Steam is a widely-used web-based distribution platform developed by Valve Corporation that?s used for online multiplayer gaming, as well as many other video game-related situations. It?s actually relatively similar to cloud computing. Steam is one of the biggest online gaming retailers with over 140 million users. In October 2013, it was estimated that 75 percent of all games purchased online were through Steam. If nothing else, Steam is a valid online computing outlet that hackers want to take advantage of. As anyone who has a hobby will understand, a gamer?s collection of games, virtual items, or online currency, will accrue a self-perceived value of sorts. While this might seem like a worthless asset to compromise, it?s introducing a new type of hacker to the online environment. People who want to steal games, achievements, and other in-game assets are capable of doing so with a new malware called Steam Stealer. Perhaps the most terrifying thing about Steam Stealer is the fact that it?s so easy to use. If hackers find that they can get away with stealing seemingly benign in-game items, they might find that they want to go for something with a little more practical use, like credit card numbers. This presents a unique situation which could provide amateur hackers with the skills and confidence they need to attempt riskier and detrimental hacks. Since Steam Stealer is easy to use and afford, even the average citizen can experience the bittersweet taste of hacking. With included instructions, user manuals, APIs, and a price tag of $15, people with no knowledge of malware can easily use Steam Stealer. Compared to other Malware as a Service offerings, Steam Stealer is a small price to pay and is relatively simple to use. Once people experience the adrenaline of using malware to steal fellow gamers? in-game objects, what?s stopping them from pursuing the rush even further? The end result could very well be hackers who won?t be satisfied until they?ve hit the pay dirt; financial information and other products purchased through Steam?s online interface. Unsurprisingly, Steam experiences quite a large amount of takeovers — around 77,000 accounts suffer from breaches each month. There?s a definite precedent for this type of hack, and criminals obviously see the potential for profits. The best way to keep your Steam account safe from hackers is for users to practice a combination of two-factor authentication, and to always keep an eye out for potential phishing scams. Changing passwords regularly is an ideal way to keep hackers from accessing accounts, and closely monitoring URLs that are sent through chats will keep you from visiting potentially malicious sites. These tips probably sound familiar; for good reason. They?re valuable tips that help you stay safe whether you?re working on important work, or you?re on a quest to ?slay the goblin lord.? Even if Steam is an online gaming platform, there are still valuable lessons that can be learned from it. While a business owner might see their data as an immensely valuable asset, gamers view their libraries in a similar way. If you want to know how to best protect your business?s data, reach out to us at (603) 889-0800.

You can watch the video here. Considering how these teens weren?t even born when the operating system was released, it?s no surprise that they have no clue what they?re looking at. When it?s said that they?re looking at Windows 95, they remark that it looks ?prehistoric,? ?dull,? and even ?ancient.? Some of the older teens, on the other hand, are more appreciative of the legacy that Windows 95 started, despite agreeing that in its infancy, the Windows operating system was a bit on the primitive side compared to today?s modern tech environment. Here are some observations from this video: They don?t know how to turn it on. Many of the teens didn?t know how to turn the PC on and off. They were immediately drawn to the large power button on the CRT monitor, and it took them quite a while to figure out how to turn the main component on. Windows today is more refined than it was in 1995. Several of the teens in the video notice how Windows 95 is a bit on the unrefined side. This is simply due to the fact that Windows 95 was one of the first Windows operating systems, and has since become more polished. The teens mention that Windows 95 has a similar interface compared to what they?ve been working with, sporting familiar features like Internet Explorer, the Recycle Bin, and the Start menu. Not having WiFi is like a crime. When they open up Internet Explorer, the teens immediately notice that there?s no WiFi. They are in complete and total shock that it doesn?t have wireless Internet. If you think about it, it?s a perfectly natural response. These teens have had wireless Internet for their entire lives. They never knew the days of dial-up web connection. It just goes to show that convenience is a major player in the modern tech environment, and that the biggest cause for concern with new technology is that it might be unavailable while offline. Today?s tech is easier to use by the consumer. At one point, the video?s narrator discusses how DOS systems work. The teens are completely dumbfounded by how complicated the process of issuing commands and prompts to the machine sounds. One of the girls makes a solid observation: ?If users of consumer technology, like iPhones or iPads, had to enter in commands to open apps, nobody would use them.? Technology has grown with the end-user in mind, with easy-to-use technology being the most popular with the general populace. Isn?t it insane to think about how far technology has progressed in just twenty short years? Where will technology be decades from now? Do you have any fond memories of Windows 95? Let us know in the comments. Bonus TipSee how your friends react to Windows 95 by opening this link on their browser: https://win95.ajf.me/win95.html

There are several reasons why crime can flourish on the Internet, but the major contributor is by far the anonymity that the web offers. In particular, the anonymity browser Tor offers criminals the means to go about their duties in a way which has the least chance of being compromised by law enforcement. These black markets are often only capable of being accessed through Tor, for fear of being discovered and taken down. However, not all online black markets are protected like this, and not all illegal online black markets prioritize sustainability. There are many underground black markets in North America that will sell to anyone, regardless of whether or not they?re seasoned criminals. This blatant disregard for their own continuity is dangerous for both its users and those orchestrating the sales. Many of these underground black market sites can be found on what?s called the ?Surface Web,? which is the Internet that is seen by the average user, and is accessible to anyone. Users can access these sites by knowing what to search for, and this ease-of-use allows the industry to grow exorbitantly. From Trend Micro via TechRepublic, here?s a chart detailing what the online crime market is primarily used for. As expected, drugs are a major component of the online cybercrime industry, with stolen data dumps and crimeware coming in second and third. What?s most disturbing is that there are online plots for arms manufacturing and even assassinations, which makes the online black market an exceptionally dangerous entity. The common consensus is that the North American underground can be considered a ?glass tank.? It works great for its intended purpose, but the transparency and lack of sustainability make it susceptible to shattering at any given moment. Trend Micro reports that the life cycle of most black market sites is very short. The sites could be available one moment, and gone the next. The lesson to be learned here is that cyber criminals are extremely resourceful and slippery, and will use any and all means at their disposal to turn a profit without a second thought. This is why it?s so challenging to protect your business from hackers and other online threats. Especially considering how anyone can purchase code over the Internet to exploit vulnerabilities, data dumps, and other sensitive credentials, business owners need to realize that there?s a market for their sensitive data, and that it needs to be protected at all costs. White Mountain IT Services can help your business handle these threats by outfitting your network with the latest and greatest security solutions on the market. Our technicians can answer any questions you might have about firewalls, antiviruses, content blocking, and spam filtering solutions that are necessary for the average SMB. To learn more, give us a call at (603) 889-0800.

Keep in mind that some touchpads are more prone to difficulties than others. Some devices will have better quality or more calibrated touchpads, and if your device has been bothering you and preventing you from getting work done, reach out to us. We might be able to offer you our assistance. What?s Your Hand Placement Like?If you?re having problems with your touchpad, perhaps the way you use it might be an issue. If you?re not careful, it?s easy for your hand to brush against it as you type, which might make the cursor jump around and mess up your document. If you have large hands, you probably know all too well about this problem. If you?re sitting in a strange position, like on a hammock or a couch, you might also experience a similar effect. You can usually fix this problem just by changing your hand placement, but if the problem continues, you might need the attention of a professional. Can You Remember the Last Time You Cleaned Your Touchpad?It?s natural for your hands to accumulate particulates that will undoubtedly find their way onto your touchpad. Skin, oil, dirt, and other particles collect on your touchpad, making it difficult to use. Plus, if you consider the fact that keyboards are less sanitary than toilet seats, you really do have a reason to clean it once in a while to ensure proper hygiene and functionality. Wiping your touchpad down can help the touchpad read your finger strokes, and may resolve problems with how it works. Are You Using Other External Input Devices?If you?re using an external input device like a wireless mouse, graphics tablet, or a keyboard, you might be experiencing problems with your touchpad. Sometimes, depending on the device, even having a laptop plugged into an electric outlet or a docking station can cause complications with your laptop?s touchpad. Before assuming the worst, try unplugging your external hardware and see if your touchpad returns to normal. Have You Updated Your Drivers?If you?re using an older laptop, you might need to update the driver that controls the touchpad interface. Check with your laptop?s manufacturer to see if you?re using the latest drivers. You can do so by visiting the manufacturer?s website, calling their support hotline, or giving White Mountain IT Services a call at (603) 889-0800. Replace the TouchpadIf these troubleshooting tips don?t help your touchpad return to normal, you might need to simply replace your touchpad. However, this process shouldn?t be attempted by just anyone. White Mountain IT Services?s professional technicians can handle this job for you, as well as troubleshoot other computer-related issues and annoyances that might be complicating your user experience. Bonus Tip: Just Use a Wireless MouseIf you don?t like your clumsy touchpad, you can avoid using it further by switching to a wireless mouse. If your laptop supports Bluetooth, there are several options available for your wireless mouse. Even if it doesn?t support Bluetooth, you can just use one that connects via wireless USB. Are you experiencing annoying touchpad issues? Simply try these troubleshooting tips and see how you fare. For more great tips, be sure to subscribe to White Mountain IT Services?s blog.

The main problem presented by Windows 10?s automatic installation is that businesses that may plan on implementing Windows 10 in the future are still making sure that the new operating system is compatible with their legacy software. Upgrading without first consulting a proper IT technician can result in your legacy applications becoming inaccessible, and if they?re crucial to the success of your business, you?ll quickly fall behind and be forced to endure crippling downtime and headaches. ComputerWorld goes into detail concerning some of the claims of Windows 10 automatic updates and installations, many of which seem to be due to users opting into automatically installing Windows Updates, as well as having recommended updates being installed as if they were considered critical updates. The reasoning is simple; since Windows 10?s installer is delivered via Windows Updates, it will naturally run on the users? machines if it?s set to do so. Granted, most of the problems associated with automatic Windows 10 updates seems to be the inability to refuse the updates, rather than the fact that the OS is automatically getting installed. Others seem to be stuck in an upgrade loop of sorts, which doesn?t allow them to decline the upgrade to Windows 10. There?s even some skepticism that this is part of Microsoft?s plan to get all Windows users on Windows 10 as soon as possible, but we don?t buy into this train of thought. If users are careful enough to view the optional upgrade options, they can keep Windows 10 off of their PC indefinitely if they want to. Although, as technology professionals, we will always advocate for using the latest tech solutions on the market once it?s deemed stable and proficient. There are ways to remove the Windows 10 update from the Windows Update registry, but it?s not recommended that you do so without the help of a trusted technician. Besides, if you don?t want to use Windows 10, maybe you should consider why you don?t want to update. If it?s because of legacy applications, there are plenty of options that allow you to continue taking advantage of them, like virtualization, while still having the option of updating your operating systems. The important thing to remember is that your business can?t risk the chances of having Windows 10 unexpectedly install on your machine. If you?re unsure of how upgrading to Windows 10 will affect your business infrastructure, you need to take every precaution to make sure that an upgrade won?t break your workflow, whether you intend to upgrade or not. It?s recommended that you contact White Mountain IT Services and allow our trusted tech professionals to walk you through the process of Windows 10 adoption. We can assess your network for any discrepancies and help you move toward Windows 10 in an educated fashion, minimizing complications and allowing for maximum efficiency. To learn more, give us a call at (603) 889-0800.