Many small businesses with tight budgets are facing a tough choice: Stick with obsolete systems and remain vulnerable to hackers, or spend a lot to install new gear. David Gewirtz shows how Linux can help you preserve your investment while staying safe and secure.
Earlier this week, my phone rang. I looked at the Caller ID. It was from a neighbor in the community. Since I was writing, I ignored it. Next came a text from the same guy: “Please call me.” Like I said, I was working, so I ignored it. Then came a succession of text alerts on my phone. I turned off my phone, and finished my article.
When I finally looked at my phone, there were three scrolls of alerts, all from Fred. I don’t know Fred all that well, but we often bump into each other around town and at events. He normally seems like a cheerful, calm sort of guy. Not today.
I listened to his voicemail message, where he sounded like he’d been crying. “We’re done, Dave. Don’t know what to do. [Expletive] computers.”
It was a busy week, but it sounded like he was genuinely desperate. I reluctantly decided to get involved.
I called him back. “Hey, Fred. What’s going on? You sound upset.”
“Dave, can you come over? I think we might be done for. If there’s a chance…”
Fixing computers is not my favorite thing. But I’d been inside all day and getting out would be nice. So I headed over to his office.
What I walked into seemed more like a war zone than an office. A cluster of workers were staring at a chunky old LCD monitor. They looked like they’d seen a ghost.