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Archives for July 2014

GEEKNOTE: Battery Backups

July 7, 2014 By Rob Marlowe

GEEKNOTE:  I awoke this morning to the sound of thunder.  The unsettled weather gives us the opportunity for rain showers almost daily and those showers frequently include lightning.

The Tampa Bay area is known for lightning storms.  If lightning hits your house or very nearby, you can kiss your computer and other electronics good-bye.  There is simply nothing on the market that will completely protect your stuff from a direct strike.

Lightning strikes further away can still damage your sensitive electronics by creating power surges, brownouts, and drops that come into your home via the power, cable and phone lines.

Computers and computer like devices (DVRs, TVs, etc) don’t deal well with power outages, even when they are just momentary.  Anyone who has had to sit and wait for a cable or satellite TV box to reboot after the lights blink knows exactly what I’m talking about.

In the case of computers, if the lights blink at exactly the wrong instant, your data files will be corrupted and you won’t be able to reopen those files.  In a worst case, you won’t be able to get the computer to start back up because Windows itself has been corrupted.

In each of the cases above, there is a relatively inexpensive way of protecting your electronics.  UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies) or battery backups will keep your electronics running when the lights blink.  No more missing the end of your favorite TV show or losing the Great American Novel that you have been writing for hours, but haven’t saved.

Battery backup units also include surge protection circuitry that helps prevent spikes and other electrical nasties from toasting your gear.

Battery backup units range in size and price from small and inexpensive to very large and expensive.  The more power your equipment uses and how long you want to keep things running determines how big a battery backup unit you need to purchase.  Something in the 500VA range will cover smaller systems and a 750VA backup unit will run a nice size system several minutes in the event of a power outage.

I’ve got a 750VA unit protecting my TV, DVR, and other video gear and another 750 protecting my computer.  When a transformer blows down the street, I’ve got enough time to shut everything down normally.

Battery backups have a finite life.  The surge protection wears down over time and the batteries lose their ability to hold a charge.  A general rule of thumb is that a battery backup unit ought to last 2-4 years.

You can buy replacement batteries for some battery backup units, but I tend to simply replace the whole thing when the batteries give out.  The batteries often cost nearly as much as the whole thing and I figure the surge protection is in need of replacement too.  The exception to this rule is when you are dealing with the larger battery backups found in business settings.   Some of these units are hundreds or even thousands of dollars and replacing the batteries makes sense.

Prices vary for consumer grade battery backups.  Figure somewhere around $75 for a good 500VA unit and close to $100 for a quality 750VA unit.  We’ve found cheaper ones from time to time, but they don’t seem to last.

Want to know more?  Drop me a line or give us a call.

 

Rob Marlowe, Senior Geek
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.

 

 

Filed Under: GEEKNOTES

July 2014 Newsletter

July 1, 2014 By Rob Marlowe

July is a delicious time of year and we hope you’re getting a taste of all it has to offer. Of course, the Internet is a little like a slice of watermelon – you have to deal with a few seeds while enjoying the good stuff. Speaking of which, be sure to check out our alert about the GameOver Zeus malware, including warning signs and a helpful resource.  Another “seedy” online threat is the Remote Access Trojan, which is covered in This Month’s FAQ. To enhance your privacy, we share quick-and-easy instructions on how to adjust who sees your Facebook posts.

Also on the menu of this July issue are recipes featuring summer produce and a video showing an unusual apple-peeling method. Since so much of summer is spent outside, don’t miss the tips for protecting your skin against the sun, the inspiration of an amazing mountain climb without ropes, and a cool idea for a skateboard swing.
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 July 2014 Newsletter:

MALWARE ALERT – CYBER PANDEMIC KNOWN AS GAMEOVER ZEUS

NEWS FROM THE SHOP

GO PINTERSTING! – COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT DOES THE ACRONYM RAT MEAN?

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

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

SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO ADJUST WHO SEES YOUR FACEBOOK POSTS
The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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MALWARE ALERT – CYBER PANDEMIC KNOWN AS GAMEOVER ZEUS

On June 2, 2014, the Department of Justice and the FBI announced a multinational effort to disrupt the dangerous cyber pandemic known as GameOver Zeus. The malware, which the FBI estimates has hit between 500,000 and one million computers worldwide, is believed to be responsible for the theft of millions of dollars from businesses and consumers.

GameOver Zeus is capable of evading antivirus software. It monitors and injects rogue code into Web browsing sessions when users access banking and other popular websites from infected computers, and can infect a user’s machine when they open a PDF or click on a link sent to them in an email. Once set up on the computer, GameOver Zeus will intercept all financial transactions and rewrite them, so that payments made by the user will be redirected into other accounts. The malware also has the power to disguise unapproved payments that are made, meaning that thefts might have occurred even if accounts appear normal.

Could your computer be infected with GameOver Zeus? Here are some warning signs:

~ Your computer system operates very slowly. ~ Your cursor moves erratically with no input from you.

~ You notice unauthorized logins to your bank accounts or unauthorized money transfers.

~ Text-based chat windows appear on your computer’s desktop unexpectedly.

~ Your computer files lock up and a ransom demand is made to unlock files.

If you notice one or more of these actions on your computer, you may have been infected with GameOver Zeus. The Department of Homeland Security’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) has posted information on its website including an overview of the malware and actions you can take to remove the infection from your computer. Visit http://www.us-cert.gov/gameoverzeus for details.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

With today’s arrival of the first tropical depression of the year, it is time to think about updating that old battery backup you’ve got, or replacing that cheap surge strip with a battery backup, to keep your computer running when the lights blink out during our summer storms.  We keep battery backups in stock.

Looking for a new computer?  Talk to us about a brand new Windows 7 system to replace your old clunker.

Come by the shop for the latest in computer accessories.

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GO PINTERSTING! – COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775850917965/
Get Cooking With An Easy Herb Display

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775850918021/
How To Sweeten Your July 4th Celebration

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775851445336/
Kids Will Flip Over A Skateboard Swing

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 – WHAT DOES THE ACRONYM RAT MEAN?

Question: I’ve seen the acronym RAT used in computer articles but am confused by its meaning. Does it stand for Remote Access Tool or Remote Access Trojan?

Answer: Actually, RAT can stand for either Remote Access Tool or Remote Access Trojan. What’s the difference? A Remote Access Tool is a piece of software used to remotely access or control a computer; it can be used legitimately by system administrators for accessing client computers. For example, the IT person at your company could use a Remote Access Tool to see what’s on your computer screen and help you troubleshoot a problem.

When a Remote Access Tool is used for malicious purposes by hackers, it’s known as a Remote Access Trojan. This type of RAT (aptly named) infects the victim’s machine to gain administrative access and allows hackers to perform unauthorized operations. To prevent unknowingly allowing a Remote Access Trojan to invade your computer, avoid unsolicited email attachments and links, run up-to-date security software, and don’t believe anyone who contacts you claiming to be tech support for a major company.

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

Learn To Be Safe In The Sun
http://www.foh.hhs.gov/calendar/july.html
July is UV Safety Month. How much do you know about the sun’s harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays and how to protect yourself from them? Take the Sun Safety Quiz here and find out. Be sure to review the tips provided on clothing, shade, sunscreen, and more.

Watch The World’s Wind
http://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/1000hPa/orthographic
Thanks to supercomputers and weather satellites, the Wind Map team has come up with a global map of the wind. Click and drag to rotate the globe or double click to zoom in. Click once to see what the wind is doing at any point in the world.

Discover Your Inner Artist
http://weavesilk.com/
This interactive site helps you create works of art using just your mouse or touchpad. Click on “Draw something” to begin the process, then let the spirit move you. Everything you draw will automatically be duplicated to make a symmetrical image.

Try New Recipes Featuring Summer Produce
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/the-best-of-summer-produce.html
Summer fruits and vegetables are a rainbow of deliciousness. So whether you get them from your backyard, a farmers’ market, or the grocery store, make the most of them with this crop of Food Network recipes including Watermelon Cucumber Salad and Fresh Peach Cake.

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

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2014/1407_VIDEO_A.htm

A Very A-Peeling Technique
Who knew how handy a power drill could be in the kitchen? This chef must be in a big hurry to make apple pies!

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2014/1407_VIDEO_B.htm
Look Ma, No Ropes!
You’ll be mesmerized — and on the edge of your seat — when you watch this daring free-solo climb with no ropes.

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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO ADJUST WHO SEES YOUR FACEBOOK POSTS

If you have a large number of Facebook friends, it’s likely this list includes people who are actually distant acquaintances. Should you decide you don’t want these people seeing all of your Facebook posts, simply follow the steps below to adjust your default audience.

Locate Privacy Settings

~On your Facebook home page, click the down arrow on the top-right part of the screen.

~From the menu, choose Settings.

~You will be brought to a page titled General Account Settings.

~In the left column, click Privacy.

~You will be brought to a page titled Privacy Settings and Tools.

Adjust “Who Can See My Stuff”

~On the Privacy Settings and Tools page, under “Who Can See My Stuff,” next to “Who can see your future posts,” click Edit.

~You will see an image that looks like the status update box. Click the down arrow at the bottom of this image.

~Select who you want to be the default audience for your posts (remember, you can change this each time you post). Then click Close.

~Click the other links in this section and follow the instructions to adjust past posts.

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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, Senior Geek
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.)

©2014 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.

Portions ©2014 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission

 

 

Filed Under: Newsletter

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