http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ GLTS Blog Description en-us GLTS KnowledgeBase ©2010 Green Light Technology Solutions. support@greenlighttech.net support@greenlighttech.net http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Wed, 18 Oct 2011 9:59:48 AM GMT Trends http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?55 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=55 Recenly Microsoft announced that they will be ending support for Windows XP in August of 2014. This means that they will no longer be providing system updates for the operating system. Therefore, they recommend that all users upgrade to Windows 7, the most current version of the Windows operating system.<p><p>Before making the move to upgrade, existing users need to examine their current hardware. For those who have PC's that are older than 5 years, it may be better for them to buy new computers with Windows 7 on them. After four years, PC's tend to become less reliable and more unstable.<p><p>Users who are still running Windows Vista and are not experiencing freezes or blue screens should strongly consider upgrading their memory to at least 2 gigabytes. If Vista is not giving you any problems, there's little reason to upgrade to Windows 7, since Windows 7 is simply Windows Vista that works. Wed, 11 Oct 2011 1:19:32 PM GMT Trends http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?54 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=54 There are two new additions to the world of high speed interfaces, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt. USB 3.0 (developed by HP, Intel, and Microsoft) is the latest revision of the popular Universal Serial Bus standard which dramatically increases the data transfer rates of USB 2.0 from 480 mb/second to 5 gigabytes/second. Thunderbolt (developed by Apple and Intel) is another high speed connection that transfers data at a rate of 10 gigabytes/second. <p><p>USB 3.0 ports are quickly being phased into the mainstream in two ways. One way is from motherboard manufacturers. Although Windows 7 does not provide built-in support for USB 3.0, it will function if drivers are installed from the motherboard's manufacturer site. Secondly, USB 3.0 ports are backwards compatible to USB 2.0 so users do not have to buy USB 3.0 devices to work with the new USB spec. Another reason why USB 3.0 ports will become more popular is because since they are more high-powered they are capable of charging devices faster. <p><p>On the other hand, although Thunderbolt ports are faster, it is likely they will not be used for the broad range of devices that USB 3.0 is used for because the cables that work with them are very expensive ($49) compared to a USB 3.0 cable ($1). These ports will most likely be used for RAID data transfer and High Definition video. However, these are very early days for these interfaces, so Thunderbolt may still wind up being the most popular.<p> Sat, 21 Sep 2011 10:49:17 AM GMT NAS http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?53 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=53 Small organizations that don't require a hosted email/exchange server and need simple file sharing should simply buy a <b>NAS</b> device. These appliances offer many of the same features that can be found in a full blown Microsoft server without blowing a hole in your business's balance sheet. Some features include user access controls, RAID (a means of configuring redundant hard drives), remote access, and integration with other appliances like a UPS. Notable NAS vendors include <a href="http://www.qnap.com">QNAP</a>, <a href="http://www.buffaotech.com">Buffalo</a>, and <a href="http://www.Netgear.com">Netgear</a>. Sat, 21 Jun 2006 2:04:14 PM GMT Wireless%20networking http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?52 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=52 The next step in the evolution of Wireless networking is 8011.N that should provide an improvement over G networks in speed and range. This specification is undergoing final ratification at the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). In anticipation of the new spec, networking manufacturers such as Belkin, Linksys, and Netgear have come up with some new devices that are considered “draft pre-N”. There is no guarantee that these devices will be upgradeable to the new standard. Users may have to buy hardware complying with the N standard. On the other hand, the draft 1.0 status of these devices should in a perfect world mean that draft-n hardware could be upgradeable to the final specs via firmware updates.<p><p>After testing these devices however, PC Magazine's <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1978674,00.asp">Oliver Kaven</a> discovered that the pre-N hardware's performance was very disappointing considering the expectations surrounding the 8011.N specification. In many cases G network devices outperformed the pre-N devices. In addition, the pre-N hardware required numerous firmware upgrades to even make them functional. Another issue that he encountered is that cross vendor compatibility was a major issue. If you absolutely require the added capabilities that N wireless networks provide, buy equipment from the same manufacturers.<p> Fri, 13 Jun 2006 7:58:09 PM GMT Trends http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?51 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=51 The hardware requirements for running the 64-bit version of Windows Vista are now available on the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/default.mspx">Microsoft Website</a>. However, a chart of hardware requirements don't provide a clear picture as to how much memory, video card memory, etc will provide a user with a decent computing experience. And when I mean a decent computing experience, I mean one that does not include frequent freeze-ups, windows that open quickly (the “snap factor” as you will), and a PC that is not working slower than you are. <p><p>In the newest version of Windows, Microsoft tries to remedy this problem by providing you with different rating levels that indicate whether a PC's present configuration by providing a user with a measurement designated as the “Windows System Performance Rating”. The rating system rates the individual parts of a PC (video, processor, memory etc) and then provides a composite score. So for example, if a computer's hardware does not totally provide the best performance for Microsoft Vista, the composite rating will go down to a “1”. Whereas if a computer's hardware is the most optimum for Vista, the rating will go up to a “5”. What this rating system attempts to do is remedy the “you don't know what you're missing syndrome” that many users experience with previous versions of Windows. This new tool prevents a user from not realizing that their PC's sluggishness is due to not running with enough memory and not due to an inherent problem with Windows. <p> <p>The only problem with this rating system is that you can only access it with a working version of Windows Vista. What if you are currently using XP or older and you need to know whether your current system will support Vista? Fortunately Microsoft has provided a downloadable <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeadvisor/default.mspx">tool</a> to evaluate your current configuration which will inform you as to what needs to be upgraded. This tool will also inform you as to what different aspects of Vista are supported by your current configuration such as the Aero interface.<p> Thu, 26 Jul 2005 7:58:32 PM GMT Firewalls http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?50 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=50 Every computer that is connected to the Internet has hundreds of virtual interfaces that allow programs to communicate with it called “ports”. If you have ever seen The Matrix Reloaded, they can be best thought of as the mysterious “back doors” between different places within the Matrix. An unprotected computer has these ports exposed to the Internet. Therefore, to prevent a rogue computer from accessing your computer, you can install a firewall to prevent your computer from being accessed from these ports by either closing them, or hiding them altogether. <p><p>In addition, PCs have within them invasive tools, such as Telnet, that allow outsiders to log in remotely and perform tasks on your machine. A firewall prevents these tools from being accessed remotely by blocking these requests before they reach the network. <p><p>A newer method that some firewalls use to protect computers is “stateful packet inspection”. This method is generally found on firewall appliances that are used to protect entire networks. What this method does is inspect incoming data packets and compare them with a database of acceptable characteristics such as origin, source, etc. The ones that are acceptable are allowed whereas the ones that are discarded. <p><p>Computers with Windows XP service pack 2 have an adequate firewall that blocks most traffic headed inbound into a PC. However, it does not block malicious programs that may be trying to send a payload from within a computer. Therefore, it is often better to purchase a third party firewall like one developed by Zone Labs, or Symantec.<p><p>A firewall can also be used to block out Internet traffic that is harmful to children or non-work related by analyzing the data packets and looking for terms such as “x-rated” or “boobies”. Symantec's Norton Internet Security comes with some very good child protection.<p> Sun, 1 Jul 2005 11:32:18 AM GMT Spyware http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?49 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=49 A scourge that has plagued all computer users at one time or another is spy-ware. Spy-ware can be relatively harmless, like a tracking cookie, or it can be a major nuisance like the infamous “Cool Web Search” spy-ware. If you haven't had the misfortune of being infected by CWS, this bug hijacks your browser and forces it to open to default website called “Cool Web Search”. <p><p>Once a computer is infected with the more troublesome variety, how can you remove them from your system? Not too long ago the prevailing wisdom was to download a version of Lavasoft's Ad-Aware, or Spybot Search and Destroy. Unfortunately, like an evil plague, spy-ware has managed to evolve beyond those solutions to become more removal resistant. One solution used to track these miscreant programs down is the HiJack This! Utility which gives you a list of all the processes running on your computer. Unfortunately when using this program, it takes some technical sophistication to determining which programs are not legitimate. To really get to the root of the problem you either have to call a qualified technician or submit the output to a <a href="http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5">website</a> for other more seasoned users to give you a diagnosis. <p><p>For users who don't have the time to wade through arcane technical output and would rather spend time with their families, there are programs that can knock out a lot of the more troublesome spy-ware. Better solutions that have entered or evolved onto the scene are <a href="http://www.webroot.com/">Webroot's</a> Spy-sweeper and <a href="http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/">Sunbelt's</a> CounterSpy. Microsoft also has an evolving beta spyware removal program that they have been improving since they bought Giant software. By the way, beta means that the software is still in its trial phase. Nevertheless, the Microsoft tool still seems to be a pretty effective removal tool.<p><p>But what about those programs that are advertised by pop-ups as you surf around the Internet? The ones that tell you to download x program to remove spy-ware now? There are a lot of good free programs on the Internet. However, the ones that are advertised by pop-ups are not in that class. Those programs will actually pollute your machine with more ads and spy-ware leaving you worse off than you were before. <p><p><p><i>For Internet Marketing Advice go to Linda Carlisle's Blog at this link: <a href="http://themarketingdepartment.blogspot.com/">http://themarketingdepartment.blogspot.com/</a></i> Mon, 23 Jun 2005 5:44:05 PM GMT Wireless%20networking http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?48 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=48 At its inception, WEP(“wired equivalent privacy”) had been maligned by the press for being a flawed wireless encryption solution. This was not helped by the fact that there was a less than impressive, well publicized demonstration of the then new standard. However, this has not stopped many users from using WEP as the "password" to their wireless network. <p><p>The reality of the state of WEP is that using existing technology, patient “war drivers”(wireless network crackers) can defeat its encryption. Data that is transmitted wirelessly is done so in embedded frames within packets. Under the WEP standard, each frame is encrypted, or hidden by a string of pseudorandom numbers called a keystream. <p><p>The problem is that the pseudorandom numbers are generated with a 24-bit random number seed called an initialization vector (IV). This number seed is transmitted with every encrypted frame unencrypted. Therefore, a cracker can look at two encrypted frames and know whether they were encrypted with the same IV. To make cracking the code more difficult, each frame is transmitted with a different IV. The problem is that there are only 16,777,216 different IV values. If you use a Wireless B network, these values can be exhausted after six hours since it transmits data at 11 megabytes per second, or even in less time if you are using a Wireless G network. <p><p>You would think that six hours would be a long time to crack a key, but WEP has a complication, “weak IVs”. By a mathematical quirk, 2% of those 16,777,216 IV values turn traitor and leak a little information about the data they encrypt.<p>As a result, password cracker utilities like AirSnort can be used to find enough “weak” IV values until it has enough to crack the WEP key.<p> <p>So what is the alternative? The best solution to this problem is to use the more current WPA standard. WPA doubles the size of the initialization vector from 24 to 48 bits. Under WPA, a network can pass 281 trillion packets before the pool of unique IVs is exhausted. This would take about a thousand years. Furthermore, WPA changes keys often enough so that it is impossible for a cracker to gather enough “traitor packets” to reverse-engineer a key. <p> <p> Wed, 25 May 2005 4:26:58 PM GMT Specials http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?46 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=46 <b>Green Light Technical Services: “Upgrade Your Summer” Special</b><p><p>There is no time like the summer for upgrading and putting your computer resources in order because for many small businesses this is an off peak period. That is why for the Month of June 2005, all services for all customers will be free for the first hour, provided that the job takes a minimum of three hours. Furthermore, services that take less than two hours to complete will be discounted 20%. <p><p>If you have been putting off installing Windows XP service pack 2 or reinstalling your operating system, this is the time to do it! Wed, 25 May 2005 2:54:27 PM GMT Testimonials http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?45 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=45 <b>Green Light Technical Services Testimonial</b><p><p><i>"Green Light is our own tech resource! They have provided personal computer consulting for both my family computer as well as my business system. GLTS brings expertise and competence every time he comes to fix a problem, responding rapidly to any technology emergency we might have. They also proactively suggest updates and preventative action which has certainly reduced the number of those emergencies. I highly recommend GLTS and their services."</i><p> <p><b>Tammy Daugherty-Holzer</b><p><b>Logos Bookstore, Oak Park, IL</b><p> Wed, 18 May 2005 2:40:35 PM GMT Testimonials http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?44 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=44 <b>Green Light Technical Services Testimonial</b><p><p><i>"Michael was on call for us. Being a VERY SMALL business its nice to<p>know that you have an extra staff member in Michael, his customer<p>service skills were outstanding and he kept our computers fresh and running."</i><p><p><b>Seth Feldman</b><p>Instant Tax Service Mon, 16 May 2005 5:07:55 PM GMT Testimonials http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?43 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=43 <b>Green Light Technical Services Testimonial</b><p><p><i>“Michael upgraded our network environment quickly and efficiently allowing us to focus on what we do best.”</i><p><p><p><b>Mike Samec</b><p>Huget Marketing and Advertising <p> Mon, 16 May 2005 9:42:52 AM GMT Trends http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/ViewItem.asp?42 http://www.greenlighttech.net/blog/Comments.asp?Entry=42 The next revolution in computer technology is the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit computing. Not only does this transition signal a new processor architecture, it also means that the amount of data that your CPU can process in a clock cycle will double. If you think your computers are fast now, wait until 64-bit computing hits full stride. The major processor manufacturers are already selling 64-bit ready computer processors. But to really achieve 64- bit computing, a 64-bit operating system has to be developed. Just <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1790236,00.asp">recently</a>, Microsoft has released Windows XP x64 edition. Furthermore, all the major applications will need to be re-written to a version that takes advantage of the new 64-bit computing features.<p><p>What does this mean to the average business user? It doesn't render all pre 64 bit computers useless. Win XP x64 edition will be compatible with most current 32-bit applications. However, many devices won't be compatible with the 64-bit operating system because they will require 64-bit compatible drivers. Users should expect a short period after the introduction where no device drivers exist for many different pieces of hardware (video cards, printers, sound cards, etc), much like the period after XP was first introduced. Many <a href="http://www.intel.com/products/processor/pentium4/index.htm">Pentium 4</a> machines can already support 64-bit processor instructions. <p><p>If many of you believe that this upgrade means that the old Windows XP is totally obsolete, that is not really the case. The increase in speed from Windows XP x64 will definitely benefit users in video and graphics fields. For other users who rely on their PC for accounting or word processing, they would benefit the most from the upgrade only if they were using pre-Pentium 4 machines. In addition, devices are still going to be shipped with drivers for Windows XP. That's not surprising considering that many devices still ship with drivers for Windows 95.<p>