ETC Blog, The Tech Resource
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...
My “cloudless” advice.
Public clouds are not the answer but private clouds(virtualization) is a good idea. Sometimes a public cloud is a good idea but most times workloads can be easily virtualized in house with more security and control than the public clouds can offer. With internal...
Windows 10 to possibly (at OEM choice) lock out Linux (or other Windows Installs) with always on secure boot
It was a matter of time. Windows 8 did not present the other lockout problem we thought it would but Windows 10 is much more likely. If you buy a PC from Dell, HP, or anyone else who pre-loads windows you are locked into whatever Version of Windows is installed....
Something for everyone to watch.
First and foremost I positively DO NOT AGREE WITH the solution advocated by the guest in terms we have the gov't take over this. All we have to do is look at obamacare or any other area the gov't runs to see how well that is going to go. I also do not agree with...
Cuban: FCC Net Regs Will Spill Over, ‘TV As You Know It Is Over’ – Breitbart
To further expand on my previous post now that "everything is equal" yes the FCC will now be the "decency" agency. Not only has tv changed but the First Amendment as well. Dallas Mavericks owner and investor Mark Cuban predicted that proposed FCC Internet...
Net Neutrality Vote In The FCC: You Lose America in [Market-Ticker]
Sure this is about trying to control the content but it goes even further than that. Karl has this nailed here. It WILL result in higher prices across the board AND will result in MORE monopolistic behavior by incumbents. Why? The barrier to entry is going to be...
L. Gordon Crovitz: From Internet to Obamanet – WSJ
The Supreme Court has ruled that if the FCC applies Title II to the Internet, all uses of telecommunications will have to pass the “just and reasonable” test. Bureaucrats can review the fairness of Google ’s search results, Facebook ’s news feeds and news sites’ links...
Microsoft trademarks ‘Windows 365’ – Neowin
I wish i could fine the article about waaaay back when Office365 was first coming out somebody on the net said windows is headed the same way as office. I said earlier it isn't a matter of IF it's a matter of WHEN they take windows to the cloud. Remember my earlier...