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Our appologies - if you are looking for the March newsletter - please click here.

What’s new

Welcome Renato Paiva and BITS, Inc

Swiftec welcomes Renato Paiva and client of BITS, Inc! Renato brings 15 years of technology experience to Swiftec. He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MSCE), Certified Lotus Notes specialist and has experience with Novell Netware. He has provided disaster recovery solutions to many companies and assisted with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

Please join us in welcoming Renato.

Windows XP vs. Microsoft Vista

For anyone considering Microsoft Vista, numerous PC labs have determined that XP is FASTER than its successor Microsoft Vista. Basic operations from opening Microsoft Word, Outlook or Internet Explorer - all perform their tasks faster on Windows XP. Swiftec can purchase Windows XP until next summer (see next article below).

 

News and Views

Windows XP - End of Life

"The rumor of my demise has been greatly exaggerated" - While Mark Twain made this phrase famous, Windows XP is singing the same tune. Microsoft originally planned to cease sales of Windows XP in December 2007, then June 2008, then supposedly December 2008. We are now hearing rumors that Windows XP will be available through select channels until Window 7 is released (early 2010). With Windows 7 Microsoft is making sure they do not repeat the same mistakes that were done with Vista (promised but now missing components/features, poor performance, significant incompatibilities, etc).

Time will tell what will be delivered when.

 

Security (or 'Can you see me now?')

Why you shouldn't be using Internet Explorer

Once again Microsoft Internet Explorer has been found to have MAJOR security flaws that expose users to attack and takeover. The following is direct from Microsoft:

"Microsoft released security update MS08-078 to address a new vulnerability allowing remote code execution in Internet Explorer. This patch has a maximum severity rating of Critical for all versions of Internet Explorer. This security update was released outside of the usual monthly security bulletin release cycle in an effort to protect customers.We request that you take action immediately by first assessing and preparing your own systems and networks and applying the security update, then reaching out to your customers to assist them in securing their systems and networks by applying the update."

So what should you do? Swiftec has relied on a browser called Firefox for years. Firefox is faster and more open with good 3rd party add-ins (like Internet Explorer emulation). Please click on this link to get FIREFOX. All those great features you see in new versions of Internet Explorer probably came from earlier versions of Firefox.

Firefox Plug-Ins

Firefox allows for something called "Plug-Ins". Plug-ins are additional programs you can load to perform specific tasks. For example: Open Firefox, go to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox, search for IE TAB, choose add to firefox. This add in will allow you to see a page as IE sees it - but you are in firefox. When you have the web page open, right click and choose "View page in IE Tab".

 

Timely Tips

Tip of the month - Backup, Backup, Backup

This past month Mother Nature sent many of us a reminder. A reminder of how in days of old we lived without lights, furnaces, and electricity. The recent ice storm that hit New England affected over a million people and lasted weeks for some. Two members of our staff had to relocate for several days.

As we returned to the twenty-first century and to work, many of us were hurled back to the early Twentieth Century, by not having our computers to rely on.

There were many systems which needed power supply replacements, several systems which needed reconstructive surgery (full or partial operating system repairs), and a couple that paid the ultimate price and are no more.

The FANTASTIC news is that no data was lost in any of these situations! Our backup offering saved the day by restoring data that was backed up!

If you are not sure your computers could survive this ordeal, please have them ask us to evaluate their backup situation (ok - this is not the Twenty Fifth century so you may have to intervene and ask on their behalf).

Microsoft Excel Tip

Add a footer to a spreadsheet (Excel 2003)

Click on File, Page, Setup and the Customer Footer Tab

Click on Custom Footer - enter the footer you would like for the left, center or right side of your spreadsheet.

Add a footer to a spreadsheet (Excel 2007)

Click on Page Layout, Print Titles and the Header/Footer Tab

Click on Custom Footer - enter the footer you would like for the left, center or right side of your spreadsheet.

Non-Profits/Non-for-profits

Purchase discounted software

If you hold a 503(c)(3) then you should know about TechSoup.org. Techsoup facilitates software donations from major companies and charges a small processing fee. We recently saved one of our clients over $5,000 by obtaining free software for their enterprise.

 

GMP: Good Maintenance Practices

Here are some good maintenance practices for you to follow:

Anti virus:

  • Purchase good anti-virus software. When you download a free product, you frequently get what you pay for.
  • If you have a server, purchase quality anti-virus software which has centralized client management. This makes configuring and monitoring the anti virus status much easier.
  • Perform weekly virus scan of all computers.

Email:

  • If you don't recognize who sent you the email - NEVER open it.
  • If it looks too good to be true - it is.
  • When in doubt - assume it is spam

Backup:

  • Determine what needs to be backed up. Backup everything up takes time and space.
  • Configure the frequency of backups according to your risk exposure (how much you can afford to lose).
  • Validate the backups quarterly. Can you actually restore your data? If not - why bother doing the backup?