<br /><br />If you are currently in this situation, and need advice, please call us today!<br /><br />Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc<br /><a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">Orlando Computer Repair</a><br />407-284-1192<br /><a href="http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/">http://www.hughesitsolutions.com/</a>Hughes I.T. Solutions Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03731013562095002320noreply@blogger.com0