M.A.S. Electronics' Blog

With mixed-platform environments on the rise, you need tools that can handle whatever systems you’re supporting. Here are 10 invaluable cross-platform applications.  These tools range from standard desktop tools to server-based applications. Being cross-platform is going to become a crucial component to software in the coming years. Alternate platforms, such as Linux and Mac, will be rising in popularity as Windows begins a slow, steady decline. If you aren’t already taking advantage of cross-platform applications. 1: FileZilla FileZilla is one…

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Portable apps do one thing for the system and network administrator — make the job easier. The better (and more diverse) your portable apps, the more jobs are made easier. Security is one area where portable apps can make a big difference. But there are so many to choose from, it’s hard to piece together a collection of tools that best fit your needs. To that end, I want to introduce you to some portable security apps you might never…

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Having all your tools in one place certainly makes your job easier. This is especially true when you need networking tools. These tools can be anything from simple monitoring tools to full-blown portable servers. Regardless of what you need and why you need it, there are plenty of networking tools that require zero installation and can fit on a USB flash drive. There are quite a lot of portable apps out there–even within the narrowed scope of networking tools. Here…

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When you need to block content, it’s a relief to know there are plenty of tools out there that do the job. I have identified five such tools that I believe can do the trick for anyone willing (or needing) to take the time to get these products set up and running properly. Some are a bit easier than others; but, in the end, they all do a great job of protecting you, your company, your employees, or your children….

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Let’s face it, one of the primary jobs a Windows admin does is keep machines free of infection. It’s inevitable – end users will open files, install cutesy apps, and go to sites they shouldn’t. When they do these things, their machines get infected. When their machines get infected, you could wind up fighting a losing battle – unless you have the right tools. Sometimes the antivirus tools installed on the machine just aren’t enough. When that time comes, you’ll…

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Wi-Fi is relatively easy to configure, but optimizing, securing, and diagnosing problems with a wireless network can be a challenge. Here are five free tools that can help. 1: CommView for WiFi CommView for WiFi is a packet sniffer that is specifically designed for Wi-Fi networks. As you would expect, the program allows you to capture packets and then search them for specific strings, packet types, etc. One of the most useful features provided by this utility is an alarm…

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Security is tops on most every administrator’s list. And with good reason. Incomplete or poor security can bring down a company’s network and/or computer resources. That equates to lost work, which affects bottom line. Administrators must do all they can to ensure the security of their networks. But for some (especially those without the financial resources), just knowing where to start and what to use is the biggest challenge. With that in mind, here are 10 tools and methods to…

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You know you have to stay on top of those insidious malware threats, but what’s the most effective (and affordable) solution? Here are some solid options. It’s a constant battle, the protection of a PC against malicious software. The second you think you have your machine clean, something else appears — no matter what piece of software you use to combat this plague. Even so, you still need to have some protection installed. So I thought I’d list the five…

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Among the wide array of network and system monitors, you’ll find several that do what the pricier tools do — for free. If you’re a system or network administrator, you need monitoring tools. You have to know, at all times, the status of your systems so you can optimize performance and head off potential problems. Thankfully, plenty of tools are available to help you stay in the know about your systems. Some of these products are costly and do quite…

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It’s inevitable: At some point you’re going to need to recover from a disaster. When this happens, if you happen to have a cloned image, the task will be far easier. But many budgets don’t include the cost of some of the pricier cloning tools, like Acronis Backup and Restore. When you don’t have the budget, what do you do? If you’re lucky, you have access to one of the following free applications, all of which do an admirable job…

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