M.A.S. Electronics' Blog

If you’ve used Microsoft Outlook for a while, you know that it can slow down… way down. In fact, when not looked after, Outlook can become nearly useless. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make Outlook not only usable, but significantly improved. And none of these techniques requires a single configuration change to your Exchange server (IMAP or POP3). Of course, some of these suggestions might seem to have a bit more “‘duh” factor than others. But…

Read More Read More

Most of us probably have rather large hard disks or SSDs at our disposal. If you like to work with multiple operating systems or need a better way to segregate the storage of data, like separate partitions for media files and apps for instance, it’s important to use a tool that can perform the task of slicing up a disk easily and safely. Although all Windows versions since Vista come with a basic, built-in partition manager, it still might be…

Read More Read More

By now, you’ve probably heard that Java has once again been the target of another 0-day exploit thanks to underlying weakness in the Java code. This is not the first time that Java has been in this position. Just last summer, a 0-day exploit was making the rounds thanks to a different coding issue.  Some experts predict that it could take Oracle up to two years to fix all of the vulnerabilities in the Java code, so it’s more than…

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

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….

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More

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…

Read More Read More