QUASAR GLOBAL INSIGHTS

Business & Technology - CES 2009

Antivirus on the Desktop

I am frequently asked to suggest Anti-Virus solutions for my clients home computers.  These days, there is a lot of competition.  I have found that due to branding and name recognition, Norton or McAfee are installed on many of the home systems I run across.  There are a few comparison lists out there where you can find out about your options.  You can check out one of these: 2009 Antivirus Software Reviews, CNet AV Reviews or Antivirus Software Review. 

Of course everyone is going to have an opinion. We have found that antivirus products that  also have software firewall components, seem to be nothing  but problems in the hands of the end user who does not understand the concepts.  I think the number one troubleshooting issue for us on Internet Access , email issues or slow performance is usually associated with an integrated software suite that takes over the users system.  We have found that Norton & McAfee require the most amount of support calls.  If Norton is not setup correctly, it can block email and has actually become very tough to uninstall once it messes things up.

Our recommendations to clients is to:

• Use a simple AV program like Kaspersky, BitDefender or NOD32 & keep it up to date.
• Use Firefox as much as possible.
• Install a popup blocker with your browser.
• Use a hardware based firewall/router like Linksys or Netgear (Do not rely on software installed on your computer).
• Make sure your computer is kept up to date.
  
• Do regular backups of your data. If you do become infected it may be your only way to recover your data.
• Do not open email that you are not expecting or are advertisements or unsolicited.
• Do not open attachments that have extensions like .VBS, .SHS or .PIF or have double file extensions (name.bmp.exe).

We also suggest that clients shy away from Free (you get what you pay for) Anti-Virus packages like AVG. AVG will even tell you that the free version is not as good as the commercial version. Less protection, infrequent updates, issues uninstalling... etc.

You can read about it at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVG_(software)

10 Books for Managing in Tough Times

As Businesses scramble to update IT spending projections with smaller and smaller numbers,  Business Owners & Managers know they’ll have to do more with less in 2009.

Here is a list of 10 books to help businesses productivity:

(1)    Managing in Turbulent Times  
by Peter F. Drucker
An oldie but a goodie, this classic text by the acclaimed sultan of business thought leadership will at least give perspective that you’re not the only one dealing with this.

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(2)    Coaching for Improved Work Performance, Revised Edition
by Ferdinand Fournies
Find practical tips and tricks to more out of your smaller staff.

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(3)    Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High
by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
Before you open your mouth to deliver the stone cold truth about tough situations, crack this tomb open for some advice.

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(4)    Engaging the Hearts and Minds of All Your Employees: How to Ignite Passionate Performance for Better Business Results
by Lee Coulan
… and if that doesn’t work, learn the right Jedi mind tricks from this book to inspire them to productivity.

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(5)    Awake at Work: 35 Practical Buddhist Principles for Discovering Clarity and Balance in the Midst of Work's Chaos
by Michael Carroll
Don’t forget your sanity! The zen and art of keeping your cool in times like these is  a tall task.

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(6)    The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable
by Patrick M. Lencioni
Written as a fictional account, this sage book lays out the mistakes that impede teams from operating  on all cylinders.

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(7)    Leading Geeks: How to Manage and Lead the People Who Deliver Technology
By Paul Glen, David H. Maister, and Warren G. Bennis
The seminal work on guiding a team full of technologists.

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(8)    Managing Up: How to Forge an Effective Relationship With Those Above You
By Rosanne Badowski and Roger Gittines
Your boss will be stressed, too.  Learn to successfully handle the relationship and get  the direction you need.

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(9)   The New CIO Leader: Setting the Agenda and Delivering Results
by Marianne Broadbent and Ellen Kitzis
The principles laid out in this CIO survival guide are as relevant in good times as in bad.

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(10)  Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by David Allen
Glean a little wisdom on time management and personal organization from this one.