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What We Mean by Bias? Although this in no way should legitimize the biases that many feel against other groups, there are a few theories that suggest that bias is a survival tool. First, a healthy skepticism of ?the other? likely saved quite a few of our ancestors from dying before they were able to perpetuate the species. Maureen Berkner Boyt, an expert in examining bias, offers another theory that explains the root purpose of bias in an ironically inclusive way. According to Boyt, our biases are a tool that our brains use to protect us from information overload. The world is filled with stimuli and an increasing amount of information for our brains to process. Boyt suggests that our biases allow our brains to process and sort the information as quickly as it comes in, serving as a filter. Otherwise, our considerably powerful brains wouldn?t be able to process all of the input they receive, creating an overload issue. Putting it simply, our biases allow us to categorize the stimuli of our environment easier, preventing us from breaking down. Boyt?s theory suggests that biases are more than just certain feelings being associated with particular events or input, they are mental shortcuts that allow us to function. As a result, a safe conclusion to draw is that we are all biased – and that doesn?t mean we?re necessarily bad. How This Can Create Issues in the Business World These biases can cause some problems, however, and unfortunately, many are associated with some form of prejudice, even though this prejudice isn?t always immediately obvious. Rather, these prejudices were simply a subscription to stereotypical beliefs. Think about an industry that is notably populated more by one gender than another. This may not be easy at first, as it won?t likely stand out, but once you see the disparity, it can be hard to unsee. This is why the stereotypical beliefs that drive these biases and prejudices can be so dangerous to the decision-making process in many industries. For example, take the tendency for an orchestra to be primarily filled with male musicians. It isn?t that these musicians are hired by the orchestra because of the fact that they are male, but if auditions were held blindly, with no indication of the auditioners? genders, the male/female balance suddenly becomes much closer. A study of GitHub coders showed the same preferential lean. While the industry has historically been male-dominated, a blind review of the code produced favored code that female coders had developed. Have You Been Biased in Your Business Decision-Making? The scary thing about bias is that, until it is pointed out to you, you can continue perpetuating it without realizing it. Again, these shortcuts are exactly that – shortcuts – meaning that the thoughts they produce aren?t coming from a rational place. Fortunately, there are tools available to help you evaluate yourself for bias. If you don?t mind anonymously sharing your feelings, Harvard?s Project Implicit has quizzes that reveal your biases to a variety of factors. That being said, awareness isn?t enough. To paraphrase G.I. Joe, knowing is *only* half the battle. Once you can recognize that you hold biases, and where they are factoring in and influencing your business, you can learn to stop yourself and reexamine your viewpoint. Boyd calls […]

This situation is far too familiar, and with the rising use of personal devices for work purposes, it has led to too many businesses becoming vulnerable to threats. Fortunately, there are steps to help mitigate the damage if your devices are ever absconded with. 1. Suspend any Financial Permissions to the Device One of the biggest benefits of mobile and online banking and finance management is the security that financial institutions enforce before allowing access. However, many of the security measures are easily circumvented by a user and their device?s password management. If a device is stolen, there?s a good chance that the thief will still be allowed to access many online accounts and make purchases on your (or your company?s) dime if password management is activated. If your online accounts show signs of unauthorized use, reach out to the bank or lender immediately and explain the situation. They should have a fraud department whose job it is to handle exactly this kind of circumstance, and they will most likely refund the lost money. You should still babysit your finances, however, as the bank might not initially pay attention to smaller transactions. 2. Wipe ALL Passwords Yes, ALL passwords. Whether it was a mobile device or a laptop that was stolen from you, you need to access all accounts literally as soon as humanly possible and change every single password you have. On a second device, log into your browser and access any password manager you may be using, including the browser?s native capabilities or a utility like LastPass. This is unfortunate, but necessary: you need to systematically go through and delete every password from the password manager, uninstalling it. You also need to go to every site you have an account with and change your credentials to it. While this in undeniably a pain to deal with, it is less of a pain than a stolen account. 3. Make Sure Browser Sync is Deactivated If you happen to use a browser like Chrome or Firefox across multiple devices, you need to disable it before you start changing your passwords and credentials. Otherwise, any of your changes will automatically transfer over to the stolen device, rendering any of your efforts to block access thus far useless. So, once you?ve wiped the password for each account you have, turn off syncing. In Chrome, you can do this by accessing Settings > Advanced sync settings > Choose what to sync. Deselect everything and set a new password to encrypt your synced data. Then you are safe to start the password resetting process. Secondary Measures When it comes to finding a device that has been stolen, there are a few ways to make it easier to recover afterwards. Note Your Serial Numbers One of the most difficult parts of recovering a stolen laptop (or other device) that the police have recovered is proving that it belongs to you. However, if you keep a record of all of your devices and their serial numbers, you will be prepared to stake a claim to your devices once they are recovered. To find your device?s identifying information, access Control Panel > System and Security > See the name of this computer. From there, you can take a screenshot that you can keep for your records. You […]

An Introduction to the Router It?s been nearly 50 years since the router was developed. Today?s router technology has matured to become an integral component in all types of communications. From data to voice to video, the router is a core piece of technology for almost everyone. The first router was developed by BBN in the late 1960s. Called the Interface Message Processor, it was built for use on the ARPAnet, which was an early predecessor of the Internet. It was quickly improved upon and in 1981, Bill Yeager, of the Stanford Knowledge System Laboratory, developed the code behind the first multiple-protocol router. Interest in Yeager?s concept led Len Bosack and Sandy Lerner to develop the first Local Area Network (LAN) and in 1984 the pair launched Cisco Systems, which is currently the largest networking company in the world. What Is a Router? The simplest definition of a router is: a device that acts as a tunnel to the other devices on a network, supplying them with the means to communicate with each other. Today, most routers have wireless capabilities allowing this to be done without connecting the machines to the router. Despite being called a wireless router, there are typically two wires that will always be connected to it. One is obviously the power cord, while the second comes from the modem. The modem, of course, is the piece of hardware that allows connection to the Internet. How Does It Work? Once all the wires are connected, your router will emit a signal that usually travels between 90 and 300 meters; it is device-dependent. When you connect a device to a Wi-Fi connection, the signal is sent from the router. Many products, including smartphones, laptops, and tablets have Wi-Fi connections built in, but more than that, these days a lot of consumer goods now come with connectivity. Internet of Things devices continue to grow in number, so when picking a router, you?ll likely have to take that into account. Options and Features Like every other piece of technology, the more features and options a router has, the better it is. Here are a few options and features that modern routers have aboard that can make a difference for your data dissemination and protection. Dual-band Wi-Fi – Today most wireless routers have dual-band Wi-Fi, since the traditional 2.4GHz frequency is used in so many places that it can be a problem. Today?s routers come with both 2.4 and 5GHz. Wireless On/Off Toggle – There may be times when you have to disable your Wi-Fi network (i.e. troubleshooting interference) and having a dedicated on/off button can come in handy. Detachable antennas – Many routers come without visible antennas, instead opting for internal antennae. Sometimes you need more range, however. That?s why buying one with detachable antennas give you more flexibility and signal coverage. IPv6 Support – The Internet?s supply of IPv4 addresses has been exhausted, so having support for IPv6 sites is mandatory if you plan on keeping your router for any length of time. If you are looking for help with your organization’s wireless network, start by calling the IT professionals at White Mountain IT Services at (603) 889-0800.

You should work toward centralization of your company?s IT assets as swiftly as possible, as it can provide your organization with enhanced accessibility and flexibility. If your business? assets are all located in the same place, you might be surprised at how many possibilities are opened up, including the ability to access data anytime, anywhere, on any device. Most businesses think of centralization as hosting company assets in one location where they can be accessed at any given point. For a lot of companies, this means implementing cloud computing of some sort. This includes taking your assets and moving them into a virtual environment, where they can be accessed by anyone who needs them. Examples of cloud computing include the following: Constant accessibility: If you host applications in the cloud, you?re allowing for simplified access by approved individuals. This also means that you?ll be able to access these solutions on any connected device, providing on-the-go access for your busier employees. User-based access: Your employees have different roles and responsibilities, and with these come varying degrees of data security clearance. You need to limit access to specific data depending on the user?s role. This keeps your employees from accessing data that they?re not supposed to. Security: If all of your data is located in the same place, it becomes easier to protect. This security also needs to extend to any devices that have access to this data. If you can control security, your business can utilize centralized IT assets with minimal risk. If your business wants to take full advantage of centralized IT, we recommend reaching out to White Mountain IT Services at (603) 889-0800. We can consult you on any number of technology topics and help you maintain your infrastructure.

The basic gist of this law is that U.S. officials and others involved with them could potentially obtain digital information that isn?t hosted on their home turf. This law garnered overwhelming support from both the U.S. Department of Justice and major technology companies, prompting Congress to push it through. What Does This Mean? At a glance, this law represents a significant loss for the individual. It?s now easier than ever before to conduct criminal and civil investigations. Part of this law also allows for access to personal information and communication as well. Prior to the passing of this law, foreign governments would have to go through the proper channels in order to access information from U.S.-based technology companies. Naturally, these companies wouldn?t necessarily consent so easily. Due to the multitude of nations that the United States deals with on a regular basis, before submitting to a request for information from a foreign entity, there would be much thought put into factors such as records of human rights abuses and other pressures placed on the company to make the decision. As a member of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, or MLAT, the United States is hesitant to provide any information that could place human lives at risk, but the CLOUD Act can potentially shake these responsibilities up. In the wake of this new law, the executive branch of the United States government will be able to control who this information is shared with, as well as who it?s not shared with. At the helm of such decisions are U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Data can now effectively be used as bargaining chips by the executive branch. Consequently, there has been a lot of power placed in the hands of appointees that haven?t necessarily been directly elected to positions of authority. The United States and other law enforcement agencies around the globe will have powerful new ways to seize data for any express purpose. Therefore, the average user?s private messages via email or social media can now be confiscated and looked upon without a search warrant. This puts the personal information of so many users right in the crosshairs of people who now have a legal right to view it. Below is a short explanation for what changes the CLOUD Act will bring about: Enable foreign police to collect and wiretap people?s interpersonal communications without obtaining a warrant to do so. Allows foreign nations to demand records saved and stored by American companies. Allows the U.S. President to enter ?executive agreements? designed to help foreign police agencies obtain data regardless of that regime?s human rights record. Allows foreign police to obtain and collect data without notifying the party. Gives U.S. police the right to grab data anyplace, no matter where it is stored. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has been a particular opponent of this new law. They issued a public statement that decreed it a ?dangerous expansion of police snooping? and that it would ?erode privacy protections around the globe.? They go on to state: ?Legislation to protect the privacy of technology users from government snooping has long been overdue in the United States, but the CLOUD Act does the opposite, and privileges law enforcement at the expense of the people?s privacy. EFF strongly opposes the bill.? Clearly […]