Ferrum Technology Services Blog

There are times when you put off something on your to-do list and somehow it magically works itself out. This usually happens when someone else picks up the slack and takes care of what you needed to get done. Then there are things on your to-do list that, if you don't get to in a timely manner, will end up costing you in the long run--like PC maintenances.

Computers are machines that need to be cared for and maintained. If a PC is left totally unattended to and it's used regularly, it will wear down after each use and eventually experience the dreaded crash. The primary piece of equipment responsible for this risk is the hard disk drive. A computer hard drive contains disks called platters that have data written on them. These platters spin at thousands of RPMs and tiny moving parts are used to read the data off of the spinning disks. The intricacy and design of all the tiny moving parts lends itself to product degradation.

The Heartbleed bug, one of the nastiest deficiencies in Internet security to date, was found last week. More than two-thirds of the Internet's secure information could have been leaked from websites utilizing the OpenSSL cryptographic library's encryption style. Most major websites have already issued a patch to resolve the problem, but that doesn't change the fact that this information has been available to anyone looking for it for over two years. Worse still is that you would have no idea how to tell whether your data has been compromised.

Multitasking is something that everyone prides themselves on, but cognitive psychologist Art Markman seems to think otherwise. He says, "you are your own worst judge of how good a multitasker you are," due to the same areas of the brain that monitor performance are the same areas that work with multitasking, making it nigh impossible to determine how well you are actually multitasking. Of course, multitasking is something that every good employee should learn how to do, as it can improve productivity significantly.

The world is changing as technology grows ever more mobile. Cell phones have gone from bulky, large pieces of hardware to smaller, more compact specimens. Fifteen years ago, if you were to tell someone that your cell phone could connect to the Internet, you would quickly be dismissed. If you look past the surface laden with Candy Crush Saga and Words with Friends game requests, you can get to the heart of what smartphones have revolutionized – the way we communicate with others.

The same day that Microsoft ceased supporting Windows XP with security patches was also the day a vicious little monster was discovered – the Heartbleed bug, which renders privacy in the OpenSSL cryptographic library completely obsolete. Basically, anything utilizing the OpenSSL open source library is at risk here. Websites utilizing this form of encryption include Yahoo! Google, and Facebook. To put it in perspective, sites that utilize OpenSSL number more than two-thirds of the entire worldwide web. Though this bug only applies to versions 1.0.1 and 1.0.2 beta of OpenSSL, hackers are able to obtain private keys which can be used to obtain sensitive information from countless people all around the world. Nothing says "heartbreak" like having your identity stolen and your sensitive data Shanghaied.

The Internet has grown to such a vast size that it in itself is like a world within a world. Some people live on it, and share their secrets far too openly. These people think themselves safe in a world that technically doesn't exist, but there is a lot more danger involved with the Internet than some people realize. There are criminals everywhere, and they are just waiting for you to drop your guard long enough to swipe everything you've worked so hard to protect.

April 8th is a big day for Microsoft; it's when they will finally pull the plug on their successful Windows XP operating system by ending its support. There are many users around the world that are still using Windows XP, which is a very risky move after tomorrow. Before we retire XP from the office, let's take a look back at how great it was with help from Steve Ballmer.

Humans are notorious for staying within their comfort zones. When something new or unfamiliar rears its ugly head, we often are too habitual to change with the times. While this is mostly applicable to social situations, such as an introvert being stuck in a hot, stuffy room full of people, comfort zones can also apply to your outdated laptop or smartphone. Upgrading can be challenging, but very rewarding.

Nothing says productivity like a workstation with a boatload of monitors hooked up to it. Using multiple monitors allows you to display several different applications at the same time, which improves workflow because you no longer have to shuffle through different windows to find what you need. Here's how to hook up an extra screen to your PC!

Today is opening day for Major League Baseball. Teams are finishing up spring training and making the last round of cuts before they start the regular season. In the MLB, each team is allowed to have 25 players on their club when they break camp. Every year each club has a handful of guys that make that decision hard for the General Manager.

This situation happens in your business as well. After determining the viability of an expense, the least viable expenses are often cut from the budget. Redundant expenses can really drive down the bottom line, so cuts are made. Here are three ways the IT professionals at Ferrum Technology Services can save your organization money and give your team the best chance to succeed.

As with anything else that's deliberately taken from you, having your smartphone stolen can be one of the most frustrating experiences ever. After all, many of us use them to keep us on point with our daily tasks. Measures are being taken by legislators and cell phone companies to help curb the issue, but there are ways that you can prevent and react to your phone being stolen.

Wearable technology is all the rage these days. For users that are waiting patiently for the yet-to-be-released Google Glass, there are plenty of other options on the market that have moved beyond the proof of concept to grace retail store shelves. Several of the top mobile device manufacturers have released, or will release in 2014, products designed to seamlessly integrate into a user's daily routine. With Glass on the horizon and the newly announced Android Wear, Google is taking its future tech to your body.

Small business owners and executives spend a lot of time going over the expense sheet. Most times, this is a result of not having the financial resources to do everything they want to do, when they want to do it. When your organization's growth stagnates, finding a way to turn that trend around is of paramount importance.

As the top men's and women's collegiate basketball teams in the United States begin the 2014 NCAA tournament, there is a competition going on that doesn't get quite as much press. That is the competition for local market share. When that competition is stiff, as it always is in the NCAA tournament, you have to find ways to set your business apart. There are a lot of similarities between running an efficient business and the make-up of a championship basketball team.

It's embarrassing to get technology terms mixed up with other terms that have nothing to do with technology. If you've found yourself confused by the latest tech terms, then don't feel bad. According to a recent survey of 2,392 adults by Vouchercloud.net, mix ups like this are a fairly common occurrence.

Details are still coming in regarding one of the biggest data breaches in history that compromised the personal records of 200 million Americans! The scam was propagated by the online ID theft service Superget.info, and it's currently being investigated by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

It's a nightmare scenario for any business when a computer virus cripples their system. It's even worse when it happens to a company that has invested in a dedicated antivirus software, especially when the virus got through because someone felt the need to disable it! Because of scenarios like this, you should never disable your antivirus software.

Today's business world is more environmentally conscious than ever before. An organization that goes green will help the Earth, improve their reputation, gain tax credits, and even attract new environmentally-conscious customers. When your business is making changes to go green, one of the easiest places to start is with your technology.

Almost 20 years ago, a class of fifth grade students from Helena, Montana produced a PSA video about the future-changing possibilities of the Internet. When this PSA was shot in 1995, only 0.4% of the world's current population (16 million people) used the Internet. Now, almost 39% of the world is online, making this video scary accurate!

Prior to the XXII Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, concerns were shared from many American news outlets in regards to mobile data security. On the eve of competition the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams broadcasted a story suggesting that data security in Russia, and more specifically, at the Olympic games was atrocious; with the reporter, Richard Engel, getting both his smartphone and his work laptop hacked almost immediately.