There are a lot of ways to lose critical data — like hardware failure, an OS crash, a user error, or a malicious attack. If it happens to you, one of these tools may help you get that data back. 1: R-Studio Data Recovery Software R-Studio Data Recovery Software (Figure A) is a data recovery application for PCs. This application is different from many others in that it doesn’t just scan hard disks — it can also open disk images…
Increases of global information security threats remain as much a certainty as death and taxes, at least according to the latest Information Security Survey from PWC. That report, which was published in October, highlights several troublesome trends and provides valuable information for those concerned with enterprise IT security. Nonetheless, interpreting the information delivered into applicable best practices remains a challenge for many IT security professionals. Especially those who will be assigned the task of keep their organizations from becoming one…
All systems, be they desktops, laptops, smartphones, or tablets need a little cleaning now and then. Sometimes the cleaning is just a simple riding various caches or deleting unwanted files. Other times, the cleaning is deeper and more involved. No matter what the situation, you need the tools to be able to rid that system of what ails it. 1: CCleaner CCleaner has been my go-to tool for cleaning up various temporary files on Windows machines for a long time….
Creating graphs is easy — grab your favorite spreadsheet program, enter some data, and use the chart wizard. What’s more difficult is creating those graphs to be published on the web based on dynamic data. Plenty of options are available to graph hard-entered data, but few are capable of dynamic generation. Take a look at five free web-based tools for creating different types of graphs from dynamic data. Each of these apps offers a vast number of options and lots…
In what may be the largest compromise of IT security in history, Russian hackers have amassed more than 1.2 billion passwords and user names, creating what may become havoc among IT security professionals and IT security vendors, according to an article in The New York Times. However, the real question here is how the hackers were able to accomplish such a massive breach of security and what can be done to prevent it. The New York Times article said the…
Many of the recent data breaches have exposed passwords as a common denominator. And as you know, if someone gets hold of your password, then your account—and all the data in it—is vulnerable. But there’s an easy way to protect your critical accounts from hackers and other infiltrators: Set up a two-factor-verified authentication system. With a two-factor-verified system, knowing your password is only the first step. To get any further, hackers will need to know the second factor, which is…
This list of security do’s and don’ts will help you safeguard your Mobile device and protect that valuable data. 1: Set up your lock screen This should be a no-brainer, but I’m always shocked to see how many mobile users neglect to set this up. Anyone who uses a smartphone or tablet for business knows better than to leave their data out in the open for anyone to snag. But if you don’t set a lock screen PIN/pattern/password, that’s exactly…
A solid audio editor might not seem to belong at the top of your must-have list. It is, however, a tool that can go a long way toward helping you with your business. How? With an audio editor, you can add audio to your business website, create and edit a podcast to help promote your service or product, record and submit audio for radio ads, and more. But what software titles are available from the open source community? Believe it…
Cryptolocker, a ransomware Trojan virus, encrypts a victim’s files and then demands payment for the key, and is indicative of the lengths nefarious types will go to for a few dollars of ill-gotten gains. Ransomware is on the rise and thanks to more than a few nefarious types and their victims, is proving to be an all too common way for electronic extortion to move into an enterprise. In many cases, it proves to be cheaper to pay for the…
Net neutrality is in the news again, but if you’re like most people, you aren’t even totally sure what it is. With a recent U.S. Court of Appeals decision on Net neutrality poised to change the face of the Internet, it’s worth addressing what exactly Net neutrality is and what it means to the average Internet user. What Is Net Neutrality? Net neutrality is the proposition that all data traveling through the Internet should be treated equally by all Internet…