The Hex Files
Devices and protection
Laptops, phones and the protection and updates that keep them working for you.
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Devices and protection
Laptops, phones and the protection and updates that keep them working for you.
- Explainer
Why antivirus became EDR
Antivirus looks for known bad files. Most attackers no longer bring one, so protection had to start watching behavior.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Attackers use flaws that already have a fix
Attackers rarely need a new trick. The fix for the flaw they use is often already published.
1 min readRead - Explainer
What ransomware actually does
Ransomware locks your files and, more and more often, steals a copy first. Here is how an attack unfolds.
1 min readRead - What to do if
What to do if a work laptop or phone is lost or stolen
Report it right away, even if it might turn up. Quick action lets IT lock it and protect what is on it.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Why every work laptop should be encrypted
Encryption turns a lost laptop from a data breach into a hardware cost. It is built into Windows and Mac and costs nothing extra.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Work email on personal phones, done safely
Staff want work email on their own phones. App protection keeps work data in a separate space you can remove without touching personal photos.
1 min readRead - Explainer
When software stops getting security updates
Every operating system and device eventually stops getting security fixes. Running it after that date leaves known holes open for good.
1 min readRead - Explainer
The USB drive in the parking lot
A found USB drive is one of the oldest tricks in security. Plugging it in can hand control of a computer to whoever left it there.
1 min readRead - Explainer
How to tell a real remote support session from a scam
Real IT support lets you start the session from a place you trust. Scammers call you first and ask you to install something.
1 min readRead - Checklist
Charging your phone in public
Public USB ports in airports, hotels and cafes are convenient. A few simple habits make charging away from home safer.
1 min readRead - Checklist
Check which apps can use your camera, microphone and location
Apps ask for access to your camera, microphone, location and contacts. A few minutes reviewing those permissions closes doors you may not know are open.
1 min readRead - Checklist
How to make a laptop battery last longer
Laptop batteries wear out over time. A few habits can slow that down and help you notice when a battery needs replacing.
1 min readRead - Checklist
Printers are computers too
Office printers store documents, connect to the network and send email. They need the same care as any other computer.
1 min readRead - Explainer
The “update your browser” warning that is really malware
A website suddenly says your browser is out of date and offers a download. Real browser updates never work that way.
1 min readRead - Explainer
The real cost of free and cracked software
Pirated software, key generators and downloads from unofficial sites are one of the most common ways malware gets onto computers.
1 min readRead - Explainer
What mobile device management does for a business
Mobile device management lets a business set up, secure and, if needed, erase company phones and tablets, without touching each one.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Why updates keep asking you to restart
Many security fixes cannot take effect while the programs they fix are running. Postponing the restart postpones the protection.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Why Office blocks macros, and why you should leave it that way
Macros are small programs inside Word and Excel files. Attackers used them for years, so Microsoft now blocks them in files from the internet.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Browser extensions can see everything you see
Add-ons for Chrome and Edge can read the pages you visit, including email and banking. Install few, and only from sources you trust.
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Why your work computer will not let you install things
Removing administrator rights from everyday accounts stops most malware from installing itself. Here is why it is worth the occasional request.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Lock your screen every time you walk away
An unlocked computer gives anyone nearby your email, files and accounts. Locking it takes one key press.
1 min readRead - What to do if
I spilled something on my laptop
What you do in the first minute after a spill makes the biggest difference. Power off, unplug, tip it out, and do not switch it back on.
1 min readRead - Checklist
Traveling with a work laptop
Airports, hotels and conferences are where laptops get lost, stolen and looked at. A few habits keep your data safe on the road.
1 min readRead - Checklist
What to do with old computers
Deleting files and resetting a computer does not always remove the data. Old computers need to be wiped properly, or their drives destroyed.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Why computers get slower over time
Computers get slower over the years. Here are the usual reasons and what actually helps.
1 min readRead - Explainer
Your phone needs updates too
Phones with work email and sign-in apps are worth attacking. Keeping them updated closes the flaws attackers use.
1 min readRead
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