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You log into your PC and you’re greeted by an incredibly plain desktop background and an equally drab Start Menu. Suddenly, a notification goes off and tells you that an application you barely use is ready for an update. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? If you want your desktop to look or behave a certain way, try out these tips to personalize your Windows 10 experience.

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24 Aug, 2018 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Windows category

You log into your PC and you’re greeted by an incredibly plain desktop background and an equally drab Start Menu. Suddenly, a notification goes off and tells you that an application you barely use is ready for an update. Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it? If you want your desktop to look or behave a certain way, try out these tips to personalize your Windows 10 experience.

Change your themes

The most obvious way to personalize Windows 10 is by changing your background and lock screen images. Do this by right-clicking anywhere on your desktop and choosing the Personalization settings. Here you can choose and preview different backgrounds and themes you can use. You can even add new themes by using images from your gallery or by clicking the Get more themes online option.

Use dark mode

Want to give your Windows 10 an edgier feel? Replace those white backgrounds with dark mode. Click on the Windows icon on your taskbar and select the gear icon for Settings. Choose Personalization and go to Colors. Scroll down until you see “Choose your default app mode”. Clicking on Dark sets your screens to dark mode. Clicking on Light, meanwhile, restores the default white background settings.

Virtual desktops

If you’re having trouble separating your work files from your personal files, try creating a virtual desktop. Press the Windows key + TAB to show all your open windows. At the bottom right corner of your screen, you’ll notice an option to add a new desktop. Simply click on it to create a new virtual desktop. Drag the windows you want to move to this new desktop, and immediately enjoy looking up your personal interests on one desktop while strictly doing business on the other.

To quickly switch between desktops, use the keyboard shortcut CTRL + Windows key + left/right arrow.

App snapping

App snapping is not exactly a new feature, but with Windows 10, you can now snap any app in place. For people who like to multitask, this feature is for you. Snap any app window by dragging it into any of the four corners of your screen. You can have a maximum of four separate windows simultaneously open in your monitor, for when you want to browse the internet while you’re filling out spreadsheets and doing other tasks.

Reorganize your Start Menu

To add a little more “you” into your Windows PC, you can customize how your apps are arranged on the Start Menu. For one, you can resize the Start Menu by simply dragging the top or right side of the menu to resize.

You can also resize the live tiles by right-clicking on them and selecting the Resize option. You can also rearrange application tiles by dragging them anywhere around the Start Menu. If you won’t be using a particular application, simply right click the tile and select Unpin from Start. On the other hand, you can pin applications to the Start Menu by right-clicking an app and choosing Pin to Start. For even faster access to apps, simply pin the programs to the taskbar.

Change color themes

Is the plain black Start Menu not doing it for you anymore? Just right-click on your desktop, choose Personalize > Color, and select any accent color that pleases you. Tick the checkboxes under “How accent color on the following surfaces” if you want this color applied to the start menu, taskbar, action center, and title bars.

Disable notifications

We don’t know where you stand on app notifications, but if you absolutely hate them and wish to never get them ever again, simply click Start > Settings > System > Notifications & Actions and switch off whatever app notifications you don’t want. Goodbye, annoying reminders.

Switch up and personalize your Windows 10 however you like by using some or all of these options, and hopefully you get the settings that are just right for you. If you would like to know about more ways to personalize your desktop, or if you need information on anything Windows 10-related, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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4 BYOD security risks you should prepare for

Personal computing is with us wherever we go. Thanks to the rise of the mobile industry, smartphones and tablets allow us to take work home with us. And with the bring your own device (BYOD) strategy, businesses have never been so productive. However, BYOD can pose a number of security risks if you’re not careful.

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23 Aug, 2018 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Security category
4 BYOD security risks you should prepare for

Personal computing is with us wherever we go. Thanks to the rise of the mobile industry, smartphones and tablets allow us to take work home with us. And with the bring your own device (BYOD) strategy, businesses have never been so productive. However, BYOD can pose a number of security risks if you’re not careful. Here are some BYOD security issues you should know before implementing it.

Data leakage

The biggest reason businesses are wary of implementing a BYOD strategy is because it can leave the company’s system vulnerable to data breaches. Personal devices are not part of your business’s IT infrastructure, which means that these devices are not protected by company firewalls and security systems.

Employees might also take work with them to places outside of your company premises that don’t have adequate security settings, thus leaving your system vulnerable to inherent security risks.

Lost devices

Another risk your company has to deal with is the possibility that employees will lose their personal devices. If devices with sensitive business information get lost and fall into the wrong hands, anyone can gain unauthorized access to valuable company data stored in that particular device. Therefore, you should consider countermeasures and protocols for lost devices, like remotely wiping a device of information as soon as an employee reports it missing or stolen.

Possible hacking

Personal devices tend to lack adequate data encryption to keep other people from snooping on private information. On top of this, your employees might not regularly update their devices’ software, rendering their devices and your IT infrastructure susceptible to infiltration.

Connecting to open WiFi spots in public places also makes your company vulnerable and open to hackers, because hackers may have created those hotspots to trick people into connecting. Once the device owner has connected to a malicious hotspot, attackers can see your web activity, usernames, and passwords in plain text

Vulnerability to malware

Viruses are also a big problem when implementing BYOD strategies. If your employees use their personal devices, they can access sites or download mobile apps that your business would normally restrict to protect your system.

As your employees have the freedom to choose whatever device they want to work with, the process of keeping track of vulnerabilities and updates is considerably harder. So if you’re thinking about implementing BYOD strategies, make sure your IT department is prepared for an array of potential malware attacks on different devices.

BYOD will help your business grow, but it comes with IT security risks that you should be prepared to handle.
Need help mitigating these BYOD risks? Call us today, and let’s find the best IT security solutions for your company.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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6 tips to install the newest iOS update

iOS updates for iPhone happen on a regular basis. While you may be in the habit of updating to the latest software without giving it a second thought, consider holding off the installation to save yourself from unnecessary headaches that come with a premature iOS update.

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22 Aug, 2018 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Uncategorized category
6 tips to install the newest iOS update

iOS updates for iPhone happen on a regular basis. While you may be in the habit of updating to the latest software without giving it a second thought, consider holding off the installation to save yourself from unnecessary headaches that come with a premature iOS update. Avoid unnecessary inconvenience during your iOS installation by following these six guidelines.

Consider waiting

Just because a new iOS update is released doesn’t mean you must install it right away. In fact, users who install the software early have to deal with the imperfections and the bugs of the newly released update. For example, when iOS 11.3 was released, many users suffered from autocorrect bugs, unstable bluetooth connections, and shorter battery life.

Do your research before updating to a new version of iOS to be on the safe side. Get feedback from users who have already upgraded to the latest software, read Apple forums, watch YouTube tutorials, and do a Google search about the pros and cons of upgrading to the newly released iOS.

Ready login credentials

When downloading and installing an iOS update, you will be asked for your Apple ID. To save time, prepare your password and passcode beforehand. Keep them handy, since an iOS update sometimes automatically logs you out of your favorite apps and services.

Backup your phone

Updating your iOS can be tricky. Important files can get lost during an iOS update, and if you store important business or personal information on your device, you don’t want to lose it during an update. Avoid losing precious files by creating a backup of your phone data either through iTunes or iCloud before you start the update.

Power your battery & connect to WiFi

If you choose to install the new iOS Over-the-Air (OTA) rather than plugging your device into a desktop, you should be aware of two things. First, your battery must be charged to at least 50% or plugged into an outlet before you can start the update. Second, you cannot update using a cellular connection — you must be connected to WiFi.

In other words, make sure to charge your phone and find a reliable WiFi connection before starting the update. You don’t want your phone to run out of battery during the update. Neither do you want your connection to be unstable, since any slight interruptions will make you lose all your update’s progress.

Don’t panic

Most users face no issues after the update, but some may encounter inconveniences such as shorter battery life, unresponsive touchscreens, and difficulties connecting to WiFi. If these issues happen to you, don’t panic. It is more than likely that answers to your problems are already posted on the web. Whatever your issue might be, a quick Google search should turn up multiple solutions for it. You can also look for answers in forums specifically dedicated to Apple products.

You can downgrade if you want

If you’ve installed the update but have come to regret the decision for one reason or another, there’s good news. You can downgrade for a short period of time after an update is released. There is one catch, though. You can only downgrade to a limited number of previous versions.

For example, if you recently updated to iOS 11.4.1, you’ll only be able to downgrade to iOS 11.4 or iOS 11.3.1. You cannot downgrade to any versions older than these, so think carefully before choosing whether or not to upgrade.

These tips are useful not only for the latest iOS update. Apple follows the same installation procedures for new software releases, so you can still use these tips when you upgrade to future iOS releases.

Need help installing the newest iOS on your device? Or maybe something more complex, like setting up an Apple server? Drop us a line today.ething more complex, like setting up an Apple server? Drop us a line today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Upgrading to a dual monitor system

Small businesses are always searching for ways for their employees to be more effective computer users. But before you go out and buy bigger hard drives and faster processors, you should consider upgrading your desktops to a dual monitor system. Read on to find out about the advantages of using two monitors per desktop.

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21 Aug, 2018 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Hardware, Productivity category
Upgrading to a dual monitor system

Small businesses are always searching for ways for their employees to be more effective computer users. But before you go out and buy bigger hard drives and faster processors, you should consider upgrading your desktops to a dual monitor system. Read on to find out about the advantages of using two monitors per desktop.

Enhanced productivity
Published studies conclude that by working with dual monitors, overall productivity increases by 20-50%. Computer programmers, for example, can use one screen for source coding and the other for programming; by using dual monitors, they no longer need to toggle back and forth between tabs. This reduces error and frees up time to complete more projects.

Better multitasking
Efficient multitasking requires adequate screen space to keep multiple applications simultaneously visible -- a view that single monitors alone simply cannot accommodate. Workers who require computers, like customer service reps and web designers, would no longer waste time switching between tabs and resizing windows to fit the limited space; they could now focus on completing their tasks accurately and efficiently.

Easier cutting and pasting
This reason resonates with jobs that call for creating newsletters or PowerPoint presentations. Dual monitors would eliminate the need for alternating between tabs and scrolling up and down as you work. Also, the enhanced visibility reduces chances of making mistakes and thus losing more time fixing them.

Image and video editing
With dual monitors, the days of stacking numerous editing tools on top of the image or video you're working on are long gone. Instead of your screen looking like a game of Mahjong, you can put the editing tools on one screen and leave the image on the other. With better visibility, you’re less likely to commit errors and more likely to be finessed, and you’re not sacrificing valuable working time in the process.

Product comparison
You want to buy a camera, and you have two models in mind. It’s time to make a decision, so you have to compare their specs. If you had only one monitor, you’d need to go back and forth from one tab to another. But if you had two monitors, you could view the models side-by-side to help you clearly see their differences and make an informed purchase.

Dual monitors benefit almost every industry because of the enhanced visibility, larger screen space, and how you can briefly nap behind them without getting caught Using dual monitors can enhance even your leisure time activities as well.

Broaden your horizons by getting in touch with us. We’ll answer any questions you have.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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