US itek’s Blog

So you’ve just unboxed your brand new laptop — what do you do next? Before you start using it to surf the internet or finish your tasks for the day, take these steps to optimize its performance and ensure it meets your needs.
1. Update your laptop’s operating system
One of the first things you should do before using your laptop is to update its operating system (OS). Assuming you did not purchase the laptop when it was first released, it will still be running an older OS. Because important patches and fixes are released with each new update, you must install the latest ones to ensure your laptop doesn’t have vulnerabilities that malicious third parties can exploit.

Disaster recovery (DR) used to be an expensive solution that relied predominantly on tape backups. Today, cloud computing has dramatically changed the DR landscape, affording even small- and medium-sized businesses cheaper and more reliable DR solutions.

The latest iteration of Windows’s default web browser was built from the ground up using the same code as Google Chrome. It’s a similar yet entirely different browser that offers faster loading times, improved security and support, and better compatibility with websites and extensions, among other outstanding features.

In 2003, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) stated that strong passwords should consist of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Recently, however, the institute reversed its stance. Find out why and learn what their new recommendations are for creating strong passwords.

Medical records are extremely private and their exposure could lead to negative consequences such as social stigma and job discrimination. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects this information and grants patients the right to view their own health information so that they can enjoy more control over their care.

Are you still hanging on to your old work computers since they “still work fine”? While they may still help you get the job done, their outdated firmware can make you vulnerable to security risks that can lead to major problems.
What is firmware?
Firmware is a basic type of software that is embedded into every piece of hardware.

Microsoft Outlook comes with a raft of features that make managing your busy schedule and boosting your productivity easier. If you find Outlook’s myriad capabilities a little overwhelming, don’t worry — these tips and tricks will have you using Outlook like a pro in no time.

In a recent survey of 1,800 customers, 42% said they’re “very unlikely” to purchase from ugly websites. That’s not so surprising. After all, there are plenty of competitors’ websites that are more visually appealing and user-friendly that they can visit.

New computers are anything but cheap. For this reason, just because your current Windows 10 computer is taking longer than normal to perform simple tasks doesn’t mean it’s time to buy a new one. Here are four tips to speed up your computer without spending a single dime:
Prevent programs from launching at startup
Windows makes certain programs readily available by loading them at startup.