40 Essential IT Tips Presentation

Kim Brand - Computer Experts, Indianapolis

1. Use Microsoft's free anti virus program: Security Essentials.  (Part of our Malware Cocktail)

2. Use OpenDNS (Free edition) for Family network filtering, free for business too!

3. Use offsite backup services: Carbonite, Mozy, SugarSync, SpiderOak, BackBlaze, Live.com - or our service StorGrid.  (FileSafe includes offsite backup for free.)

4. Know your RTO: Recovery Time Objective - RPO: Recovery Point Objective (DRJ.COM)

5. Remember to backup your Outlook e-mail!  (If you can find it!)  Or use AppRiver or webmail.

6. Use OpenOffice.org instead of Microsoft Office if you can.

7. Create PDFs for free with CutePDF.

8. Use FoxitReader instead of Adobe Reader.

9. Use a 'throw-away' e-mail address for contests, registrations, etc.; or use Mailinator.com

10. Use a free Spyware program: Spybot Search & Destroy, SuperAntiSpyware,  ComboFix or Malwarebytes; (but make a donation!)

11. Use the 'bcc:' feature for e-mail blasts.

12. Try to repair your wireless connection first - don't reboot.

13. Encrypt your laptop harddrive - SecureDoc by WinMagic ($100+), or TrueCrypt (free)

14. Try Skype for international phone calls. 

15. Use URL Shorteners for e-mail, Twitter, blogs: bit.ly, tr.im, tinyurl.com 

16. Use Google Apps: Maps, GMail, Alerts, iGoogle, 800GOOG411, Images, Google Voice, Calendar, News; learn more about Google here.

17. Use Picasa to manage/backup your photos - Try Flickr too. 

18. Use IrfanView to crop, resize, adjust, display your images.

19. Use VLC Media Player to present videos - even from YouTube. 

20. Learn clever Google tricks: site:, quotes and +

21. Check your Google business listing - update yours and keep it current!

22. Use Craigslist to sell, announce, buy, laugh.

23. Use del.icio.us to bookmark your favorite Internet websites.

24. Use Firefox and Thunderbird instead of Internet Explorer and Outlook Express; I also like Opera!

25. Use the 'Save-As' option in Word & Excel to password protect a file.

26. Use YouSendIt to send large files rather than e-mail attachments.

27. Use PBWorks to create your own Wiki!

28. Use Blogger or WordPress to create your own blog!

29. Learn the Shift+PrtSc + Paint + Paste trick to capture a screen on Windows.

30. Use the free Microsoft Office training videos; you can use YouTube for training too!

31. Create an image of your PC using Backup Exec System Recovery onto a USB Hard Drive and hope you never have to use it.

32. Use JGoodies to find out where/how big/how old all the files on your PC are.

33. Use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to get remote access to your PC instead of GoToMyPC - add DynDNS to give yourself a pseudo-static IP.

34. Use CMD and PING and IPCONFIG to debug your own Internet connections.

35. Do a Backup Audit at least four times a year - see our Backup Pop Quiz - visit: BackupGuru

36. Use Task Manager + MSCONFIG to identify/eliminate crapware from your PC.

37. Use ImgBurn to burn CDs/DVDs.

38. Always use a quality Surge Protector!

39. The cheapest way to protect data in your business: appoint a Data Safety Officer! (or buy a FileSafe!

40. Google yourself and your business regularly.

41. One of the best Blogs: Top 40 Useful Sites

42. More free software: Don't Pay for Technology

43. COMODO backup, AV, Security Certificates, Firewall, and more

44. LastPass, on-line password management tool

45. Free USB Drive encryption tool from Rohos. 

46. Best iPhone/iTunes backup/recover tool: SharePod:  http://www.getsharepod.com 

Remember: Backup is boring - Restore is EXCITING!