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December 19, 2011

Simplify your IT operations with Windows Intune 2

If you've heard of Windows Intune or used it before, you know it's an ideal way to manage the health and updates for your PCs. Now, with Windows Intune 2, your IT operations are even easier.

With the latest version, it's no problem if you're out in the field--you can run malware scans or restart a computer from anywhere. User on vacation? No problem, Windows Intune will schedule times to check for Internet connectivity and complete the task when they're back online.

 

Continue reading "Simplify your IT operations with Windows Intune 2" »

January 20, 2011

How to gain access to your networks devices and how to keep your passwords secure

Are you trying to gain access to your network device and can't find the default password to login?

You're in luck! We came across an extensive list of default usernames and passwords for many different devices (like routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices) and we want to share it with you!

Many network devices arrive with factory settings and a default username and password.  Most, if not all, of this information can be found on the web with a quick search. This is why you should always, always, always change the factory settings, especially if you want to keep yourself protected from malicious attacks.  Attacks can range from key loggers to steal your credit card information to viruses that eventually make your computer completely not useable.

I remember an article I read a few years back where a man asked and received permission from a lady to try to gain access to her bank account.  He started out searching for her name on the web and found her email address among other information like her birthday.  He used this to attempt to get into her bank.  Usually, if you forget your password, there is an option to send yourself a password reset email.  He attempted to log into the email too many times and it eventually asked for a security question, which he found the answer to online.  Now that he had access to her email he could change her password. Voila, he now had access to her bank account, much to her shock.

We don't want that to happen to you, so we want to share with you some tips on how to keep your account secure.  This won't just apply to network devices, but to every other thing on the web that requires you to create a password. 

  • Keep it as random as possible. Don't use words.
  • If you're using words, throw in some numbers, capital letters, and symbols. (for example, '4' in place of 'A' and and '!' instead of 'I')
  • The longer it is, the better.
  • For security questions, don't answer with information that can be found just by looking up your name on Google. For example, "In what year did I graduate high school?" Don't answer the year posted on your FaceBook page. It's easy for others to find this information. Instead, type in something different, like the year your partner or your parents graduated. Change some random characters while you're at it.
  • If you can, use different passwords for different accounts.
  • If you have multiple email accounts and the email settings allow this option, try to send hackers in a cycle. For example, A sends password reset/confirmation to B, which sends it to C, which sends it back to A, and so on, never allowing them to log in.

Here's a really good article that goes more in depth on how to keep yourself secure.

September 28, 2010

Microsoft releases Online Service Health Dashboard to make service status more transparent

On Monday, Microsoft released Microsoft Online Service Health Dashboard, available to customers in all regions, to deliver a more timely and accurate information about the status of BPOS services.  Microsoft Online Services are designed for reliability, availability and performance, backed by a 99.9% uptime Service Level Agreement.  With this new service, customers will no longer need to wonder if service interruptions were caused by networking issues from their own service provider or by the Online Services.  The Online Service Health Dashboard includes a access to a greater level of information regarding the status of tools and service, current service status, and a 35-day status history.

Online service dashboard  

Dashboard Screenshot (source for more information)

The Service Health Dashboard provides customers with a greater level of transparency into the status of all services and tools, with detailed current and historical information for three regions: Americas, serving customers in North America and Latin America (NOAM); Europe, the Middle-East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

Americas (NOAM)

Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

https://health.noam.microsoftonline.com/

https://health.emea.microsoftonline.com/

https://health.apac.microsoftonline.com/

Administrators can log into their region-specific Service Health Dashboard using their Microsoft Online Services user name and password.

Visit the Microsoft Online Service Blog for more information on how to use the service.