Free Up Memory
When you use your computer for long periods of time, it can start to slow down due to a lack of available RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM helps your computer run faster by allowing applications and programs to store data temporarily while they are in use. Over time, the amount of data stored in RAM increases until there’s no more room, causing your computer to slow down significantly. By restarting your computer regularly, you can clear out the RAM and make sure that it’s functioning properly.

Reduce Energy Consumption
Restarting your computer also has the added benefit of reducing energy consumption. When you turn off or restart your computer, its components stop using electricity—which means less energy being wasted when you’re not using it. This can help save money on electricity bills over time as well as reduce environmental impact since computers are one of the biggest sources of power consumption in homes and businesses today.

Software Updates & Security
Restarting your computer also helps ensure that any software updates have been installed properly and that any new security settings have taken effect. Many software updates require a system reboot in order for them to be applied correctly, so if you haven’t rebooted recently then you may be missing out on important security patches or bug fixes that could leave you vulnerable to attacks from hackers or viruses. Additionally, many anti-malware programs need frequent reboots in order for their full protection capabilities to be enabled.

Restarting your computer regularly has numerous benefits—from freeing up memory and reducing energy consumption to helping with software updates and ensuring security—so make sure you remember to do it often! It only takes a few minutes but can make a huge difference in terms of performance and stability over time. So next time you notice that things seem sluggish or unstable on your machine, try giving it a quick reboot before anything else! You’ll be glad you did!

The post The Benefits of Restarting Your Computer Regularly appeared first on Network Doctor.

Spotting Scammers
Scammers are experts at disguising themselves as potential matches. They often create fake profiles using images taken from other sources and use false information to appear more attractive than they really are. Here are some red flags that could indicate you’re dealing with a scammer:
-The person is overly eager to move the conversation off the dating site or app onto another platform such as email or instant messaging.
-The person insists on meeting in person or sending money before any real conversation has taken place.
-The person requests financial information or asks for money directly or indirectly.
-The person refuses to video chat or talk on the phone despite repeated requests from you.
-The profile contains little personal information but lots of generic statements that could apply to anyone.

Avoiding Scams
While it’s impossible to guarantee that you won’t encounter any scammers, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk and protect yourself from becoming a victim of an online dating scam. Start by doing your homework before signing up for any dating site; check reviews and do an online search for the website’s name + “scam” or “fraud” and see what comes up—if there have been reports of scams related to the website, it may be best to stay away. Make sure you understand all the rules and policies concerning user privacy and data protection before signing up for any site; if something doesn’t seem right, don’t hesitate to look elsewhere for a safer option. And when communicating with someone online, always remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Online dating can be an enjoyable experience if you know how to protect yourself from scammers who are out there looking for innocent victims. By being aware of common warning signs and taking extra precautions such as doing your research before signing up for any website, communicating only through secure platforms, and never giving out sensitive financial information or sending money directly or indirectly, you can greatly reduce your risk of becoming a victim of an online dating scam while still having fun in the process!

The post Spotting and Avoiding Online Dating Scams appeared first on Network Doctor.

What Is a Poll or Quiz?
A poll is a survey that allows users to answer multiple questions in order to gather information. A quiz is a game-like survey that tests the user’s knowledge about a specific topic. Both polls and quizzes are popular on social media platforms, such as Facebook. In fact, millions of people take part in them every day.

Are Polls and Quizzes Dangerous?
Polls and quizzes are not inherently dangerous; however, they can be used as an avenue for hackers to gain access to your computer or files if you are not careful. For example, some hackers will create polls or quizzes that require users to download software in order to participate. This software often contains malware that can infect your computer and allow hackers to gain access to your personal information. Additionally, there have been instances where hackers have created fake “prize giveaways” through these types of surveys; when unsuspecting users provide their personal information in order to enter the giveaway, their data is then stolen by the hacker.

How Can You Protect Yourself from Hackers Using Polls & Quizzes?
The best way to protect yourself from falling victim to these types of malicious activities is by being aware of what you are downloading or providing when participating in polls or quizzes on social media platforms such as Facebook. Never download any software without doing research into the program first (e.g., reading reviews). Additionally, never provide any personal information unless you know who it is going to; if you do not trust the source, it is best not to provide any details at all. Finally, make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date so it can detect any malicious programs before they can infect your computer or steal your files/data.

Facebook polls and quizzes may seem harmless enough but they can be used by hackers as an avenue for gaining access to your computer or files if you’re not careful. The best way protect yourself from this type of attack is by being aware of what you’re downloading and providing when participating in these types of surveys online; always do research into any programs associated with these surveys before downloading them, never provide any personal information unless you know who it’s going to, and make sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date so it can detect any malicious programs before they can cause damage. By following these tips, you should be able stay safe while still taking part in online polls and quizzes!

The post Can Facebook Polls and Quizzes Hack Your Computer or Files? appeared first on Network Doctor.

Back Up Your Data
Data loss is a real risk when it comes to tech; if something goes wrong with your system, you could lose all the hard work you’ve put into it. To avoid this scenario, make sure you back up your data regularly. This way, if disaster strikes, you’ll have all your information stored safely in another location—allowing you to quickly restore your system or recover lost files. Fortunately, there are plenty of cloud-based backup services available today that make backing up your data quick and easy.

Keep Your Software Up to Date
Software updates can be annoying—they take time out of our day and often require us to reboot our systems—but they’re essential for keeping our tech running smoothly. Software updates usually contain bug fixes and patches that address security vulnerabilities. Because of this, it’s important that you keep all your software up to date at all times; otherwise, hackers may be able to exploit these vulnerabilities and gain access to your system. Fortunately, many software programs now offer automated update notifications so you don’t have to manually check for new updates every time one is released.

Protect Yourself from Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are becoming increasingly common as cybercriminals look for new ways to gain access to sensitive information. These attacks typically involve emails or text messages that appear legitimate but contain malicious links or attachments that can compromise your system if opened or clicked on. To protect yourself from phishing attacks, make sure that any emails or text messages you receive are from a trusted source before opening them; if something looks suspicious or too good to be true (like an unexpected gift card offer), don’t open it! Additionally, make sure that all employees in your organization are aware of phishing attacks and know how to spot them so they can stay safe online as well.

Technology is here whether we like it or not—so it pays off to familiarize yourself with tips like these which will help keep your technology running smoothly and securely. Taking proactive steps such as backing up data regularly, keeping software up-to-date and protecting yourself from phishing attacks will go a long way towards safeguarding both yourself and your business from the myriad threats posed by technology today!

The post Tech Tips Everyone Should Know appeared first on Network Doctor.

Know the Risks
The first step in protecting your business from cyber threats is understanding the risks. That means knowing what hackers are after, how they’re going after it, and what they can do with it once they get their hands on it. Knowing the risks will help you identify possible vulnerabilities in your system and develop strategies to protect yourself against them.

Develop a Security Plan
Once you understand the risks associated with cyber security, it’s time to develop a plan for how to protect your data and systems from those threats. This includes setting up firewalls and other measures to keep out malicious actors, as well as implementing policies that require employees to use strong passwords and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown files. It’s also important to regularly update software, systems, and applications so that they are up-to-date with the latest security patches.

Train Your Employees
No matter how secure your system may be, it will only be as secure as its weakest link—your employees. To ensure that every employee understands their role in maintaining a secure system environment, provide regular training sessions on cyber security best practices such as using complex passwords, avoiding phishing scams, recognizing potential threats such as malware or ransomware attacks, reporting suspicious activity immediately, etc. Regularly testing employees on these topics is also an effective way to ensure that everyone remains vigilant when it comes to cyber security issues.

Staying cyber secure is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance and effort from everyone involved in your organization. By understanding the risks associated with online activity and developing robust plans for protecting yourself from them combined with regular employee training sessions will help ensure that your business remains safe from malicious actors in 2023 and beyond!

The post Staying Cyber Secure in 2023 appeared first on Network Doctor.

     So what’s the problem? For starters, if you’re in a highly regulated industry like medical or financial services, you’re almost guaranteed to be flagrantly violating data privacy laws or at least flirting with them; and if you’re audited, you could end up facing BIG fines, not to mention legal fees and bad PR. Second, the barrier to entry is LOW. Anyone with a browser and a credit card can purchase or enroll themselves into applications that integrate with your organization’s critical applications and/or store company data such as client lists, e-mails, files, etc.

     Of course, not all cloud apps are bad, but you as the owner and your IT person or company need to at least be AWARE of these applications to determine if they’re a threat to security or a violation of data privacy laws, and simply to keep your confidential information, well, confidential!

     For starters, your IT company or person should be constantly monitoring your network for new and unknown software or devices. This can (and should!) be incorporated into routine vulnerability testing. If you’re not sure this is being done now, find out. As Intel founder Andy Grove once said, “Only the paranoid survive.” Once you know what applications are being used, you can set your company firewall to block applications you DON’T want employees to access with company data and devices, and allow those that are company-approved.

     Also, make sure you catalogue these sites somewhere by user with the login information for that person. If an employee leaves your organization or is fired, they may remember what the username and password are to these cloud applications and could use them to harm your organization or steal data to sell or give to a competitor. Don’t put yourself at risk!

The post Shadow IT: How Your Company’s Data Is Silently Being Leaked Online appeared first on Network Doctor.

The post How do I lock or log off my computer? appeared first on Network Doctor.

MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE DURING DESTRUCTION METHODS

Currently, in the United States, there are 32 states that have their own data disposal regulations. Any business involved with the European Union must also follow the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). In regard to data destruction, technicians must maintain a chain of reports throughout the destruction process. Some of these compliance credentials include SSAE 18 Type II security certification, ensuring your data is secure throughout the process.

THE PROS AND CONS OF DIFFERENT DATA DESTRUCTION METHODS

A recent IDG research survey among 200 U.S.-based IT leaders found they are keenly aware of the risks associated with the inappropriate disposal of end-of-life IT equipment. Their top concerns include loss or theft of customer or patron information; damage to the organization’s reputation; loss or theft of intellectual property; punitive fines; and criminal charges. Despite these concerns, there is a great deal of confusion over how to erase properly the data on end-of-life IT assets. 

Failure to properly destroy the data on end-of-life IT assets can lead to serious breaches of data protection and privacy policies, compliance problems, and added costs. There are three main options for data destruction: 1) Overwriting,  2) Degaussing, and 3) Physical Destruction.

OVERWRITING

Overwriting involves writing new data on top of old. The process is analogous to recording over an old VHS tape. Because this process erases the old material and renders anything left completely unreadable, this form of data destruction is also called data wiping.

When data is overwritten, a pattern of 1’s and 0’s is written over the original information. Sometimes a random pattern is used but a set pattern can also be used which allows for later verification that the drive was wiped by detecting the set pattern. Overwriting data once is enough for most situations. However, for high-security applications, multiple wipes may be required. This provides an extra level of assurance that the old data is destroyed.

On the downside, it takes a long time to overwrite an entire high-capacity drive. This process might not be able to sanitize data from inaccessible regions such as host protected areas. Overwriting might require a separate license for every hard drive, and the process is ineffective without good quality assurance processes. Another factor to consider is that overwriting works only when the storage media is not damaged and is still writable.

DEGAUSSING

Degaussing uses a high-powered magnet to disrupt the magnetic field of the storage medium and destroy the data in the process. When applied to magnetic storage media such as hard disks, magnetic tape, or floppy disks, degaussing can quickly and effectively purge an entire storage medium.

While degaussing can be an effective method of data destruction, it has two major disadvantages. First, degaussing renders the hard drive inoperable by physically disrupting the delicate interconnected mechanisms of the drive – thus destroying any potential end-of-life value. Second, there is no way to ensure all data is destroyed. Because degaussing renders a drive inoperable, there’s no way to run the drive to verify the data is gone. The effectiveness of degaussing can also depend on the density of drives. Finally, it should be noted that degaussing does not eradicate data from non-magnetic media such as Solid State Devices and CD’s.

PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION

If you don’t need to reuse hard drives, physical destruction is a possible data destruction option. Organizations can physically destroy data in a number of ways – including shredding, drilling, melting, or any other method that renders physical storage media unusable and unreadable.

There can be problems with physical destruction. First, it is prone to human error and manipulation. There is no reliable way to audit the physical destruction process. Second, most methods of physical destruction leave large portions of the drive platter intact, even if the drive is inoperable.

Data could still be recovered using forensic methods in such cases. Only pulverizing the disk to particles ensures the data is irrecoverable. Lastly, since physical destruction renders media unreadable, it also prevents them from being wiped and remarketed. This means that there is no longer the opportunity to recover any end-of-life value that these assets may potentially hold.

CONCLUSION

The best method of data destruction depends upon the type of media, the sensitivity of the data, and the end-of-life value of the assets. Many firms attempt to perform data destruction in-house. That’s not typically a good use of internal time and resources. Most IT asset disposition firms have the expertise and scale to perform data destruction on a much more cost-effective basis.

Network Doctor’s Secure IT Asset Disposition solution helps companies ensure that their IT assets are properly destroyed, recycled, or repurposed for maximum value — using secure logistics and chain-of-custody methods to ensure compliance, security, and sustainability.

The post Best Practices for Data Destruction appeared first on Network Doctor.

It’s easy to get carried away, and the urge to join in on the fun is probably eating at you day and night, but just slow down a minute. We’re here to have you proceed with caution.

Here’s the thing: You shouldn’t go and download it. There’s no shortage of press coverage of Windows 11, including our own, taking the risks so you don’t have to. For instance, this can be categorized as stolen software. Even if you activate it with a legitimate Windows 10 license code, don’t forget that this is a software you’re not supposed to have right now. Nobody outside of Microsoft is.

The other side of that coin is that you also can’t install Windows 11 through official channels (you won’t find it on the Windows Insider Channels), meaning you’d have to download it elsewhere—and hackers and phishers love to dupe unsuspecting users with malicious links masquerading as leaked software. It’s why many have opted to run Windows 11 in a virtual machine — essentially a PC within a PC. But running Windows 11 through a virtual machine greatly dampers its effectiveness, as software is being used to emulate hardware. 

Therefore, as your reliable and trustworthy experts in the field, we urge caution and ultimately to stay away. Of course, if you do go ahead and download it, make sure you’re not putting it on your only machine or one you rely on for work. It may also be wise to use a virtual machine to isolate it from anything important or irreplaceable. Just in case.

Good luck!

The post Don’t install the leaked version of Windows 11. Here’s why. appeared first on Network Doctor.

Likely, you found this message later in a junk folder, in quarantine, or worse, you never saw the message at all. Not only is it frustrating to miss these emails, but it can also affect your business’s bottom line.

We get it. It can be embarrassing when you realize you never responded to a colleague, and it is crushing to miss a valuable business opportunity because you actually didn’t see the memo.

In this insight, we’ll explain how and why an email client or ISP (i.e., Outlook) filters emails, and how it keeps our businesses secure. We will also discuss the top reasons that emails are flagged as spam and the steps you and your IT team can do to increase the likelihood of important emails showing up in your primary inbox.

But knowledge is power, and we want to show you what other organizations are doing to better protect themselves from cyberattacks via email, so you can take similar steps to secure your company.

HOW EMAIL FILTERING WORKS

Spam Fact: 91% of cybercrimes start with an email.

This thing we call spam, unsolicited, and unwanted junk email, accounts for more than a quarter of all email traffic. So it is essential that your ISP has tools in place to keep spam emails in check. Your ISP wants to keep your business secure and your inboxes as spam-free as possible.

Every email that arrives in your inbox goes through a filtering process that reviews it for legitimacy and any malicious cues. If the email does not pass the filtering process, it gets placed in one of two places: your junk folder or your quarantine folder if it’s malicious.

Although only one out of every hundred emails are malicious, it only takes one to send your organization spiraling into a frenzy. It’s a really good thing that most of those emails are filtered out before you ever see them!

Before reaching your inbox, each message must pass through three different sets of criteria filters with your ISP. These criteria are:

1. Elements of the email – the actual contents of the email are evaluated to determine if something within the email seems illegitimate or malicious.
2. The sender’s domain reputation – the score that your ISP gives the sender’s domain is based on factors like spam complaint rates and bounce rates.
3. Your engagement with the message – your action or inaction with an email indicates to your ISP whether you are happy with receiving the email.

Let’s take a deeper dive into each of these filters and how the deliverability of emails is affected.

THE TOP REASON’S EMAILS ARE FLAGGED AS SPAM

1. Elements of the Email.

If you find an email in your junk folder that shouldn’t be there it very well could be because the individual email triggered one of these common triggers:

• There are too many images in the email.
• The email uses SPAM trigger words (Amazing, cancel at any time, congratulations, guarantee, etc.).
• The email does not include a physical address.
• There are too many attachments in the email.

This level of filtering essentially determines if the contents of the email are wanted or unwanted.

2. The sender’s domain reputation

Every IP address is rated by each ISP, so if that IP address has been flagged for spam, fraudulent activity, or viruses, then any email from that domain will be flagged as well.

Additionally, ISPs look at domain-level authentication to ensure that the email is actually being sent from who it says it’s being sent from. This level of review does not look at the content within the email.

3. Your engagement with the message

ISPs constantly learn from your actions — how you do and don’t interact with the emails you receive. Have you ever noticed that, if you immediately delete marketing emails from a company you are not interested in, you’ll stop seeing those emails after a while? Those emails haven’t disappeared into thin air, they’re still getting to you, but your ISP has learned that you don’t want them and placed them in your junk folder.

Common triggers for this filter are:

• Clicking the spam button on a message in the inbox
• Opening or clicking on a message
• Enabling images
• Forwarding a message

What You Can Do to Improve Email Deliverability

The primary factors for email deliverability are based on the sender’s actions and ISP setup but there are a handful of things that you and your IT team can do to improve email deliverability within your organization.

If you use Outlook, here are a few tips to ensure future deliverability from senders that are currently flagged incorrectly.

• Click “not spam” on an email in the junk folder from a trusted source or move it to the inbox.
• Add the sender’s email address to your contacts. Emails from that sender should not be marked as spam in the future.
• Add trusted senders to the “Safe senders and domains” list to prevent Outlook from ever sending emails from them to your spam filter.
• Ask your IT department how you can view quarantined emails that have been sent to you.

Your IT Department should be able to ensure that your mailboxes are set up correctly. Different mailboxes serve different needs and should be customized to meet those needs.

To make sure you get each of your mailboxes set up correctly, here are a few questions to ask your IT team:

• What is the purpose of the email stream? What business process is it supporting? Is it for support tickets, sales, marketing?
• What service or server will be sending the email?
• Will the mailbox be utilized to reply to messages, or will it be a no-reply address? Will the mailbox be shared or will it be for just one user? Is a license required?
• Does the domain need to be “mail-enabled” within the client’s primary mail platform (i.e., within exchange online)?
• Who is the main point of contact for the mail stream (particularly if the stream is hosted by a 3rd party)?

Email may never be perfect and unfortunately, we may not be able to keep every single email out of junk folders. But hopefully, the tips in this article will help you make your inboxes more efficient, so you don’t miss those really important emails!

Do you need help ensuring that your ISP is set up correctly? Speak with a Network Doctor expert today.

The post What to do if important emails are landing in your junk folder appeared first on Network Doctor.