Providing IT Support in Surrey

Top 5 Personal Internet Uses for Employees

• Personal Email: Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo etc.
• Intant Messaging: MSN, AOL, Yahoo etc.
• Social Networking: Facebook, MySpace etc.
• Buying: Using Amazon, Ebay etc.
• Multimedia : YouTube, iPlayer etc.

All of the above are can be immensely time consuming and addictive. It’s easy to let a quick visit become a prolonged stay.

Inappropriate Use

As well as wasteful use, employees can also make inappropriate use of the Internet. Most obviously, this would include visiting web sites containing objectional or sensitive material, for example pornography or adult related sites. Gambling sites may also be inappropriate for an office environment. If you are operating in a school or similar, blocking specific categories of sites is even more important.

Security Risks

Your IT hardware operates most efficiently if it’s not interfered with. A user who downloads and installs software from the Internet uses storage space and may affect the stability of your system. O/S components (DLLs) may be replaced, system services added and the risk of virus, trojans and spyware is increased. Web applications (including ActiveX components, Java etc.) are automatically downloaded by web browsers – many users may not realise the implications of that, but they’re also not able to tell what the source or motivation of those components really is. A harmless ‘addon’ might not be so harmless.

Another security risk is that of online email or instant messaging being used to disclose company confidential information or files – that could be seriously damaging. The use of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing technology could also expose your company to litigation if it is used for unlawful activities. In the case of more serious and deliberate data theft (indistrial espionage), remote access or tunnelling to your network could also be set up by a rogue employee.

The DrayTek Solution

DrayTek Router/Firewalls can help control your users’ Internet usage and block sites and content which you don’t want on your network. You can set schedules to allow surfing certain sites at certain times (for example at lunchtime) or block them permanently. You can block specific users or all users. The DrayTek range includes content filtering methods to block the following:

• Web Sites by Category (e.g. Sex, Gambling, Shopping, Proxies etc.)
• Web Sites by specific name (e.g. Ebay, Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo, Gmail etc.)
• Web Executables: Java, ActiveX etc.
• Multimedia File Download: MPG, AVI, WAV etc.
• Browser Cookies
• Instant Messaging: MSN, AIM, Yahoo, GoogleTalk etc.
• Multimedia (Streaming, YouTube etc.)
• Voice-over-IP (SIP, Skype)
• Peer-to-Peer Applications (BitTorrent, eDonkey, Gnuttela etc.)
• Tunnelling (Socks, HTTP Tunnel, Ping Tunnel, Tiny VPN etc.)
• Remote Control (Radmin, PCAnywhere, RDP, VNC etc.)
• Download Extension Type (e.g. .EXE, .BAT
• Application by specific IP Port No./Range
• IP Filtering (Blocking IP addresses or ranges)

In summary, with a DrayTek router, you can lock down your company’s web access to increase security and productivity substantially. You can also exclude PCs from the restrictions, for example for management or for specific PCs which are allowed to be used for recreation, and if used with the router’s ‘VLAN’ feature, those computers can be isolated from the main network for added security. Time schedules can also be added to turn the restrictions off.Surrey IT Solutions are Draytek resellers and also highly proficient in their setup and configuration.

Surrey IT Solutions now offers Exchange as a hosted solution meaning you do not need the large hardware and setup overheads normally associated with a dedicated e-mail server.

	Software user license for Outlook
	Microsoft Outlook email client with HTTPS access
	Synchronisation of your emails, notes, calendar and contacts with a local PC
	Group working features
	Access to emails Hosted on the Exchange platform: HTTPS access from any compatible browser Using a POP3 or IMAP4 software client Using a mobile device 2GB of storage per mailbox
	Administration portal
	Anti-virus protection
	Anti-spam protection
	Management of your domain names
	A public folder shared between all users in your workgroup
	Notes management module
	Calendar
	Mailbox servers replicated to SAN in real time and backed up daily

http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/overview.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/serverunleashed/default.html

System Health Check

Over time, your PC can begin to run slowly or even crash. This can be caused by hardware or software issues. Surrey IT Solutions can test your system and provide advice on keeping your system Tip-Top.

We provide a comprehensive system health check which includes the following:

• Virus \ Spyware removal
• Windows and Office security updates to prevent a hacker gaining access to your personal data
• Check virus software is adequate and virus definition files up to date
• Personal Data backup onto CD \ DVD
• Firewall \ Wireless network inspection – we will check this has been configured correctly keeping your data safe
• Remove unnecessary start-up programs which are using your system resources
• Hard drive defragmentation to speed up drive access

Devolo dLAN Wireless Extender

Features:
- HomePlug adapter for wireless network and Internet extension via wireless LAN
- Especially versatile: any power socket can become a WLAN connection
- No need for new cables – no drilling – and no mess! Simply plug it in and off you go!

The transfer rate of 85 Mbps over dLAN and 54 Mbps over Wireless LAN allows internet connection in every room of the house with the portable dLAN Wireless extender. As an advantage, the combination of these two technologies provides more than ever, Internet everywhere without any limit caused by thick walls and multiple floors. Even complicated conrner that used to be unreachable with wiring is now able with 54 Mbps wireless connection to go online conveniently. Or where Wireless LAN did not work in the past can be solved with dLAN technology that allows data transfer over electric mains.

If you want to use network or internet somewhere in the house, our portable adapter will help you: Remove the adapter and plug it in another socket. Users have access into the network or internet whether with a notebook, a desktop, or a game console. dLAN Wireless extender combines in these facts two worlds of network technology.

dLAN Wireless extender can be integrated into the current dLAN network without any difficulty. With dLAN Highspeed, this bundle will be convenient as a Starter Kit to begin with.

The ban operates regardless of whether the files are copy-protected, or a user’s own home-produced content.

Digital activists say it is the latest step in a so-called war on copyright theft that is damaging consumer rights.

The shift to a digital world in which all forms of content, from books, music, and TV programmes to films, can be shared effortlessly around the world between people with an internet connection has produced an unprecedented upheaval in attitudes to media, copyright and consumer rights.

Professional content producers have struggled to adapt to this changing world and deal with rampant copyright infringement that threatens to undermine their businesses.

Digital restrictions management… is a restriction of our rights Peter Brown, Free Software Foundation

The most popular method of copyright control in the digital age, Digital Rights Management (DRM), is a software – and sometimes hardware – solution designed to prevent copying and to control how different forms of media are used.

Peter Brown of the Free Software Foundation, a leading anti-DRM campaigner, said: “DRM and filtering attempts by firms like Western Digital are an attempt to take control of our computers.

“DRM is bad for society because it attempts to monitor what we do and how we live our digital lives. It is asking us to give up control of something which gives us some degree of democracy, freedom and the ability to communicate with a large group of people.”

Western Digital has blocked users from sharing more than 30 different file types, if they are using the company’s software, called Anywhere Access.

Mr Brown added: “DRM is never right because it takes away our rights as citizens.”

He said all DRM solutions had been bypassed, rendering the technology useless.

Apple and EMI announced DRM-free tracks earlier this year

“You can’t stop the copying of ones and zeroes – its impossible,” he said.

Paul Garland, head of intellectual property litigation at law firm Kemp Little, said it was not possible to say DRM was not working.

“Content creators are struggling to find a way to prevent mass distribution of their creations.”

Alexander Ross, a partner at law firm Wiggin, said: “There is fundamentally two types of operation for DRM – to restrict usage, and track usage.

“That second element is essential and will remain essential – particularly for subscription services, which are beginning to take off.

“If we go down the subscription route, there must be control.”

The common problem with DRM for many users is one of a lack of interoperability. Many of the world’s leading content producers use DRM systems which are incompatible with one another.

The popular example is the majority of music bought and downloaded from iTunes, the world’s most popular online music retailer, which can only be played in its original form on iPods, machines running iTunes and Apple’s own wireless TV system.

However, iTunes does now sell a selection of music from EMI without DRM, at a higher price.

The biggest problem is that it is actually quite difficult as a consumer when downloading content to know what you are able to do with it Paul Garland, Kemp Little

The BBC has been criticised for using a form of DRM for its TV downloads that means the programmes cannot be played on Apple Macs and PCs running Linux.

“The reason for a lack of standards across the industry is that there’s no such thing as the industry,” said Mr Ross.

“There is Steve Jobs and Microsoft and the two titans are at odds with one another. Between them they rule the market.”

Mr Garland said: “The biggest problem is that it is actually quite difficult as a consumer when downloading content to know what you are able to do with it.

There is Steve Jobs and Microsoft and the two titans are at odds with one another. Between them they rule the market. Alexander Ross, Wiggin

“If DRM is going to survive, there needs to be much greater effort to tell purchasers what they can or can’t do with it.”

Mr Ross said people had to understand they did not have the rights to do whatever they wanted with digital content.

One solution could be to develop information standards to inform people about the rights and restrictions around DRM, said Mr Garland.

He said: “Content owners are entitled to give you what rights they decide to give you; when you are downloading a piece of music, for example. They are also entitled to restrict you from circumventing the DRM.

“Trying to circumvent the DRM is an offence in itself. DRM is part of the law and a legitimate method of trying to protect your copyright content.”

For the music industry the future looks less and less likely to involve DRM, said Mr Garland.

He said: “There is a backlash, people are concerned. The music industry is now talking a lot more about DRM-free products. DRM hasn’t been the way to overcome the copyright infringement problem.”

Mr Ross said that DRM as a copy protection tool might not last much longer.

“However, DRM as a track and rights management system is here to stay – as long as the music industry exists on a royalty model,” he said.

Mr Brown said the industry did not need to use DRM, nor employ laws which prohibit the bypassing of DRM, in order to protect their financial interests.

“Media companies are trying to force people to think about copyright infringement almost in line with murder on the high seas.

“Copyright law is about copying and reproduction of work; that is on the statue books for everyone and is sufficient to tackle the problem.

“Digital restrictions management…is a restriction of our rights and the use we make of media files, that historically and legitimately we have been used to.

“The idea this is somehow protecting someone is untrue – it is an attack on us as citizens.”

“Threats no longer appear in the form of pure viruses or spam or phishing. They now come as ‘blended’ threats which require an integration and intelligence among individual security features. Smart computer users are looking for the best level of integrated protection with the minimal amount of inconvenience,” said Phil Hochmuth, senior analyst at the Yankee Group. “This drives users to look for malware solutions that provide great protection, are easy to install, don’t slow down their computers, and work completely behind the scenes.”

ESET Smart Security takes less than a minute to install and does not require the PC to be rebooted after installation. The simple user interface enables even novice users to easily set-up the system and makes choices such as sharing information on a network or choosing to remain anonymous on an unsecured wireless network, easy. More advanced users that wish to have more detailed control over ESET Smart Security can do so using the “Advanced Mode” interface.

In its default settings, ESET Smart Security offers powerful detection capabilities with minimal user intervention. Handy features such as small updates and low performance overhead means that being secure does not equate to a slow machine, whilst ESET Smart Security’s advanced integration ensures comprehensive protection against blended threats. An example of the integration can be seen in the way ESET Smart Security handles html links in specific applications. Clicking on an html link in Microsoft Word for instance, will render the application as being classed as a ‘browser’. ESET Smart Security will then apply a far more rigorous heuristic checking to any traffic that occurs on network connections to that application.

ESET Smart Security and the latest version of ESET NOD32 Antivirus set the standard for modern heuristic scanning. Emulation technology allows for data to be opened in a virtual area within the program, so that it can be assessed and checked for suspicious activity before it is allowed to run on the machine. Combined with ESET’s ThreatSense technology, which provides a proactive early warning system from millions of installed systems around the world and generic and genetic signatures, ESET closes the window of vulnerability from when malware is discovered and a signature update released.

ESET Smart Security combines speed, accuracy and minimal computer system impact to deliver a significant improvement over traditional solutions in the marketplace today. ESET’s ThreatSense technology provides the industry’s highest level of accuracy. With significantly lower performance overhead compared to the competition ESET Smart Security uses only 40MB of disk space, and scans systems up to 30-times faster than other products.

“Our research indicates that consumers and businesses are looking for maximum protection, low system requirements, accurate results and fast scanning speeds—in that order. They are tired of solutions that slow down their computers and interfere with other applications,” said Anton Zajac, CEO of ESET. “ESET set out to build a solution that addressed these concerns while offering the best level of protection available. With ESET Smart Security, we’ve surpassed our goal and savvy computer users will be amazed by its ease of use, intelligent lightweight design and near-zero impact on system performance.”