What are Bitcoins?

Internet, ,
18
Dec 2013

One_Bitcoin_OnsitePCSolution

What exactly are Bitcoins?

Bitcoins are a digital currency that can be transferred securely between any two people in the world.  Think of it as electronic cash that you can use to buy goods and services.  Ultimately, a bitcoin is a number associated with an address.  A person can have as many addresses as they want

How does it work?

Every transaction that has ever happened with Bitcoins are recorded in a public ledger called a block chain.  Whenever a new transaction happens, for example Person A sends money to Person B, it is added to the block chain in an encrypted format.  In order to confirm that the transaction is valid, individuals called miners will use their computers to break this encryption and finally confirm that Person A did indeed send money to Person B.  The reward for miners dedicating their computers to confirm these transactions is Bitcoins.

Only a fixed number of Bitcoins are released at a time.  As time goes on, breaking the encryption and therefor being rewarded more Bitcoins becomes harder and harder.

A transaction being sent from person to person, showing how the network of individuals called miners verifies the transaction.

A transaction being sent from person to person, showing how the network of individuals called miners verifies the transaction.

What gives Bitcoins their value?

One difference between Bitcoins and normal fiat currencies like the dollar is how they get their value.  Normal fiat currencies get their values from government and private banks and agencies.  Bitcoins however are valued based on how people choose to value them.  When many people are using Bitcoins to buy goods and services, or to trade them for fiat currencies the demand goes up.  Since there are a fixed number of Bitcoins in the world at any given moment, that demand increases their value.  There are several websites that track the value of Bitcoins.

Can I accept Bitcoins at my business?

Businesses have already started accepting Bitcoins as payment such as Virgin Galactic and BitcoinShop.us.  Services such as Bitpay have also been popping up giving shop owners and businesses a quick way to integrate Bitcoins into their payment systems.  To learn more, check out this Getting Started page at the Bitcoin Wiki.

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Microsoft Ending Sales of Windows 7

Software,
16
Dec 2013

Onsite_PC_Solution_Windows_7_Ending_Retail_Sales_2
It has been reported recently that Microsoft will be ending its retail sales of Windows 7. The customers who want to install Windows 7 on their present computers after this deadline may be out of luck. From 30th October, 2014, you will not be able to buy pre-loaded Windows 7 PCs. This is to keep with their stated policy where they stop selling an Operating System directly after one year of its release. And around two years after release, they also stop supplying licenses to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).

This announcement means that Windows 7 copies will no longer be shipped to retailers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and they won’t be pre-installed in new computers. If you are a business that was looking to mass-install Windows 7 on office computers, then you may be out of luck. OEM partners like Dell and Toshiba won’t be pre-installing Windows 7 in new computers as well and if a business wants to buy in bulk, they will have to buy the present stock in the market.

Onsite_PC_Solution_Windows_7_Ending_Retail_Sales

For vast majority of people, this may not mean much as vendors will continue to sell Windows 7 licenses long after Microsoft stops supplying. Microsoft may not sell them directly anymore, but they are easily available online and offline. You can grab a copy of Windows 7 from Amazon virtual shelves or Newegg. And you can also buy them from offline big box stores. Often these operating system DVDs continue to be sold decades after they are released. Ordinary customers should face no problem if they intend to buy a Windows 7 license in the foreseeable future.

For large enterprises that have volume licensing arrangements with Microsoft, there is no hurdle as they will continue to enjoy downgrade rights as a part of these agreements. So in many ways, Windows 7 will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for a long time to come. Often, Microsoft also extends retail sales deadlines of operating systems to allow everyone to grab a copy.

One of the best ways to stay ahead of the Windows lifecycle is to install Windows 8.1 right now or to update your computers to Windows 7 if you haven’t done so already. Most PCs today come bundled with Windows 8, which should keep you worry free of upgrade cycles in the near future. You can also circumvent this problem as the Windows 8 Pro editions include downgrade rights that allow people to pre-install Windows 7 if they want. Using this method, you can get a direct Windows 7 license from Microsoft for a long time to come.

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How To Manage Startup Programs

General, Software, ,
05
Nov 2013

CCleaner_logo_2013

In the never ending battle to keep your computer running quickly and smoothly, one of the less obvious culprits are the programs that start each time you start your computer.  Most if not all programs load in the background so you don’t actually see them starting up.  They are however taking up resources and slowing your computer down not just when they are running, but especially when they are starting up.

Here’s how you can use the free program CCleaner to manage your startup programs, spare your computer’s memory and keep it running fast.

Download_CCleaner

1. Download and install CCleaner free

CCleaner-Run-Start-Menu-Installer

2. Open CCleaner

CCleaner_Disable_Startup_Program

3. Click on Tools and Right click on any startup programs that are not 100% needed and disable them from starting up

If you are not sure which programs are necessary and which are not, consult with your office or home IT support.

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Anti-Virus Updates Ending for Windows XP

Security, Software, ,
04
Nov 2013

OnsitePCSolution_MSE_Protecting_Computer

In our previous article on Microsoft ending support and updates for Windows XP, we described what made Windows XP so commonly used and the dangers of continuing to run it after April of 2014.  Microsoft has put another nail in the coffin for users who want to continue running Windows XP: no more virus definition updates for Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows XP after April 2014.

This will be quite a problem as Microsoft Security Essentials (download here) is the most commonly used free anti-virus and anti-malware on Windows computers.

In this article from ZDNet, a Microsoft spokesperson states:

“Microsoft will not guarantee updates of our antimalware signature and engine after the XP end of support date of April 8, 2014…”

Windows8or7b

The message further pushes users to upgrade to more modern Windows operating systems such as Windows 7 (which we recommend) and Windows 8.  If you want to risk running Windows XP after the April 2014 end of life date, you can use free anti-virus solutions such as AVG or Avira.  As long as you are running regular backups or Windows XP isn’t running on a business computer, then the risk is minimized.

If you are not sure if you are running Windows XP or whether you need to upgrade, contact your office or home IT support.

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Keeping Your Website Safe and Clean

Internet, Security, ,
03
Nov 2013

OnsitePCSolution_Main_Image_v1

 

Your website is crucial in helping the rest of the world to find your service or to learn more about you.  As more websites are built on WordPress allowing you to easily manage your site pages, blog and online stores, it has become a target of criminals.  In this article we will cover why it’s important to avoid free premium WordPress themes.

I have a website, what’s the problem?

If you have recently (in the last several years) had your website updated or created, there is a good chance  your main website or a sub section such as the blog is running WordPress.  The best way to check if WordPress is being used is to ask the person that designed your website.

 

Onsite_PC_Solution_wordpress-logo

 

A theme is then used to change the layout, colors, fonts and general look and behavior of your site.  Themes can either be free, or premium where you pay for more features, updates and typically support.  Since premium themes cost money, some people decide to do a quick Google search to find the premium theme for free.

Premium themes that are quickly available over Google can contain malicious code that will infect your website, and as a result anyone that visits your website.

What happens if my site is infected with malicious code?

Once your site has been infected, the malicious party can then run programs and code on your website.  This not only puts your website at risk but also puts your website visitors at risk.  Your website can also be flagged for malware by Google.

Snippet_of_malicious_code

A snippet of malicious code as described by Sam Parkinson in his blog post on the details of pirating premium WordPress themes

How can I keep myself safe?

The next time you talk to your website designer, ask them these questions:

1. Is my website running WordPress?

2. Is the theme of my website free or premium?

3. If it is premium,  where was it downloaded from and paid for?

If the site runs WordPress and a premium theme, make sure it was paid for and downloaded from the theme designer’s official webpage, or from the official WordPress premium theme site.

Also, as mentioned in this article, ask your website designer to disable dangerous functions that are not being used on your site as explained here.

We always recommend giving your office or home IT support all of the details so they can keep track of and inventory potential risks to your business as well.

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