Blue Ridge Technology

Heads up: You need to update Windows 11 by this deadline If your business is running on Windows 11, there’s a critically important deadline coming up in just a few weeks. Here’s what you need to know and the steps you need to take. PSA: Update All Workstations Running Windows 11 by October 8 By October 8, 2024, every PC in your organization running Windows 11 must be updated to the latest major version (called 23H2). Why? Because that’s the last day Microsoft will support their previous two releases (21H2 and 22H2). To be clear, your out-of-date Windows will continue to run. It’s not like Microsoft is flipping a switch and rendering those older versions nonfunctional. The problem is that Microsoft won’t be supporting them anymore post-10/8. If you stick with those older versions, you could be opening yourself up to countless security vulnerabilities in the months and years to come. What Is Windows 11 23H2? Windows 11 23H2 is the mainstream update to Windows 11 that released in the seco...

Have you updated to the latest version of Windows 11 yet? If not, it’s time to act – Microsoft has announced when it will end support for older versions (and it’s soon!). Usually when people talk about digital threats to businesses, they focus on certain types of threats, like credential theft, ransomware, business email compromise, and malware. Those are all important threats that businesses need to defend against, but there’s another related type that doesn’t get enough coverage: cyber extortion. What Is Cyber Extortion? Cyber extortion is a malicious practice where criminals gain access to your organization’s data and then extort you with it, threatening to release it publicly or take some other action with it that will compromise your business or harm your reputation (or both). Usually this type of attack includes a request for ransom in exchange for not releasing your data or harming your organization. How Is Cyber Extortion Different Than Ransomware? Compromising your business an...

Have you heard of cyber extortion? It’s a very real threat to your business. Our latest tech update video explains what it is and how to stay safe. Does your work PC feel slower than it used to? Do your team members complain about sluggish computers that take forever to boot up, or that lock up once they’re running with no explanation? Before you sign off on a costly upgrade cycle, it’s worth exploring whether the PCs are truly too old and slow — or whether they can keep serving you well with some small adjustments. There’s one small move that can make a serious difference in your PC’s performance, so we always recommend trying it before moving on to more expensive solutions like replacing your entire fleet of desktops and laptops. Here’s what you need to know about why PCs seem to slow down — and how cleaning up your startup folder can turn things around. Do PCs Slow Down As They Age? There’s a notion out there that says our computers get slower the longer we use them. Some even go so...

Is the sound of yet another Teams notification about to drive you crazy? A new update will put a stop to that… and it’ll help you prioritize your tasks too. Our tech update has the details. Microsoft Teams does a lot for us: it’s a communication hub, video meeting tool, collaborative space for teams, an instant messenger, and a lot more. But we’d be lying to you if we called it a perfect application. There’s still plenty about Microsoft Teams that could use some refining or some polish. One of these things has been a frustrating inability to customize sound notifications — until now. No, this isn’t massively groundbreaking news. But for many Teams users, it’s still a big deal. Here’s what to know about the latest Teams update and how it can improve your workday quality of life. Notifications Now Have Multiple Sound Options If you work with headphones on, chances are you like to get into the flow of work. You might even listen to music or background sounds (we’re beach waves people!) to...

Chrome extensions are great for boosting productivity and saving time. But if they’re not the real deal, you could be at risk from malware. Watch our latest tech update to stay protected. There are plenty of good reasons to use Chrome, from quality of life to productivity and efficiency. But Chrome comes with several drawbacks users should be aware of. Possible Chrome Drawbacks We see two major potential drawbacks to using Chrome: data use and extension security. Data Use Creates Business Concerns One big drawback to using Chrome is the way Google is likely using you — that is, your data. Remember the old adage, “if you’re not the customer, you’re the product”? That’s definitely the case with Chrome. Google wants you to use its free, really good browser because of what it does for them , not just out of the goodness of their hearts. More than other browser makers, Google appears to collect tons of data on its users: what you do, where you visit, what you like to buy, and more. Even if...

Chrome extensions are great for boosting productivity and saving time. But if they’re not the real deal, you could be at risk from malware. Watch our latest tech update to stay protected. We’re living in a golden age of device capabilities, aren’t we? Think about all the things your smartphone can do like it’s nothing, that 20 or 30 years ago would’ve required a separate piece of bulky, specialized (not to mention expensive!) hardware. We carry mini supercomputers in our pockets that serve as calculators, still and video cameras, gaming consoles, internet browsers, video playback devices, communication hubs, and more. There’s just one thing that still gets in the way of a truly seamless tech experience: compatibility. Compatibility Is Holding Us Back What do we mean by compatibility, exactly? Well, our various devices don’t always play nicely with each other. The go-to example is blue bubbles vs. green bubbles in the group chat, but this kind of incompatibility really shows up in the b...

Protect your business from a data leak with Microsoft Edge Does your business use Microsoft Edge for web browsing? It isn’t nearly as popular as Chrome, but it is the second most popular browser in use today. And because it’s full of business-friendly features, many organizations use it as the default browser for workplace PCs. If you haven’t checked it out lately, this new announcement might make Edge worth a closer look. And if you’re already an Edge organization, you’ll want to know about this new tool in Edge so you can enable it and start benefiting from greater protections. So what’s the new tool? Microsoft Edge is now better at protecting your company from data leaks. Here’s how it works — and why it matters. Data Is Everywhere — And Everything To understand data leaks we need to start with a couple of foundational truths. First, data is everywhere. Your business handles sensitive information like customer data, financial details, and perhaps even trade secrets or proprietary d...