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Ask The Teltek Tekspert – How Can I Protect Myself From Cellphone And Tablet Theft?

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Carrie in Baltimore, MD asks:

I’ve seen a lot of disturbing stories in the news about the increase of cell phone theft on buses and in other public places. How do I keep from becoming a victim myself?

Theft of cellphones and other portable electronic devices is on the rise and in some cases, violence is involved. Some victims are being physically assaulted and seriously injured, others may be threatened with guns or knives. It was reported that there were 579 thefts of cellphones or tablets in San Francisco from November to April of this year.

Here are a few tips to decrease your chances of being a target or to minimize the damage if it actually happens to you:

1. Unless you are home, keep your phone out of sight with the ringer turned off, this includes the office and your car. If it’s not seen or heard, it’s less tempting to take and harder to get. Criminals like easy targets

2. Pay attention: Many victims report that they were engrossed in reading an email or in a verbal conversation when they were attacked. People who are distracted are specifically targeted since that gives the bad guy the advantage of surprise

3. Keep your device locked with a password or PIN. If someone does get ahold of it, this could prevent them from accessing your personal information or at least buy you some time to recover your device

4. Download and install software that can remotely track or wipe your phone, Apple has the Find My iPhone feature

5. Use an ultra violet pen to print your street address and an alternate contact number onto both your mobile handset and battery. This makes your device easily identifiable as your property if it’s recovered. The ink will wear off after a few months, but you can redo it at that time

If you find yourself in a bad situation:

6. Give it up: hand your device over if someone demands it. It’s not worth risking your safety

7. Notify the police and your carrier immediately in the event of loss or theft

8. Request an immediate, formal investigation from your carrier and file a police report

9. If you do have a track or wipe app installed, activate it as soon as you can. The device needs to be turned on in order for the track or wipe to work and If the thief powers the device off, you may be out of luck

10. In addition to reporting your phone lost or stolen, you should also disable your phone number (not account number) so that no further charges can be made to your number

For more information on the best methods for protecting the integrity of your electronic devices and your sensitive information in and out of the office, call Teltek IT today!

Teltek is proud to offer IT services as the fourth component to our multi-systems approach as your single source technology services company. This Managed Service Provider (MSP) offering completes our longstanding goal to provide our clients with a one-call resource for all of their business technology needs. IT outsourcing, remote back up and disaster recovery, helpdesk support, computer network relocations, security products and server/desktop virtualization are just a few of the services available.

Tags: cell phone safety, cell phone theft, tablet theft, Teltek IT, theft prevention
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Teltek Gets Charged By The Voltage Awards

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

On May 9^th, Chris Nicoli of Teltek attended Smart CEO’s Baltimore VOLTAGE Awards event held at the Westin, BWI in Baltimore, MD.

This event celebrates the role that technology plays in the Baltimore business community and the future impact the technology sector will have on the city’s economic growth.

A photo of Voltage Award recipients
taken by Chris Nicoli, Teltek

Awards are given in categories of Innovators and Implementers and each category has sub categories based on company size; emerging, small, medium and large.

Innovators are defined as organizations that are developing new technologies that improve operational efficiencies. Companies that are using technology to enhance their competitive advantage are classified as technology Implementers.

The finalists are selected by an independent panel of business leaders selects finalists from applications submitted to Smart CEO.

In addition to being honored at the event, VOLTAGE award finalists will be profiled in the May issue of SmartCEO magazine.

Chris enjoyed the event very much and reported that he felt “privileged to take part in an event where so many technology innovators were honored for their developments and achievements”. As a technology company, Teltek appreciates the accomplishments of our colleagues in the technology realm.

Tags: Baltimore, Chris Nicoli, Smart CEO, Teltek, Voltage Awards 2013
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Now Is The Time To Upgrade Your FaxFinder Server, Trade It In!

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Multi-Tech Systems recently announced a Trade-In program for their FaxFinder product. Existing FaxFinder fax server customers have the opportunity to upgrade their FaxFinder to the last FFX40 models and receive a manufacturer’s rebate of up to $800!

FaxFinder models that qualify for the Trade-In program include:

FF840

FF440

FF240

FF240-IP-2

FF240-IP-UPGRADE-2

The FaxFinder all-in-one fax server provides distributed faxing capabilities over a WAN from a corporate office to small remote offices and to field sales people. Inbound faxes are converted to PDF or TIFF files and delivered to a recipient’s in-box or a network folder or printed on a network printer. Outbound faxes can be sent by web client or through Microsoft Office applications. The FaxFinder provides secure, convenient faxing for LAN users offering a high degree of privacy for both the sender and recipient.

Why would you want to upgrade to the new FFX40 model? Enhanced features of course! Here’s what the FFX40 has to offer:

HIPAA Compliance
Integration with existing business operations
Multiple routing options for inbound faxes
Multiple ways to send faxes
Enhanced fax log
Access to global contacts
PDF-based cover page support

Both outbound and incoming faxes can be sent and received using an email client. This removes the need for a manual fax machine and therefore no special security measures need to be taken to safeguard the data or the equipment. This feature makes the FaxFinder ideal for medical, legal and other offices that handle confidential information.

If you would like to take advantage of this trade-in opportunity, call Teltek IT today! The offer expires November 15, 2013, so you will want to act quickly.

Please also contact us if you would like more information on the benefits of fax to email. It’s a greener and more secure way to send faxes!

Tags: fax to email, FaxFinder, FFX40, Multi-Tech Systems, secure faxing, Teltek IT, Trade-In program
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Are You Behind The Wheel Of SkyDrive?

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

Microsoft recently announced that its cloud service product, SkyDrive now has over 250 million users. For those of you not taking advantage of SkyDrive, here is what you’re missing out on.

SkyDrive is a tool for hosting documents, photos and more and it allows you to sync your files across multiple devices. You can share the documents you choose and set the rest to remain private. SkyDrive is free if you sign up for 7GB of storage; more space is available for a fee.

The product, which has been around for over five years, has become very popular in the last few months following the debut of Windows 8 in October of 2012. A short while after that, Microsoft made SkyDrive the default save location for the new Office, updated the SkyDrive app for iOS, and improved its uploading performance. Other upgrades include two-step verification and Extended Validation Certificates. Outlook.com just announced that they are offering a new feature that allows you to insert SkyDrive files directly into an email message.

SkyDrive comes with free versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. It also works well with other apps including EasyBib, HelloFax, IFTTT , OneNote, DocuSign Ink and PDF Expert for iPad.

For more information on cloud storage options and Microsoft products, call Teltek IT today!

Since 1997, Teltek has become an established resource for nearly 2,000 client’s telephone systems, voice and data cable installations, and carrier services. As a Microsoft Certified Partner and Dell Registered Partner, Teltek has the knowledge and resources necessary to keep your computer network and IT infrastructure current and functioning efficiently with the personalized service Teltek clients have grown to admire. With office locations in Baltimore and Westminster, Maryland, we serve clients across MD, DC and VA.

Tags: cloud storage solutions, free cloud storage, Microsoft, Microsoft Certified Partner, skydrive, Teltek IT
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Ask The Teltek Tekspert – How Do I Test My Bandwidth?

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

Charles in Baltimore, MD asks:

My computer at home seems very slow and a friend told me it could be a bandwidth problem. What is bandwidth and how can I find out if this is what’s causing the issue?

Bandwidth is defined as the maximum data transfer rate of a network or Internet connection. It measures how much data can be sent over a specific connection in a given amount of time. (TechTerms.com)

To find out if you are receiving the amount of bandwidth you are paying for, test this online. I recommend Speed Test to accomplish this. It is free, fast and easy to use. This service performs over 50 million tests every month. If you create an account on the Speed Test site, you can log in to test your bandwidth and then compare that to previous tests you have done to see a history.

Go to http://www.speedtest.net/. You will see a laptop graphic in the middle of the home screen with a green “Begin Test” button. When you click on that button, a large speedometer appears and your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is identified. In our case, it’s Comcast Business Communications. Then the test begins. Your computer will be tested for ping, upload and download speeds and you will be shown the results when the test is complete. Compare these to the speeds you were promised by your ISP.

You are given the opportunity to share the test results via Twitter or Facebook. Results can also be shared by copying the url and pasting it into an email.

For more tips and advice on how to ensure that your internet connection is as fast and secure as possible, call Teltek IT! We would be happy to come to your home or business for a site survey to evaluate your equipment, configuration and other factors.

Tags: Bandwidth, bandwidth testing, Speed Test, Teltek IT Services
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Dell Announces End Of Support For Some SonicWALL Products

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

Dell recently released a 60-Day Notification regarding some of their SonicWALL products. Support will end for Gen4 (and older) firewalls on July 1, 2013.

What does this mean if you are currently using a SonicWALL firewall? It means that after July 1st, you will no longer be able to receive technical support, software or firmware updates or hardware replacement from Dell or other vendors for these specific products.

Please refer to the chart below to see if your SonicWALL product will be affected by this notice:

All Gen4 firewalls that are covered under a Comprehensive GMS support contract are subject to this End of Support date. For Gen4 firewalls covered under a stand-alone support contract, Dell SonicWALL will honor the support contract until its expiration date, even if that date extends beyond July 1, 2013.

End of Support is also planned for the TZ 180 and TZ 190 series of firewalls. Sometimes referred to as “Gen4.5″ products, the TZ 180 Series and TZ 190 Series continued to be sold after the products listed above were no longer available to purchase. Therefore, the End of Support date for these particular products is July 1, 2014.

If your firewall can be found in this chart, please call Teltek IT as soon as possible so we can evaluate your situation and get a plan in place before July. To maintain the integrity and security of your system, it would be best to either replace or upgrade your firewall well before July 1st, but we would be happy to conduct a site survey of the equipment at your office and review all options with you.

As a Microsoft Certified Partner and Dell Registered Partner, Teltek has the knowledge and resources necessary to keep your computer network and IT infrastructure current and functioning efficiently with the personalized service Teltek clients have grown to admire. With office locations in Baltimore, Bethesda and Westminster, Maryland, we serve clients across MD, DC and VA.

Tags: Dell, Dell Registered Partner, End Of Support, firewalls, SonicWALL, Teltek IT Services
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Ask The Teltek Tekspert – How Can I Extend Battery Life On My iPhone 5?

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

Sam in Eldersburg, MD asks:

I love my iPhone 5, but I’m constantly recharging it. Do you have any tips on maximizing my phone’s battery life?

One of the most common complaints with iPhone 5 users is the somewhat short period of time between when you need to re-charge your device. Since the iPhone 5 is widely used at Teltek by our technicians and account executives, we have a few tips to share with you:

1. Adjust your mail setting: this is how often the phone contacts the server to check for new messages. change the mail setting from “push” to “fetch manually”

2. Stop background applications: you may not be aware of this, but some apps continue to run even when you’re not using them. Double click the home button and you will see the icons in your bottom tray. Press and hold one of the icons and they will all start to move. You will see a small red circle with a minus sign in it. Tap the icon to quit that App

3. Disable bluetooth and wifi when not in use. so your phone is not constantly searching a signal

4. Turn your brightness down by going to Settings > Brightness and Wallpaper

5. Disable location services for apps that don’t need to know your location

6. Shorten the auto-lock time to 1 minute, the longer your phone is unlocked, the longer your apps continue to run

7. Turn off “Raise To Speak” for Siri. This activates Siri when you raise the phone to your ear, so unless you use this often, it’s not necessary

8. Battery Improvement apps are also available to download if you want to try one of those

For more information on integrating mobile devices into your office or if you have questions about battery life and back up options for your computers and business phone systems, call Teltek IT today!

Tags: battery life, improve battery life, iPhone 5, IT Services, Mobile Device Management, Teltek Tekspert
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Use Technology To Make Your Workplace Safer

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013

After watching the events of the Boston Marathon bombing unfold, we all have a new appreciation for technology and the role it plays in the war against terrorism and violence in general. The perpetrators were identified and tracked using video surveillance and other measures.

These high tech tools are not just for police departments and the FBI, there are many electronic devices that can be incorporated into your office to keep your employees and equipment secure.

Most of the articles we post deal with information security and cover subjects like creating strong passwords and protecting your PCs from viruses, but Teltek cares about our employees and yours, so here are a few measures you can take to keep your people and property safe.

Video Cameras: these can be mounted within your workspace and outside the building as well to monitor your server room, lobby, parking lots, alleys and your front door.

Door Phones: a door phone mounted outside your front or back door allows your customers and delivery people to call from the front door to be allowed access and prevents unwanted visitors from entering.

Paging Systems: More than just a broadcaster of elevator music, paging systems can alert everyone at once if there is an important message to deliver, like evacuation instructions.

Security Systems: It’s a good idea to have a security system in place and some of them, such as proxy card systems, can also be used to monitor when employees enter and exit the building.

As your one source technology solution, Teltek is happy to assist you with the implementation of these devices into your workplace. Call us today for a free site survey to evaluate your security measures.

Tags: Boston Marathon, door phones, paging systems, security systems, Teltek, Teltek IT, workplace security
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Ask The Teltek Tekspert – How Do I Prevent My WordPress Site From Being Hacked?

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

Regina in Rockville, MD asks:

I saw in the news that 90,000 servers were hijacked to attack thousands of WordPress sites earlier this week. My daily blog is done in WordPress and I’m worried that my site will be targeted next. What measures can I take to protect my site?

Diana, I agree with your concern, that level of hacking is a warning to all of us and some are saying the attack last week could be the start of an even bigger assault.

What happened in this situation is that hackers searched through WordPress accounts and attempted to access them by logging in with the username “admin” and 1000 of the most common passwords, a practice known as “brute force”. Since many people use “admin” and very weak passwords such as “password”, “12345” and other obvious ones to access their WordPress sites, it wasn’t a very difficult task for these criminals to break into so many sites.

After a user’s system is compromised through an accessed WordPress site, the system is incorporated into a botnet, which is a collection of Internet computers that are instructed by their controller to forward transmissions (including spam or viruses) to other computers on the Internet. The botnet spreads the attack even wider and the results can be catastrophic.

To protect your WordPress site against this kind of attack, here are a few steps you should take:

1. Create a unique and complex password, you can find some advice on that subject in our Password Protection Pointers blog

2. If you never changed ‘admin’ as the username to access your blog, change that immediately. Like your password, your username should also be unique and complex.

3. Make sure your WordPress software is updated and that you are running the most current version.

4. Activate two-step authentication on WordPress. Two Step Authentication is a feature WordPress recently introduced and it works like this: when you log in to your WordPress.com account, you will be prompted to enter a secret number. To get this number, you download the Google Authenticator App on your smartphone. It generates a new number every 30 seconds. Open the app on your phone, type in the number it’s showing and you are authenticated.

5. Use Plugins. If you have WordPress blog plugins, keep those updated and there is a security plugin you can install called Better WP Security

6. Limit access to the admin section of your WordPress site. Hacking does not just happen outside of your company and admin access should be given to a limited number of trusted and careful employees.

7. Make sure the computers you use are free of spyware, malware, and virus infections.

8. Be aware of network vulnerabilities. Keep your firewall updated and secure and reconsider accessing your WordPress account via wifi from an internet café or other public place, where you could be using a network that is not properly secured.

If you feel any part of your technology is vulnerable to hacking, call Teltek IT today! As a full service supporter of business software and hardware, we are fully qualified to evaluate your systems and suggest improvements and upgrades if needed.

Tags: botnet attack, botnet attack on WordPress, password protection, Teltek IT, WordPress
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Upgrade Windows XP And Other Microsoft Programs Before Support Ends In 2014

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013

You have a full year to prepare for this, but Microsoft support of Windows XP SP3 and other programs ends April 8, 2014. After this date, no new patches or bug fixes will be issued.

Windows XP isn’t the only Microsoft product that will cease to be maintained. Internet Explorer 6 on XP, Office 2003, Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange Server 2010 Service Pack 2 are also on the list of programs with support ending

According to Microsoft’s web site, there will be no new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates following the deadline. Since the average enterprise deployment can take 18 to 32 months, it would be best to begin the upgrade process ASAP.

Some companies are planning to continue using these programs after 2014. While the reasons for upgrading clearly outweigh the reasons not to, the expense and learning curve could prevent widespread stoppage of program usage.

A year from now, help will be hard to find no matter where you look. When Microsoft drops support, so will outside vendors, so users will be left high and dry in the event questions or problems arise.

Users who continue to utilize this software will be more susceptible to hackers, who will have plenty of time to find vulnerabilities in the programs and exploit them. With no upgrades or patches in sight, they will have free reign to wreak havoc. If you plan to continue usage, it would be wise to make sure you have all the proper intrusion protection measures in place to protect yourself.

If you are currently using any of these programs, call Teltek IT today! The sooner we can consult with you, the better off your company will be. We will evaluate your business practices and equipment, identify any vulnerabilities in your system and find a solution.

Should you choose to deploy a new program, we will guide you through that process and make it as easy for you and your employees as possible. As a Microsoft Certified Partner, Teltek has the knowledge and resources to keep your computer network and IT infrastructure current and functioning efficiently with the personalized service Teltek clients have grown to admire.

Teltek is proud to offer IT services as the fourth component to our multi-systems approach as your single source technology services company. This Managed Service Provider (MSP) offering completes our longstanding goal to provide our clients with a one-call resource for all of their business technology needs. IT outsourcing, remote back up and disaster recovery, helpdesk support, computer network relocations, security products and server/desktop virtualization are just a few of the services available.

Tags: Exchange Server 2003, Internet Explorer 6 on XP, Microsoft Certified Partner, Microsoft support ending 2014, Office 2003, T, Teltek, Teltek IT Services, Windows XP SP3
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