Special Security Edition
Seeing Double
Tips to Circumvent IT
Employee Spotlight

 

Editor's note: This month begins a continuing series focusing on security and other important concerns in our cyber world. Stay with us for information that may help keep you safe and secure in months to come. . .

Find out how "Security Aware" you are!
Do you believe you're a little more Security Aware? Can you identify the threats that exist in your environment and the steps you should take to avoid them? Take the following quizzes and find out.

• Phishing http://www.onguardonline.gov/quiz/phishing_quiz.html
• Spyware http://www.onguardonline.gov/quiz/spyware_quiz.html
• Identity Theft http://www.onguardonline.gov/quiz/idtheft_quiz.html
• Social Networking http://www.onguardonline.gov/quiz/socialnetworking_quiz.htmlOct.

Firewall Foibles
Myth: I've heard that hardware firewalls are better than software firewalls.
Fact: Hardware and software firewalls provide different protections for your computer, which make it a good idea to have both. If you have DSL (digital subscriber line), for example, chances are good that your DSL modem also acts as a basic hardware firewall; it makes your system invisible to the Bad Guys out there prowling around on the Internet. "Security by obscurity" is an important primary defense, but many kinds of viruses, worms, and spyware can get past this kind of protection. A software firewall, your best secondary defense, should be ready and waiting to stop the malware before it gets loose in your computer where it can both compromise your personal information and begin attacking other networked computers.  Read more

Seeing Double - Practical Productivity

Do you have the luxury of doing only one task at a time? If you’re like me, I would guess the answer is probably “No”. I find myself answering email, working on a spreadsheet, looking at an accounting issue and searching for info on the internet all at the same time. It’s just become part of the way that we all work. Most computer users, however, are forced into single-tasking because of the way they see their work – on a single monitor. Windows XP and VISTA provide desktop users with the ability to “spread” their desktop across multiple monitors. Having two monitors has changed and improved the way I work. I’ve seen several study results that state two monitors can improve productivity from 20-50%. I agree. I can cut and paste from one application to another without having to change applications on screen. I can look at the info that I need on the internet and type that information directly into a spreadsheet at the same time. With two monitors, I can read the email with an accounting question and look at the accounting screen at the same time to understand the problem a user is having. I have become so dependent on two monitors that you could never get me to go back to a single screen. Read more