This follows a much larger data breach that LinkedIn experienced last month with over 6.5 millions passwords were posted to a Russian website which were easily decrypted. In this case the problem is two fold. First, the data breach which allowed access to 6.5 million passwords. The second, the hashing algorithm that was used to encrypt the users passwords was rudimentary. This allowed hackers to easily figure out users who had very simple passwords.

With all of this in mind it is time to tell you something that you have probably heard numerous times before, password complexity is important! Having different passwords for your accounts is just as important. How many of you use the same password for your email account and banking or credit card information? If your password was leaked in one of these breaches do hackers now have access to your banking information too? We are so relaxed in thinking that this is not going to happen to me, it will. If it has not happened yet it will. Everyone experiences an account getting hacked, even if it is only an email account. That is why it is so important to have different passwords for all accounts.

As for password complexity, my suggestions are to use at least 8 characters long with a mixing up letters (uppercase and lowercase) numbers and special characters. Do not use the same passwords for email and banking/credit card accounts. This goes for social networks too. Do not use your Facebook or Twitter password for your banking accounts since these are the most commonly hacked accounts. All of these must be different – not similar but different. Do not use “Steve2012″ for email and “Steve2011″ for another account. Avoid using date of births and children’s names these are easy passwords for others to figure out.

This malware threat was first detected back in February 2012 in Peru. They are calling this a global phenomenon. Researchers for ESET have noticed an increased spike in activity of this malware going around. Infections are being spread through infected AutoCAD files. If anyone in your company is sharing AutoCAD files with others outside of the office, other company’s or individuals this can increase the risk of being infected.

So, let’s answer the first question… “How do I protect myself from this malware?”. The first step is to always know who you are opening files from when opening email and make sure it is a trusted source. Email has been a primary delivery system for this malware threat. Even a trusted source (i.e. your brother-in-law) can be hacked and you can be fooled into opening an email that you deem safe. This brings me up to the second part of your protection which is to make sure your computer has an Anti-Virus program that is up to date to protect you and your data. It is a good idea for your Network Administrator to make sure your company’s network is secure.

Moving along… Our next virus has been kept quiet, mainly because it has been patched by Microsoft already. It is the Rogue Rich Text File (RTF). If you are sent a rogue RTF file through email and open this file in Microsoft Word (Mac or PC), it can run malicious code and infect your system. Microsoft has already released their Security Bulletin with the versions of Microsoft Office that can be infected. As long as you have the patch loaded, you are protected.

This stresses the importance of keeping your computers up to date. Check regularly for updates to your operating system and software that you use.

*Note: If you are a Mac user you will have to go to Microsoft’s Mac Support Page to update your installed Office products.

Looking ahead, Apple’s iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod) are in danger of virus’s or malware – it is a matter of “When” not “If”. With their popularity growing at such a rapid rate that will soon rival desktops and laptops, it is bound to happen. A few years back, iPhones were in danger of a vulnerability delivered via text message. This vulnerability was said to be able to make calls from your device and extract personal information from it as well.  Apple never publically admitted there was an issue, however six weeks later they released an update for the iPhone.

Recently Kaspersky was denied by Apple to create and develop an anti-virus software for their iOS devices. As Kaspersky goes on to claim, Apple is 10 years behind Microsoft in security. Apple denied the application stating they do not need the protection and that their platform is secure. Since the iOS has been exploited on the desktop level, one can assume it is just a matter of time.

A: Windows SBS 2011 is an affordable and easy-to-use server solution designed and priced for small businesses to help them reduce costs and be more productive. There are two editions of Windows SBS 2011-Standard and Essentials. Both editions will provide solutions to help secure and protect business data with advanced, automated backup features, remote access, and simplified administration. SBS 2011 Essentials is ideal as a first-server option that will support organizations with up to 25 users and minimal IT experience. SBS 2011 Standard can support up to 75 users, and offers a complete solution including integrated applications that meet small businesses’ most important requirements.Windows SBS 2011 will help small businesses protect, centralize, organize and access their business information from virtually anywhere while supporting the applications they need to run their business and make them more productive.

Q: Why did Microsoft choose to create the SBS family of products?

A: There are roughly 36 million small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) worldwide with more than one PC, and many see IT as a strategic imperative to grow their business.SMBs are typically short on IT resources, but need the powerful technology solutions used by large companies. Building on the design philosophy of the current, award-winning Small Business Server product, Windows SBS 2011 provides small businesses with an affordable, all-in-one server solution that will help save time and money while significantly increasing employee productivity. Windows Small Business Server 2011 products are the simplest way for small businesses to get the power of Windows Server 2008 R2 and products and services for e-mail, collaboration, PC and Server management, and security.

Q: How many users can SBS 2011 Standard and Essentials support?

A: SBS 2011 Essentials will support up to 25 users. SBS 2011 Standard will support up to 75 users.

Q: How are the IT needs of small business different than those of the midmarket or enterprise?

A: Small businesses typically have little or no in-house IT staff. They often rely on consultants or solution providers. Both editions of SBS 2011 were developed with this difference in mind, providing reliable, easy-to-use IT infrastructure that “just works” and an ideal set of tools to help technology consultants serve small business clients.SBS 2011 Essentials offers an affordable first-server option that will support organizations with up to 25 users. It is designed so that it can be easily deployed and managed by individuals within organizations where there are limited in-house IT skills. It is also optimized to let small businesses run applications on-premises or take advantage of the growing number of online versions of e-mail, collaboration, and other software that major companies are already using around the world.SBS Standard is a solution offering that delivers a richer set of on-premises capabilities. Therefore, it requires a higher degree of IT knowledge to service. Organizations deploying SBS Standard will typically employ a solutions provider or other partner to design, implement, and oversee the system on an ongoing basis. SBS Standard supports organizations with up to 75 users.

Q: What’s new in Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard Edition compared to the current product?

A: Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard includes updated versions of all of the component software in the latest suite versions. As a result, small business customers will find significant security and management enhancements, as well as much richer features for providing file-and-print, e-mail, and Internet services like online collaboration to employees.For example, one feature enhancements is the ability for employees to access and share online versions of Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, and Word over the Internet. This is enabled by the addition of Office Web Apps to SharePoint Foundation 2010, which is a low-cost, entry-level solution for secure, Web-based collaboration.SBS 2011 Standard users may also notice improvements to Outlook Web Access (OWA), a Web mail service that allows employees to use a browser to access Microsoft Exchange mailboxes from any computer with an Internet connection. OWA now includes many of the great features found in Microsoft Outlook 2010, such as the ability to receive voicemail in inboxes with text previews and view threaded conversations. Partners will also appreciate the improved support for migration from older versions of SBS.

Q: What is Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials?

A: A new edition of Windows Small Business Server, SBS 2011 Essentials is an affordable, easy-to-use first server option for small businesses. Customers will be able to use this cross-premise server offering to better protect their business data through SBS 2011 Essential’s automated backup and restore capabilities. Users can also easily organize and access business information from almost anywhere, and run a variety of business tools and software either on premises or from the cloud.SBS 2011 Essentials helps protect vital business information from loss by backing up the data on the network, and recover accidentally deleted files. SBS 2011 Essentials also enables you to recover data on your network in the event of disaster. As your business needs change, SBS 2011 Essentials enables you toeasily add users, servers, and applications; supports your critical line-of- business applications; and is designed to integrate with your existing Microsoft technology.

Q: How does SBS 2011 Essentials compare with your other “first server” offering, Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation?

A: The two products are similar in that they both address very small businesses, are considered low-price offerings, and will ship primarily through OEM partners. The key differences come down to the level of IT skill required to deploy and manage them.SBS Essentials is specifically designed to be a “first server” option for small business customers who are typically constrained by limited IT skills and value a pre-configured environment and lower operating costs. As such, small businesses may handle deployment and management on their own or outsource to a partner. SBS Essentials supports up to 25 user accounts.Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation, on the other hand, is considered a “general purpose server,” providing a rich set of entry level capabilities for small businesses. It tends to require a greater level of IT skill to design, implement, and manage, so Windows Server Foundation customers are more likely to employ a solutions provider or other partner to help with those aspects. Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is limited to a maximum of 15 user accounts.

Q: If I have 10 to 20 users, how do I decide which version is right for me?

A: Counting users is one way to do it, but the more relevant considerations will be your IT requirements and the level of IT skill within your organization.If you’re a small business with limited in-house skills, SBS 2011 Essentials is an appropriate option. It’s simple, affordable, and easy to manage, and has been tailored to address common small business IT scenarios. SBS 2011 Essentials is also the ideal solution if you plan to expand your business capabilities through the cloud as it is designed to facilitate your connection to online services.On the other hand, if you have some level of in-house IT skills and want the ability to tailor server roles to their unique environments, then Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation is likely better suited to your business.

Q: What applications can I run on SBS 2011?

A: Any Windows Server 2008 R2 application should run on both editions of SBS 2011. In addition to both editions, we have also introduced a copy of Windows Server 2008 R2 in the Windows Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-On, which provides a platform for other products and avoids some of the support limitations of the first server(s). Products supported on the Windows Server 2008 R2 platform should be supported on the Premium Add-On server.

Q: Why would I want a hybrid server vs. just running everything online (or in the cloud)?

A: It really comes down to customer preference. Some small business owners may feel comfortable with everything online (or in the cloud). Others, typically those who have already invested in client or client-server line-of-business (LOB) applications, will be more comfortable having either an on-premise server, such as a Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation or a Windows SBS 2011 Standard solution. Yet another segment may be satisfied with a dedicated server, such as SBS 2011 Essentials, that allows them to run software on-premise and online (in the cloud). Microsoft is delighted to be able to offer options for a wide range of customer and partner preferences.

Q: Which applications would I be more likely to run on-premises and which ones would I want to run online (in the cloud)?

A: Within the small business segment there are a huge number of applications and how they are deployed varies by industry and country. For example, if you’re in financial services, you may have some regulatory requirements to maintain records on-site at your business, and so you might prefer a traditional computing approach. If you’re a small real estate office, you may not face the same requirements, and so you might be more likely to look at running both local and online software. The benefit of SBS 2011 Essentials is that it’s an affordable “first server” that lets you do traditional computing, online (cloud) computing, or both– according to your preferences and needs.

Q: Will the cloud services be offered native or as add-ons? Why?

A: The Windows Server Solutions SDK will enable developers to write code for integrating new and existing on-line services with SBS 2011 Essentials and to create new SBS Essentials “add-in” software that can run on-premise.

Q: Will SBS 2011 Essentials work with all versions of Windows 7?

A: Yes, you can access SBS Essentials with all versions of Windows 7. For versions such as Home edition, which does not have domain join capability, launchpad and network access will prompt you for network user name and password (where this does not happen in Professional and above versions).

Q: I see you are offering an Essentials version and a Standard version. What happened to the Premium Edition present in your previous SBS versions?

A: We made some small changes to SBS Premium and made it an add-on to simplify our SKU lineup, offer customers more flexibility, and extend the option to both SBS 2011 Standard and SBS 2011 Essentials customers.

Q: What benefits does the Premium add on offer?

A: The Windows Small Business Server 2011 Premium Add-On enables users to query, search, report, and analyze important business data or run business applications from a centralized database so that all employees can easily work from the same information. Moving to an add-on model, which will be available for both editions, offers more choices to customers who wanted flexibility to purchase additional servers either up front or as needed.

© 2010 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks ofMicrosoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

To check for and load the newest updates available, open Reader, select Help from the menu and select check for updates. You can also go to Adobe’s website and load the newest version of the application.

Adobe will check for updates and let you know when the update is ready to install (if you are running Adobe Reader 10.1.1 or earlier there will be an update for you to install). Go ahead and install the update. When the update is completed, you will be prompted to restart your computer. After your restart you will be able to successfully print that PDF document without Reader crashing on you.

• Windows 8
• Windows 8 Pro
• Windows 8 Enterprise
• Windows RT (RunTime)

The first three options of the new operating system due out later this year are designed for machines running x86 processors. Windows RT (formerly known as WoA – Windows on Arm) is for devices built with ARM processors.

Windows 8 can run on PCs and tablets powered by either 32- or 64-bit x86 processors.

Windows 8 suitable for consumers and including an upgraded version of Windows Explorer, Task Manager and better support for multiple screens.

Windows 8 Pro is for businesses and will offer a wide range of features including virtualization, encryption and domain connectivity which is needed for environments with a Windows Active Directory Domain.

Windows 8 Enterprise is a version of Windows 8 Pro for businesses with Software Assurance agreement with Microsoft. Software Assurance, users get upgrade versions of Windows at no additional charge once they are released . The Pro and Enterprise versions have a common set of features that are not included with the consumer Windows 8 that include:

• BitLocker and BitLocker To Go Drive Encryption
• booting from a virtual hard disk (VHD boot)
• a Hyper-V virtual client
• a tool to make it easier for a machine to join, for example, a business domain from home (Domain Join)
• an encrypted file system
• support for group policies
• a remote-desktop host

Windows RT — named after the new Windows runtime core which is the heart of Windows 8′s touchscreen features, will only come packaged with ARM hardware like that available on tablets and smartphones. Maintenance and software options must come through Microsoft directly. The devices will be thin and lightweight, and will be extremely efficient with power. They will also come preloaded with a version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. Also available on the Windows RT platform will be preloaded native device encryption.

Pricing for all the new versions will be announced later, Microsoft says.

So what does End of Life really mean? End of Life (or EOL as we call it) basically means that Microsoft will stop providing support and patches for the software. This does not mean that your PC will stop working on April 9th but it does mean that from that date forward, you will be extremely vulnerable to both security exploits and down time.

Windows XP and Office 2003 are still very prominent in the business IT environment. For those companies who still have a large deployment of XP workstations, now is the time to start planning for this.

With Windows 8 and Office 2012 on the horizon your question should be “Shouldn’t I wait for those versions to be released before I upgrade?”. That is a gamble. As with any Operating System version change, the risk of incompatibility between the 3rd party business management, accounting and productivity applications always exists. Most vendors have tested their applications with Windows 7 by now but few have done testing with Windows 8.

Here are some steps that everyone should take to prepare for this EOL (End of Life) date:

• Check with any 3rd party application vendors that your firm may use to verify comparability with Windows 7.
• Inventory your computer hardware to ensure that they can handle the newer version of Windows. (See our post on Hardware Requirements for Windows 7). Be prepared to purchase new PC’s if needed.
• Check with peripheral vendors such as printer and scanner manufacturers to make sure your devices will work with Windows 7.
• Consult with an IT professional about the pros, cons and costs of upgrading your infrastructure and operating systems. Proper planning in this area can save your company $$$ and lost productivity time. With a project like this, having experience in this type of migration/transition project is invaluable and could be the difference between a successful migration or a company wide disaster.

Flashback Trojan is the virus that has attacked over 600,000 Mac’s in it’s initial outbreak. This is the second major attack on Mac’s since the Trojan Horse Mac Defender virus last year.

Apple has releases a Support Document on the Mac Virus (which they refer to as malware).  This current Trojan is one that takes advantage of a Java security hole. Apple has already put a patch out for this Java vulnerability. Knowing now that a patch has been released, I would suggested updating your Mac.

Now knowing this information and that malware and other virus’s are starting to become more prevalent in Mac’s, it users should start installing anti-virus applications on their Mac’s to protect them. Your next question should be, what should I use? Symantec for one, has offered a Mac client for anti virus for close to two years now (Here is the Symantec Technical Detail on the virus). McAfee and Avast are two others vendors that offer Mac anti-virus protection too.

Apple’s Mac computers have been gaining popularity and market share over the last few years. Virus and Malware creators are taking notice and targeting them. I know for a fact that most Mac users are not using an Anti Virus program to protect their computers. Mac users have always had the belief that their computers are invincible to these infections.

This is just the start of the vulnerability exploits for Apple systems so it is important for businesses and users to protect themselves. Here are a few things you can do to reduce the risk of an infection.

1. Load an Anti-virus  application from a known vendor and keep it updated.
2. Load any available security updates available for the platform you are using.
3. BE CAREFUL where you browse the Internet.
4. BE CAREFUL of opening emails and attachments from people you do not know.

As of this writing, there are still 270,000 infected systems in use according to Symantec.

 Some of the highlights of the budget

• $135,000,000 spending decrease from 2011
• State ended the last fiscal year with a $100,000,000 surplus
• 4.4 million New Yorkers received a tax cut
• The MTA Payroll Tax will be eliminated for small businesses

It seems the dark days of Espada/Monserrate are finally behind NY.  It is a relief to see some much needed sanity return to Albany with both sides working to pass a budget ahead of schedule with no new taxes.

For more information, check out

New York State Division of the Budget - http://www.budget.ny.gov/

To review the budget press release, visit http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/03302012-budget

Never again does your company need to suffer through extended downtime or lost data because a critical server or workstation failed. When trouble strikes, you can have your critical server or workstation back up and running again in just minutes or easily recover any of your missing data using our reliable and affordable BDR solutions.
This flexible solution provides the proven technology infrastructure necessary for companies like yours to benefit from world-class IP-based business continuity and disaster recovery solutions so your critical systems are always available. The BDR will easily maintain local and remote image backups that allow restoration of the entire image or just the file or email you need to restore. Restoring a failed server or workstation in less than one minute to a virtualized environment on the BDR itself allows you the time needed to have your broken device repaired while your company doesn’t miss a step.
We’ve combined award winning backup technology and services with the best bare-metal imaging and virtualization solutions in the business all on a flexible high quality hardware platform. The result is an easy and affordable way to make certain your business never suffers because of failed hardware.
Our BDR solutions provide a wealth of features and benefits to satisfy almost any circumstances including some of the key ones below:

Disaster Recovery

 Local and Remote Bare Metal Image Support – The BDR unit provides the best in Disaster Recovery by providing both a local and remote complete image of servers and/or workstations.
 Supports Multiple Servers – Each BDR can support multiple servers and workstations.
 Unique Storage Technology – Utilizes unique silent data corruption
prevention technology to proactively verify the integrity of all data stored in our data centers, making sure your information is available at all times.
 Secure – Supports a fully private encryption key suitable for requirements established by HIPAA, FINRA, legal, etc.
 Data Replication – Supports replication of important data from one BDR to another BDR in a different location.

Transparent Business Continuity

 Instant Virtualization – Any server or workstation image stored on the BDR can be restored and virtualized on the BDR in less than the best one minute to provide the best transparent business continuity available anywhere.
 What Down Time? – No extended down time for your team while repairs are being made because your servers and workstations are protected by the BDR.
 Hardware Health Monitoring – Includes a complete monitoring and reporting solution to deliver statuses on temperature, performance, connectivity, disk space and much more to ensure that your BDR is working correctly and is ready for action. Includes notifications for out of range occurrences so you know ahead of time when trouble is brewing.
Flexibility
 Quality Hardware and Latest Software – Modern Intel Nehalem processor platform with advanced burn-in quality assurance plus a complete 3 year hardware warranty. RAID 1 storage plus all included software supports the latest versions for maximum performance and features.
 Wide Range of Models – A wide range of BDR models are available to meet the needs of any business and any budget.
 Field Upgradeable – Easily increase storage and memory for an in-service BDR. No need to purchase a new unit if your business needs grow more than anticipated.
 Images, Files or Emails – Instant access to entire images or easy access to individual files, mailboxes or specific messages.

Keep It Simple

 Initial Seed Speed – Upload your initial image over the internet or send an encrypted USB preload. USB preloads are processed within 48 hours of receipt.
 Smooth Sailing – Easy configuration and set up in 30 minutes or less.
 Cost Effective – Provides a very cost effective solution for the ultimate protection of one of your most important and most volatile assets – your vital data.
 One Box to Rule Them All – Our BDR supports local file and folder backups as well as complete image backups for laptops and other non-critical systems.

You’re in Control of Your Future

When bad things happen, don’t risk having your company working with paper and pencils instead of your computer systems. You need to have the best, most reliable solutions in place built from the best technology available. With our team you get the best support and service you’ve ever had using the most reliable solutions available. Please let us know how we can become a valuable part of your team.
For more information on this and other solutions, contact Performance Connectivity, Inc. at 914-934-9775