We’re so pleased to be a part of this community. We’re offering 10% discounts for senior citizens and military service members, so if you’ve been on the fence about getting some work done on your computer or updating the network in your office, there couldn’t be a better time. Give us a call.
Want one of our postcards to keep on-hand? Just drop us an email with your info and we’ll mail one out to you!
Looking to shave hours off your workday and save time? Try these Mac keyboard shortcuts and make your life that much easier.
By pressing certain key combinations, you can do things that normally need a mouse, trackpad, or other input devices.
To use a keyboard shortcut, press and hold one or more modifier keys and then press the last key of the shortcut. For example, to use Command-C (copy), press and hold the Command key, then the C key, then release both keys. Mac menus and keyboards often use symbols for certain keys, including modifier keys:
Some keys on some Apple keyboards have special symbols and functions, such as for display brightness, keyboard brightness, Mission Control, and more. If these functions aren’t available on your keyboard, you might be able to reproduce some of them by creating your own keyboard shortcuts. To use these keys as F1, F2, F3, or other standard function keys, combine them with the Fn key.
For more shortcuts, click this link: Apple and Mac Shortcuts
Inspired by my son and daughter, I thought this post would be appropriate. They are the biggest Minecraft fans that I know and inspired me to not only write this but start playing too. It’s obvious that I am not as good as they are, but it’s great learning for children and adults alike.
The creative and building aspects of Minecraft enable players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D generated world. Other activities in the game include exploration, resource gathering, crafting, and combat. Survival is where the player must acquire resources to build the world and maintain health. The creative mode where players have unlimited resources to build with and the ability to fly. Adventure mode where players can play custom maps created by other players, and a spectator mode where players can fly around and clip through blocks, but cannot place or destroy any.
They have both tried to get me to play in this mode, but I just haven’t got the hang out it yet. In this mode, players gather natural resources (such as wood and stone) found in the environment in order to craft certain blocks and items.
In creative mode, players have access to all of the resources and items in the game through the inventory menu and can place or remove them instantly. Players, who are able to fly freely around the game world.
Buildings created by Nate Forant
Besides the main version, Minecraft Classic and Minecraft 4k for the PC are also available.
The Education Edition gives teachers the tools they need to use on an everyday basis.
There are a few differences between Minecraft and MinecraftEDU. The main concept is the same, an open sandbox world. and MinecraftEDU will be able to retain characteristics. Finally, the last large difference is that students can take in-game photos. These online notebooks will be sharable with other students.
My favorite mode is creative so stay tuned as I am sure there will be more great construction coming soon.
Zoom-bombing. It’s real. Here’s what you need to know to prevent Zoom-bombing and keep yourself and your fellow Zoom attendees safe.
If you’re not familiar with Zoom, they’re one of the leaders in modern video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars.
Zoom-bombing is the term for when individuals “gate-crash” Zoom meetings. These uninvited guests share their screens to bombard real attendees with disturbing or distracting content.
With just about everyone using Zoom since COVID-19 changed our day-to-day routines, you need to know how to protect yourself from uninvited guests showing up in the middle of your Zoom calls.
Cybersecurity expert and author, @Scott Schober, was interviewed by @ShirleyChan from PIX11 News. Below is the video from the interview. This is an excellent interview and in these times that we are going through, it is very much needed.
Do you have questions and need assistance with your Zoom settings? Comment below, contact us, or reach out to us on social media. We are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.
Due to COVID-19, we are now offering remote services. Our remote services can cover most software issues. Our office will follow all NC.gov recommendations and safety protocols suggested for business until further notice.
Fill out the contact form below and we will get back to you within 24 hours. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram all @sobxtech to make appointments.
Here are the Top 10 Internet safety rules you need to know to avoid getting into trouble online (and off).
Potential employers or customers don’t need to know your personal relationship status or your home address. They do need to know about your expertise and professional background, and how to get in touch with you. You wouldn’t hand purely personal information out to strangers individually—don’t hand it out to millions of people online.
Marketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing and social media usage. But you can take charge of your information. As noted by Lifehacker, both web browsers and mobile operating systems have settings available to protect your privacy online. Major websites like Facebook also have privacy-enhancing settings available. These settings are sometimes (deliberately) hard to find because companies want your personal information for its marketing value. Make sure you have enabled these privacy safeguards, and keep them enabled.
You wouldn’t choose to walk through a dangerous neighborhood—don’t visit dangerous neighborhoods online. Cybercriminals use lurid content as bait. They know people are sometimes tempted by dubious content and may let their guard down when searching for it. The Internet’s demimonde is filled with hard-to-see pitfalls, where one careless click could expose personal data or infect your device with malware. By resisting the urge, you don’t even give the hackers a chance.
When you go online in a public place, for example by using a public Wi-Fi connection, PCMag notes you have no direct control over its security. Corporate cybersecurity experts worry about “endpoints”—the places where a private network connects to the outside world. Your vulnerable endpoint is your local Internet connection. Make sure your device is secure, and when in doubt, wait for a better time (i.e., until you’re able to connect to a secure Wi-Fi network) before providing information such as your bank account number.
To further improve your Internet browsing safety, use a secure VPN connection (a virtual private network). VPN enables you to have a secure connection between your device and an Internet server that no one can monitor or access the data that you’re exchanging. Read more about What is VPN
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather. As PCWorld advises, don’t download apps that look suspicious or come from a site you don’t trust.
Passwords are one of the biggest weak spots in the whole Internet security structure, but there’s currently no way around them. And the problem with passwords is that people tend to choose easy ones to remember (such as “password” and “123456”), which are also easy for cyber thieves to guess. Select strong passwords that are harder for cybercriminals to demystify. Password manager software can help you to manage multiple passwords so that you don’t forget them. A strong password is one that is unique and complex—at least 15 characters long, mixing letters, numbers, and special characters.
Any time you make a purchase online, you need to provide credit card or bank account information—just what cybercriminals are most eager to get their hands on. Only supply this information to sites that provide secure, encrypted connections. As Boston University notes, you can identify secure sites by looking for an address that starts with https: (the S stands for secure) rather than simply Http: They may also be marked by a padlock icon next to the address bar.
The Internet does not have a delete key, as that young candidate in New Hampshire found out. Any comment or image you post online may stay online forever because removing the original (say, from Twitter) does not remove any copies that other people made. There is no way for you to “take back” a remark you wish you hadn’t made, or get rid of that embarrassing selfie you took at a party. Don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want your mom or a prospective employer to see.
People you meet online are not always who they claim to be. Indeed, they may not even be real. As InfoWorld reports, fake social media profiles are a popular way for hackers to cozy up to unwary Web users and pick their cyber pockets. Be as cautious and sensible in your online social life as you are in your in-person social life.
Internet security software cannot protect against every threat, but it will detect and remove most malware—though you should make sure it’s to date. Be sure to stay current with your operating system’s updates and updates to the applications you use. They provide a vital layer of security.
Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to infect your machine with malware and viruses in order to collect personal and financial information. Cybercriminals attempt to lure users to click on a link or open an attachment that infects their computers, creating vulnerability to attacks. Phishing emails may appear to come from a real financial institution, e-commerce site, government agency, or any other service, business, or individual. The email may also request personal information such as account numbers, passwords, or Social Security numbers. When users respond with the information or click on a link, attackers use it to access users’ accounts.
You can read more here.
Now more than ever, consumers spend increasing amounts of time on the Internet. With every social media account you sign up for, every picture you post, and status you update, you are sharing information about yourself with the world. How can you be proactive to stay safe online and, “Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.”? #BeCyberSmart and take these simple steps to connect with confidence and safely navigate the social media world.
You can learn more at https://bit.ly/2LLRe7R
The Internet touches almost all aspects of our daily lives. We are able to shop, bank, connect with family and friends, and handle our medical records all online. With all of that, there are people out there that will try to steal your information. In our ongoing commitment to educating people about online safety, security, privacy, etc. we’re sharing helpful blog posts all month in honor of National Cybersecurity Month
#BeCyberSmart when sharing personal information online to reduce the risk of becoming a cybercrime victim.
There is so much information online about this topic. To help you get right to the information you need. I highly recommend this Online Privacy information sheet that you can download or print out.
Do you need help protecting yourself online? Need to update the security on your computer? Contact us. We’d love to help!