28 May 2019

Turn off Windows 10’s intrusive settings

2019-05-31T07:55:54-07:00

The popularity of social media has allowed advertisers to target their consumers more efficiently. But did you know that your operating system might also be helping agencies post personalized ads according to your search history? Learn how to fix some of Windows 10’s faulty privacy settings.

Turn personalized advertising off

For those unaware, Windows 10 assigns each user an “advertising ID” that it uses to personalize your ad experience based on your recent browsing history. If you’re okay with seeing generic ads targeted to you based on demographics rather than your ID, we recommend turning this feature off. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Click on the magnifying glass symbol next to the Windows logo, at the bottom left of your screen.
  2. Next, type in “Privacy” — click on Privacy Settings, and select General.
  3. Turn off the option that states “Let apps […]
Turn off Windows 10’s intrusive settings2019-05-31T07:55:54-07:00
27 May 2019

IT terms you need to know

2019-05-31T07:56:24-07:00

Jargon can be intimidating if you’re dealing with IT issues and you’re anything but techy. Running an anti-malware scan can generate auto pop-ups that leave you clueless with IT terms that sound Greek. Learning the basic concepts listed here will help you move on and not be surprised the next time that happens.

Malware

For a long time, the phrase “computer virus” was misappropriated as a term to define every type of attack that intended to harm or hurt your computers and networks. A virus is actually a specific type of attack, or malware. Whereas a virus is designed to replicate itself, any software created for the purpose of destroying or unfairly accessing networks and data should be referred to as malware.

Ransomware

Don’t let all the other words ending in “ware” confuse you; they are all just subcategories of malware. Currently, one of the most popular of these is “ransomware,” which is malware that encrypts valuable data until a ransom is paid for its return.

Intrusion protection system(IPS)

There are several ways […]

IT terms you need to know2019-05-31T07:56:24-07:00
24 May 2019

How to make your Android apps more organized

2019-05-24T08:00:48-07:00

Finding it hard to find the app you want on your Android device? If so, it’s time to organize your apps into folders. Here’s how.

Creating and naming folders

On most devices, when you install a new app, the icon will be automatically added to your home screen, or to a screen where there is space. While this is useful, it can be a bit of a chore to find a specific app if you have dozens installed on your device.

The easiest solution is to group icons together into a folder. This just takes three steps:

  1. Long-press an app you want to move into a folder (i.e., tap the app for a few seconds until you enter edit mode).
  2. Drag it over another app you want to group it with, and let go. You should see both of the icons appear inside a box.
  3. Tap Enter folder name and type the label for your folder.

If you are going to use different folders, it is a good idea to pick names related to the […]

How to make your Android apps more organized2019-05-24T08:00:48-07:00
23 May 2019

6 Common ways virtualization fails

2019-05-31T07:57:02-07:00

Server virtualization offers improved system utilization, workload flexibility, and other advantages for the data center. Today, many businesses have already adopted virtualization, but virtualization can still fail in some ways. Practices and policies that arise from virtualization can waste resources and drive administrators to give up. Here are the top problems with virtualization.

1. Resource distribution
The way virtualization partitions systems can result in varied ways — some might function really well, and others might not provide users access to enough resources to meet their needs. Resource distribution problems often occur in the shift to virtualization and can be fixed by working on capacity planning with your service provider.

2. VM Sprawl
VM sprawl, the unchecked growth of virtual machines in a virtual environment, as any virtualization admin knows, can cripple an otherwise healthy environment. It is problematic because its underlying cause often stays hidden until it manifests in resource shortages.
You should look at how virtual machines will be managed, who will be doing what, and what systems you’re going to […]

6 Common ways virtualization fails2019-05-31T07:57:02-07:00
22 May 2019

Get on top of search results with Google Posts

2019-05-31T07:57:37-07:00

Many businesses struggle to get their name into the top ten search results in order to greatly increase traffic to their website or have a better image to potential clients. Those who are successful invest a lot of time and money in SEO and other inbound marketing to gain this prestige and online presence for their brand. What if there was a free and simple way to improve your search rankings? There is, and it’s called Google Posts.

What they can do

Google Posts allow users to communicate directly in the search results. This differs from the Knowledge Panel since you can highlight content, information, products, or services. Google Post can appear on the search results, Knowledge Panel, or both.
Google simply describes it as “up-to-date posts from verified people, places, or things, directly in search results.” These posts can be text, images, videos, events, or even animated GIFs. You can even add links on the posts to drive traffic to a particular page, service, or product. This enhanced format […]

Get on top of search results with Google Posts2019-05-31T07:57:37-07:00
21 May 2019

Keep your Mac clutter-free with these 10 tips

2019-05-21T08:00:42-07:00

Even the most high-tech and innovative computers can slow down when you store too many files on them. If you want to ensure that your Mac performs at its best at all times, you should turn decluttering into a habit.

#1 Clean up your desktop

The desktop is a convenient location for storing files and shortcuts, so it tends to become messy within a short amount of time. To declutter, identify which programs you rarely use and remove their icons from the desktop. As for your files, keep a weeks’ worth of items in a single folder, which you will name using the current date. Create another folder for the following week’s files and store your weekly folders in yet another folder. This keeps all your files within a single location on your desktop.

Or you could use the Stacks introduced with the Mojave operating system. This feature organizes the items on your desktop into neat stacks classified according to file type.

#2 Organize your files

Files outside of your desktop that are […]

Keep your Mac clutter-free with these 10 tips2019-05-21T08:00:42-07:00
20 May 2019

Using Alexa in your office

2019-05-31T07:58:23-07:00

Amazon’s Alexa can do more than just receive calls and messages, provide weather forecasts, play music, and control your smart devices at home. Her developers are setting her up to be a next-generation AI technology that has many features for home and office users. Here is how Alexa can become more relevant in an office setting.

Create and manage to-do and shopping lists

You have meetings to attend and deadlines to meet. Alexa has a straightforward To-do List feature that helps you stay on top of all your tasks. It’s ideal for busy professionals who prefer a no-frills checklist that allows them to simply view completed items, or to edit or delete items on the list.

You can also seamlessly sync third-party applications like Any.do and Todoist. Those apps offer more features for organizing tasks, adding subtasks and folders, creating reminders, setting due dates, attaching files, and prioritizing items.

To connect to a third-party app:

  • Go to alexa.amazon.com or access the […]
Using Alexa in your office2019-05-31T07:58:23-07:00
17 May 2019

How to take advantage of your VoIP data

2019-05-31T07:58:54-07:00

You hear a lot about big data nowadays, but not in connection with small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). To compete with the big guys, SMBs need Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to get better access to customer data. Read on for the best ways to leverage your VoIP data to serve clients.

Time/Date data

The information that nearly any VoIP system should be able to access easily are the time, date, and duration of calls. Since most businesses usually have tight budgets, they can learn a lot from analyzing this data to help decide how many employees are needed to answer the phones and at what particular times. 

For instance, most calls happen on Mondays, but the lines are usually dead by Tuesday afternoon. Knowing this can improve the way your staff works. Find the right time and day that calls are expected and days where no one has to work the phones. 

If you’re making outbound calls, pay close attention to the time that […]

How to take advantage of your VoIP data2019-05-31T07:58:54-07:00
16 May 2019

The perfect Office 365 plan for your business

2019-05-31T07:59:21-07:00

With its state-of-the-art tools and features, Office 365 helps businesses manage data, share files, and improve team collaboration. You might be thinking of using this tool to improve your operations, but with the different Office 365 plans available on the market, how can you make sure that you’ll get your money’s worth? This article will help you choose the right plan for your business.

Business or Enterprise

Office 365 Business and Enterprise are the obvious choices if you’re running cloud-based business systems. Both of these plans will give you access to the data management app Office Online and file hosting service OneDrive, but there are some notable differences between the two.

Office 365 Enterprise E3 and E5 plans have unlimited archive and mail storage space, while Business plans have a 50 GB storage limit. Furthermore, Business plans don’t provide archive access from the Outlook client.

In terms of SharePoint, a collaborative platform and document and storage system, Business plans are short on enterprise search, Excel services, and Visio — a diagramming […]

The perfect Office 365 plan for your business2019-05-31T07:59:21-07:00
15 May 2019

How to market your SMB with Pinterest

2019-05-31T07:59:46-07:00

Helping SMBs establish a firm online presence, promote corporate content, and drive web traffic, Pinterest is every entrepreneur’s dream. Here are some pointers to consider when using Pinterest for promoting your business.

Know your audience

According to a study by Ahalogy and AcuPOLL Precision Research, Inc., Pinterest is largely used by women, mostly “Millennial Moms.” If your typical customer demographic is predominantly male, your marketing efforts would probably be better spent elsewhere. But if your business caters to women between the ages of 15 and 29, you should consider creating a Pinterest account.

Think like a content marketer

Users are looking for engaging content, which is why 59% of active Pinterest users go for Pins that lead to blog posts, articles, and even photos. The most popular topics on the platform are more visual (e.g., food, fashion, decor, etc.), so if you don’t have highly visual content, then infographics, images from blog entries, and even photos of staff members will also do the […]

How to market your SMB with Pinterest2019-05-31T07:59:46-07:00
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