Archive for April, 2012

5 Ways to Work Efficiently in Excel

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

Microsoft Excel 2010 is a powerful software tool, but as a computer support company we have found that most people only know the basics of how to use it.  Here are some  lesser-known Excel tricks that can help you work more efficiently.

  1. Hiding Information: There might be an occasion when you would like to hide certain data when printing an Excel spreadsheet. For example, maybe your spreadsheet includes confidential salary information. Fortunately, you can tell Excel not to print certain rows or columns by hiding them before you hit print. To hide rows or columns, click the corresponding number or letter then right-click on a highlighted row or column and click the Hide option. You can then choose the Unhide option to bring these columns and rows back into view.
  2. Timestamping: Should you wish to attach a date to your spreadsheet, you can use the Timestamp feature. Just hold Ctrl as you press the semicolon key. If you would like the current date and time hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys while pressing the semicolon.
  3. A Better-Looking Spreadsheet: Give your spreadsheet a fresh look by employing Excel’s Themes option. You will find this in the Excel Ribbon, at the top. Click it, and you’ll be given a huge selection of fonts, and color schemes that you can try first and then apply to your spreadsheet. It’s also possible to design your own!
  4. Tracking Trends: The newest version of Excel includes a feature called Sparklines. By employing this feature, you can create small charts that show trends in information. For example, you could use Sparklines to instantly determine how many software bundles each of your company’s salespeople sold in the first half of 2011.
  5. Conditional Formatting: This feature allows formatting only in cells that meet the criteria that you choose. For instance you could chose to have any dollar amount over 1,000 be a specific color.  This helps you view and analyze data faster.

As a Microsoft Gold Partner, Corporate Network Services can help you get the most out of your software investments.  Let us know if you need any assistance!

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Security Challenges in 2012

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

As technology changes cyber-criminals adapt to it. Recently MIT’s Technology Review published an article about the biggest technology security threats of 2012. Most of us spend much of our time online: working, surfing the Web, or just chatting with friends via social media. If you spend time online, being conscious of these threats can help guard you and your data.

Stolen, Spoofed Certificates

The biggest problem that the Technology Review article covered is the growing number of stolen or spoofed certificates. As the article reports, anytime you connect to a site, like your bank’s website, your traffic is encrypted using a “certificate” that the site uses to prove to your web browser that it can be trusted. In 2011, though, cyber-criminals could actually spoof or steal several of these certificates. This can help them steal user data or install malicious software on their computers.

A Common Security Mechanism in Trouble?

This is a significant issue since the use of certificates and encrypted data is the most prevalent security mechanism on the web. If they can no longer be trusted, that means possible trouble for all computer users.

Technology Review also pointed to online attacks called “hacktivism” as a key security challenge for this year. Groups such as Anonymous and LulzSec crack passwords and break into company sites. Often, these groups do so to show that companies are woefully unprepared to deal with hackers. Sometimes, they target companies or organizations that they believe are guilty of wrongdoing. Regardless of the motivation, anticipate these groups to continue their so-called hacktivism in 2012 and beyond.

Home Automation

The growing popularity of home automation also creates security risks in 2012. As Technology Review writes, an increasing amount of automation systems connect security systems, thermostats, lights, and even the locks to homes’ front doors to the internet. Imagine the damage that hackers can do if they break into these systems.

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