We want our clients to be as productive, efficient and cyber secure as possible.

That's why we call these our "sweet tips", and hope this archive helps you and your team be as cyber-aware as possible and helps solve some of your quick IT issues.

PASSWORD BEST PRACTICES

Best practice #1:
Never share your password.
Best practice #2:
Passwords should be at least 8 characters long.

FOR LAPTOPS: CONNECT BY WIRED OR WIFI?

For laptops, use a wired network connection whenever possible instead of using Wifi.

RESTART YOUR COMPUTER DAILY

Many small issues with computers can be fixed by a simple restart to clear the computer's working memory & eliminating unimportant, temporary data. Note: Windows 10 users, "Shutting Down" doesn't fully shut down your PC - but restarting does.

I CAN'T SEND OR RECEIVE EMAIL

If you can't send or receive email, try this:

1. Ensure "work offline" is not selected under the "send/receive" ribbon at the top
2. Restart Outlook. If that doesn't work, restart your computer.
3. If you can access your webmail, check if it works.

DON'T FALL FOR PHISHING

Neither Birmingham, nor Microsoft, will ever send you an unsolicited email requiring you to go to a webpage and sign into your Microsoft account. All such emails are phishing attempts to steal your password.

HOW TO SET YOUR "OUT-OF-OFFICE" IN OUTLOOK

  1. Go to File -> Automatic Replies
  2. Select "Send automatic replies"
  3. Select a date range and set your message for people inside and outside your organization.

HOW TO CREATE A SCREEN SHOT (WINDOWS)

  1. Hold the "Windows" key.
  2. Press "PrtScr."
  3. Find your screenshot in Pictures/ Screenshots.

HOW TO CREATE A SCREEN SHOT
(MAC)

To screenshot the entire screen,
press Shift-Command-3.To select a specific area of the screen for your screenshot,
press Shift-Command-4,
then click and drag to select the area of the screen to capture.

With either method, the screenshot will be a .png file on your desktop.

HELPFUL KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Windows

Cut: Ctrl+X
Copy: Ctrl+C
Paste: Ctrl+V

Mac

Cut: Cmd+X
Copy: Cmd+C
Paste: Cmd+V

HOW TO CREATE DESKTOP SHORTCUTS

  1. Right-click and hold on the file or folder you would like as a short cut.
  2. Drag the file or folder onto your desktop.
  3. Select “Copy as a shortcut” from the menu that appears.

DON’T TEMPT A THIEF

Never leave devices unattended and visible in your car.

Transport laptops, tablets, etc. in your trunk.

Never leave them in your car overnight!

KEYBOARD & MOUSE GHOSTS

If your wireless mouse and keyboard seem to be possessed by random movements and entries, try changing the batteries.