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Are Your Passwords Compromised?

1/30/2021

 
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News of a big brand suffering a data breach is all too common today. But if you don’t get an email from such a company, you could mistakenly be thinking it doesn’t affect you.

The thing is, large breaches are happening all the time. Cybercriminals then put access credentials online, and other bad actors buy and exploit those email addresses, usernames, passwords, etc. Why do the bad guys care to buy these member details? Presumably, the victims of the breach quickly change their passwords to prevent security vulnerabilities. So, what good does that info do?

Take a moment to think about how many unique passwords you actually have. Many of us have dozens of different online accounts but only a handful of distinct passwords. That means a hacker can take that stolen data from, say, LinkedIn and try the same password on your banking site.
Cybercriminals have the capacity to keep on trying. They will take one stolen password and use that data to try and hit other accounts in a massive, brute-force effort.

What Can You Do About It?
Stop using the same passwords over and over again. Yes, unique passwords for every account are difficult to remember, but they are critical. One solution is to use a password manager. Many browsers have a pop-up window offering to remember a password for a particular site. If you say “yes,” the browser automatically populates access credentials on your return to the site.

If you use Google Chrome, you can also check if your passwords have been compromised. Google Safety Check compares your saved usernames and passwords against over 4 billion compromised credentials.
To check for leaked passwords, head to “Settings” in the Chrome browser, then navigate to “Safety Check” and “Check Now.” You’ll get a report that identifies any compromised passwords and allows you to review and fix leaks.

MacOS users will be happy to hear that Safari added similar functionality in its latest release, and Mozilla’s Firefox browser also has password checking built in.

Strengthen Your Passwords
Creating a strong password is challenging; almost as difficult as remembering all your different passwords. You’re aiming to come up with something a human or computer can’t guess!
Different sites will have different parameters. You need a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Having a different mix of these helps make the password more difficult to crack. And the longer the better; That’s why passwords a browser suggests to you look like a string of gibberish.

Pay attention also to warnings from the site requiring your credentials. If they say your password is weak, believe them. Safari and Chrome suggest stronger passwords when you create a new account.
Change your passwords immediately if you are advised to do so. Password management tools are continuously improving, but there is still the human element, and that’s often the weakest link. If you don’t practice healthy password hygiene, hackers are ready to take advantage of your ambivalence.

Why Managed Services Make Your Life Easier

1/30/2021

 
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That smile of relief when we fix someone’s technology is a gift of doing IT service. When we get a call out, we’re happy to go out (or log in remotely) to fix what’s broken. We enjoy getting our customers back up and running quickly. Who said saving the day is only for superheroes, right?

Still, as much as we get a boost out of being the hero, we’d rather our clients’ systems didn’t go down in the first place. How can we make that happen? By adding you to our managed services client roster. So, what does managed services mean?

Fixing things when they break is reactive, whereas managed services are more proactive. It involves:
·        ongoing monitoring;
·        handling system patches;
·        managing software updates, virus scans, and keeping malware current;
·        checking hard drive health to help catch issues in advance;
·        tuning up your technology;
·        setting up new devices, printers, networks, and systems.
 
As your managed service provider, we get to know not only what’s gone wrong but also find out your goals and objectives. Understanding what your needs are, we can suggest the technology that best serves you. Plus, we might be able to help you find discounts on new software or cut costs for your home office. After all, we can identify where you are duplicating licenses or paying for more than you need.

Managed Services Make Budgeting Easier
All those services sound costly. The benefit is that you’ll pay a single, consistent monthly fee (or annual fee) for all managed services. Instead of having to handle a big financial hit when something does break, you’re already covered. Plus, if the worst does happen, we already have a relationship. We know what’s important to you, and we focus on your needs. You’re a regular customer we want to keep satisfied rather than a one-off engagement (not that we don't appreciate those, too!).
Of course, no one can promise you’ll never get hit by a cyberattack. There are new threats every single day. But, if malware does strike, we can get you back up and running more quickly. After all, we’ve been keeping your systems up to date. So, less work needs done to clean up.

Conclusion
Your home IT environment is getting more complicated. Even if you’re not working from home, you probably have a desktop, laptops, tablets, gaming devices, and mobile devices. All these need secure internet access and might need data backup. Really, just connecting all your devices to a shared, secure network is a headache at this point, but it doesn’t have to be your headache. Stabilize your IT expenses and enjoy having an expert on speed dial with managed services.
 
If you want a higher level of IT support, we should talk about managed services. We can help keep the problems at bay. You’ll be happier. We just don’t get to see it on your face (though you’re welcome to send an appreciative email!).

Tech Help for New Year’s Resolutions

1/30/2021

 
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Making New Year’s resolutions is a familiar habit in the Western world. Many people make resolutions relating to their physical or mental health. Fortunately, in our digital world, technology can help make resolutions more attainable.

First, a few fun facts about resolutions. Did you know:
·       The habit of making resolutions began about 4,000 years ago? The Babylonians used             their new year festival to set goals to keep their good standing with the gods.
·        In Roman times, farmers were told to begin each year with an “auspicious gesture.”
·        More recently, a study found only eight percent of people keep their resolutions.

Twitter did a survey of the most common resolutions of 2017, and top ones included:
·        diet, exercise, and lose weight
·        get more sleep;
·        learn something new;
·        read more;
·        be nicer, kinder, and more patient.

The good news? If you set any of these as your resolutions, technology you already have can help!

Tech Tips for Resolutions
Let’s start with trying to change fitness or eating habits. There are an abundance of apps available for that for your phone or your computer. You might try:
·        Daily Workouts, a mobile and desktop app with nearly 200 exercise routines that can               be done with or without accessories (such as exercise ball, stretch bands, or kettle bell            weight);
·        Seven, a mobile and desktop app providing quick, on-the-go exercise routines. All you             need is seven minutes and, possibly, a chair or wall.

You could also set a recurring alarm on your work computer to remind you to get up and walk around for a minute each hour. Those with an Apple Watch already get a notification at 10 minutes to the hour if they haven’t moved enough.

Looking to get more sleep? You could use Night Shift on your iPhone or Night Light on Android devices to dim your screen. Windows also has a Night Light feature (under Settings > System > Display), plus, there’s a Blue Shade option if you have a Fire tablet. All these change screen display to warmer colors, which reduces eyestrain and helps you sleep better.
You might also be interested in Sleep Bug. This white noise app provides 300 different soft sounds to build a background to help you zonk out.

Those who want to read more or learn something new could benefit from limiting social media. Apple has Screen Time and Android has Digital Wellbeing. Both track your app usage, plus, you can set apps to lock if you use them for too long. You can also use Windows 10 to limit app and game time on computers, tablets, Xbox, and Android devices. Under the Family tab of your Microsoft account page, you’ll find an Activity tab. You can turn on app monitoring, limit app and game usage, and set restrictions for the amount of time and time of day apps can be used.

Good Luck with Your Resolutions
We’d argue that all this can help with that other resolution, the one where you’re going to be more patient and kind. If you’re feeling healthier, sleeping better, and spending less time in a social media trance, you can be more mindful. And hey! While you’re at it, make that a resolution, too.

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Joe is really in tune with what our business needs are... what a great guy with amazing skills... - Grassland Veterinary Service

Yellowstone Computing goes above and beyond for their customers! Joe is very knowledgeable and will go the extra mile to make sure his customers not only get what they asked for but also makes sure they are taken care of for many years to come! Between the great business services they provide and their involvement in the Thorp Chamber I'd highly recommend doing business with Yellowstone Computing! Whether you are an individual looking for computer or other technology help or a large employer who needs to either supplement your current IT support or completely outsource it Yellowstone Computing should be one of your first calls! - Justin Z.