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Consider IT

May, 2023

keyboard shortcuts
May 17, 2023

Boost Your Productivity with These Top 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

In today’s fast-paced digital world, maximising productivity is paramount, and at Consider IT, we like to equip our clients and visitors with the knowledge to make their workdays better and more efficient. One way to achieve this is by mastering keyboard shortcuts. These handy combinations of keys can save you time, effort, and unnecessary mouse clicks. Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual computer user, learning and utilising keyboard shortcuts can just make your day go a little smoother. Here, we’ll explore the top 10 keyboard shortcuts that can help you become a more efficient computer user, beyond your basic copy and paste (CTRL+C and CTRL+V).

  1. Win + V (Enable clipboard )– This shortcut allows you to copy and paste multiple items and store them temporarily in your clipboard. Very handy for filling out repetitive information.
  2. CTRL + SHIFT + V (Paste without formatting): Just what it says on the tin. This will paste your copied text without any formatting from the original source.
  3. Ctrl+Z (Undo) and Ctrl+Y (Redo): Made a mistake? Ctrl+Z to the rescue! This combination undoes your last action, providing a quick way to rectify errors. Conversely, Ctrl+Y redoes the action that was just undone, allowing you to easily toggle between different versions of your work.
  4. Ctrl+S (Save): Never lose your progress again. Ctrl+S instantly saves your document, spreadsheet, or any other editable file. Make it a habit to save frequently, as unexpected crashes or power outages can occur, potentially resulting in data loss.
  5. Ctrl+X (Cut): Need to remove selected text or files? Ctrl+X is your go-to shortcut. It cuts the selected content and stores it in the clipboard, ready to be pasted elsewhere.
  6. Ctrl+A (Select All): Save time selecting multiple items by using Ctrl+A. This shortcut selects all the text, files, or elements within the active window, allowing for swift editing or copying.
  7. Windows Key+D (Show Desktop): When your screen is cluttered with open windows, Windows Key+D comes to the rescue. This shortcut minimizes all open windows and takes you straight to the desktop, providing a clean slate to work with.
  8. Alt+Tab (Switch Between Applications): Effortlessly switch between open applications with Alt+Tab. This shortcut displays a list of open windows, allowing you to navigate and select the desired one without reaching for your mouse.
  9. Ctrl+Shift+Esc (Open Task Manager): Need to manage or close unresponsive applications? Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens the Task Manager directly, giving you the power to monitor and control your system’s processes efficiently.
  10. The Win+Shift+S : This shortcut is used to capture a specific area of the screen in Windows. When you press Win+Shift+S, your screen will dim, and the cursor will change to a crosshair. You can then click and drag to select the desired area to capture. Once you release the mouse button, the selected screenshot area will be saved to the clipboard. This shortcut is particularly useful when you need to capture a specific part of the screen quickly without capturing the entire screen. After capturing the screenshot, you can paste it into an image editing or document software using Ctrl+V for further use or sharing.

Keyboard shortcuts are invaluable tools that enhance productivity and efficiency in various computing tasks. By incorporating these top 10 shortcuts into your daily routine, you can navigate your computer, edit content, and manage applications with ease.

Get in touch

Say hello and talk to a member of the Consider IT team today to help to structure and manage cyber security systems tailored for your business. 

May 17, 2023
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Ransomware attack
May 4, 2023

The City of Dallas ransomware attack: What can we learn?

According to media reports the City of Dallas has fallen victim to a ransomware attack that has affected several critical systems and services, including 911 emergency response, financial transactions, and public communications. The attackers, a group named “Royal Ransomware”, are believed to have gained access to the City’s systems via phishing attack.

Phishing attacks typically involve fraudulent emails, text messages or phone calls that appear to come from a reputable source (for example a subscription service) that can trick people into downloading malware to their device, or convince them to part with sensitive data such as credit card or bank account details. 

While the city’s IT team has responded quickly to isolate the affected systems, the attack has still caused significant disruption and inconvenience to residents and businesses. For part of the day, 911 call dispatchers had to manually write down call reports to pass to officers instead of using their automated dispatch system. Additionally, court systems went down, resulting in some jury trials being cancelled. In a media statement, officials confirmed the attack:

“”Wednesday morning, the City’s security monitoring tools notified our Security Operations Center (SOC) that a likely ransomware attack had been launched within our environment. Subsequently, the City has confirmed that a number of servers have been compromised with ransomware, impacting several functional areas, including the Dallas Police Department Website,”

“The City is currently working to assess the complete impact, but at this time, the impact on the delivery of City services to its residents is limited.”

There has been no indication as of yet if a ransom demand has been made.

What have we learned?

This incident highlights the importance of cybersecurity awareness, education, and resilience for all organisations, regardless of their size or sector. Here are some key takeaways from the Dallas ransomware attack:

Cyber threats are real and evolving

Ransomware attacks are a growing trend among cybercriminals, who use them to extort money from vulnerable targets. Organisations must stay informed about the latest threats and trends and implement appropriate security measures to reduce their risk exposure.

Regular vulnerability assessment is key

Organisations that don’t take stock of their cyber vulnerabilities leave themselves open to attack. Cyber criminals are a constant threat that need constant surveillance. Implementing systems to scan for vulnerabilities as they appear, regularly updating software and systems, and prioritising vulnerabilities by risk level makes it harder for criminals to access sensitive data.

Humans are the weakest link

Many cyber attacks exploit human errors and behaviour, such as clicking on suspicious links or downloading malware. Organisations must train their employees and contractors on how to detect and avoid cyber threats, and foster a culture of cyber security awareness and responsibility. Penetration testing with phishing simulation emails can help business leaders to assess where their team is in terms of cyber security awareness, so any training gaps can be plugged.

Backup and recovery are essential 

Even if an organisation falls victim to a ransomware attack, it can minimise the impact by having a reliable incident response plan. Regularly backing up critical data and testing the recovery process can help organisations restore their operations faster and avoid paying the ransom.

We can help

Find out how to protect your business from cyber security threats by contacting a member of our team today by emailing [email protected]

May 4, 2023
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