We all have heard the expression “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors,” but what the heck could that possibly have to do with computers? Well, by definition a fence is “a barrier enclosing or bordering a piece of property, used to prevent entrance.” In the context of your network a “fence” sounds an awful lot like a firewall.

Due to significant advances in networking and mobile technologies, more and more people are working remotely—client locations, hotels, home offices and backyard garden swings. As company IT infrastructures become more decentralized, keeping company computers, mobile devices and data secure has become much more challenging.

This month’s SPAM Blocker Tip is:
Do not click/open links, images or attachments from unknown sources

A good rule of thumb is if you are not expecting something and it’s not coming from a trusted source, do not open links, images or attachments.

The advancements in computer technology and the information economy that we have enjoyed over the last twenty years has brought us enormous benefits. They include the availability of: instantaneous worldwide communications, wireless document sharing, history-making video produced with a small device in the palm or your hand and the list goes on and on.

Many of us know how to take care of ourselves and our pets during these hot summer months, but we may need to be reminded on how to take care of our computers and devices as well.

Hot temperatures affect the stability, performance and life of your computer, which is already a heat-producing machine.

Does email sprout like weeds in your Inbox by the minute? If you’re like most people, as much as 80% or more of your email is spam. Have you ever wondered: How did they get your email address in the first place? It’s simple, they harvest it!

Some email address harvesting methods are perfectly legal, others are less so.

You may have heard about how last week in NYC, Tony winner Patti Lupone snatched a phone from the hands of a woman who could not stop texting (and thus disturbed the actor) during Patti’s performance in a play at Lincoln Center.  With cellphones being part of our lives for about 20 years now, it seems many of us, including that theater-goer, can sometimes be rude to others when using their mobile phone.

Congratulations to our winner, Audrey Wells of Cornerstone Family Programs, the lucky recipient of a NJ Bagel Basket.

QUESTION: What does SOS stand for?

(ANSWER: SOS, the internationally recognized distress signal, does not stand for any particular words.

Like Rome, a garden can’t be built in a day. As all seasoned gardeners know, planning is critical for success. Everything must be considered before the first seed is planted: weather, environment, soil, and potential pests (both insects and animals). The same is true for business and the use of IT. A solid IT infrastructure cannot be built overnight.