OFF BASE I.T. Why your I.T. is like the Chicago Cubs Hot in I.T. Trending technology topics C is for Cookie What to know about internet cookies Comparing popular internet browsers Heartbleed Bug HERE ARE FOUR REASONS YOUR I.T. MAY BE LIKE THE CHICAGO CUBS: 1) IT’S DISAPPOINTING. 3) IT CHOKES WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH. No one understands disappointment quite like a Cubs fan. Year after year, you hope that things will The C in Cubs might as well stand for choke. While letting up six runs in the ninth inning is painful to change- that this year will be different. And year after year, you end up disappointed again. While witness, it’s more painful to recover from system failures. If your company is used to failing servers, there’s always next year for Cubs fan, there’s only now for your IT. Do you find yourself wanting to do Internet outages and network crashes at the worst possible time, it’s time to upgrade. Your IT should tasks that your system can’t support or everything just takes too long? If your company’s technology be dependable at all times, especially when it’s needed most. The 24/7 live help desk and immediate continues to disappoint you, waiting until next year is only going to make it worse. The IT consultants response times will keep your company from future choking hazards. at Stratosphere Networks can analyze your system and help create the perfect solutions to fit your needs. 4) THE COMPETITION CONTINUES TO DOMINATE. Whether it’s the St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers or even the Cincinnati Reds, the Cubs seem 2) IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE IT WAS AT ITS BEST. to struggle almost every game. When most of our rivals have more rings than can fit on a hand, it’s It’s been 105 years since the Cubs last won the World Series. Has it been a while since you last difficult to keep cheering. Are you constantly getting beat by your competitors too? If so, your IT might upgraded your equipment, software, hardware or services? Technology is constantly changing and be to blame. With best-in-class technology and industry-leading partners, Stratosphere Networks can improving and as a business, it’s important that you keep up. Not only can the newest technology be hook your business up with everything it needs to gain a competitive advantage. beneficial to many aspects of your company, but running outdated systems can be dangerous. Stratosphere Networks are experts at integrating new If any of this article rang true to your IT, give us a call at Stratosphere technology and setting up new infrastructures. We also Networks immediately. Being a Cubs fan isn’t a choice, but offer continuous maintenance and training finding a better IT provider is. Start waving that services, so the upgrade will be as W flag today by calling 877-599-3999 or painless as possible. emailing [email protected]. OFF BASE I.T. Stratosphere Networks is headquartered just north of Chicago in Evanston, Illinois, which can be considered by many as part of Cubs territory. With their last World Series win in 1908 and 10,000 losses under their belt, it’s no surprise that the Cubs are currently last place in the National League Central. Being a Cubs fan isn’t easy, but neither is repeatedly striking out with your IT. 1 Chicago Cubs and all related indicia are trademarked and owned by MLB. All rights reserved. optical head-mounted display to a group of “explorers” in 2013 BITCOIN and has been making headlines since, although not always Bitcoins, commonly referred to as digital currency, virtual for good reasons. Fitness trackers, such as Jawbone Up and currency or cryptocurrency, was first introduced in 2009 by Fitbit, and smart watches, such as the Samsung Gear and the an anonymous person named “Satoshi Nakamoto.” It is a peer- Pebble Watch, are becoming more popular. There are also to-peer payment system not controlled by a single entity, new innovations making news, including the OMsignal smart such as a bank, and transactions are made with no middle shirt, as well as talks of future products such as Google’s men. Users can send and receive bitcoins electronically using smart contact lenses that would test glucose level in diabetic’s wallet software with no transactional fee. Bitcoins can be used tears. anonymously and are not tied to any country or regulations. NET NEUTRALITY Bitcoins have been trending recently for many reasons. Net neutrality is the principle that Internet Service Providers Because Bitcoins are unregulated, many governments are (ISPs) should allow equal access to all content and applications speaking out on concerns about their lack of control and on the Internet, regardless of the source. In other words, an taxation. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has recently open Internet. Under net neutrality, ISPs like Comcast and approved the use of Bitcoins as political donations. Dogecoin, Verizon have to give everyone the same treatment. Therefore, a spin-off of Bitcoin and named after an Internet meme, is websites such as Netflix would be just as fast as a blog with now a sponsor of the No. 98 NASCAR car after Reddit users just a couple readers. decided to take up a collection to help fund Josh Wise’s team. Net neutrality has been a hot topic for a while now and is WEARABLES about to get hotter. On Thursday, May 15, 2014, the FCC Wearable computers, more simply known as wearables, are a voted 3-2 to advance a new set of proposed net neutrality category of technology devices that can be worn by the user. rules. The new regulations, although not set in stone quite yet, Wearables include such gadgets as smart watches, glasses, could forever change the principle of open Internet. Instead clothing or even contact lenses. Often wearables are related of equal treatment for all Internet traffic, ISPs would offer a to health and fitness, with sensors and monitors built in to base speed for everyone, but then allow companies to pay track heart rate, steps, calories burned, etc. New wearables for a “fast lane.” This means that large companies with big are being created every day, with more advanced technology pockets could essentially pay for their website to load much being built in to smaller and more attractive products. faster than their competitors. The FCC is taking comments on the proposal for the next 120 days before creating the final Wearables have been trending in the tech world consistently version and taking the vote. for a decent amount of time. Google Glass launched their What’s Hot in Technology What to know about Internet Cookies WHAT IS A COOKIE? cookies, also called permanent cookies, are The biggest problem with cookies has to do WHAT TO DO A cookie is a piece of text that a web server cookies that are stored on your hard drive with privacy. When visiting a web site, that You can easily delete, disable or adjust cookie puts on your computer to store, and later until they expire or you delete them. site can track your purchases, the pages settings on your Internet browser. While retrieves, information about you. Cookies can you read, the ads you click on and more. deleting and disabling cookies altogether enhance a browsing experience by letting PROBLEMS WITH COOKIES That web site can then sell that information would keep your information safe, it would to others who might want to sell similar sites remember preferences or letting you There are a few problems with cookies. One also undo your Internet personalization. If products to you. That’s why you most likely avoid signing in each time to certain sites. is that people often share machines. If a you’re just worried about malicious cookies, get ads on your web pages that relate to person is using a computer in a public place, many antivirus programs today will flag recent purchases. like the library, to purchase something from suspicious spyware or adware. TYPES OF COOKIES an online store, a person could later try to Different sites have different policies, so you There are session cookies and persistent purchase something with your account. And if you have any more concerns or can find out how your information might be cookies. A session cookie, also called a Another problem is that people often use questions about your internet privacy, feel used before buying. There are also malicious transient cookie, is a cookie that is erased multiple machines, and unless a site stores free to call us at 877-599-3999 or email us cookies that can track your surfing habits when the web browser is closed. Session preferences centrally, the person will have at [email protected]. over a long period of time and build a very cookies are stored in temporary memory multiple sets of cookies. and are not retained after closed. Persistent specific profile of you. 2 Sesame Street and all related indicia are trademarked and owned by Sesame Workshop. All rights reserved. hether you’re watching videos of cats on YouTube, posting pictures of your kids to Facebook or Googling who played that one guy in that movie, you’re doing so on a web browser. Most people have their go-to pick, but why? How do you know if you’re using the best one? We’re here to break down the advantages and j disadvantages of each of the most popular, free web browsers. INTERNET EXPLORER Internet Explorer comes pre-loaded on any computer that runs on Windows and is therefore one of the most frequently used.