Blog & Updates

Comprehensive IT support and cybersecurity services by Twin State Technical Services.

“I only do business in the U.S.” Top 6 things to know about GDPR.

May 17, 2018

Does your business or website have ties with citizens of the European Union? Do you employ an EU citizen? Do you take leads on your website from outside the US? Do you scan or receive new leads and contacts from trade shows? Or maybe you have students that are EU citizens? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you will be affected by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that goes into effect May 25, 2018. New regulations change the way EU citizens’ personal information is handled. Non-compliance can result in fines up to 4% of a company’s annual revenue. Personal data extends beyond a name, identification number, or location number. It includes “one or more factors

Meltdown and Spectre Vulnerabilities

April 13, 2018

April 13, 2018 Twin State Technical Services ref: Meltdown and Spectre Vulnerabilities It seems fitting on Friday the 13th to talk about some of the scarier results in technology vulnerabilities. The design flaws in chipsets will take 3 – 5 years of architecture redevelopment to completely eliminate – so as a consumer, you don’t need to hold off on buying a laptop or surface – and in the meantime, vendors continue to release updates mitigate risks to computer systems and users. Twin State is actively monitoring the corrective patches for the “Meltdown” and “Spectre” vulnerabilities. Below are many links and statements from numerous sources that convey the current temperature of the issue. Some background on the issue: There are three

Have Problems with your Disks Getting Eaten Up by Windows 7?

April 12, 2018

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] There is a common problem with Windows 7 machines where the disk gets eaten up. This is caused by a log file compression bug that can fill up your hard drive. We do have a manual fix for this but we are not certain this can work in all cases. Why does this happen? This seems to be happening with Windows 7, 8, and 2008 R2, there are possibly other versions as well. The problem is accumulated log files have grown to a size that overwhelms. If you delete the files, you can start fresh, until you run out of hard drive space again. How do you fix this? If your Windows 7 or 2008 R2 hard drive is overwhelmed

Innovative technology project display at school science fair featuring a girl and adult smiling with a robotic figure and creative posters.

Rivermont Collegiate’s Technology Fair

April 9, 2018

This weekend Twin State Technical Services participated as a sponsor for the Rivermont Tech fair on Saturday, April 7th, 2018. This year, for the first time it was opened to all students in the Quad Cities. It is a place where students can explore technology and their passions. A member of our team, Micah Moser, snagged a picture with Abigail J. She was the blue-ribbon winner of the “Innovation in Tech” award with her “Smart Mirror”. She programmed a Raspberry Pi to present helpful information to display on a transparent mirror. Her concept was a vision to help kids with ADD to get ready in the morning quickly and to increase awareness of the time and tasks needed completion for the

Simplification of Legalese in Using Common Software

April 4, 2018

Recently, we wrote a post on the changes in terms of clarity and simplicity that the European Union regulators are bringing to the technology companies. Well, Microsoft has just announced in the US their first move toward simplification, aiming it to its consumer-based online products: We are updating the Microsoft Services Agreement, which applies to your use of Microsoft consumer online products and services. We’re making these updates to clarify our terms and ensure that they remain transparent for you, as well as to cover new Microsoft products, services, and features. These updates, which are summarized below, will take effect on May 1, 2018. If you continue to use our products or services on or after May 1, 2018, you are

Secure website icon and warning for website security status.

Internet Browsers, Now Marking Sites as “Not Secure”

March 7, 2018

Does your website have an SSL certificate? If not, Chrome, Firefox and Apple Safari mark you as “not secure.” How can you tell? When you look at your URL bar you will see either http:// or https:// before www.example.com. Google Chrome already positively labels sites that have been secured with an SSL certificate. They earn a little green padlock, with the word “Secure” next to their website address. In other browsers, you can tell if your site is protected by reading the domain name. Does it say “https” at the beginning? If so, congratulate yourself! That “S” stands for “secure,” and means that you have an SSL certificate installed. http://www.example.com vs. https://www.example.com If your domain name instead says “http://” without the “s”,

The European Union is Moving at a Faster Pace in Defining Individual Privacy Rights

March 7, 2018

Companies like Microsoft now issue versions of software to meet compliance requirements for national and global governing bodies – for example, Microsoft version N. The European community has a strong commitment to informing citizens of how to know and exercise their rights of protection to their own personal information. This is also causing our software vendors to create multiple versions of software, for U.S. customers and European customers. For example, Microsoft has Windows-N or KN available for download with an open license account, but it is the incorrect version to work in the United States. We work with a firm, Sequel Law, who advises about legal governance technology globally. Melise Blakeslee, Managing Partner, informs us that: “General Data Protection Regulation’s (GDPR) transparency

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How to Write a Google Review

February 26, 2018

Local reviews are important. 93% of consumers use online reviews to impact their purchasing decisions suggested by a recent survey by Podium. Reviews remain very influential when it comes to making decisions for B2B and B2C; consumers read these reviews before they make their purchasing decisions whether that’s products or experiences. The study suggests that 68% of consumers are willing to pay up to 15% more for the same product or service if they are assured they will have a better experience. How to Leave a Google Review: 1. Search for the business you wish to review. 2. On the right-hand side, under the business’ profile click Write a review. 3. If you’re not already signed in, it’s going to

Why Every Company Needs a PR Crisis Plan

February 20, 2018

If you’ve ever questioned business’ having social media accounts, read how Crock-Pot saved their brand with Twitter. Spoiler Alert: If you watch NBC’s “This Is Us” and you are not through Season 2, you may want to stop reading this blog. If you don’t watch the show “This Is Us”, I’m sure you’ve heard of it. If not, just know it is a series on NBC and it is raved about. This award-winning drama is a heartwarming and emotional story about a set of triplets and their struggles, and the wonderful parents who raised them. This show has done a great job getting its viewers to really feel the plot line, connecting the show to their own lives. Since the

What is Spear Phishing?

February 12, 2018

[siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] No, it’s not spearfishing. That is a completely different topic. So if you’re looking for different ways to fish in a lake, this article isn’t for you. If you’re wondering how data breaches are actually done? How cybercriminals execute an attack and pick their methods? I’d encourage you to continue reading. [siteorigin_widget class=”SiteOrigin_Widget_Image_Widget”][/siteorigin_widget] Phishing vs. Spear Phishing Spear phishing is targeted version of phishing. Phishing Phishing is an exploratory attack that targets a broad audience. For example, once information, such as bank credentials, is stolen, the attackers have completed their goal and got what they were looking for. Spear Phishing In spear phishing, gaining access to credentials and personal information is phase one of the attack. That information is

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Blog & Updates

Meltdown and Spectre Vulnerabilities

Have Problems with your Disks Getting Eaten Up by Windows 7?

Rivermont Collegiate’s Technology Fair

Simplification of Legalese in Using Common Software

Internet Browsers, Now Marking Sites as “Not Secure”

The European Union is Moving at a Faster Pace in Defining Individual Privacy Rights

How to Write a Google Review

Why Every Company Needs a PR Crisis Plan

What is Spear Phishing?

Need IT Support That Moves As Fast As You Do?

SIGN UP FOR OUR TECH TALK eNEWSLETTER

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Zero Geek Speak

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