Technology Resolutions for the New Year
Don't forget to add a few technology best practices to your 2011 New Year's Resolutions!
1. Run all the updates on your home computer and laptop
Whether you're on a Mac or a PC, it is always a good idea to keep your machine up to date. Keeping your computer up to date helps prevent virus and malware attacks. Often times, running updates fixes bugs in your software and even adds new functionality. If you're on a managed SHSU computer, we'll keep up with this for you. For your home computer or unmanaged SHSU machine, follow these easy steps.
Installing Updates for PC
We advise that you automatically download and install updates for your computer. This will ensure that your computer is kept up to date as much as possible.
To enable Windows 7 updating automatically
- Click the start button
- From the Start Menu, choose Control Panel
- From the Control Panel, choose System and Security
- From the System and Security section, choose to turn automatic update on.
To enable Windows Vista updating automatically
- Click the start button
- From the Start Menu, choose All Programs
- From All Programs, choose Windows Update
- From Windows Update, choose Change Settings
- Install Updates Automatically and Click OK.
To enable Windows XP updating automatically
- Click the start button
- From the Start Menu, choose Control Panel
- From Control Panel, choose Automatic Updates.
Installing Updates for Mac (OS X 10.5 and later)
- From the Apple menu, choose Software Update
- Software Update checks for available updates. In the Software Update window, select the items you want to install, then click Install. Usually, you should install all available updates. (Mac OS X v10.3 only: Click the Check Now button.)
- Enter an administrator account name and password.
- After installation is complete, restart the computer if required.
2. Build a LinkedIn Profile
If you don't already have a LinkedIn profile, resolve to create one in 2011. LinkedIn is a powerful professional networking tool that you can use to stay in touch with colleagues, participate in professional groups, look for jobs, research companies, solicit references and adeptly manage your personal professional brand.
Professionals use LinkedIn to find like-minded professionals. Job seekers use LinkedIn to read job postings, research companies and research hiring teams of a company at which they are considering accepting a position. Businesses use LinkedIn to find customers. Sales people and fundraisers use LinkedIn to find prospects.
Obviously, it's imperative to represent yourself well. The mistake most folks make is not representing themselves at all. Check it out at http://www.linkedin.com.
3. Secure Your Passwords
If you need some incentive to secure your password just Google "password hack horror stories." You'll see stories of drained PayPal accounts, deleted Gmail accounts, hacked Facebook accounts with terribly embarrassing status updates and myriad other stories that will inspire you to rethink your personal password strategy. Resolve to secure your passwords in 2011 and try the following tips:
- Take a lesson from the Gawker Media hack this past December and avoid the passwords on this list.
- Follow the tips for creating strong passwords published in Microsoft's Online Safety guide.
- Don't use the same password for all your accounts. That way, if some dishonest person does successfully hack one of your accounts, they won't have hit the mother load and gained access to everything.
- Never share your password with anyone, not even if they seem legit, not even with us!
4. Google Yourself
Who was the last person you Googled? (Yes, Googled is a verb, as evidenced by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
According to a 2010 study conducted by Microsoft, 64 percent of employers think it's OK to review the social media profiles of job applicants and 41 percent have rejected candidates based on what they found.
Proactively managing your online identity can help you by validating your professional claims, establishing credibility and communicating contemporary skills. Managing your online identity reactively is simply a risk that may hurt you when you least expect it.
Resolve to Google yourself and take charge of your online identity!
5. Create a My Sam channel for your department
If you're faculty or staff here at SHSU, it's likely you've visited My Sam Portal by now. If not, you may find the following pages informative:
The content sections, or "channels," on each page of the My Sam Portal are created by faculty and staff at SHSU who have information they'd like to share with the campus community.
Channels can contain any text, links or pictures that you'd like. All you have to do is write the content, agree to keep it up-to-date and submit a work order.
For more information about creating channel content for My Sam Portal, please contact me at ecrossland@shsu.edu, or call 4-1049.
6. Follow Us on Twitter, Facebook & Blog
The IR Helpdesk has a Blog, Twitter and Facebook sites. We use these sites to post interesting technology-related information as well change notices and computing updates.
You don't have to wait for IR Update to get information. Join our social media sites today!
