Why is it dangerous to download software from unknown sources?

I can't imagine a company where employees don't download small software either for their personal use or for completing tasks assigned.

But how dangerous is to download software from unknown sources?

Actually it is dangerous and big companies with IT security departments strongly prohibit this. We are trying to make our clients on network maintenance contracts understand this risk and also prohibit software download for employees without prior approval.
Well, it is not a popular measure but what is popular for users among security measures? :)

The reason is the software could be tampered. In other words there are guys out there who take a known software, add a piece of spyware like a key logger and repack the software and then offer it free on a peer to peer network.
You install that and suddenly all you type on your computer will be sent to those guys who packed the software for you... Everything, including your password from the on-line banking, your e-mail password, etc. How does this sound to you?

How To Get a Professional Business Website and Why

Any business owner and manager is now aware, whether their company is small or large that they need (at least)a website to progress in a competitive market. With a professional website you will get an edge over the competition.

OK, but what is considered "good enough" for a small business, should I build a big website or a two pages website will be enough to promote my company?

Well, you see, it's all about image, branding in general... plus the difference in money between a 3 pages website and 10 pages website it's not worth looking cheap.
For instance speaking about the web design market in Vancouver, BC, this Vancouver IT Company website, was a $1500 project (on June 2007) delivered promptly by ZoneArt Web Design from Vancouver, BC www.zoneart.net. That nice logo was basically free, included in the price for the website.

If you compare this with the cost of a Yellow Pages small ad, and considering that your website if promoted properly can be found easily in search engines I guess that it definitely worth to have a website.

And if you struggle with getting a domain name and a hosting provider, I recommend you have a look at 1 and 1, they are awesome so far with our sites, hopefully they are not going to change.

In conclusion, all you need is about $1500 (this price is ZoneArt's price in Vancouver) to get a nice 10-11 pages website with opt-in forms, photos, etc, a logo and if you ask them you could get a domain name and a hosting contract for one year from 1 and 1 included. All you need now is to promote your website, but this will be a separate topic.

5 Useful Tips for Fighting Spam

To reduce the chances of your e-mail address getting on a spammer’s list, here are 5 simple preventative measures you can take:

1. Use a disposable e-mail address. If you buy products online or occasionally subscribe to web sites that interest you, chances are you’re going to get spammed. To avoid your main e-mail address from ending up on their list, set up a free Internet e-mail address or use a throwaway e-mail address when making purchases or subscribing on websites (see #4).

2. Pay attention to check boxes that automatically opt you in. Whenever you subscribe to a website or make a purchase online, be very watchful of pre-checked boxes that say, “Yes! I want to receive offers from third party companies.”
If you do not un-check that box, your e-mail address can (and most probably will) be sold to every online advertiser.

3. Don’t post your main e-mail address on your web site, forums or newsgroups. Spammers have special programs that can get e-mail addresses from web sites without your permission. If you are posting to a web forum or newsgroup, use your disposable e-mail address instead of your main e-mail address.
If you want to post an e-mail address on your home page, use “info@” and have all replies forwarded to a folder in your in-box that won’t interfere with your main e-mail address.

4. Create throwaway e-mail address. If you own a web domain, all mail going to an address at your domain is probably set up to come directly to you by default. For example, an e-mail addressed to anything@yourcompany.com will be delivered to your inbox.
This is a great way to fight spam without missing out on important e-mails you want to get. The next time you sign up for a newsletter, use the title of the web site in your e-mail address. For example, if the web site is titled “www.freewidgets.com,” enter "freewidgets@yourdomain.com" as your e-mail address. If you get spammed, look at what address the spam was sent to.
If freewidgets@yourdomain.com shows up as the original recipient, you know the source since that e-mail address was unique to that web site.

5. Don’t open, reply to or try to opt-out of obvious spam e-mails. Opening, replying to, or even clicking a bogus opt-out link in an obvious spam e-mail signals that your e-mail address is active, and more spam will follow.
The only time it is safe to click on the opt-out link or reply to the e-mail is when the message was sent from a company you know or do business with (for example, a company that you purchase from or a newsletter you subscribed to).

If you have a specific question about e-mail setup, anti-spam solutions, or other computer issues, please feel free to contact me at www.blueprof.ca

Why Keep an Up-To-Date Anti-Virus and Anti Spyware installed

These days viruses are not as dangerous as they used to be. But you never know. There are still virus attacks coming from spam, data and music files, web sites, and even e-mails from friends, so you cannot afford to not be protected.

At a minimum, if you are a home user or small business I recommend you buy an inexpensive but in the same time one of the most efficient and easy to use anti-virus products on the market like AVG Anti-Virus from Grisoft. Click here to learn more about AVG. You'll be glad you did!

AVG Anti-Virus will automatically notify you when new updates are available every time you log on to your computer making it easy for you to stay up-to-date.

I would also advise you to NEVER open suspicious looking e-mails or attachments. Actually if you have an antivirus like this installed you don't have to worry, but it's good to be careful. You also want to make sure anyone else using your computer knows this as well. When in doubt, delete it immediately!
Finally, avoid downloading music, free software, or other files from unknown web sites. One of the WORST types of sites to visit are peer to peer file sharing sites such as KaZaa. These web sites are breeding grounds for viruses and you are practically asking to get infected.

Business Awareness - Firewall needed

Small business owners and home users tend to think that because they are “just a small business” or “just a home user” no one would waste time trying to hack in to their network, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The idea is that, OK, they don't care about your data, but how about installing a small e-mail server for sending tons of spam from your computer? Or how about installing a program to attack a website? If you remember the days when Yahoo or Microsoft Update site were down, back then millions of inffected computers worked together to attack them. All you will notice is that your computer is a bit slower than it used to be.

Plus there are thousands of unscrupulous individuals (mostly kids looking for fame) out there who think its fun to disable your computer with malicious code. These guys strike randomly by searching the internet for open, unprotected ports.

You have a few options to protect yourself. First, if you are using XP or Vista, set up the software firewall that is included. This is not 100% bullet proof but it will protect you from outside attacks. What this firewall is not doing is protecting you from inside, for instance if you click on some pop-up and install some malicious software, this will be free in conecting through your firewall with his creators initiating the connection from you computer.

For this reason there are a lot software firewalls included in Internet Security packages like AVG Internet Security, Norton Internet Security, etc which are protecting you both ways... but the price is answering to a lot of questions like "X program want to access the internet, Allow or Deny?" AVG is less expensive and is very good.

Ideally you want to purchase a router to stand between you and the Internet. What the router does is translating your internet address into an internal one so the router is now exposed on the internet and you have a private address taken from the router - we call this Network Address Translation (NAT) and this is actually a basic firewall which will stop worms and enhance privacy by discouraging scans on your computer.

How SPAM and web browsing can seriously affect your business

Spam e-mails are not only annoying and time consuming, but they’re also becoming more dangerous to your personal privacy and the security of your computer and business. Millions of computer users are getting infected, spoofed, and tricked by spam every day.

NEW dangers that business computer users must be aware of:

1. An increase in hijacked and spoofed e-mail addresses. Spammers have discovered new ways to infiltrate small software programs in your computer, to make it appear as though their e-mail is coming from YOUR computer. You can get this kind of small software from a spam e-mail or simply browsing the internet on some nasty sites and click on the pop-up massages. This could result in having your Internet connection terminated or put on hold by your ISP – or even worse, you can end up having your business or foundation domain name banned by the hosting company completely killing all your e-mail communication and your website, or getting listed on blacklists (like the one from Spamhaus) used by many spam software and therefore nobody using a spam filter will get your e-mails.

2. An increase in virus-carrying spam. Accidentally open a spam e-mail carrying a nasty virus and you can end up with big problems ranging from the slowing of your system to more serious threats such as system crashes, data loss, identity theft, redirecting your web browser to various sites, and more.

3. Phishing spam. A phishing e-mail appears to be a legitimate e-mail from a bank, vendor, or other trusted source. The purpose is to trick you into giving confidential information such as bank accounts, social security numbers, passwords, and credit card information. You’ve probably already received a PayPal or bank spam e-mail that said your account was going to be closed unless you verified your information. It then directs you to a very convincing web site where you input certain information the thief is trying to glean. In reality, this is a malicious third party that is going to use your information to open credit card accounts, access your account, steal money, and cause you other major identity and financial problems.

If you have a specific question about computer security, spam, or other computer issues, and your business is located in Vancouver area, BC, contact a Small Business IT Specialist at www.blueprof.ca right away.