It’s time to patch your Windows PCs (and it’s best to do it now rather than later).

A new vulnerability was discovered in the way that Windows XP (and later) handles the remote desktop protocol.  This vulnerability allows attackers the ability to run code without any user permissions.

Per Microsoft’s blog…

Due to the attractiveness of this vulnerability to attackers, we anticipate that an exploit for code execution will be developed in the next 30 days

The (CVE-2012-0002 RDP vulnerability) could allow remote code execution if an attacker sends a sequence of specially crafted RDP packets to an affected system.

If your systems are set for automatic updating, then MS12-020 was a part of yesterday’s Patch Tuesday package.  If not, get over to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and update your system or contact PCSDesk and we’ll perform the updates on your behalf.

Today Microsoft released Windows 8 Consumer Preview to give users and potential buyers a first-hand look at what their new operating system has to offer.

If you would like to give this new build a good once-over, your system must meet the following requirements:

• Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
• RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
• Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
• Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device or higher
• To use touch, you need a tablet or a monitor that supports multitouch.
• To access the Windows Store and to download and run apps, you need an active Internet connection and a screen resolution of at least 1024 x 768.
• To snap apps, you need a screen resolution of at least 1366 x 768.

PCSDesk hasn’t had the opportunity to give this new build a test drive yet, but when we do we’ll be sure to post our findings here.  Stay tuned!

If you or your co-workers are experiencing any oddities as a result of this update (IE: delays or rejections in receiving email from certain addresses), please visit our web site at http://www.pcsdesk.com/index.php/contact-pcs/ and let us know the email address of the individual(s) who is having a problem emailing you. Our technicians will review the issue and work with you and the sender to resolve the problem.

On this day in 1996, four friends from a failing Middle Tennessee computer retailer came together to provide technical solutions and services to the small business.  They named their company Phoenix Computer Services, a nod to the mythical bird who “rises from the ashes” to burn bright once again.

On the anniversary of our seventeenth year, we felt it was time to retire the name Phoenix Computer Services and usher in a new name, new services and new skill sets to better serve our long-time friends and customers.  The new name, PCSDesk, is a reference to our company’s past (PCS) and an acknowledgement of what we are to our customers: a technology help desk.

Even though the name has changed, our commitment to your company’s success (and up-time) remains the same.  We thank you for your continued business and as always, let us know how we can help.

Happy New Year!

Brian Gallutia
PCSDesk, LLC

The enhanced bonus depreciation benefit enacted into law is greater than the current benefit. Before enactment of the new bonus depreciation law, businesses were allowed to recover 50 percent of the cost of capital expenditures over time according to a depreciation schedule. The bill extends and temporarily increases the bonus depreciation to 100 percent for investments placed in service after September 8, 2010 and through December 31, 2011. For investments placed in service after December 31, 2011 and through December 31, 2012, the bill provides for the current 50 percent bonus depreciation.

If you are considering technology purchases for yourself or your company and would like to take advantage of this Act, please give us a call at 866.976.9136  or drop us a line through our contact form.  We’re ready to help!

A long-time customer of PCS’s, Alexander Metals, experienced a tragedy last month with one of their employees, Kara Maynard.  Please read the following email from a friend and co-worker and give where you can, even if the giving is in prayers and well-wishes…

—–

Hello everyone!

During this holiday season most people are more generous and giving and I’d like to share a story with you.  Several weeks ago a friend of ours was driving home after enjoying watching a game with friends. It was late, dark and the roads were damp and she lost control of her vehicle and it flipped into a ditch several times. When she arrived at Vanderbilt it was determined that her spine was severed and she was paralyzed from the breast line down.

In the blink of an eye, her whole life changed. She is now in an aggressive rehabilitation center and is trying to regain her health. Doctors do not believe that she will walk again but there is always hope. She is 35 years old, has a beautiful ten year old daughter and currently resides with her mother.

Unfortunately her mother’s home cannot be converted for wheel chair access but many people are coming together to convert her mother’s unattached garage into a studio apartment. A wonderful kindness to be sure, but as most of you know insurance never covers everything and the cost of obtaining a vehicle to drive, all the other necessities, and physician’s bills are going to be considerable.

Her employers are collecting donations in her name this holiday season to help her and her family with the coming expenses. If you were planning on giving to any cause or organization during this time of year, the Maynard family will certainly need it. You don’t have to send much but even if you can spare five, ten, or twenty dollars, please send it to: 

Kara Maynard 
C/O Alexander Metals, Inc. 
497 Cave Road 
Nashville TN 37210

I know that any donation will be appreciated by her and her family.

Western Digital last week said it made “substantial progress” in restoring their hard drive operation in Thailand after severe flooding that hit the area last month.  WD has been working tirelessly to remove submerged equipment from certain facilities and begin the process of restoring buildings and facilities and getting operations back on track.

The upgrade and migration went off without a hitch; however, if your company or organization is having any trouble with emailing, please give us a call at 866.976.9136 or click on the chat icon on the right-hand side of this post.

Thank you and have a great week!