Tech/Computer advice from me

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heat kills electronics. if it gets hot enough it causes things to pop/melt/etc.

it's more of a problem while the equipment is running because if it's 90 degrees in the car it's probably 130 in the case where the circuits are (if it is running)

just don't leave it in there any longer than necessary, and don't turn it on until it's had a chance to cool off.

same goes for cold, but you have a much lower risk with cold than with heat.

i've had to deal with all kinds of equipment failing because it got hot in a room.
 
Fansince62 - Do you have any recommendations for security training? I'm looking into some and I want to make the best/right decisions :)

I was looking at the SANS Hacker Guard program but $3k is quite steep for continuing education at this time.
 
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Fear The Spear said:
I assume the same goes for a flat-screen PC monitor, huh ?
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I would assume so. I'm actually not sure how the screen behaves with heat, but in general heat = bad.

If you're leaving it in your car for an hour or two that's fine. If it's 110 degrees in the middle of summer and you're leaving it in there all day you're running a risk :)
 
Here is a simple, straight-forward question.
I have my wireless router set up, so that the network name is not recognized on other nearby devices, for security.
And I have another PC that I set up with a wireless USB adaptor.
My question is, since the network name does not show up on that computer, how can I connect to that router, and what steps do I take, to get to where I can type in the Network name and password ?
On other PC's or lap-tops I've seen a pop-up come up automatically which allows you to do that. But mine does not do that.

It's running on Windows XP.
 
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Fear The Spear said:
Here is a simple, straight-forward question.
I have my wireless router set up, so that the network name is not recognized on other nearby devices, for security.
And I have another PC that I set up with a wireless USB adaptor.
My question is, since the network name does not show up on that computer, how can I connect to that router, and what steps do I take, to get to where I can type in the Network name and password ?
On other PC's or lap-tops I've seen a pop-up come up automatically which allows you to do that. But mine does not do that.

It's running on Windows XP.
Click to expand...

Here you go:
Belkin USA Site
 
So, my most recent foray with regards to techie stuff is trying to repair so-called "dead" or malfunctioning electronics. Really, many electronic items can be repaired soldering tools provided that major trauma did not occur towards certain components, i.e broken PCB or cracked screen, but cost, skill, and information serve as an obstruction from engaging in a repair.
 
Allowing employees to use 'Cloud Syncing' services such as Dropbox, Microsoft Skydrive, Google Drive, Apple iCloud, etc is dumb.
Very very dumb.

Because when you terminate that employee you come to me and ask me to remove his access, or remove the files, but I can't because that's illegal. Because you led these people to believe it was a personal account, you let them store personal things, you let them add personal devices, and you didn't have your corporate policies drafted correctly.

I'll tell you how you can do it, but I'm not doing it. You go to jail for that crap if you get caught. Unauthorized access to computers/computer data is a very, very serious crime these days.
 
The Volokh Conspiracy » District Court Holds That Intentionally Circumventing IP Address Ban Is ?Access Without Authorization? Under the CFAA

That's important information for anyone that uses the internet. If someone specifically blocks your IP to prevent you from accessing their content, and you change your IP and access the content you're now committing a serious crime; one that can put you in prison for a while.

It's not clear how dynamic IP's are handled, or what would happen if say Boone banned me for life from BGO and I changed my IP, created a new user account, and started posting here again. The ruling reads that Boone could go after me put in prison for it, whether a court would throw a case like that out is not very clear.

It's also not clear what the result of using a proxy system to hide your identity to get around IP bans would do.

Tread carefully... if you've been told not to use a computer resource (even a public forum) your best bet is to not use it. If you believe you need authorization to use a computer system (public website or not) then your best bet is to ask for permission first.
 
tshile said:
Cloud service fails. Tons of businesses lose email for the day. People freak out. CEO apologizes. Sysadmins wary of cloud based hosting for mission-critical business services everywhere smile; just a little bit.

Intermedia went down for the day, CEO releases apology. I do appreciate the transparency they provide. : sysadmin


"But the cloud...."

yeah. the cloud. lets put all of our data in someone else's hands. because they have a nice web page and all.
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Never ever ever understood why Cloud became so popular...trust your files to a 3rd party?
 
Because it offers benefits that are unique, like giving physicians immediate access to your medical records after you've been transferred from one hospital to another. Or more simple benefits, like being able to access music you love on any device, no matter where you are, without any requirement to use up data storage locally.

'Cloud' technology is a paradigm-shift. It's going to continue to explode. Bumps in the road related to security notwithstanding.
 
Boone, I gotta be honest, I don't want my medical records in some cloud database...although I realize it's too late for that.
 
I understand the concerns, although 'cloud' technology doesn't eliminate HIPAA privacy laws. You still, at least in theory, have the right to deny or restrict access. I think the train has already left the station in terms of data-sharing/access. But I understand the concerns. I don't think the risks are inherently any worse with 'cloud' technology than they are with ANY data storage system (unless it's truly under local control - and even then, there's no guarantee it won't be used for nefarious purposes, or in ways you wouldn't approve of). Look at the ridiculous recent abuses perpetrated by the IRS and NSA which weren't necessarily due to this kind of technology.

I would argue that the technology itself is amazing - it's the human beings you need to worry about :)
 
I was always a cloud hater, and for the most part I still am. However, there are certain things it is amazing for. Chromebooks, which are far cheaper and more useful than laptops for what I use them for, and a lot faster as a result. Also, it helps when using google docs, because I can type something up in one place, then go home and print it from my PC without ever having to buy a flash drive or upgrade my memory.

Other than my very limited use of it though, I hate the idea of it, only because I like being able to see and click and move all the stuff I do generally.
 
Elephant said:
Never ever ever understood why Cloud became so popular...trust your files to a 3rd party?
Click to expand...

Exactly. There are cases where it makes sense (MP3's in Boone's example) and situations where the benefits outweigh the risks; ie: you cannot afford quality IT staff, so you pay low fees hoping the service you pick will have good uptime and no data breach issues.

Cost/Benefit. No one answer for everyone or everything.

Boone said:
'Cloud' technology is a paradigm-shift. It's going to continue to explode. Bumps in the road related to security notwithstanding.
Click to expand...
I disagree. It's just another version of mainframe computing with a fancy word used to dress it up. Mainframe means old, so they came up with a new one and marketed the hell out of it.

The big difference is that instead of having a mainframe in the basement of your company's building connecting all the devices in the building, storing all the data, doing all the processing, it's now a company dedicated to hosting mainframes and the connections between the buildings (internet) has improved to the point where it's usable.

It's still an issue of whether you want your data hosted and controlled by a 3rd party. You can use and have all the benefits markted by the 'cloud' and still retain security and control over your data. It's just a 'private cloud'. Or a traditional mainframe (in essence) with big fat pipes hooked up to it connecting it to the outside world.
 
Boone said:
I understand the concerns, although 'cloud' technology doesn't eliminate HIPAA privacy laws. You still, at least in theory, have the right to deny or restrict access. I think the train has already left the station in terms of data-sharing/access. But I understand the concerns. I don't think the risks are inherently any worse with 'cloud' technology than they are with ANY data storage system (unless it's truly under local control - and even then, there's no guarantee it won't be used for nefarious purposes, or in ways you wouldn't approve of). Look at the ridiculous recent abuses perpetrated by the IRS and NSA which weren't necessarily due to this kind of technology.

I would argue that the technology itself is amazing - it's the human beings you need to worry about :)
Click to expand...

The only problem is if the government starts mandating that it retain copies. If there becomes established data housing locations for it then that becomes a target; a target that exposes everyone. A little different than one hospital having a databreach. The healthcare industry was the 3rd worst industry when it came to being infected with malware, viruses, having computers participating in botnets (ie: being controlled remotely), and having data breaches (at least it used to, like 2-3 years ago, it may have improved...) This will make finding the information easier.

We'll see. I don't see a way to avoid transitioning to that system and I don't see a way to keep it secure. It seems inevitable at this point.


Edit: I recognize I'm not saying anything you don't already know. (Did I get all the double negatives right?) Just participating in the conversation :)
 
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