Ask CyberGuru: What is the difference between Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home?

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Ask CyberGuru: What is the difference between Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home?

Ask CyberGuru

CyberGuru is asked, “I am looking a new computer and the different options. I was wondering what the difference is between Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Home?”

Generally, Windows 10 Pro devices are designed for business use whereas Windows 10 Home is for personal use. This means that Pro devices often have higher specifications than Home devices.

Oftentimes, Windows 10 Pro devices are used for PC-based servers or advanced needs as they allow for. Windows 10 Pro allows for you to set up Remote Desktop to connect to your computer remotely BitLocker disk encryption, the ability to connect to a domain and Client Hyper-V, allowing you to run “virtual machines” on your computer.

Depending on your set up and requirements, you may not require these functions, or you may already have alternatives in place, so you can use Windows 10 Home. If you already have or decide to buy a device with Windows 10 Home, you can generally upgrade to Windows 10 Pro should your needs change in the future.

For more details on the features and differences, please visit the Compare Windows 10 editions page.

If you have any questions we can answer for you, please contact us.

Looking for Christmas gift shopping ideas?

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Looking for Christmas gift shopping ideas?

Looking for Christmas gift shopping ideas?

With less than six weeks until Christmas, you may be wondering what to buy a colleague, family member or yourself to celebrate!

CyberGuru is available to advise and recommend a range of computer products and services to suit your needs and budget.

At this time of year, new computer products and services are especially popular. In addition, we can assist you in purchasing and setting up new a desktop, laptop or tablet in ready for Christmas Day. We are able to advise and recommend what to buy and can help source, configure and move across your old files to make it work for you.

We also provide various software including Microsoft Office, internet software (including Norton Security Premium and Trend Micro Maximum Security) as well as range of peripherals including portable hard drives, as well as Acronis Backup.

If you are unsure what to get, we can also provide gift certificates for use on any of our services, including consulting, design, support and training.

So whether it for your family, business or yourself personally, please feel free to contact us. Similarly, if you know of a colleague or friend, or someone else need of some assistance, please pass on our details.

Windows 10 October 2018 Update released

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Windows 10 October 2018 Update released

Windows 10 October 2018 Update

The latest Windows 10 feature update, known as the October 2018 Update (version 1809) has comes with new features. From our exploration, we have found three that will be of interest, namely the Your Phone app, Snip & Sketch app and the Cloud clipboard.

The new “Your Phone” app is a useful addition to Windows 10, replacing the previous Phone Companion app. Currently, the Your Phone app works predominately on Android phones. In particular, it enables you to access the contents of your phone (namely recent photos) and view and send text messages on your Windows computer. In order for you to access phone and access the photos, you need to access your phone over WiFi. New features have been promised as well as adding these features into iPhone, however this is an interesting start and we hope it is added to over time.

Another new feature is the “Snip and & Sketch” app, providing improvements over the former Snipping Tool in earlier versions of Windows. Snip & Sketch allows for the ability to capture screenshots using the Windows + Shift + S keyboard hotkey, then mark up and share these images. It doesn’t yet have all of the features like selecting the type of snip (although you can crop, and only selective timings are included, but will again, become more useful over time. The existing Snipping Tool will be removed in a later Windows edition.

One long-awaited feature is the Cloud Clipboard. This isn’t set up by default but allows you to copy contents from one device and paste into other. It hasn’t been fully tested by us yet, but we understand that it will enable you to work alongside other recent features introduced into the earlier Windows 10 April 2018 Update, such as Timeline, in order for you to share content between devices.

When the Windows 10 October 2018 Update was first released, Microsoft became aware of some issues. The rollout of this update was then put on hold until these issues were resolved. The Windows 10 October 2018 Update was re-released on 13 November to Windows Update and will be installed onto your computer through the usual Windows Update process. However, you may decide to elect to update now by checking for updates, or wait for it to install automatically, or choose to defer the update until you are ready to do so.

Some of the features removed or planned for replacement in the Windows October 2018 Update have been documented on the Microsoft Docs website (link opens in new window).

If you need a hand with taking advantage of the new features, performing or would like assistance in upgrading to the latest version, please contact us.

Social media: Different options and professional set up

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Social media: Different options and professional set up

Community Management Solutions Webinar

According to the 2018 Yellow Social Media Report*, just over 50% of Australian small and medium businesses have a social media presence. With an increasing number of users are seeking information in this way, an active social media presence is becoming increasingly important.

Presented by Chris Jeffery, Chief Guru of CyberGuru, this webinar will give you with the tools to:

  • Know what social media is suitable to your organisation,
  • How other organisations use social media to further their businesses/causes,
  • How social media can benefit your organisations,
  • How to make it work for you, and
  • Where to go for help.

CyberGuru is a Community Management Solutions Corporate Partner and has been operating in Brisbane Northern Suburbs for 21 years, providing ICT services to small businesses, not-for-profit organisations and individuals in the areas of consulting, design, support and training.

Cost: Members: Free | Non-members: $35
Date: 15 November 2018 | Time: 12:00pm

Please visit the Community Management Solutions Facebook page or contact Community Management Solutions Member Services today for more details on 1300 007 110 or shaeb@cmsolutions.org.au.

* Source:Yellow – Social Media Report 2018 – Businesses (link opens in new window)

Ask CyberGuru: Have I been hacked?

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Ask CyberGuru: Have I been hacked?

Ask CyberGuru

In this month’s Ask CyberGuru, we are asked: “I received an email advising that my email account has been hacked and a RAT installed on my computer. Further, it says I have been filmed using my webcam and personal information has been downloaded and will be shared on my social networks if I don’t pay the ransom in crypto-currency. Is this true?”.

There has been a series of emails doing the rounds recently advising that “RAT” (remote access technology) software has been installed onto your computer, threats of a personal nature are made and advised that this software will be made available to your social media if you don’t pay via crypto currency. Along with this, in some cases, the information include may include a password that you may have used.

This type of scam is the current flavour of the month and we have heard of several forms of this scam. One of the reasons these emails have particularly spooked clients is that the emails often contain threats of character assassination such as releasing “video” of the recipient watching adult content to their friends and family on social media, irrespective of whether they have done so or not.

Whilst this email seems threatening and intimidating, generally this email is an attempt to blackmail the recipient into paying money to the scammer. Oftentimes, the password may have been made public through a previously compromised website, and these passwords are often what makes this email more concerning.

If you suspect you may have been compromised in any way, protect yourself by:

  1. Changing all passwords on accounts with the password if displayed or not. Please check the “Have I been Pwned?” website (link opens in new window) to identify if your email account has been listed as being compromised in a data breach. If so, make sure you change any passwords immediately. As the email address and password is known, leaving these changes may cause issues in the future.
  2. Performing a full antivirus scan of your computer using a reputable internet security program. Further, please ensure you use secure (HTTPS) websites only to ensure your information is encrypted and remains safe. Always use internet security software on your computers and devices when online.
  3. Deleting the email and do not respond in any way to the hacker, and most certainly do not pay the ransom. Be wary of emails requesting you click to open a website or to access an important file. Do not take any action on the email.

If you are concerned you may have been or are compromised in any way, please contact CyberGuru for further advice. If you believe you have been the victim of identity theft or any information has been leaked, we strongly recommend that you seek immediate assistance.