Protect data from ransomware attacks to your systems. You have probably heard of computer malware, however have you heard of ransomware? It’s what criminals use to target the data in your business. Your system and data are crucial to your business. Don’t gamble with your security. Make sure your business is protected from the outside world.
Ransomware is a form of malicious software placed on your devices. It locks you out of your data and it is terrifying. The criminals will then demand cash to unlock your data. Every business should protect data from ransomware, as it is at risk all the time. Hackers use automated tools to sniff out opportunities.
Our new video has three ways you can protect your business from ransomware.
Hackers can force victims to pay a ransom to regain access. It can infect your computer when you download an innocent-looking email attachment. If you visit a website that secretly executes malicious code. This ultimately encrypts critical files or denies access to the computer. The two main forms of this malware are currently widespread:
Blocker ransomware locks users out of basic computer functions. For example, it might deny access to your desktop by partially disabling files the computer uses to boot. You could still use your computer to pay the ransom, but otherwise it would be useless. The good news? Locker malware typically avoids encrypting critical files in favour of simply locking you out, meaning there’s less chance of total data destruction.
Crypto ransomware encrypts your critical data — documents, photos, and videos — while leaving more basic computer functions untouched. Crypto creators often include a countdown in their ransom demand. Many users ignore or don’t understand the importance of backing up files to an external storage device, so they often choose to pay the ransom because they can’t see any other way of getting their files back.
How to respond to ransomware attacks
Unfortunately, ransom malware is here to stay. What if you have already become the victim of a ransomware attack? If you’re concerned about ransomware, need to update your security, or need any assistance properly backing up your data, get in touch. Contact The LIS Help Desk today to talk to one of our team to make sure your business is protected.
For many of us, our mobile phones are stuck to our hands throughout the day on our commute, at work and at home. But if we’re cleaning our hands more often, shouldn’t we be doing the same with our handhelds?
While you may want to clean your smartphone, some substances can damage the device. Dr Lena Ciric, a microbiologist from University College London, says you can effectively clean your phone using just household soap and water.
Five ways to safely clean your mobile phone
While keeping your hands clean is relatively straightforward, a mobile phone is a different matter. We walk you through your options to clean your smartphone safely
There are a few ways to ensure that you clean your smartphone safely while avoiding any unnecessary damage to the device. Before cleaning, always start by turning your phone off, and ensure you leave it to dry once before turning it back on. It’s also advised that you clean your phone daily.
1. The safest option is wipes
As advised by brands such as Apple and Google, using a 70% alcohol wipe is the best option for cleaning your phone. These wipes can be used on all the exterior surfaces of the phone such as the display and rear casing, avoiding any openings on the phone (headphone ports, speakers, etc).
2. Use mild soap and water as an alternative
This method might not be as good for germ-busting as alcohol wipes, but if all else fails, with some soap on hand you can get rid of some of the grubby bacteria that’s hiding in plain sight on your phone.
Start by making a mixture of dish soap and water. All advice points to avoiding dunking your phone in soapy water at any cost because this can seriously damage its internals. Instead, dip a microfibre (and preferably lint-free) cloth into the solution. These cloths are much less abrasive than towels or tissues and are less likely to damage the protective, scratch-resistant layer on your phone’s display.
Ensure that the cloth isn’t dripping wet either. It should only be damp so that no excess water gets into the phone, especially if it’s not waterproof.
3. If all else fails, give it a light rinse – but only if it’s waterproof
This tip is strictly for those whose phones are certified waterproof. And not just any IP waterproof certification either – IP67 and up.
IP (Ingress Protection) ratings certify your phone against dust ingress and contact with water at varying levels, depending on their rating number. If your phone is IP67 certified your phone can withstand immersion in up to 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes, while IP68 certified phones are fine in up to 1.5 metre of water, although this can vary by manufacturer so it’s always best to check.
If you don’t have any wipes or dish soap to hand, you can rinse your phone in fresh water to clean it. Again, we would caution against dunking it into water with any added cleaning products as this could seriously harm the internal components and get into the openings of the phone. Beware if you have any cracks on your phone as well, as water can inadvertently seep into the phone more than you hope for it to.
Be sure to leave your phone to dry for at least five minutes if you use this method.
4. Don’t use household cleaning products like bleach
You might be tempted to mix up your own concoction using some trusty cleaning supplies. Manufacturers have warned against doing this as the harsh chemicals in these cleaners can wear down the protective layer of your display.
Always avoid using products like bleach anywhere near your phone. Another thing in your cleaning arsenal that you should also keep away from your phone is kitchen roll, which can often be abrasive. Even tissue can be harsh on your phone’s display. They can leave scratches, especially if used several times with excessive force. Try and opt for a gentler microfibre cloth instead.
5. Don’t forget to clean the case
Cleaning advice doesn’t just go for those that are getting hands-on contact with their smartphone. If you’re using a phone case to cover your precious handset, you should be just as diligent with cleaning it. Particularly if your phone case doubles as a purse to store your cards and money.
On the whole, the same tips apply to your case as your phone. Sometimes, you may have a bit more freedom. Ensure that you always remove the phone from your case before cleaning it.
Cleaning advice varies depending on the material of case you have. We’ve given some tips below so that whether you’re clutching a leather, wood or silicone-coated smartphone, you’re keeping it germ-free:
Leather: Use a damp cloth with a mild hand soap and water solution. You can also use a mild cleaner with the cloth to get stubborn stains out.
Plastic, rubber and silicone: Soak the case in a solution of dish soap and warm water for a few minutes. If you have any stubborn stains, you can gently scrub a toothbrush on them to try and get them out. Dry the case with a microfibre cloth.
Wood: Contact with water can deteriorate the wood. So use a dry microfibre cloth regularly to wipe these cases down.
How can we help your business?
We are not cleaning experts and cannot guarantee to help you with your clutter and hygiene. However, we offer every telecoms service to keep your business connected. Contact The LIS Help Desk today to speak to one of our friendly and experienced team to discuss your requirements.
Think robots are a thing of the future? Think again. Ocado Technology has created robots that anticipate what you need. Thomas Roszak was working as a maintenance technician at Ocado. Based in their giant warehouse in Hatfield when he received a very unusual assignment.
His regular job involved repairing and maintaining the online supermarket’s automated sorting and packing system. The system puts together grocery orders from customers. It can be physically demanding work, manipulating heavy panels and working with other pieces of bulky machinery.
Research and Development
In a project designed to ease that burden, Ocado Technology, had been developing robots. They anticipate what you need. Can recognise when a technician might need help. As well as stepping in with either the right tool or help with lifting.
Mr Roszak was asked to help test the machine. He saw it for the first time and was taken back to his childhood. He said “I grew up on movies like The Terminator. So, when I saw that robot, I was actually impressed with what it looked like. You can actually imagine it looks like a man.”
For Mr Roszak, the robot’s strength was a real asset. One test job involved removing a heavy metal plate from above head height. A human would struggle to hold the plate for more than two or three minutes. However, the robot found it “easy” to hold the plate in place, while Mr Roszak undid the bolts.
Experimenting with robots for grocery picking and packing
Ocado Technology often hits the news under headlines of innovation in the field of AI and robotics. Over the past couple of years, we’ve announced our involvement in several high-profile research projects. Including the SoMa soft manipulation system and the SecondHands technician robot. This is because our robotics research team faces a remarkable challenge. To develop smart and generalised robotic solutions. Systems capable of picking the 50,000 different items available on Ocado.com safely and reliably.
While humans can quickly learn and develop all manner of strategies for grasping various items based on what they intend to do with them, robots need to be taught these strategies and that’s why AI plays such an important role too.
Since this ever-growing range of products has different form factors and physical properties, the SoMa and SecondHands projects will help us develop a new suite of robotic grippers and grasping strategies in partnership with Europe’s leading technical universities. While making significant progress on those projects, we are also developing more immediate in-house solutions using off the shelf components that can pick a significant proportion of our products.
Today we’d like to introduce one of these new and exciting breakthroughs in robotic picking developed by Ocado Technology. The system has been designed by our robotics research team. To pick a range of groceries from our highly automated warehouses called Customer Fulfilment Centres.
How can we help?
We can’t build robots that anticipate what you need. However, LIS can help your business. with your IT requirements. Do you have a new idea that is in the research and development stage? If so, this would be an ideal opportunity to contact the LIS Help Desk. The business world is changing, and we are all relying on the latest technology. Make sure you stay ahead of the competition. Our friendly an experienced team are more than happy to help.
Do your staff prefer working from home? It seems that 9 out of 10 workers would like the option to work from home. Take a look at this article https://www.verdict.co.uk/working-from-home.
The spread of home working is opening up a new range of possibilities for the way businesses can work and structure themselves.
As well as opportunities and benefits, home working brings new responsibilities for the employer and employee. Employees with 26 weeks service have a statutory right to request flexible-working arrangements such as home working and you have to seriously consider such requests.
Your staff can be just as effective working from home. Make sure they have the correct set up, access to data and communications to contact clients and colleagues.
So, do your staff prefer working from home? We compare working from home to working in the office.
Advantages of employees working from home
With increasing numbers of employees working at home – or using home as a working base for at least part of the week – it’s clear there are a number of benefits for business, such as:
Improved employee retention – home working can help retain employees with an otherwise long daily commute.
Access to a wider pool of applicants – for example, such as those from more geographically remote areas, or people who may prefer to work from home.
Possible productivity gains – due to fewer interruptions, allowing more focused work.
Increased staff motivation – with staff having a better work/life balance.
Financial benefits – savings on office space and other facilities.
Convenience – ability to locate sales staff near clients rather than in your premises.
Better work/life balance – employees working from home can lead to improvements in health and well-being.
Advantages of employees working from the office
Though there are some benefits to employees working at the office:
Monitoring performance – it is easier to manage office workers and monitor their performance.
Cost of working from the office – costs will be lower for each employee to work at the office. No training and providing suitable equipment will be required. This includes adaptations to meet health and safety standards within the home office environment.
Staff development – easier to maintain staff development and upgrading skills.
Information security risk – less risk of data leakage.
Reduced isolation – home working can be lonely.
Increased staff morale – it is easier for a team to bond in the same location.
Some jobs can not be done at home.
Better work/life balance – employees working away from home can lead to improvements in health and well-being.
A shift towards home working doesn’t mean employees have to work only at home. Often splitting time between home and the workplace is the most productive solution and you may want the homeworker to attend meetings to keep them fully involved and informed.
LIS are here to assist you with the transition of home working. Our experienced IT professionals can advise on improving remote worker capabilities and keep critical systems working. We can also advise on the best way to keep ICT equipment clean and hygienic for hot desking and shared areas. Contact us for more information.
Could holding an online raffle be the way to give your business a much-needed boost in these strange times? Can virtual raffles save business?
In these uncertain times it’s nice to hear some good news. Find out how you can raise your business profile, attract some new customers and sell some of your products or services, click here.
From London…
In south London, independent traders are being thrown a lifeline by online raffles, organised by two community groups, Save East Dulwich and the Big SE Raffle, which have raised thousands of pounds for local shops, salons and pubs.
Victoria Rennison, who set up the Save East Dulwich raffle, said she came up with the idea after wondering “what would happen to East Dulwich if all of these businesses went under?”
“There’s such a sense of community because of them – I feel like they need some support from us in return,” she said. “I was thinking, what could I do remotely, when no one is allowed to see each other?”
… to Manchester
A business owner has created a virtual community raffle to support independent businesses during lockdown in Salford west. Susie Kwok, 48-year-old, owner of On Our Doorstep magazine began fundraising last weekend and has since sold almost 50 tickets. She said: “There are 1,000 tickets on sale. This would allow us to help 20 local businesses. If this takes off, we will continue running raffles until the lockdown is over. Our ultimate target would be to reach 10,000 tickets – which would mean we have helped 200 local businesses!”
“Each prize will be worth £50 or more. So, for £1, you could win a brilliant prize, plus the satisfaction you have helped our businesses which are the heart of our community. She added “Can virtual raffles save business by promoting services and products?”
As a business owner, Ms Kwok knows first-hand what local independent businesses in Salford are experiencing. Before the lockdown On Our Doorstep was ready to distribute their April/May issue but that has since been postponed. Ms Kwok continued to say that there is not enough financial support for businesses: “It’s based on your final profits and what you’ve submitted in your final self-assessment.”
“It doesn’t take into account that before you take out your profit you have to pay your employees, printers etc. Then you still have the worry of how to pay those other bills that are in no way covered by the government grant.”
Currently, Ms Kwok takes no percentage from the Salford West raffle to support her business as “it didn’t feel right”. But there are hopes that soon she will be able to offer a prize to help her business as well as others. Ms Kwok says: “It’s important that the community doesn’t forget these businesses.”
Help is at hand
We hope that your business is still operating and are here to assist you with your IT requirements. Contact the LIS Helpdesk for a chat to help with your business IT solutions. We provide fully managed IT solutions, support and have a range of comprehensive technology solutions. We look after your business which allows you to run your business!
#OnlineRaffle #BusinessBoost #GrowYourAudience
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You might be tempted to mix up your own concoction using some trusty cleaning supplies. Manufacturers have warned against doing this as the harsh chemicals in these cleaners can wear down the protective layer of your display.
Cleaning advice doesn’t just go for those that are getting hands-on contact with their smartphone. If you’re using a phone case to cover your precious handset, you should be just as diligent with cleaning it. Particularly if your phone case doubles as a purse to store your cards and money.
