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Archives for August 2013

GEEKNOTE: Lightning Is Striking Again

August 25, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

I’ve had multiple computers come in this past week after nearby lightning strikes.  A couple just needed new power supplies, but one was pretty well toasted.  Let’s  talk about something that you can do proactively… protecting all of your expensive electronics from the power company and mother nature.

First off, let’s just get it out on the table. If your home or office takes a direct lightning strike, you can pretty much write off your computer, TV, stereo, and other electronics.  The Tampa Bay area is one of the lightning capitals of the world, and there isn’t much you can do about it short of moving out of state.

Some years ago, my wife watched ball lightning come out of one of my stereo speakers.  Needless to say, the stereo components were cooked. A local business had lightning hit their flagpole and come into the building through the buried power cables feeding the flagpole lights.  When lightning blows the power recepticals off the wall like it did to them, you are going to be buying new electronics.

Nearby and not so nearby strikes are another matter altogether.  Those you CAN do something about.

Surge strips can help a little, but I don’t recommend them. First off, most of them are pretty lame when it comes to stopping surges and second, they don’t do ANYTHING when the power blips out completely. When lightning strikes somewhere in the area, you have probably noticed the lights dim or blink out for a second or two.  A surge strip does nothing to protect your gear from this and if the lights blink at exactly the wrong instant, you’ll be bringing your computer to someone to have Windows reinstalled. What you need is a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply).

Expensive UPS units provide a pure sine wave supply of power to your computer 100% of the time and use the house power to keep the batteries charged. These units can cost thousands of dollars and are most often found in large computer server rooms.  Relax, you likely don’t need one of these.

Less expensive UPS units are of the “backup” variety. They filter the incoming power to protect you from surges and then switch over to battery power when the lights blink out or dim. For most homes and small businesses, these make the most sense. They are relatively inexpensive ($50-200, depending on size) and do a pretty good job.  Most modern computers will do fine with a UPS in the 500-750VA range.

Depending on how much power your computer devours and how large a UPS you buy, they will keep your computer running anywhere from 5-20 minutes. This completely protects you from the 1 second power outages that are so common around here and gives you time to turn off the computer if the lights stay out for more than a couple seconds.

Your Internet connection is also something to think about.  You should consider putting a surge protector between your cable modem or phone line and your computer.  These surge protectors are inexpensive and can save your gear when the lightning surge tries to come in via the phone line or cable connection.  These typically cost less than $30.

Finally, don’t forget your TV or expensive stereo. I bought a UPS and plugged my TV, satellite receiver, and DVD player into it.  This simple step protects my TV and keeps me from having to wait for the satellite receiver to reboot ever time the lights blink.

UPS units have a finite life. The surge protection degrades a little bit each time it intercepts a surge and the batteries wear out.  Figure on replacing your UPS every couple of years.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Rob Marlowe, Network Engineer, Gulfcoast Networking

Filed Under: GEEKNOTES

GEEKNOTE: Privacy and Personal Security

August 18, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE:  My business associate Tim Hunt forwarded me a link to an article last week that talks about the the potential danger of posting smart phone photos on the web.  The general issue is that GPS enabled phones can encode so-called “meta-data” in the photos, including GPS coordiates, date and time.

The good news is that some of the most popular social media sites (twitter and facebook) automatically strip out the meta-data before displaying photos that you upload.  At least some modern smart phones (eg. my brand new iPhone 5) have location data disabled for photos as the default setting.  It is worth checking to make sure that your phone has location services turned off for photos, but it is not something to panic over.

This is NOT to mean that you should shoot photos and post away with reckless abandon.  A little common sense is called for before you post ANYTHING on facebook or twitter that provides specific information about your current location, ESPECIALLY if you are on a vacation trip.    I’m absolutely thrilled to see that you finally made it to Paris and got your picture taken in front of the Eiffel Tower.  On the other hand, so are potential burglars who take comfort in knowing that you will be out of town for the next week or so.

This is actually the same reason I’m not fond of email auto-responders that tell everyone that you’ll be out of town for the next week or two.  When someone asks me to set up an auto-responder for them, I’m always tempted to ask them if I should add: “feel free to help yourself to our 50 inch flat screen and all the other electronics in our home while we are gone.”

Posting too much  information on the Internet regarding where you will be and when is simply a bad idea.

Feel free to post your travel photos online so we can enjoy them, but PLEASE wait until you get home to upload them.

Likewise, consider how much information you want to share in any auto-responder you set up for your email.  “I’m on the road visiting customers today, so call my office if you have an emergency.” is a lot safer than “I’ll be out of the office for the next week while I’m on a week long Carnival cruise.” and still lets folks know that email may not be the best way to catch you.

Consumer Reports has a good article on phone security, with some great suggestions:  http://consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/06/keep-your-phone-safe/index.htm

Nanny Cams merit the same attention.  It may be great fun to be able to check up on the baby sitter while you are having a night out with your spouse, but be sure that you password protect any security cameras you install around your house so that you are the only one looking around the house while you are away.

As always, feel free to drop me a note or give me a call (847-2424) if you have any questions about your computer or the Internet.

One short postscript:  We noted a report at the Volunteer Way has run out of food.  Please consider helping them.  We’ve got a box at the store if you would like to drop off any canned goods.

Rob Marlowe
Senior Geek
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
http://www.gulfcoastnetworking.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized

August Newsletter

August 2, 2013 By Rob Marlowe

It’s August, which means many people are experiencing the dog days of summer. In light of this, we’ve included some canine content in this issue. Check out the “smiling lips” dog toy in the Pinterest section and the amazingly well-trained dog in one of the featured videos. By the way, since we do the research about online topics, you don’t have to work like a dog to stay informed. Below is a Scam Alert about fake PayPal emails currently making the rounds and how to protect your personal information from being stolen. You’ll also find useful tips on using Google Alert and managing your  Facebook News Feed.

We think you’ll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience.

Here’s what’s inside our August 2013 Newsletter:

SCAM ALERT – WATCH FOR FAKE “PAYPAL ACCOUNT DELETED” EMAILS

GO PINTERESTING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

THIS MONTH’S FAQ – HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT ME ONLINE?

SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN AUGUST

TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO TWEAK YOUR FACEBOOK NEWS FEED

The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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SCAM ALERT – WATCH FOR FAKE “PAYPAL ACCOUNT DELETED” EMAILS

Another spam campaign targeting PayPal users has recently been reported.  The supposed email from PayPal claims that the user’s account has been deleted. It offers the option to restore it by clicking  the “Recover Account” button / link included in the email and entering the account email address and password into the login page to which the link leads.   Don’t do it! This page is a fake, designed to gather your personal information.

PayPal reminds its users of the following ways to avoid these types of scams:

~Log in safely: To log in to your PayPal account or access the PayPal website, open a new web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer or Firefox or Chrome) and type in the following: https://www.paypal.com/

~Check the email greeting: Emails from PayPal will always address you by your first and last name or the business name associated with your PayPal account. A PayPal scam email may include the salutation “Dear PayPal User” or “Dear PayPal Member.”

~Look out for attachments: PayPal emails will never ask you to download an attachment or a software program. An attachment found in a PayPal scam email will often contain a virus that can harm your computer or compromise your PayPal account.

~Never give out personal information: If we require information from you, we will notify you in an email and request that you enter the information only after you have safely and securely logged in to your PayPal account.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

August 1st – August 3rd is Florida’s annual sales tax holiday.  This year, it includes computers and accessories under $750, so come see us.  We’re open all day Friday and will be in Saturday morning as well.

Gulfcoast Networking is a proud sponsor of the 2013 Coteeman Triathlon in New Port Richey on August 10th.  Be sure to visit the Coteeman Website for more information.

 

 

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GO PINTERESTING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

Deliciously Detailed Gumball Machines
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775848536369/

When Life Hands You A Watermelon?
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775848809328/

A Dog Toy To Make Everybody Smile
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775848693696/

You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started?
To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/

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THIS MONTH’S FAQ – HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT’S BEING SAID ABOUT ME ONLINE?

Question: My reputation is important to me so I’m concerned about the comments people may be posting that include my name. How can I find out what’s being said about me online?

Answer: Fortunately, there’s an easy way to find out. You simply need to put a Google Alert on your name to keep track of how often people are talking about you on the Web and what they’re saying. This strategy can also be used by companies or other organizations.

It takes less than a minute to set up a Google Alert. Go to http://www.google.com/alerts and enter your name, and variations of your name, with quotation marks around it. Tell Alerts whether you want all results or just the high quality ones, when you want them delivered, and how you want them sent to you.

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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN AUGUST

Pick Out New Picnic Recipes
http://www.delish.com/entertaining-ideas/parties/picnics/
August is designated as Picnic Month. So if you need a reason to relax and dine on a blanket, now you have one. Check out this site for lots of picnic-perfect recipes such as Pretzel-Crusted “Fried” Chicken, Sweet Potato Salad with Buttermilk Dressing, and Shaker-Style Lemon Bars.

No Clue What’s In Your C.L.U.E. Report?
https://personalreports.lexisnexis.com/fact_act_claims_bundle/landing.jsp
Your credit report isn’t the only report that impacts financial decisions made about you. The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange or C.L.U.E. report shows insurers every auto or residential insurance claim you’ve been involved with for the past seven years. Get your free copy here.

Learn How To Clean Almost Anything
http://www.howtocleananything.com/
There’s an art to cleaning. You need the right products, tools, and procedures to get rid of dirt without damaging the item. Find all the tips you need to safely clean your home, vehicles, animals, sporting goods, clothing, computer, food, and more. It’s good clean fun!

Backpack Safety Means Weighing The Options
http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/learning/backpack.html
Too-heavy backpacks are causing more children to suffer backaches. Before the school year starts, review the advice shared here on choosing the right backpacks, limiting the weight of contents, and wearing them safely. It’s important information to help your kids or grandkids avoid unnecessary pain.

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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1308_VIDEO_A.htm

Jumpy The Dog Earns His Name
When given a command, Jumpy jumps into action and performs amazing tricks. He jumps off the top of a van and soars through the air. He performs a back flip. He catches a flying disc. He goes skateboarding. He even walks on his hind legs. What can your dog do?

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1308_VIDEO_B.htm

See World’s First Hover Golf Cart
Golf carts haven’t changed much over the years — until now! Bubba Watson and Oakley have created the world’s first hovercraft golf cart. It’s able to ride on a bubble of air and glide over any terrain including grass and sand, leaving no trace on the golf course.

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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO TWEAK YOUR FACEBOOK NEWS FEED

Have you had enough of annoying posts in your Facebook News Feed? Are there certain people, or certain types of posts, that you’d rather not make part of your everyday routine? You can tweak your News Feed in several different ways by following the steps below:

If you see a post in your News Feed that you’d like to eliminate, click the arrow in the top right corner of the selected post and choose “Hide.”

Block Content by Type

To block all photos from a specific Friend:
~Hide his/her post (see above), then hover your cursor over “Change what updates you get from (NAME).”
~Deselect “Photos” from the drop-down list of post types.

See Only Important News

If a Friend’s constant posts are clogging up your News Feed, navigate to the menu above and choose “Only important updates.” From now on, you’ll only see stories about his/her job, family, or relationship status.

Unfollow

To block all content from a specific Friend, choose “Unfollow” from the menu above. The Friend won’t be notified, but might get suspicious if you stop commenting or miss an online announcement. For the sake of good relations, make occasional visits to his/her page and leave a comment.

Make Friends Into Acquaintances

Reclassifying a Friend as an Acquaintance on Facebook means you’ll receive fewer updates and generally only important ones. To access Facebook’s built-in acquaintance tool, hide any story from that Friend, then click “Organize your News Feed.”

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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It’s our way of keeping you posted on the happenings at our shop.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards,

Rob Marlowe
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652

727-847-2424

(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)

©2013 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc
Portions ©2013 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission.

Filed Under: Newsletter

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Meet the Geek

Rob Marlowe

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Hours: M-F 9-5
Evenings and weekends by appointment
Phone: 727-847-2424

Physical Address:
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652

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