Public WiFi Security - Why you need to be vigilant

These days, it’s not uncommon for us to connect to Wi-Fi wherever we go, especially over the Festive season when you are out and about. In fact, we’ve come to expect there will be a Wi-Fi connection at hotels, coffee shops, airports, and now even on some flights, so pretty much everywhere! 

While the ability to connect to the internet to check your emails or Facebook is convenient, it also has opened the door for hackers to gain access to our personal information. By connecting to a public, unsecured network, wherever you are, you run the risk of having your sensitive data hacked.

While it may seem strange to worry about the bad guys snatching our personal information from what seems to be thin air, unfortunately it is more common than we think.

Basic Connection Tips:

• Turn off Wi-Fi. When you’re not using your Wi-Fi connection on any of your devices, it’s good practice to turn it off. That way it won’t automatically connect to any Wi-Fi that is in the area. Mobile devices will help save your battery life if your WiFi is off since your mobile will not be constantly searching for an available Wi-Fi connection.
• Only connect to secure connections and save your sensitive searching for home. Make sure that any network you connect to away from home, such as those in cafes and hotels, are secure. You can tell when a network is not secured because you will see a message when you connect saying that you are “connecting to an unsecured network.” And if you are using an unsecured network, do not shop online or access any of your personal and financial sites.
• Only use HTTPS. HTTPS, or hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) with secure sockets layer (SSL, hence the S after HTTP), is a more secure option set up by a website owner who knows security is essential. Look for “HTTPS://” in the address bar to signify you are on a secure page. Even on an open, unsecured wireless connection, HTTPS is more secure than HTTP.
• On your Mobile only use Official Apps for Facebook, Twitter and Banking as these have inbuilt security. For Banking it is advisable to wait until you are on a secure network.

These are a few tips that we recommend, please feel free to phone or email us for any further advice. 

OneDrive - How to Keep your free 15 GB of Storage

In November, Microsoft made significant changes to its OneDrive storage plans that ended up limiting the amount of storage available to most users.

Storage that you got for free as part of the service will be reduced from 15GB to 5GB. Users obviously are not very happy with this decision, especially if they use OneDrive for photo uploads.

Luckily, Microsoft had a slight change of heart, and as a concession for those users, the OneDrive Team is offering the opportunity to opt-in until January 31st, 2016 to keep it.

Keep Your Free 15 GB of OneDrive Storage

Go to https://preview.onedrive.com/bonus/ then click on Keep your free storage.

You will now have your base 15 GBs of storage in addition to 15 GBs for your camera roll.

This is great news for free users of OneDrive and makes the idea of saving all of your photos videos to OneDrive relevant again. 

However, Microsoft are not bringing back unlimited storage, but if you have an Office 365 subscription, you get a 1TB as part of the package. If you get the Office 365 family plan you get five accounts, and each of those accounts gets 1 TB of OneDrive storage. For the average user, this should be more than enough storage space.

It’s worth repeating: You have to sign up to keep your Free 15GB of OneDrive Storage before January 31st, 2016. Make sure you get it right away, it  takes two seconds to secure it.

Windows 10 - December Update

The excitement may have died down somewhat, but the free Windows 10 upgrade is something Microsoft are still offering. Windows 7 or Windows 8 can get your hands on Microsoft’s latest software absolutely free of charge. The free Windows 10 upgrade is a smart move for both users and Microsoft. 

We are getting on average every 1 in 6 customers who've upgraded to Windows 10 coming in with big problems. Most of the time we can safely return your PC to its original Windows 7 or 8 state, but worst case scenario we need to re-build your computer.

Why might I have problems upgrading?

Your computer may be compatible, but there may be drivers missing and drivers are what keeps your hardware and software communicating between each other.  Some software may be incompatible with Windows 10, meaning that when you upgrade, your favourite game or accounting package fail to work anymore, again causing big problems

Should I upgrade yet?

We advise to hold out a couple more months and wait for another major Windows 10 update, which will hopefully iron out some bugs and make your move to Windows 10 as smooth as possible.

We are more than happy to advise on whether to upgrade or not, so call us or pop into our workshop for some advice.   

Slow WiFi? It's probably your fairy lights

You know how it is, you put up your tree, stick up some baubles and fairy lights, then sit back and relax in a christmasy glow. But then, as you go to stream Christmas films online, it takes forever because your WiFi is horribly slow. .

Sure, this sounds like a load of rubbish, but it genuinely isn't. Ofcom did some tests that prove it does. In fact, around six million homes and offices could improve their broadband connection because they've set up things that interfere with their signal.

Ofcom say: “the app tests the Wi-Fi set-up and, if it finds a problem, will provide some troubleshooting tips to help improve broadband. For example, it may suggest you: move your router away from electrical devices: Halogen lamps, electrical dimmer switches, stereo or computer speakers, fairy lights, TVs and monitors and AC power cords have all been known to cause interference to broadband routers. Keep your router as far away as possible from other electrical devices as well as those which emit wireless signals such as baby monitors etc.”

“Move your router to a different part of your home: The walls and furniture in your house act as an obstacle to the Wi-Fi radio frequencies. Ideally routers should be kept centrally within the home and placed on a table or shelf rather than on the floor”

If the WiFi signal still doesn't improve, talk to us about our ENTERPRISE WIFI SOLUTIONS ! 

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Home and Business Wireless Solutions – For Luxury Homes & Large Office Buildings

Optima Computers are now offering high end wireless solutions for large luxury homes, complicated, RF interference affected structures and office buildings.

Wireless Network Planning and Design

Optima Computers are leading Wi-Fi experts in Wi-Fi network Planning, Design, Installation, Support, Survey, Analysis, Optimisation and Troubleshooting.

Not many other companies can offer what we do - Authority, Expertise, Competence, Delivery.

Wi-Fi network Planning and Design probably are the two most crucial phases of any Wi-Fi network deployment - yet in most cases this is done badly, or not at all!

Wi-Fi Network Engineering

Optima are unique in delivering Optimised, Guaranteed Wi-Fi network Solutions.

Many organisations use Optima to Plan and Design their Wi-Fi networks - because we survey and build validated designs that guarantee Wi-Fi Coverage, Capacity, Performance and Reliability.

How can we Guarantee all of this?

Essentially, Optima build Wi-Fi networks using state-of-the-art tools and methodologies that few, if any, other companies have.

Expert Wi-Fi network engineering is essential - if your Wi-Fi network is to deliver the Coverage, Capacity, Performance and Reliability that is required.

Why do some Wi-Fi Networks Fail to Deliver?

Wi-Fi network deployments often fail to deliver Reliability, Capacity and Performance - because of:

• Poor Planning
• Poor Wi-Fi RF network Design
• Incompetent RF Site Survey
• Poor Wi-Fi network implementation.

We're here to help you avoid the pitfalls and enjoy the benefits that expertly-design Wi-Fi networks can deliver.

Join the speed revolution!

There is no single upgrade that will improve your digital life more than going from a standard hard drive to an Solid State Drive (SSD). 

Our customers buy new computers as their old one was slow. Then they find out the new has become slow over the next few months. By upgrading your traditional hard drive to an SSD hard drive you get an instant and on-going speed increase. Everything runs quicker. Many of our customers have described this as the "miracle cure"!

The old-fashioned turntable-like head spins inside your standard hard drive takes ages to startup, but with SSD's you can be up and running in your favorite programs, including heavy applications like Itunes and Photoshop, in just a few seconds. Boot up's can be achieved in around 10 seconds!

Another huge SSD advantage is durability. SSDs have no moving parts, solid-state drives aren't susceptible to damage or degraded performance from vibrations or movement. Drop a system or laptop containing a traditional hard-disk drive, and you have a very real chance of corrupting your data. However, a solid-state drive will have a very real chance of surviving most day to day shocks.

Here at Optima, we can upgrade your current or brand new computer and give you super fast performance. If we upgrade your current computer, we will ensure that all your programs and data are successfully transferred.

Call us on 020 8445 6700 to book in your SSD upgrade.

Mobile Phone Safety

Mobile phones are a big target for thieves and - given how much we rely on them - a missing smartphone can cost you more than just money. Read on for some top tips on mobile phone security.

1. Hide your mobile phone out of site

Don't leave your phone in an unattended car - 50% of all mobile thefts are from vehicles. If on public transport keep your phone in your bag and out of site.

2. Be aware of Wi-Fi security

Don't connect to unsecured Wi-Fi networks, for example in a coffee shop or train station, unless you really have to look something up that doesn't require you to enter personal details or passwords. You can purchase a mobile broadband dongle if required and get easy, secure internet access on the move.

3. Use the keypad/screen lock

It seems almost nonsensical in this day and age to not have a basic password on your lock screen, even if it is a basic one. One of the first things we'd suggest is to navigate into your device's security settings and enable a pass lock.

4. Register your mobile phone 

Registering your device at immobilise.com- This enables police to return stolen property as they find it. And if your mobile phone is stolen, report it to the police and to your network as soon as possible.

Your network can block your phone so that even if the Sim card is changed, it will no longer work in the UK.

5. Record the IMEI number

Keep a note of your mobile phone's unique 15-digit IMEI number. This is usually printed under the phone battery, or can be accessed by keying *#06# into most phones. If a mobile phone is stolen, the IMEI number helps your mobile service provider block the phone.

6. Mobile phone insurance

Decide whether to pay for mobile phone insurance. Depending on the type of handset you have it may be cheaper to replace it in the event of theft or damage, rather than paying insurance premiums.

If you do pay for mobile handset insurance and your phone is stolen, make sure you report it within 24 hours as most insurers insist on this as part of the policy terms and conditions.

7. Mobile phone viruses and worms

The good news for mobile phone security is that mobile phone viruses and malware haven't become widespread...yet. Still on Android devices please be careful what you download. iPhones aren’t so widespread to have viruses yet.

To stay safe, if in doubt, don't click on links in SMS or emails on your mobile. If you've got an iPhone, or other smartphone with full mobile internet access, be especially aware of the risks of opening attachments or clicking on links to potentially malicious websites. 

8. Restrict your Bluetooth usage

Turn off Bluetooth when not using it. Blue-jacking, where people nearby send anonymous messages to other phone users who've left Bluetooth switched on, is essentially harmless, but is an invasion of your privacy. Plus, Bluetooth can drain mobile battery power.

10. Keep your mobile phone updated

Make sure your mobile phone's firmware (operating system/OS) is updated to the latest version and patched with any security upgrades. Check out your handset manufacturer's website for updates and downloads that could increase your phone's security.

Anti-Virus & Computer Security

Securing your computer is as important as securing your home. You spend a lot of time on your computer and lots of this time is spent on the internet. The internet is a great tool but can also bring with it viruses and malware which can cause you big problems.

How can I protect myself?

1. Set strong passwords that include uppercase, lowercase and numbers.

2. Don’t use the same password for all accounts.

3. Keep passwords safe and out of site.

4. When using the internet for anything like banking or emails ensure that the website is HTTPS.

5. Do not open email attachments unless you are expecting them or know the attachment is safe. Many viruses come via email attachments. 

6. Use a paid for anti-virus software package. Ask us for recommendations. 

7. Only do software updates whilst at home or on a secure connection, and again only do an update if you know the software is genuine. If in doubt give us a call!

8. If you have not asked for tech support then it is unlikely a company knows you are having problems with your computer. So do not allow anyone access to your computer. Microsoft Tech Support will not call you, so be weary of bogus calls. 

If in any doubt or if you have any question about your computer security then please give us a call on 020 8445 6700

Windows 10 – Update

The excitement may have died down somewhat, but the free Windows 10 upgrade is still something Microsoft is offering for another few months. Windows 7 or Windows 8 can get their hands on Microsoft’s latest software absolutely free of charge. The free Windows 10 upgrade is still a smart move for both users and Microsoft. Users get the latest in security and features without having to pay the £70+ to upgrade that they used to.

We are getting about every 1 in 6 customers who have done the upgrade coming in with big problems. Most of the time we can safely return your PC to its original Windows 7 or 8 state, but worst case scenario we need to re-build your computer.

Why might I have problems upgrading?

Your computer may be compatible, but there may be drivers missing and drivers are what keeps your hardware and software communicating between each other.  Some software may be incompatible with Windows 10, meaning that when you upgrade, your favourite game or accounting package fail to work anymore, again causing big problems

So Should I upgrade yet?

We advise to hold out a few more months and wait for the Windows 10 first major update, which will hopefully iron out some major bugs and make your move to Windows 10 as smooth as possible.

We are more than happy to advise on whether to upgrade or not, so call us or pop into our workshop for some advice.   

What's next for Windows 10?

Wow! We had a record number of calls yesterday as the Windows 10 roll-out started.  "Should we?", "Is it any good?", "Can I go back to Windows 7 if I don't like it?" were just some of the questions asked.

Windows 10 is now available as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. While millions are performing the upgrade this week, Microsoft is working hard on updates and fixes behind the scenes. Some of those patches have already started rolling out, but there are more to come. The first bigger collection of fixes will come with what Microsoft calls Service Release 1 (SR1).

We believe that SR1 is due to be released in early August, possibly as early as next week. While SR1 won't include new features, it will fix some of the issues people have been experiencing with Windows 10. 

After the initial patches and updates, Microsoft is working toward a bigger collection of fixes and feature additions for later this year tentatively scheduled for October.

Microsoft's dedicated Messaging app for Windows 10 will enter preview in the coming weeks. The messaging app will bring Skype integration directly into Windows 10, creating a more iMessaging- and FaceTime-like service. Microsoft is planning to release this to Windows 10 users later this year. You'll be able to make video and audio calls all without a dedicated Skype app, and Skype messaging will be supported through the built-in Messaging app. 

If you have any questions about your Windows 10 options, please call us on 020 8445 6700.

Nick Shah
Optima Computers.