Issue No. 32March 2015

Surf and Download More Safely

The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to download it in the first place. Here are a few tips that can help you avoid downloading software that you don’t want:

• Download programs only from websites you trust. If you’re not sure whether to trust a program you are considering downloading, enter the name of the program into your favorite search engine to see if anyone else has reported that it contains spyware. Files that end in the extensions .exe or .scr commonly hide malware. However, even files with familiar extensions such as .docx, .xlsx, and .pdf can be dangerous.
• Read all security warnings, license agreements, and privacy statements associated with any software you download. Before you install something, consider the risks and benefits of installing it, and be aware of the fine print. For example, make sure that the license agreement does not conceal a warning that you are about to install software with unwanted behavior.
• Never click “Agree” or “OK” to close a window. Instead, click the red “x” in the corner of the window or press Alt + F4 on your keyboard to close a window.
• Be wary of popular “free” music and movie file-sharing programs, and be sure you understand all of the software that is packaged with those programs.
• Use a standard user account instead of an administrator account.
• Don’t click links on suspicious websites or in email messages. Instead, type the website address directly into your browser, or use bookmarks.
• Don’t automatically trust that instant messages, email messages, or messages on social networking websites are from the person they appear to be from. Even if they are from someone you know, contact the person before you click the link to ensure that they intended to send it.
• Uninstall software that you don’t use. You can remove it using Windows Control Panel.
• Use strong passwords and keep them secret.
• Use flash drives cautiously. Hold down the SHIFT key when you insert the drive into your computer. If you forget to do this, click X in the upper-right corner to close any flash drive-related pop-up windows.

We want our clients safe and protected! If you have questions regarding your company internet policies and surfing procedures please Contact Us.

Is Your Business Moving?

Most Businesses in the San Diego area lease office space. While this can facilitate company growth and provide an opportunity to increase the size of the office, it also means dealing with the hassle of moving the company to a new location every few years. Finding suitable office space in a location that is acceptable for the company and its employees is a big challenge.

One thing that many companies fail to realize is the importance of involving your IT Service Provider in the process of planning for a move and vetting the new office space. A walk-through of the space to make sure all the network and power outlets are properly located in relation to office furniture, determining a suitable location for servers and network hardware, verifying proper cooling and appropriate power outlets for high-power servers in the designated server room.  All these and more should be discussed, even before any Tenant Improvements take place, to ensure you have the appropriate IT resources and connections in place before you move in.

In addition KTS has trusted partners who can assist with every other facet of the moving process, from finding a suitable location for your new office, to packing and moving furniture and other office equipment, to infrastructure services like electrical work, network cabling and high end audio-visual solutions for that new conference room.

If your company has an upcoming move, or you know of a business partner or contact that may be in need of some assistance with a planned office move, please  contact us! We would be happy to help make your office move as smooth as possible.