Benefits of Switching Your Browser to Google Chrome

People tend to get very attached to their internet browser. It’s where a lot of them spend most of their time while using their PC or mobile device. 

As an example, even though Internet Explorer has lost support from Microsoft Teams and is about to lose more app support this year, about 5% of US desktop users are still sticking with it.

When you’re looking for the best technology solutions for your workflows, the browser you choose can impact several areas: 

• Productivity

• Security

• App compatibility

• Forms/website component accessibility 

• And much more

Currently the most popular browser in the U.S. is Google Chrome. It has about 59.43% of the desktop browser market share. No other browser even comes close to its popularity. The next popular browser is Safari at 16.4%.

What makes Chrome so popular? We’ll go through the highlights below.

Why Is Chrome Such a Popular Browser? 

Sleek, User-Friendly Design

Google understands that users are going somewhere else when they use a browser. They don’t want a lot of clutter getting in the way of viewing a website or working in a cloud application.

Chrome is very sleek and minimalistic, giving you small icons that you can use to get to settings and other areas, but otherwise giving you a lot of clean real estate for viewing a site.

Large Choice of Developer Extensions 

Because Chrome is the most popular browser by far, developers will typically create browser extensions for it first before any others. This gives users the widest choice of any browser for addons they may want to use to enhance their web experience.

User-Friendly Security 

In some browsers the security options can get overwhelming and confusing, but in Chrome, it’s very straight forward.

They have a Security check option in settings that allows you to click a button and get an instant update on several security areas. This includes a very helpful compromised passwords prompt that will alert you to any stored Chrome passwords that have been noted as being involved in a data breach.

Platform Support

Chrome again has an advantage when it comes to platform support because it’s the more used browser out there. Cloud application developers know that they need to ensure their application works well in Chrome first, so they design for Chrome.

This means that you won’t run into issues that you can find in other browsers with applications not working correctly.

Native Integration with Google Apps

When you keep everything in the family, the user experience is often smoother. Gmail, Google Docs, Drive, and all the other Google apps integrate natively with Chrome. This gives you the optimum user experience if using these applications.

Built-In Features

Some of the built-in features of Chrome allow for easier management of downloads, in-browser viewing of documents and PDFs, and video viewing. 

Users don’t really notice these types of features because they’re designed to not be noticed and to just make things work for the user for seamless experience.

Easier Mobile Tab Management

Trying to manage tabs on a mobile browser can be frustrating. The smaller screen often makes it hard to move from one browser tab to another.

A recent Chrome update made tab management simpler when using the mobile version of the browser. You can view all opened tabs on the same screen by tapping the tab icon at the bottom. This opens a screen where you can see each page and then easily click into the one you want. 

Detailed Sync Settings

It’s very convenient to have access to things like bookmarks and apps in a browser across your different devices. Chrome allows you to easily sync between devices, and you also can choose what you sync. 

For example, if want to sync your open tabs but not your browsing history, you can simply set one to “on” and the other to “off” in the sync settings. 

You have the ability control individual syncing of: 

• Apps

• Bookmarks

• Extensions

• History

• Settings

• Theme

• Open Tabs

• Passwords

• Addresses, phone numbers, and more

• Payment methods 

Fast Browsing Experience

Chrome has been known as a bit of a memory hog in the past, but Google has been working on this issue throughout recent updates and the user experience is much faster now.

The improved speed of the browser eliminates one of the reasons that users went looking for alternatives to Chrome.

 Great Developer Console

For those that like to get an in depth look at a site, Chrome has a robust developer console. 

It allows you to view site source code, view the site as it would look in various mobile devices, monitor bandwidth and much more. 

Are You Using the Right Tools for the Best Efficiency?

BrainStomp experts can help your business migrate to Chrome and choose the best digital tools for an efficient workflow.

Contact us for a consultation at 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

What Technology Trends Should You Watch for in 2021?

A new year brings with it planning to stay competitive and strategizing for business technology upgrades that will make the most difference for your bottom line.

Watching upcoming technology trends is a great way to anticipate where you may need to focus your IT budget. Companies that are paying attention to new IT advances as well how technology is adjusting to world circumstances (like the pandemic) have the best chance of being resilient and growing.

A survey of small businesses by Cisco found that 70% of small business owners are accelerating their digital transformations because of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has changed the way we live and work.

In your planning for 2021, it’s important to pay attention to the following technology trends that will be shaping how businesses operate this year and beyond.

Zero Trust IT Security Strategies

Cybercrime statistics rose dramatically during 2020 for everything from phishing scams to ransomware attacks. Criminals took advantage of the pandemic disruption as well as new sophisticated malware variants. 

During the midst of the pandemic, the FBI reported a 400% increase in cybercrime reports. 

Trying to identity cyberthreats is becoming much more difficult because of the stealth techniques they use. This had led to the popularity of a cybersecurity strategy called Zero Trust.

Zero Trust means that system protections are put in place to trust no application except for those that are approved. This application white listing ensures that even if a system has never seen a malware variant before, it can still block it because it will block anything not on the approved list to do things like enter a network, run a program, or give instructions to a system application. 

Centralized Databases 

Companies are finding that cloud data can get unruly the more applications you use. And if applications aren’t sharing data, that means companies can end up with multiple databases of customer information in different apps that don’t all have the same data.

A new type of application that’s gaining popularity and will grow in 2021 is a customer data platform (CDP). This is not a CRM program, but rather a centralized database where all customer information is kept. The CDP then is connected to other apps (like a CRM, ticket system, etc.), which all pull data from that single database. 

This improves data quality, visibility of all data to all apps, and reduces data error and manual entries of the same information into different SaaS tools. 

The Home Office As the New Main Office

Permanent remote workers are projected to double this year, as companies coming off the pandemic lockdowns are realizing the benefits of a remote work environment.  

Many companies are keeping remote workers permanently for some or all positions for reasons such as:

• Higher productivity

•  Business continuity and flexibility

• Lower costs

• Fewer sick/personal days taken

• Higher employee morale

What this means for companies is that they are transforming the way they think about “the office,” and how they need to handle things like device and network security. Remote home offices are now a big part of the conversation when it comes to technology and cybersecurity budgets for 2021. 

Optimizing for Behavioral Analytics 

Web tracking tools are moving past just tracking cookies and into mapping tools that can gauge how fast people are moving down a page to where their eyes land on the content they’re reading.

This behavior analytics technology is going to be more mainstream and as easy to add to a website as a few lines of code from a SaaS tool. 

Automation and systems like chatbots that use natural language are improving customer service and shortening response times. The next step is to not just be reactive, but to actually change what content is served up based upon how a website visitor is engaging with the page to improve their experience.

Big Push for IoT as 5G Comes Online

IoT has been a technology trend for a few years now, but one thing that has kept it from exploding even faster is the need for faster and more robust networks.

As 5G finally reaches fruition this year and delivers on those lightning-fast speeds and near zero latency, you’ll see more IoT devices being deployed in businesses. 

Not only is 5G supposed to be faster, it also can handle more devices than a 4G/LTE network, which means no congestion as more devices are added.

Some of the IoT devices making their way into offices are:

• Voice assistance connected to business apps (like calendars, contacts, etc.)

• Smart lighting

• Smart locks

• IP security cameras

• Smart sensors

Get Help With Your Technology Plan for 2021

BrainStomp experts can help your business plan for smart technology upgrades so you’re prepared to take on this year and beyond successfully.

Contact us for a consultation at 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

Why It's Time to Move Away from Internet Explorer

One of the browsers that has been around since the early days of the internet is Internet Explorer (IE). It was released by Microsoft in 1995 and held an impressive 95% of the browser market share in 2003.

But as the 2020’s unfolded, more browser competitors arrived, with Chrome, Firefox, and Safari all being introduced in the early part of the century, causing IE to lose its dominance.

The final sign of an impending end to IE was when Microsoft introduced a new browser in Windows called Edge. This is now its default browser and IE 11 is on the way out.

If you want to keep a modern I.T. infrastructure at your office, it’s important to know when software, browsers, or operating systems are going to lose support so you can upgrade well before that happens.

If you’re using Internet Explorer on any devices, it’s time for an upgrade to a different browser now. We’ll tell you why. 

Why You Need to Migrate from IE 11 to a Newer Internet Browser

Microsoft Teams & Microsoft 365 Ending Support for IE

While IE 11 is not yet at its official end of life, it might as well be for Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 users because support is being ended for the browser by both.

Microsoft Teams has already ended support for IE on November 30, 2020. 

The rest of the applications in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, MS Forms, etc.) will end support for the browser on August 17, 2021.  

What does “loss of support” mean, exactly?

Microsoft describes it this way, “customers will have a degraded experience or will be unable to connect to Microsoft 365 apps and services on IE 11.”

This means that either the applications will no longer be able to be accessed in the browser at all, or you may have an unreliable experience including one or more of the following:

• New Microsoft 365 features won’t be available

• Some functions may stop working in the browser

For Teams users, this can mean that anyone trying to join your Teams video calls may not be able to when using the IE browser. If you use Teams often to host video meetings, you may want to add a notice to your meeting invites that IE 11 is no longer supported, and suggest the use of an alternate browser, like Edge, Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.

Gmail & Google Workspace Apps Ending Support for IE

If you’re not a Microsoft 365 user, you still need to think about switching away from IE, because Microsoft isn’t the only developer dropping support for Internet Explorer, Google is as well.

As of March 15, 2021, Google Workspace apps will no longer work in IE 11. 

This includes popular applications that are access via web, such as:

• Gmail

• Google Drive

• Docs/Sheets/Slides

• Meet/Chat

• Keep

• Google Calendar

• and others

Google will begin warning users with a banner that will recommend IE users migrate to another browser to “avoid any possible disruptions in service such as degraded performance and security vulnerabilities.”

Other Web Applications

You can also expect multiple other cloud applications to follow the lead of Microsoft and Google and end support of Internet Explorer in their platforms. Salesforce, for example, is ending IE 11 support for its Lightening Experience and communities on December 31, 2020.

Some apps have already dropped IE support. Such as, popular CRM program Zendesk, ended support for IE 11 back on December 31, 2019.

What You Need to Do

If you or any employees at your business still use Internet Explorer, you need to upgrade now to another browser to avoid loss of service from multiple applications, including Microsoft 365 and Google’s Workspace apps, as well as to ensure you’re not risking any security vulnerabilities. 

Is IE 11 at End of Life?

No, the browser isn’t technically at end of life yet. Because it’s a component of Windows, it takes on the lifecycle of the operating system. So, if you’re running IE 11 on Windows 10, it won’t reach EOL until that OS does in 2025. 

However, because so many applications are dropping support for the browser, it will effectively be at loss of support even prior to the official EOL. 

Your Browser Options

There are four key browser options that are supported by Microsoft 365 and Google apps. These include:

• Edge (Microsoft’s new browser that took over from IE)

• Chrome (Currently, the most popular browser)

• Firefox (Known for having good default security settings)

• Safari (Works well on Mac, but not supported on Windows)

Get Help Migrating Data and Web-based Workflows 

BrainStomp can help your business with a smooth migration from IE 11 to another browser, including ensuring all data and settings are transitioned along with your web-based workflows. 

Contact us for a consultation at 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

8 Benefits of Moving to Firefox for Your Internet Browser

One of the most used productivity tools is the internet browser. It’s often the first place that people go when logging onto their device in the morning and it’s used throughout the day for multiple tasks.

From Google searches to using web-based cloud apps, a browser plays a big part in your user experience.

The average person spends the equivalent of over 100 days per year online.

Just one shortcut that a particular browser offers that another doesn’t, can mean a significant boost in productivity day in and day out. Security is also another big consideration when choosing an internet browser. 

Choosing the right technology solutions is important, and especially one that is infused into a workflow as much as your browser. 

There are four main options out there for supported internet browsers for applications like Gmail, Microsoft 365, and others. One of the best to consider moving to is Firefox.

Why Firefox Over Others?

Here are some of the drawbacks of other popular browser options: 

• Chrome: While it may be the most popular browser, people worry about privacy and tracking because Google’s main business is advertising. 

• Edge: While Microsoft’s replacement for Internet Explorer is gaining in popularity, it still has a long way to go before it has comparable plugin & developer support.

• Safari: Safari can have problems viewing certain webforms and does not support the Windows OS.

• Other Options: Other fringe browser options like Brave can leave you with less support from multiple web applications and lack of feature options.

Firefox Advantages

Light on Memory Usage 

One of the drawbacks of a browser like Chrome is that it’s known for being memory intensive. This can cause freezing issues when multi-tasking or opening multiple browser tabs. 

Firefox did a major update in 2017 that decreased the memory consumption of the browser, speeding it up for multiple tasks. 

Better Default Privacy Settings

Mozilla, the makers of Firefox, has a reputation for caring about user privacy. This is seen through stronger default security settings in Firefox designed to keep user data secure.

Some of the security options you have in Firefox include:

• Enhanced Tracking Protection

• Site Information Panel

• Content Blocking privacy features

• Lockwise Anti-Snooping Feature 

• Breached Website Alerts

• Fingerprinting Protection

More Customization Options

In many other browsers, you’re very limited in how you can customize. You may be able to add a theme color or image, but not much else.

Firefox gives you more customization options than other browsers, including the ability to move features around and install themes that change the browser’s look and feel.  

You can also customize the toolbars and overflow menu by adding the options you use the most and putting there where you want them.

HTTPS-Only Mode for Security

A new feature that Firefox recently introduced is HTTPS-Only Mode. When this is enabled it helps keep your web experience more secure by ensuring every connection is to a secure site.

If it detects you visiting a site with out HTTPS, you’ll receive a security alert.

Mozilla Keeps Improving Browser Speed

Mozilla continues to improve the speed and performance of Firefox. This focus on user experience is another reason to switch to Firefox as your default browser.

In the latest 83.0 release in November 2020, Firefox’s SpiderMonkey JavaScript engine was improved, which resulted in:

• An increase in page load performance by up to 15%

• Improvement in page responsiveness by up to 12%

• Reduced memory usage by up to 8%

Save to Pocket Feature

A handy feature in Firefox is Pocket, which allows you to save webpages and videos for later at the click of a button. You can then access them through the free Pocket app. 

When webpages are saved to Pocket, it saves a clutter-free version that’s clean and easier to read.

Sync Across Different Devices

Firefox is a well-supported browser by multiple operating systems, including those for mobile devices. There is a Firefox version for both iOS and Android.

You can sign in on your different devices and have your settings, bookmarks, and more synced for a consistent experience wherever you’re browsing.

Blocking of Online Trackers

Every move we make online today is tracked by some type of cookie. From Google to individual websites and advertisers, our digital footprints can be being collected across multiple organizations. 

Mozilla isn’t in the business of selling advertising like Google, so it doesn’t have any “backdoor agreements” with advertisers. Its browser automatically blocks over 2000 online trackers from collecting your browsing data.

Get Help With Migrations & Improving Your Online Productivity

BrainStomp experts can help your business migrate to Firefox, upgrade your workflows, and help you be more productive using the best digital tools available.

Contact us for a consultation at 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

What Are the Most Useful New Features of iOS 14?

One of the biggest updates to come out in a while for the iPhone operating system was recently released, and it is chock full of efficiency improvements.

iOS 14 was released in September 2020, and if you haven’t updated yet, you’re going to want to as soon as possible because this update significantly streamlines the mobile experience.

Mobile devices now make up about 60% of the endpoints in a typical company and do more than half the workload. So mobile operating system updates have a more far reaching impact to a business than they did a decade ago.

The technology solutions in a company shape it’s performance now and in the future, so it’s important to stay on top of new developments both for PCs and mobile devices.

The BrainStomp team has taken a look at the new iOS 14 features, here are some of the most useful and time saving.

App Library

How many times have you swiped back and forth between your app screens trying to find a particular app? That problem has now been solved with the App Library feature in iOS 14 .

As soon as you complete the update, you’ll notice the App Library when you swipe to the last screen on the right. It neatly categorizes all your apps and makes the most used app icons larger. You can also access them all from one screen.

All images are from Apple

To further optimize your iPhone user experience, you’ll now want to hide the screens of apps between the App Library and your Home screen. 

To do this: 

• Press and hold any open area on your Home screen.

• Click the dots at the bottom.

•  Uncheck the circles under the additional pages to hide them.

• You can unhide pages by repeating the process and re-checking the circle.

Stacked Widgets on Your Home Screen

Widgets have had a major overhaul in iOS 14, they’re more helpful, there are more of them, they’re sizable, AND you can bring them to your Home screen.

You can choose to bring individual widgets to your home screen to see in a glance, without needing to swipe left. You can also make them small, medium, or large.

But one of the coolest ways to use widgets in iOS 14 is through stacked widgets. You can stack up to 10 different widgets in one single widget area to save space and then just swipe through them as you like. 

Siri Suggestions

One of the new widgets is Siri Suggestions and this can be a big time-saver, saving you a few clicks here and there, which really adds up over the course of a week or month.

What this widget does is anticipate activities you may want to do on your iPhone based upon your use patterns. For example, say you always open Pandora for background music as soon as you connect your phone to a speaker via Bluetooth in the morning. As soon as you make that connection, the Siri Suggestion widget will display the Pandora app for you on your Home screen as a suggestion.

Pinned Messages & Group Conversation Images

Another frustration that many users have on a regular basis is trying to find the right Messages conversation to reply to. Scrolling down a list of conversations can be time consuming and the difficulty of telling one group text from another can result in texting the wrong group.

These are two more issues solved in the iOS 14 upgrade.

You can now pin up to 9 conversations to the top of the Messages screen. They are displayed by the image icon you’ve created, making it much easier to find the conversation you need.

Group conversations can also be pinned and will be much easier to recognize because you can now give a group conversation its own image using a photo, Memoji, or emoji.

Send an Audio Message with Siri 

There are many times that you need to send a text, but you’re on the go and it’s not convenient to stop what you’re doing to tap out a text message. For example, if you’ve just landed at the airport and are rushing to make a connection, you don’t want to stop to send a text.

You can now send an audio text instead with a Siri command, allowing you to make an audio note “old school” style and have Siri send it for you via Messages.

To send an audio message with Siri:

• Bring up Siri with “Hey, Siri” or pressing the Home button

• Say, “Send an audio message to (contact name)”

• Siri will respond, “OK, recording”

• Speak your message

• When you stop speaking, Siri will give you the option to send, play back, or cancel.

Small Efficiency Improvements Add Up to Big Bottom-Line Benefits

BrainStomp experts help businesses create optimizations in their workflows that save time, lower costs, and improve productivity. Find out what we can do for you!

Contact us for a consultation at 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

How to Use Microsoft Forms for Your Year-End Satisfaction Surveys

One time-honored year-end tradition is the customer satisfaction survey. These give businesses valuable information about how they’re doing, what to improve, and new products or services that customers might be interested in.

Businesses that pay attention to what customers say and adjust their operations based upon customer feedback are more likely to be ahead their competition. Studies show that organizations that regularly measure their Net Promoter Score (How likely are you to recommend our business?) have a 10% higher growth rate than those that don’t.

But the year-end survey process isn’t always efficient and can be quite time consuming.

Companies often use something like a Word document that is emailed to each customer. Then as those surveys come in, someone has to open each one and enter the information into a spreadsheet where the data can be charted.

One thing that IT consultants like BrainStomp do is help businesses transition those manual processes to much more efficient automated cloud processes. By capturing important data the right way, it can be easily imported into other programs with no additional data entry needed. 

In this article, we’ll go though using a Microsoft app that’s available to anyone with a Microsoft or Microsoft 365 account for your year-end survey process. 

Run Your Year-End Surveys More Efficiently with Microsoft Forms 

Microsoft Forms is designed to make forms, surveys, and quizzes much easier to create, share, and collate. It’s a tool that hosts your data in a cloud interface, making it easy for both those filling out forms and surveys and those collecting the reponses.

Some of the advantages include:

·      Forms/surveys can be filled out from any device (PC and mobile)

·      Results can be imported into Excel at the click of a button

·      Using a template allows you to create a survey in just minutes

·      You can add images or videos to your form

Here are the steps to take to use Forms for your year-end customer surveys. 

Step 1: Sign Into Microsoft Forms

You sign into Microsoft Forms using your Microsoft account. Just go to: https://forms.office.com/

Step 2: Create a New Form from Blank or Template

You have two ways to begin your customer satisfaction survey. You can choose “New Form” to create one from a blank form or get a head start by using the “Customer Feedback Survey” template.

When you use a template, you’ll have several questions already added to the form, which you can leave as is or choose to edit.

Here is an example of the Customer Feedback Survey template.

Step 3: Build Your Survey 

The process to add questions to your customer satisfaction survey is pretty straight-forward. Microsoft Forms is designed to be very easy to use, even for those who may not be particularly technology minded.

You’ll use the “Add new” button to add a new type of question or to add a new section. You’ll find that you have options that are specific to gauging customer satisfaction, such as the Net Promoter Score.

Options for question types and form fields include: 

• Multiple choice

• Text field

• Rating

• Date

• Ranking

• Likert scale

• Net Promoter Score®

• Section (this adds a new section, and you can use an image or video)

When building your form, you’ll also find you have the option to add a background image. You can choose from available image options in the app or upload your own.

Step 4: Send Your Survey

Microsoft forms gives you several options for sending your form, which is another feature that adds to convenience and can save you time.

When you click the “Send” button, you’ll find the following options:

• Get a link that you can email or text

• Download a QR code image that links to your survey

• Get an embed code for embedding the survey in a webpage

• Email the survey directly from Microsoft Forms

• Send the survey link via Facebook or Twitter

You’ll also have the ability to share the form as a template for others to use. This can be handy if your business has more than one location and would like to send the same questions to all customers.

Step 5: Get Your Results in Real Time

The most time-saving feature of Microsoft Forms comes on the response gathering side. Responses will come in automatically in real time, and you can view them by opening your Survey and clicking the “Responses” tab.

You’ll see the number of responses, the average time to complete the survey, and you can view each survey result at the click of a button.

 You can also open your data in Excel, no extra input needed!

Save Time and Automate Your Manual Processes

BrainStomp consultants can help your business with smart and cost-efficient technology solutions that allow you to save time and be more productive.

Contact us for a consultation at 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

It’s Time for Year-End System Replacement Planning!

The end of year is coming up and your accountant is about to tell you to spend some money. Making any needed business purchases before the end of the year allows them to be deducted from your 2020 taxes.

To be deductible, the Internal Revenue Code simply requires that the business expenses be “ordinary and necessary” and technology definitely falls into those categories.

Additionally, technology purchases can be written off entirely, not just a percentage of them. Section 179 of the U.S. Tax Code allows businesses to deduct the cost of qualifying equipment and/or software that is purchased or finance during the tax year.

There is also a bonus depreciation that can be taken during the first year on new and used equipment.

Equipment/Software Deduction Limits:

·      You can deduct up to $1,040,000 of new equipment/software purchases

·      You can take 100% bonus depreciation on new/used equipment 

So, you can see how now is the perfect time to do an evaluation of your technology needs and invest in your IT infrastructure before the new year.

Smart Ways to Invest In & Upgrade Your Technology 

When approaching your year-end system replacement, you want to be strategic to ensure you’re getting the most value for your money. 

This includes potentially upgrading your work processes and expanding capabilities rather than just upgrading something to a newer version of what you currently have.

Here are the considerations you want to review when planning your equipment and software purchases.

Review Current Workstation/Laptops for Replacement Needs

First, you’ll want to see which computer workstations and laptops used at your business need to be replaced. Studies show that PCs older than four years can cost more to operate than purchasing a new one.

Look for PCs that are approaching the 4-year mark or those that are older. You also want to look for any that are running an older operating system (such as Windows 7, which no longer receives security patches). These are the types of systems that should be replaced. 

Consider Tablet Purchases 

Tablets can do more than they used to and are taking over more desktop/laptop market share incrementally each year. Are there some activities where an iPad or other type of tablet would improve flexibility and productivity?

For example, if you have a sign-in for visitors at your front desk, doing this electronically on a tablet with an app such as Microsoft Lists, would be much less time-consuming than a physical paper sign-in sheet.

Review Your Network Infrastructure 

How is your wireless network holding up? Many companies find that as they add more devices to their network, the bandwidth allocation gets less reliable, which can lead to dropped VoIP calls or frozen downloads.

Year-end is a perfect time to upgrade your network to improve speed and reliability. Here are two potential options: 

·      Switch to a Wi-Fi 6 Router: Wi-Fi 6 is now a year old and it’s designed for better multi-device handling and much better network security.

·      Upgrade to a Mesh Network: Going from one router to a mesh network can improve signal strength and reliability throughout your office.

Invest in Software Upgrades 

Most cloud software tools offer a discount when you pay for your subscription annually. This can then be deducted from your 2020 taxes using the Section 179 guidelines.

Here are some steps you can take to upgrade your software in a way that will directly impact your bottom line through productivity boosts:

·      Survey employees about what they like/don’t like about the software they use.

·      Work with an IT professional to identify areas for productivity improvements in your workflows.

·      Look for time-consuming manual processes that can be automated with the right software.

·      Consider all-in-one platforms like Microsoft 365 that give you several tools in one.

Improve Your Cybersecurity Posture 

80% of companies have seen an increase in cybersecurity attacks this year. Just one data breach or ransomware attack can leave a small business devastated, and many of them never recover.

Have an IT security audit done this fall to identify areas of vulnerability in your cybersecurity and what equipment or software is needed to address those and strengthen your protections. 

Equipment Needed for a Remote Workforce

This year saw the rise of the remote workforce due to the pandemic and resulting stay-at-home orders. While some companies are returning to office work, a majority plan to have more work-from-home employees either part-time or full-time than they did prior to the pandemic. 

Look at what’s lacking to fully support your remote team. Would they benefit from having company laptops issued rather than using their own devices, which may not be as powerful or secure? What about VoIP enabled desk sets? Or a VPN subscription for remote connection security? 

These are all considerations for investing the future and ensuring your business can continue operating from anywhere no matter what.

Get Help Planning Your Replacement/Upgrade Strategy

You don’t want to make technology purchases just for the sake of a purchase before year end. Work with BrainStomp to identify strategic purchases that can pay for themselves in productivity and security improvements.

Contact us today to plan your year-end technology purchases 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

Save Tons of Time by Searching in Windows 10 the RIGHT Way

Employees spend 1.8 hours every day just searching for information they need, which equates to approximately 36 hours per month, nearly one whole work week!

Looking for things is increasingly more complex the more data we have to sift through. On any given day, employees are searching for files on their hard drives, looking for information on websites, or trying to find a specific setting on their computer. 

Each of these activities can not only take attention away from the task at hand, it can also result in several minutes spent looking for something. Occasionally, this can lead to over an hour if the document or other data isn’t easily located.

If you use Windows 10, knowing how to use its powerful search capabilities can completely streamline your search experience. Part of any modern office is learning how to take advantage of OS and software updates, and the “super search” was one Microsoft added in 2019.

Searching for Anything in Windows - As Easy as Clicking START and Typing What You Need

What Microsoft did when it upgraded the search function in Windows 10 last year was to incorporate all types of searches a user could possibly do into one main area.

All you have to do is type your keyword or question into the search box and you’ll be able to find all types of information, whether it’s on your hard drive or online. 

This can significantly reduce the time it takes to search for all types of information.

Here are the things you can find from searching one simple place – the Windows search box on your task bar. 

Find Documents Faster

When you type your keyword into the search box, you’ll be taken to a page that has results from a variety of places, web, File Explorer, etc.

You can quickly find a specific document on your hard drive, by clicking the “Documents” tab at the top. 

What this will do is show you the documents on your hard drive that include that keywork either in the title or in the text of the document.  

This is a much faster way to find something than searching in File Explorer and going through different folders on your hard drive.

Note: You’ll also see documents you have saved in OneDrive.

Easily Find a System Setting

Trying to figure out where to adjust your microphone settings or turn on ransomware protection in Windows 10 can take time. Instead of having to search the web for the answer or stumble around your system settings until you land on it, just use the Windows 10 search box.

If you type something like “microphone settings’ you’ll get a list of different system settings that you can jump to instantly in your PC settings area. 

Have a Question Answered

You can also use the search bar to ask questions in natural language and get an answer powered by Bing search.

For example, you can ask: “How much is $100 in Euros?” and instead of having to scroll through search results online, you’ll get the answer right in the search window, along with a money converter to type in another amount. 

This works with all types of questions, such as “Status of New York City to Orlando flights?”, which will bring up flight times.

Search Bing Without Opening a Web Browser

If you want to a fast web search for information without opening your browser, you can do this using the search bar as well for a less distracting interface.

Just type your keyword, and you’ll get multiple web results pertinent to your topic. 

Open Apps Faster

Instead of going to the Start menu and looking for an application, you can locate it much faster by typing the app’s name in the search bar.

If you’re looking for a specific Adobe app, but don’t know the app’s name, just type “Adobe” and click the Apps tab on the search result page and you’ll see all Adobe apps installed on your computer and can click to open. 

Search for a Specific Type of File 

There are times when you can’t remember what you’ve named something, but you know that it has a certain keyword in it and that it’s a certain type of file, like a video.

Windows 10 search makes it easy for you to narrow down your search results by clicking the “More” option and choosing the specific file type. Options include: 

·      Email

·      Folders

·      Music

·      People

·      Photos

·      Settings

·      Videos 

When you choose one of those options, Windows will only look for that specific file type and give you a list of matching results.

Get Help Optimizing Your Office Workflows

Just knowing how to use some of the productivity tricks in Microsoft or other applications can add hours of productivity time to your staff per week. BrainStomp consultants can help you find and deploy these to boost your capabilities. 

Contact us any time at 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

If You See: “You are Infected, Call Microsoft Support” - Don’t Call Them, Call Us!

You’re searching the web as usual and suddenly, you get to a site and a big warning message pops up saying, “You are infected, call Microsoft Support!” It may even include an “immediately” in there for good measure.

Your screen is locked, and you can’t seem to get out of the message. What should you do?

The last thing you should do is call the number that it gives you because it’s a fake. Instead, you should call BrainStomp for IT support so we can help you remove the malicious code from your system, which may infecting other devices on your network.

This “Microsoft Support” scam has been around for quite a while, but it still manages to get people to call the fictitious number and do whatever the person on the other end of the line tells them. 

This usually involves them having the user install a software that will allow the scammer to completely take over the victim’s device and access everything on it. 

It’s important to note that it’s not only Microsoft Windows users that get these fake support scams from malicious websites. Apple users also get them as well with notices to call “Apple Support.”

How Does the Microsoft Support Scam Work?

This type of support scan can also come via phone, but robocalls have caused many people to ignore calls from numbers they don’t recognize. So, often the scam comes when you land on a website infected with malicious code.

The code can be on a webpage put up by a scammer or it can be on a site you may have visited before from a trusted source, but a hacker has gotten into their server to add the code.

A pop-up window will appear, and it may lock your browser into full screen mode, making it difficult to get out of.

The scam will state that something is wrong with your computer and you should call Microsoft Support to get help. It will give a number to call, but that number is not to Microsoft.

How do we know? Because Microsoft states that real Microsoft error and warning messages never include phone numbers. 

Here is an example provided by Microsoft showing one of these support scam messages. This particular code automatically initiates any calling apps that you have on your computer, so that as soon as you hit the “OK” button, you’re connected to the scammer.

Notice the imagery is designed to look legitimate and like something that might come from Microsoft, this is how many people are fooled.

What are Scammers After?

There are a few different things that this type of scammer can be after once you call and they offer fake help for the “problem.”  

·      Payment Details: Some scams will ask you to pay a one-time fee or service subscription to resolve the issue. This scam is after your credit card information.

·      System Takeover: It’s common for the person you speak to after calling the number to direct you to a page that has you download a connection client on to your system. This will allow them to takeover your computer to use it for things like sending phishing, bot attacks, and more.

·      Steal Logins & Sensitive Info: Another thing that a scammer can do after getting you to download a digital gateway app to access your computer is steal sensitive information. This can be anything from your online banking login to company files.

How to Protect Against Fake Support Scams 

Here are several tips to help protect against these tech support scams.

Know that Microsoft Doesn’t Initiate Support Contact 

Microsoft states that it will not send any unsolicited email messages, make unsolicited calls, or offer to fix your computer without you asking first.

Any request for help or support from Microsoft has to be initiated by you. So, if you get an unsolicited pop-up or phone call purporting to be from Microsoft Support, it’s a fake. 

Do Not Call the Number in the Pop-ups

There are trained scammers on the other end of those fake phone numbers on the Microsoft support scam pop-ups and they know what to say to lure people in.

Do not call the number and do not click to initiate a call if the malicious site has brought up your calling app.

Do Not Download Software from Unknown Third-Party Sites

In many cases, the scammer will ask you to download software from a site that is NOT an official Microsoft site. This can be malware, a remote connection app, or another type of dangerous application. 

You should never download software from non-official websites.

Did You Get a Microsoft Pop-Up or Error Message?

If you’ve visited a malicious site and received an error message or other Microsoft tech support pop-up, your system may already be infected with malware. Call BrainStomp right away and we’ll take care of the problem.

Contact us any time at 260-918-3548 or reach out online.

How to Avoid Falling for COVID Email Scams

There have been several legacies of the pandemic, including mask wearing and employees working remotely. One that’s particularly dangerous has been a new slew of coronavirus-themed email scams.

During March of 2020, COVID-related spear phishing attacks increased 667%. The alarming level of phishing scams also caused the U.S. Secret Service to issue a warning. 

The Secret Service warned about phishing emails that pose as messages from legitimate medical organizations. One scam is sending emails using the logos of well-known entities like WHO or the CDC and offering supposedly pertinent information via attachment or link regarding the coronavirus outbreak. 

If the unsuspecting victim opens the link or the attachment, it can inject their computer with spyware, ransomware, or deploy a credential stealing form.

These scams are directed both at individuals and companies, using ploys such as: 

·      Offering a map of “outbreaks in your area”

·      Asking employees to read a “new company policy” related to coronavirus

·      Directing employees to enter their email address and password to “confirm your account so it’s not deleted” due to new COVID security 

·      Offering sale of masks and other protective equipment

·      Directing the recipient to “coronavirus testing locations”

·      Offering fake vaccines or cures

·      Emails posing as contact tracers for COVID-19

It’s important to know what to watch out for and to put safeguards in place through IT security strategies targeted against phishing emails.

Tips for Identifying Coronavirus Phishing Emails 

There are no lack of email phishing scams to look out for and best practices can apply for any type of phishing email identification. However, the COVID email scams are on another level because people want to know everything that they can to stay safe.

Here are some ways to ensure you don’t fall victim to the coronavirus-related phishing attacks that are prevalent. 

Don’t Trust the “From” Address

One of the common ploys used by phishing scammers is to use a legitimate company email in the “From” line of an email. 

The recipient will look at who sent the email and see that the email address looks legitimate and trust the message, clicking a malicious link or downloading a malware file.

Email spoofing is the official name of this tactic, and if your mail server doesn’t have email authentication in place people can easily be fooled.

One way to confirm the actual sender’s email address is to view the header or source code of the message to look for the routing information.

Hover, Without Clicking Links

Scammers will often use hyperlinks on buttons and text that hide the true website to which it’s directing the victim. The link might say “View Map” and it takes you to a non-sensical web address that has nothing to do with coronavirus or the promised information.

You can view the real URL of a link by hovering over it with your cursor rather than clicking on it. This is a quick way to reveal an email message as a scam.

Beware of Any Contact Tracing Email with a Link or Attachment

One of the newer ploys is a scam where the email states that the person has been in contact with someone that’s tested positive for coronavirus. It then directs them to fill out a form asking for personal information (like their SSN). 

The Federal Trade Commission warns that a real contact tracer will only email stating they will be calling. They will not send file attachments or links. And they will only ask for things like:

·      Your name & address

·      Health information

·      Names of places or people you’ve been in contact with

They won’t ask for credit card information, your SSN, your bank details or any other personal information. 

Look for Anything “Off” (Grammar, Misspellings, etc.)

Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated so it’s more difficult to tell a real message from a fake. However, some are novices or emailing from other countries and don’t use perfect translation software. So, sometimes you can still spot a phishing email by things like: 

·      Misspelled words

·      Poor English or grammar

·      Grainy or blurred images

·      Incorrect information (such as using Denver, FL instead of Denver, CO) 

Don’t Get Taken In by Emotion or Urgency Tactics

Phishing scammers often deploy tactics to get users to act immediately and will play on emotions such as fear.

For example, one COVID-19 related scam purports to be from a firm’s HR department and instructs employees to read a new HR policy on infectious diseases “by X date.” It further states that it’s mandatory that this be done.

The need to click the link and read the attachment by a certain date is a big red flag that it’s a scam email.

If you feel you have to act out of fear, urgency, or a sense that you’ll miss out on something, don’t react to an email from an unknown sender, and instead assume that this is most likely a phishing email.

Learn How to Keep Phishing Emails Out of Your Inboxes

Email filtering and anti-phishing are both strategies that can help you reduce the risk of employees falling for a phishing scam. BrainStomp can help you put those protocols in place to keep inboxes scam-free.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation! Call 260-918-3548 or reach out online.