ETC Blog, The Tech Resource
Emmanuel Technology Consulting launches new website
Emmanuel Technology Consulting in partnership with Curley Marketing has just launched ETC Maryland's new website. Redeisgned to be more personal and mobile friendly it is now in a user-friendly layout and format along with now matching the colors that ETC Maryland has...
New site launch post mortem
I am so pleased with the new site. The site launch looked to be going smoothly until a software update took my servers ability to provide hosting took me offline. What an embarrassment. I can hear the questions now. Didn't you test the updates? What was your plan...
Microsoft Surface. A real tablet/slate for business
I recently acquired a Microsoft Surface 3. I did not opt for the pro simply because with the current generation of CPU offerings from Intel I was sure the core I-5 was not needed for my purposes. I mainly use my laptop for troubleshooting, network diagnostics,...
This is why I always block ads at the network edge.
I have been asked multiple times why I am so adamant about blocking ads at the edge due to the configuration headaches it can cause online. Besides other posts i have made here, and here, read the text below. I have been saying the biggest threat to businesses is...
Microsoft: Enabler of bootkits via firmware. Lenovo the first one busted.
I have not been a fan of Windows 8 and I was not enamored with Windows 10. With windows 8 persistent reliance on the cloud and Windows 10 even more so I had serious concerns about both operating systems. Microsoft has now really done the unthinkable and purposefully...
The cloud has gone boom. It’s Official now.
Short of complete re-thinking of the entire concept the cloud as it stands now is done if you have any kind of security conscience at all. Something I have been saying for a looooong time. If you want to keep your stuff secure there's very few ways. Contact us to...
Building the “Perfect” network.
I will do my best to elaborate without seeming to insult the previous provider...this is not my intention but I am trying to highlight the philosophical differences between ETC Maryland and the previous provider. I will not name the previous provider nor name the...
Server upgrade
I needed to do this for quite some time. I just recently upgraded from 10 gigs to 24 gigs of ram as my host was running out of ram due to the creeping doom that is modern codebase growth everywhere. I also have quite a bit of data residing on old hard disks that are...
A golden time to buy a new computer is now and for the next 13 months.
Right now is a good time to buy a computer. Why? The upcoming release of Windows 10 which will be free for most computers. What I am advising clients who do NOT have domain controllers is to buy a computer and basically turn it on and let it get the updates that...
Windows 10 is a major security risk for businesses.
This snippett tells me all i need to know about wifi sense when it comes to businesses. If you are a business DO NOT ALLOW NON BUSINESS COMPUTERS ON YOUR INTERNAL WIFI NETWORK. Your machines may not leak your wifi credentials but other laptops or devices will....
So much for Apple not being Like Google. They are actually worse.
Apple has made all kinds of hay portraying Google as the evil one for :spying on you" but I have always maintained the Apple is also doing the same thing. I actually give Google hte win here Google is at least upfront about it. Apple however is not. consider the...
Why would you want to use ETC Maryland as your webhost?
I may not be the cheapest out there but pricing isn't the only thing. Unfortunately many look at the bottom line and do not truly know what they are getting for their dollars. I do not offer "unlimited" this or "unlimited" that. I do not have a large datacenter to...
Windows 10 is looking more like Windows in the Cloud
There is more read the linked article. I noted a while back twice aobut my misgivings about Windows 10. One is the trademark for Windows 365 and the other is my general feeling about this Free Windows giveaway not smelling right. Unless something comes out from...
Another Reason to Avoid Windows 8.x
Updates. Windows has been prone to update problems ever since Windows update was launched. Windows 8 is the worst about it of all. Once Win8 gets stuck it's stuck. The process for recovery is quite laborious. In many cases it is because WU installed an update...
IOS 8.4: It’s a mess that effectively steals your music from you
There are quite a few businesses that allow this software on their machines. I would HIGHLY advise Itunes be removed from ALL company pc's immediately and never be allowed to return. Just read this excerpt: The whole iTunes Match and Apple Music thing is confusing....
The most dangerous data breach ever known | InfoWorld
Folks are wondering if the gov't cannot secure our data who can? Frankly the gov't in terms of security has always been horrid. I have done contract work for the gov't more than once and the level of network security outside of the military is atrocious. But...
One of many reason I always recommend NOT using your provider provided e-mail
If you are residential user gmail, hotmail, yahoo. Anything but your isp is. If you are a business get a domain on the internet then pay the 50/year extra for your own e-mail addy at that domain so you can look professional AND you aren't beholden to your isp....
Windows 8 and the cloud, an insecure combination.
*UPDATE* 06/23/2017 Windows 10 works much the same as is susceptible to this same exact situation. When you setup any Windows machine 8.x or newer the way to prevent this is to NOT allow it to connect to any network during the initial setup. Windows will not then be...
SSD storage drives need to be on your hardware shortlist(but not for servers yet).
I have finally got one of these things. I have installed them in client machines and I've seen how fast they make a machine but I have not gotten one for myself yet to really beat on it. I just received mine and installed it. Now I didn't go with the highest end...
Forget the giants, small biz even more vulnerable to hacking – WTOP
The results from the survey showed that smaller companies are only about half as likely as larger firms to test their own data security, to hire new data security staff or to require data security training for employees.“This is not just the U.S.,” Graham added. “In...
The double edged sword of online advertising and why I ALWAYS block ads at the gateway.
Online advertising is crucial for many sites BUT it exposes them to becoming unwitting attack carriers for visitor's computers. I have maintained this stance for many years. This is why when I deploy a firewall that has some way to block ads I immediately activate...
My Note4/Lollipop Experience
It started off decent but it got too frustrating to tolerate any longer. I'll give the list of pro's first as it is much much shorter: 1. S-pen 2. Quad core cpu Cons: 1. QHD screen is a battery killer 2. Typical Samsung bloatware 3. Fingerprint...
You don’t always know everything…I know I don’t.
Sometimes the simple things will get you. Kinda reminds me of Jesus when he mentions using the simple to confound the wise...:) One of the areas I have always had a keen interest in is audio. By the time i was 14 I had the first component system biult. I did not...
Update for Windows 7 and 8.1 is going to try to nag you to death to install windows 10.
With this Windows as a service push Microsoft is making AND the fact they have trademarked the name Windows365, I see no reason to believe anyone who says Microsoft is NOT going to make windows a subscription like Office365. Maybe not at first. For those technically...
Another client miniaturized
I had a client who recently moved to a new location. A partial move to the cloud was performed a couple of years ago with the establishment of Google Apps for work account. This rendered the SBS2003 nearly redundant. Its only remaining function was domain services...