Tech Media WorX

11/04/2021

Good morning everyone,

Once again, I find it necessary to issue a high impact cyber threat warning to all my clients and colleagues.

In the past few months, ransomware attacks against public and private entities have increased enormously. In that past year hospitals, schools, and businesses throughout North America were hit by various malware variants.

Now, similar attacks have been threatening healthcare organizations, industries, and the transport sector and despite their vigilance and high IT budgets, we are seeing them being attacked in our own backyard. This past week alone the Newfoundland Healthcare System and the TTC both suffered from major attacks bring systems to a complete stop, forcing them to revert back to stone age and costing unfathomable amounts of money.

CBC NFLD Healthcare Article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/health-services-it-outage-update-nov-1-1.6232426
CBC TTC Article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ttc-ransomware-attack-1.6231349

It is suspected that some hackers might target multinational entities with attack techniques such as remote desktop protocol attacks, exploiting vulnerabilities in server software and targeting C-level employees with email phishing campaigns.

Mitigation suggestions include keeping operating systems up to date, keeping device firmware up to date and maintaining backups that can be used at the time of disaster to keep the data continuity intact.

As always, I recommend sharing this information with all of your staff and creating a confirmation sheet with all of their names on it, getting them to sign-off on the fact that they have read and understood it completely. In fact, you should share this information with your business associates, colleagues, friends, and family. Knowledge is power, knowledge shared is power multiplied.

If you suspect you or one of your staff have exposed your network to a cyber attack it is imperative to contact us immediately so we can inspect the systems and act accordingly.

Thank you for your time.

Your friendly, tireless, vigilant IT person...!

03/22/2020

It has been a busy few weeks getting businesses & people up and running in the new environment COVID-19 has created.

• Site-to-Site VPN Connections: Connecting physical buildings regardless of location together.
• Remote Access VPN Connections: Connecting people to their business resources.
• Terminal Servers: Helping people virtually work from their office.
• Office 365 & Exchange: Keeping people connected through enterprise communications.
• Conference Bridges (Video and/or Audio): Allowing companies and people to meet together without physically being together.
• Frequent Updates to Client Websites: To keep their clients, vendors, staff informed.
• Creation of New Websites: COVID-19 related portals.
• New Servers: To support networks of social distancing.
• New Workstations & Laptops: To work with all the above.
• Bandwidth Support: The internet is being used/stressed like it has never been before.

Currently there is still a strong supply of hardware supporting your computer and related peripheral needs. Laptops have been the items hardest to get, but there are still quite a few available and coming in.

If you have the ability, I recommend changing your video streams to something less than HD to reduce the stress on internet bandwidth.

If you are able to, work from home.
If you are not sure if you can work from home, put the questions to your boss, IT department and fellow workers. Most offices and business environments can be converted into a work from home arrangement.

For those that cannot work from home and are essential services, simply thank you and be safe.

For those that cannot work from home and are not essential services, our thoughts are with you.
Reach out to your government and look into the financial support that has been discussed over the past few weeks.

We are all in this together, more than ever this statement holds true.

If you need assistance, just ask… reach out (not physically).
If you can be of assistance, it is your duty as part of this planet… even if it simply means staying at home to flatten the curve or because you have just come back from being out of the country.

Keep safe and love your family… now go wash those hands…!
..your friendly, tireless, vigilant IT person.

12/19/2019

Working on my first Core i9 install today for a client.
Blazing fast...!

12/15/2019

Working on eight client servers simultaneously on-screen... Love this monitor...!

12/13/2019

Getting busier and loving it....!

12/12/2019

It's about to get very busy...

10/03/2019

With just under four months until Microsoft stops issuing free patches for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008, millions of PCs are still relying on it, leaving them exposed to new bugs that will probably never be patched.

Microsoft has been nagging Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 for years now and the time has come to make an informed decision for your business.

Those systems still operating with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 will be easy targets for hackers after January 14, 2020 when Microsoft stops providing free security updates for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008.

According to Russian security firm Kaspersky, some 47% of small to medium-sized businesses are still running Windows 7, while 38% of consumers and 38% of small office/home office PCs are on Windows 7.

How to preparing for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 EoL (End of Life):

Now you know that the Windows 7 OS will not be a safe product to use over the internet come January 2020, you have to ask yourself if you’re ready to move into the future with the more modern Windows 10 operating system.

Windows 10 gets regular patches and updates to keep it secure and it will install on most modern devices and machines.

For upgrades, it’s best to seek the help of your friendly, tireless, vigilant IT person (that would be me). This is a good way to ensure that everything is upgraded correctly and that all items are in place and working optimally.

Depending on what type of hardware and software you’re using, you may need to take specific steps to make sure everything is fully compatible.

Here are the various scenarios most companies will be faced with when considering upgrading to Windows 10.

1. Computer Hardware is newer and/or computer hardware is powerful/performance classed.
Action: Purchase Windows 10 Pro license ($260.00) and we perform the upgrade (Approximately 1 hour of billable time per computer).

2. Computer is newish and with a few hardware upgrades would be worth upgrading the operating system to Windows 10.
Action: Evaluate hardware and provide estimate for hardware upgrades along with purchase Windows 10 license and performing operating system upgrade (there are very few cases where it makes sense to proceed this way) .

3. Computer is old and it does not make sense to purchase a Windows 10 Pro license for $260.00 plus billable upgrade time when that cost can be put towards a new computer that comes with Windows 10 Pro.
New computers vary in cost from approximately $1,000 - $2,000 depending on requirements.
A new, faster computer will increase employee productivity.

For companies with a Windows Server 2008, 2008 R2 or older the only upgrade option unfortunately is to get a new server.

Windows Server 2019 will not run on most older server hardware.

The first step is to evaluate each computer within your organization and determine the path and budget to proceed.

We would then provide a detailed breakdown of where your organization stands and cost estimates to upgrade.

04/20/2018

This month marks the 16th anniversary of Technology & Media Works, Inc.

I have been so busy lately… this one caught me by surprise.
Hard to believe it was 16 years ago when I opened TechMediaWorX.

We are still going strong and really appreciate the partnerships and friendships we have formed with all our clients over the years.

Heck… I love what I do…!

12/24/2017

Happy Christmas from your friends at TechMediaWorX...!

Happy Christmas and all the best for 2018...!

11/06/2016

09/20/2016

Another busy day at the office.

07/12/2016

Good afternoon clients, friends and colleagues,

Microsoft has announced that the Windows 10 Free Upgrade opportunity will expire on July 29th, 2016.
After July 29th, just as always, you may purchase a new device or a full version of Windows 10 Pro at approximate retail of $249.00.

This is really something everyone should spend some time thinking on.
It is 100% free from Microsoft for eligible computers right now and that is some significant savings.
Whether you are a home user, business user, or someone from another planet… please do yourself a favor and contact an IT professional before upgrading… and if nothing else, be sure you have a complete backup of all your important data.
As always, I am available to discuss your requirements and options should you need.

Here are Microsoft’s reasons for upgrading to Windows 10.

• It’s free! If you're running Windows 7 or 8.1 on a device (such as a desktop, laptop or tablet), you may be eligible to upgrade that device to Windows 10 for free. You’ll receive a full version of Windows 10 (not a trial) for free!
• It’s great! Millions of users helped shape the operating system and over 300 million fans have upgraded and are loving it. This is Microsoft’s best version of Windows and, chances are, you’ll love it, too.
• Speed! Windows 10 opens 28% faster than Windows 7 and resumes faster. It gives you easy ways to optimize your screen space for getting things done, which will help you save time and finish faster.
• Familiarity. Windows 10 is friendly and intuitive. The Start Menu is back and is customizable to suit your taste and needs and gives you quick access to your favourites. You’ll get going, fast.
• Security. Windows 10 addresses modern security concerns with advancements that help protect your identity, applications, data and network from cyber-threats. It's a smart way to help safeguard your business.
• Cortana. Cortana, your new personal assistant, works across your day and your devices giving you useful reminders and helping you get things done.
• Better browsing. Windows 10 introduces Microsoft Edge, a new modern web browser. You can write or type notes directly on webpages, store them and share them easily.
• Device-friendly. Apps look and work beautifully in all modes, on all Windows 10 devices, including 2-in-1s. Users can touch, type or write depending on their task or preference.

Thank you for your time and please do feel free to contact me directly if you need any assistance.

Have a great afternoon everyone,

Neal Goulborn
Microsoft Certified IT Professional
Technology & Media Works, Inc.
905-568-1195 ext. 23