#BecauseSometimesYouNeedANinja WordPress is the world’s most popular CMS: CMS use in the enterprise continues to increase with WordPress and Adobe Experience Manager taking the top spots. http://bit.ly/2ui7hEv #BSYNAN #Howste

ADA Title I compliance is required for with an online presence impacting commerce. For many years this was not enforced as the language in Title I did not specifically address online presence. But, with the recent case that was decided in favor of the disabled plaintiff suddenly many businesses are exposed. (Side note: Title I exempts companies with less than 15 employees, though you must still be compliant if you fall under Title III with a physical consumer presence regardless of your size)

For medium to larger businesses this is now mandatory. But, for many this means you don’t need to be compliant. Or should you? What happens when you suddenly cross that threshold or your client base changes? Is your web presence the last on the list or is it leading the charge?

As a technology company we strive to ensure our web sites are always forward thinking. Much of what Google requires in web sites we had already designed into our client’s sites and similarly all of our web site designs have been ADA compliant from initial build, even when they were not specifically required. We have found much of the meta-data required in ADA compliance for a site also improves Search Engine Optimization (SEO), improves site ease of use and flow, and Google even looks for these features (by default as they are SEO elements). We also consider all forms of access, not just visual.

I challenge you to check in with your web designer/developer or IT Company and ensure they are looking to the future with your total web presence (not just ADA compliance)! Status quo is always more expensive when it’s time to change and be agile…

Howste Technical Services – Because Sometimes You Need a Ninja

www.howste.ninja

So you got new printer, phone, tablet, roku, firestick, chrome case, voice command home technology this Holiday…. Bought some amazing technology in an after Christmas sale? Now what?

Well most people just plug it in and go…. And that works great, some times. Although not knowing what is compatible and what is not has been the down fall of some of the greatest in home networks…

So before you just plug n play… take a minute, do some research, ask a friendly neighborhood Ninja (we can be reached at 470-326-1999)… find out what works well together and what does not.

Remember that time your neighbor plugged in his Christmas lights and the entire sub division went dark?  Don’t be that guy!

Remember the time someone bought a used laptop only to find out that the MAC address was used for illegal torrents, and the guy was slapped with a fine? Don’t be that guy.

Remember that time your 80 year old aunt bought an iphone online only to find out that it was stolen when she received it? Don’t be that guy.

Remember that time Grandpa bought a used laptop and it came with a keylogger pre installed, so all his bank accounts got hacked? Don’t be that guyl.

Enjoy your new technology… have fun, be safe.

Storm Worm — OSX/RSPlug Trojan — Netsky and Sasser — The Blaster Worm — The Melissa Virus — ILOVEYOU — The Anna Kournikova Worm — CIH — The Concept Virus — The Morris Worm

Are we talking about something I should see my doctor about?
Well, we are talking about the worst viruses of all time, and your computer is at risk.

Why does that matter to me, I’m a smart person, I have antivirus software?
Well for starters, they haven’t all been cured. In fact, some of these are laying dormant on machines across the world. Some of these have been upgraded. And some of these have been modified to work on your phones.

Surely not my phone though, I have an apple it’s harder to attack.
Yes, Apple is more resistant than Android or Windows phone. So, these codes get embedded into the apps.

Into the apps? But I only install apps from reputable companies.
Yep, and just a like a file from an email, an app can have it embedded into it, or it can be part of the download from the app store/apple iTunes.

Wait, iTunes/App Stores run virus programs, they check for this stuff, they should know what they are doing.
Yes, they check for it, after its been reported to them, they go back and retroactively check it out.

Why don’t they look at it first, before it leaves the app store/iTunes?
They have too many apps uploaded regularly and they leave it to the vendors to monitor their work.

Well a vendor wouldn’t intentionally add a virus, that would be counter productive.
You’re right! But app stores/iTunes get hacked, just like the rest of us. Are you sure that you want to make them responsible for your safety?

What can I do about it?
Make sure that your antivirus is set up to run on any downloads, including App store/Itunes purchases. That it is checked before it is installed.

Every time?
Yes, and with Halloween right around the corner… it’s time to be extra careful. Halloween is known as being a hallmark time for new and unusual viruses and malware to hit the market. Halloween pranks aren’t just in your back yard anymore!

If your computer is acting up, call us, call a professional… take it serious. Shut it off, and call someone to look at it. Make sure your backups are complete now.

If your co worker is acting up… well thats a different professional, we can’t help with that.

Happy Halloween

Howste Technical Services

470.236.1999

Well, the answer isn’t simple but it’s not hard either.

Let’s break down the equation…

• Basic support is about $75 an hour… lets say with some discounts we can get it down to $50 an hour… that sounds like a lot of money.
• If it takes you (the average person who knows some things about computers) 3 hours to fix it, it should take your IT person 1 hour to fix it.
• You are a hard working person and have to put a lot of time into your job.
• You get paid $24.10 per hour (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm)

So let’s do some math.

1. A 3 hour fix for a regular person is equal to a 1 hour fix for a professional.
2. At $24.10 per hour (lets round that up to $25 per hour for simplicity sake), you would be paying yourself $75 dollars to work for 3 hours.
3. If you are working on resolving an IT issue, you are not working in your business at the same time. Therefore you are losing $75 that you could be making in your business.
4. $75 paying yourself to fix your problem and $75 that you didn’t get to make at work is $150.
5. So, at $50 dollars an hour, you could pay your IT guy to come fix your computer. Or you can take the $150 loss and lose 3 hours of time to save yourself some money.

Yes, $50 an hour sounds like a lot, but when you are really breaking it down. It’s not as much as wasting the time that you need in order to get things done. Don’t leave your clients hanging. You have work to do… call an IT guy. Get the job done right, have it documented and keep track of your technology. In the long run, it’s worth it.

We are making the assumption in this model that you would end up fixing the computer and not making it worse. There is always the possibility that you could spend 3 hours on the device. The device will end up worse than when you started. The IT guy will end up spending an extra several hours fixing the original problem and then fixing whatever you did to the machine. Therefore costing you double or even triple to fix the machine.

* The actual numbers may vary. Finding an IT guy that knows their stuff and only charges $75 an hour, is worth holding on to. Don’t let them go…. Odds are you aren’t average, so $25 an hour is just a government estimate, plug your own numbers in, and work the equation, then call us.