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New phishing scam is smarter than ever… here’s how to protect your business

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November 25th 2024 By Matthew Phillips New phishing scam is smarter than ever… here’s how to protect your business Microsoft is warning business owners about a new type of phishing scam (where cyber criminals pose as a trusted source to trick you into giving away login info), which uses popular cloud services like SharePoint and OneDrive. Although these platforms are usually safe, scammers have figured out how to trick privacy settings to get past security checks. The scammers hack your cloud storage by stealing your login details or buying them on the black market. Once they get inside, they upload a file that is designed to look authentic – like a fake Microsoft 365 login page. They set the file to “view-only” or limit access to specific people, such as you and your team. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1024781817? Opening these files or following any links inside the emails could cause serious damage to your business. Scammers can use your information to access your systems, or they can install malware (malicious software) that lets them cause disruption and steal information. Recovering from these kinds of attacks can be expensive and time-consuming – not to mention the damage it could do to your business’s reputation. Make sure your employees are aware of this new threat and know to be cautious when opening emails, even if they appear to come from a trusted service. Before opening any shared files, double-check the sender’s identity. If something feels off, contact the sender directly to verify it. Make sure you use multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all your team’s devices. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second piece of information (like a code sent to your phone) along with your password. Also, keep your security software up to date so that it’s always ready to block the latest types of attack. Would you like our help protecting your business with added security, training, and monitoring? Get in touch. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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Start it on your phone… finish it on your PC?

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November 21st 2024 By Matthew Phillips​ Start it on your phone… finish it on your PC? Microsoft is once again finding ways to make life easier for your business with Windows 11. If you ever work on your phone as well as your PC, you’re going to love the new “Hand Off” feature that’s being tested right now. The idea is this: Let’s say you’re in a meeting or on the move. And you start working on something in Microsoft Word or another app on your phone. Once you get back to your PC, a notification will pop up asking if you want to keep working on the document – allowing you to switch between devices seamlessly. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1024046595? This feature is made possible through OneDrive’s syncing function. It’s already compatible with Android phones, and it’s likely to work for iPhones too, although that’s not yet been confirmed. Being able to jump between devices without losing track of work could be a great benefit, especially if your team works remotely. Although it hasn’t been rolled out just yet, “Hand Off” has clear potential to be a valuable tool for businesses. Ready to find out more ways Windows 11 could boost productivity in your business? We can help, get in touch. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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A free tool for more polished communication

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October 7th 2024 By Matthew Phillips A free tool for more polished communication Whether you’re drafting emails, writing reports, or creating presentations, spelling mistakes and typos can easily be missed. This means you run the risk of looking unprofessional, especially when communicating with clients or business partners. Here’s the good news: Windows 11 comes with built-in spell check and autocorrect tools that can put an end to embarrassing spelling mistakes. These tools are easy to set up. And once that’s done, you won’t need any extra software to make sure your text always looks clear and professional. Want to know how to use them? First, open Windows Settings. Then select Time & Language and click on the Typing page. From there, you can turn on options like ‘Autocorrect misspelled words’ and ‘Highlight misspelled words’. These features will work across most apps, fixing errors and flagging possible spelling mistakes. You can even get word predictions as you type by enabling text suggestions. Does your business run in multiple languages? Be sure to switch on the ‘Multilingual text suggestions’ feature. This will bring up word suggestions in whatever language you are using. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1012849603? While the spelling tools built into Windows 11 will work across most apps once enabled, some apps (like Notepad and Outlook) need a little extra set up. For example, in Notepad, you’ll need to click the gear icon for settings to switch on the spell check feature. Your team probably spends a lot of time in Outlook sending emails, so it’s well worth switching on grammar tools here. Go to Editor Settings under the Options tab. From there, you can turn on features like autocorrect, text predictions, and even tone adjustment. And if your team uses Microsoft Edge for browsing, you can set up spell check and grammar tools there as well. Just head to Settings, click on Languages, and turn on the grammar and spell check options. By setting up spell check and autocorrect in Windows 11, you’re not just avoiding small mistakes – you’re helping your business run more smoothly. If you need a hand with this or want more advice on how to save time in your business, we can help. Get in touch. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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Unlock your potential with Copilot

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September 30th 2024 By Matthew Phillips Unlock your potential with Copilot Imagine having an assistant by your side that never gets tired, never misses a detail, and can help with everything from drafting emails to organising meetings. Sounds great, right? Well, that’s what Microsoft Copilot is. It’s a smart, AI-driven tool built into the Microsoft apps you already use, like Word, Excel, and Teams. It’s designed to handle time-consuming tasks that slow your team down. But how exactly does it work, and why should you care? In simple terms, Copilot is AI embedded into the Microsoft Office suite. It’s always there to assist you, whether you’re typing up a report, analysing data in Excel, or even planning your next big meeting. And the best part is, you don’t need to be tech-savvy to use it. If you can use Word, you can use Copilot. So, how can it make a difference in your business? First off, one of the most exciting things about Copilot is that it’s seamlessly integrated into the software you already know. There’s no need for complicated installations or training sessions. And because it’s built into Microsoft 365, your team can jump right in with minimal disruption. It works across devices too, so whether you’re in the office or travelling, Copilot is always there. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1010647017? One area where Copilot really shines is how it simplifies your daily grind. Think about how much time gets wasted on things like sorting through emails or organising meetings. We’ve all been there, spending way too long combing through endless email chains or trying to figure out who said what in a meeting. Copilot tackles this for you. It can summarise long email threads and even suggest responses, so you can get back to what really matters. It’s like having someone do all the heavy lifting while you focus on the more important tasks. Speaking of meetings, Copilot is a big help when it comes to collaboration. Let’s say you’re wrapping up a Teams call. Instead of manually taking notes or worrying about missing key action items, Copilot will summarise the entire meeting for you, highlighting decisions and tasks. It listens in, captures the key points, and even helps you plan the next steps. But Copilot isn’t just about cutting down on admin work, it’s also a creativity booster. You know that moment where you stare at a blank document, unsure how to start? Whether it’s drafting a client proposal or putting together a presentation, sometimes the hardest part is getting the ball rolling. That’s where Copilot comes in. Give it a few prompts, and it’ll generate a first draft or outline to get you started. You don’t have to be a creative genius to produce something great. Copilot takes care of that early-stage work, freeing you up to fine-tune and add your personal touch. All this leads to a more productive, efficient, and creative workplace. That’s what makes Microsoft Copilot such a powerful tool. It not only takes care of the little things but also helps you unlock your team’s full potential. Want to find out what Copilot could do for your business? We can help, get in touch. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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How to cheat (the Blue Screen of) Death

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September 16th 2024 By Matthew Phillips How to cheat (the Blue Screen of) Death If you’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing the dreaded Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) on your computer, you know just how frustrating it can be. It’s that moment when your screen turns an ominous shade of blue, and you’re left wondering what went wrong and how much work you’ve just lost. For businesses, these crashes are more than just annoying – they can be disruptive and cost money. Recent research highlights just how common BSODs have become, with one in 200 devices crashing under normal use. And it gets worse. During the recent CrowdStrike outage, that number shot up to one in ten devices. While the tech industry seems to be hit the hardest, with more than 15% of devices affected monthly, even sectors like healthcare and retail, which are less prone to these crashes, still get about 8-10% of devices displaying the dreaded blue screen. So, what’s causing all these crashes? And more importantly, how can you reduce the risk of them happening in your business? The good news is that about half of these incidents are avoidable. The bad news is that many businesses simply don’t have the tools or strategies in place to prevent them. https://player.vimeo.com/video/1007709461? One of the key takeaways from the study is that many BSODs are linked to a few common issues. Problematic hardware, poorly managed Windows updates, and misconfigured drivers for things like graphics cards, networks, and audio systems are among the top culprits. When these aren’t working properly, it can lead to system instability, which often manifests as a BSOD. For business owners, this means taking a proactive approach to IT management is crucial. Instead of waiting for something to go wrong and then scrambling to fix it, businesses should focus on identifying potential problem areas before they lead to a crash. By monitoring the health of your devices and making sure that updates and drivers are properly managed, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of BSODs disrupting your operations. The research suggests that with the right preventative measures, businesses could cut the number of BSOD incidents in half, reducing the occurrence to about one in 400 devices. This not only minimises downtime but also frees up your IT team to focus on more strategic tasks rather than constantly putting out fires. Unfortunately, many businesses lack the necessary tools to identify these risks early on. In fact, most companies don’t even know which of their devices are at risk right now, let alone which ones might crash in the future. To move from a reactive approach to a proactive one, invest in tools that can provide insights into your IT systems. These tools allow you to make data-driven decisions, which can reduce costs, relieve employee stress, and ultimately increase productivity. Better still, get experts to do it for you. Our approach is proactive IT management. This prevents problems before they can interrupt your work. Let us keep your business crash-free. Get in touch. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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Microsoft takes the pain out of updates

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September 2nd 2024 By Matthew Phillips Microsoft takes the pain out of updates If you’re like most people, you probably find system updates a hassle. They take ages and those big downloads eat up precious bandwidth and storage. Good news then: Microsoft is about to make your life a whole lot easier with the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update. It’s introducing something called ‘checkpoint cumulative updates.’ That might sound a bit technical, but don’t worry – it’s simple and very beneficial. Normally, Windows gets its updates every month. These are known as cumulative updates, which bundle all the latest fixes and enhancements together. These bundles can be large and take a while to download and install. The new checkpoint cumulative updates change this process. Instead of downloading a big update every time, your system will now receive smaller updates more frequently. These are tweaks to the last major update or checkpoint. https://player.vimeo.com/video/996269510? So, what does this mean for your business? It’s great news… you’ll spend less time waiting for updates to finish so you can get back to work. And, if you have a limited internet connection, smaller updates are a blessing. They use less bandwidth, so less chance of interrupting someone else’s video call. The best part? All of this happens automatically through Windows Update. You don’t need to do anything differently. Your system will keep running smoothly, with most updates happening in the background. This seamless experience ensures that your work is not interrupted. This isn’t the first time Microsoft has streamlined updates. When Windows 11 was first launched, Microsoft used new compression technology to reduce the size of updates by 40%. With the 24H2 update, they’re taking it a step further to ensure that your experience is even more efficient. It’s also worth noting that while this new update system will be standard for Windows 11 and the upcoming Windows Server 2025, it’s less likely to be implemented for Windows 10, as that version is nearing its end of life. This means there’s even more incentive to upgrade your business to Windows 11 if you haven’t already. Want to migrate to Windows 11 with zero hassle? We’re the people to talk to. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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Slow PCs? Manage which applications launch at startup

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August 5th 2024 By Matthew Phillips Slow PCs? Manage which applications launch at startup Staying on top of how your technology is set up is crucial for maintaining a reliable network. And one often-overlooked aspect is managing which applications start up when your business’s PCs start up. With lots of software wanting to auto-start, it can slow down your system and potentially introduce security risks. But did you know that Windows 11 offers a useful feature that alerts you whenever new apps are added to the startup list? Every time you hit the power button on your PC, it loads a set of apps automatically. While some of these are essential, others might not be, and can slow down your system’s performance. Over time, as you install more software, your startup list can grow, leading to longer startup times and a slow experience. Not only that but keeping an eye on startup apps is good security practice. Unwanted or unknown apps starting automatically can be a red flag for malicious software (malware) or other security threats. By receiving alerts about new startup apps, you can quickly identify and investigate any suspicious additions, making sure that your systems stay secure. How do you enable these alerts in Windows 11? It’s a simple process: Start by opening the Windows 11 system settings. You can do this by clicking the Start menu and selecting the gear icon or by pressing ‘Windows + I’ on your keyboard. In the settings window, click on ‘System’ in the left sidebar, then select ‘Notifications’ on the right. Scroll down to the bottom of the notifications page. Just above Additional settings, you’ll find ‘Startup App Notification’, which is switched off by default. Move the slider to ‘On’.   From then on, you’ll receive a notification whenever a new application is added to the startup process. You can even customise what this notification looks like by clicking on the arrow next to the slider button, allowing you to adjust its appearance and sound to suit your preferences. https://player.vimeo.com/video/991637861? Turning on these alerts brings several benefits to your business. First, it helps keep your PCs running efficiently. By staying informed about new startup apps, you can quickly disable any unnecessary software that might be slowing down your system. This means faster start times and better overall performance, allowing your team to get to work without delays. Secondly, it enhances security. Receiving alerts for new startup apps means you can immediately investigate any unknown or suspicious additions. This proactive approach helps prevent potential security threats from taking hold, safeguarding your business data and systems. Lastly, it’s a great way to keep track of what’s installed on your machines. With various team members possibly installing different software, these alerts give you a clear overview of what’s being added to the startup list, making sure that only approved applications are running. To further manage startup apps, you can use Task Manager. Press ‘Ctrl + Shift + Esc’ to open Task Manager, then select the ‘Startup’ tab. Here, you’ll see a list of all the apps that start with Windows, along with their impact on boot time. You can enable or disable apps by selecting them and clicking the appropriate button at the top right. By regularly checking this list and using the new alert feature, you can keep your startup process streamlined and your system secure. A better answer is getting someone to set all of this up and manage it for you. We specialise in making technology easy for businesses. If we can help, get in touch.

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PING, WHOOSH, or BEEP? Now you can decide with Teams

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July 29th 2024 By Matthew Phillips PING, WHOOSH, or BEEP? Now you can decide with Teams If you’ve ever found yourself wincing at the sound of a Microsoft Teams notification breaking your concentration, you’re not alone. Here’s some news that might be music to your ears then: Microsoft has just rolled out an update that promises to make these interruptions much more manageable. With the latest update, you can customise your notification sounds on Teams. We believe that will make it easier to stay focused and prioritise your work. Instead of the generic “ping” that jolts you out of your workflow, you could opt for a more soothing chime or even a subtle whoosh. This might seem like a small change, but it can make a big impact on how you manage your day. Being able to differentiate between urgent alerts and less critical messages through sound can help you prioritise effectively and reduce unnecessary distractions. For business owners like you, this update is more than just a new feature – it’s a tool to enhance productivity and team efficiency. By allowing your team to customise their notification sounds, you make it easy for them to tailor their work environment to their personal needs. For instance, urgent messages from key contacts can be assigned a distinct sound that grabs attention immediately, while routine notifications can have a softer, less intrusive tone. This kind of prioritisation is essential in a busy work environment where managing time and focus is vital. It can help prevent important messages from getting lost in the noise of everyday communications and ensure that team members can respond promptly to those pressing issues without being constantly disrupted. The business benefits of this update are clear. First, it helps create a more focused and efficient work environment. When employees aren’t constantly interrupted by generic notification sounds, they can maintain their concentration for longer periods, leading to higher productivity levels. And by enabling the muting of notifications during meetings or focused work sessions, the update makes sure that important discussions and deep work sessions go uninterrupted. This feature is particularly handy in today’s hybrid work environment, where distractions can come from multiple channels. While the customisable notification sounds are a standout feature, Microsoft Teams offers a huge range of other benefits that make it an invaluable tool for business. It integrates smoothly with other 365 applications, providing a unified platform for all your business needs. https://player.vimeo.com/video/983180299? Whether it’s collaborating on documents, scheduling meetings, or managing projects, Teams brings everything together in one place. Teams has a robust set of tools that make teamwork easier and more efficient. If you’re not already using Teams, where have you been? Give it a try and see how it can help you streamline your workflows and communication. We can help you customise Microsoft Teams to be perfect for your business. Get in touch. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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Say goodbye to video call pop-ups (and Teams meeting blushes)

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May 27th 2024 By Matthew Phillips Say goodbye to video call pop-ups (and Teams meeting blushes) Picture this: You’re on an important video call with a client, confidently presenting your latest project updates. Suddenly, a notification pops up on your screen from your significant other, reminding you (not so discreetly) about the damage your child did during their temper tantrum this morning. Or worse, a message from your gym reminding you of your long absence. Embarrassing, right? We all know the struggle of trying to maintain professionalism during video calls while secretly battling the fear of embarrassing pop-ups stealing the show. But Microsoft is on it. They’re reportedly working on a much-needed feature that could save us all from these cringeworthy moments. Imagine being able to hide specific apps entirely while you’re on a Teams call. No more worrying about intrusive notifications stealing your thunder. This means you can say goodbye to awkward interruptions from messaging apps, or reminders that you’d rather keep private. How does it work? According to reports, Microsoft’s new feature won’t just minimise apps to the taskbar like the current workaround. Instead, it’ll completely hide them from sight, sparing you from any unexpected surprises (and blushes). And the best part? It’s not just about saving face. This feature could also help boost your device’s performance. By keeping those apps in the background, you free up valuable computing power and resources. https://player.vimeo.com/video/947423130 If you’ve ever found yourself frantically closing apps and browser windows to ensure a smooth video stream, this could be the end of that struggle. With the new feature, you can focus on what truly matters during your calls without worrying about technical hiccups or embarrassing distractions. While we’re excited about the potential of this new feature, we’ll have to wait and see if it becomes a reality. We’ll be keeping a close eye on the official Microsoft 365 roadmap for any updates and will keep you informed. In the meantime, if we can help make your business’s video calls run more smoothly, get in touch. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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The secrets to make your laptop battery live longer

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May 20th 2024 By Matthew Phillips The secrets to make your laptop battery live longer Could you imagine what it must have been like doing business 30 years ago, before you had a decent laptop? It’s a horrible thought. And one that you only need to consider now and then, when you have an hour’s worth of work to do… but only 30 mins left on your laptop battery. Nightmare. No one wants to be caught in the dreaded low battery limbo during a crucial meeting or presentation. But with a little know-how, you can extend your laptop battery’s lifespan and keep it running optimally for years to come. Understanding your battery is key. Most laptops today rely on lithium-ion batteries, which have a finite number of charge cycles. A charge cycle equals a full discharge from 0% to 100%, and each cycle diminishes the battery’s capacity. The golden rule? Avoid full discharges whenever possible… which means, don’t let the battery run out completely. https://player.vimeo.com/video/946525891 Let’s dive into your laptop’s power settings to customise your battery preferences. Hibernation mode is your friend – it kicks in before your battery hits rock bottom. And don’t forget to activate Battery Saver mode, a godsend for preserving power when your battery is running on fumes. Next, it’s time to declutter. Close background apps and say goodbye to unnecessary power drains. Toggle off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when they’re not in use and dim screen brightness to conserve energy. But what about charging etiquette? Contrary to popular belief, keeping your laptop plugged in won’t harm your battery – modern devices are smarter than you think. Just steer clear of extreme temperatures and never let your battery dip below 20% if you can help it. When it comes to storing your laptop for a little longer than usual, put it away with around 50% charge. And if you’re ever in doubt, some battery apps offer real-time insights into your battery’s health. Lastly, stay on top of software updates. New patches and upgrades can optimise performance and minimise energy consumption, giving your battery a new lease of life. We help businesses round here get the most from their devices for as long as possible. If we can do the same for you, get in touch. Published with permission from Your Tech Updates.

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