Stuart Barnes Ltd and Coastal Computing have stepped in to help leukaemia victim Peter Lee replace his stolen laptop. The original story is reported here in the Dorset Evening Echo.

After reading the story Stuart Barnes donated a laptop from his Weymouth computer company ‘Coastal Computing’.

Manager of Coastal Computing Andy Hardy said: “We wanted to help because it’s not nice when anyone gets robbed, let alone when they are suffering from something like leukaemia.

Please click here to read to full story on the Echo website.

Leaner processes, faster performance, superior product - ESET protection

ESET NOD32 ANTIVIRUS 4 AND ESET SMART SECURITY 4 DELIVER ADVANCED PROACTIVE PROTECTION FROM TODAY’S COMPLEX SECURITY THREATS

As the leader in proactive threat protection for PCs, servers, and other systems, we are delighted to announce the release of version 4 of ESET’s award-winning anti-malware solutions ESET NOD32 Antivirus and ESET Smart Security, for consumers and businesses.

The new versions build on ESET’s ThreatSense®, the industry’s most accurate proactive technology for detecting viruses and other malware, add over 20 new capabilities that improve malware detection, enhance system diagnostics and recovery, and improve management. The latest release continues ESET’s tradition of delivering ultimate security with fast, transparent operation and minimal load on system memory, disk or CPU. ESET’s unrivalled ability to deliver industry-leading proactive malware detection and high system performance can literally extend the life of PCs and laptops while improving their security.

ESET’s new detection and diagnostic features safeguard users from deceptive forms of malware by digging deeper into the operating system, files and encrypted browser traffic to identify and eliminate hidden malware threats. The latest version also includes advanced self-defence technology that protects against malware designed to disable antivirus or anti-malware solutions, leaving the user completely unprotected. Together, these new features enable consumers and businesses to proactively block most new malware attacks before they can compromise systems to damage or steal data.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 and ESET Smart Security 4 Business Editions also feature a full-range of management capabilities. These include support for high-end databases, fine-grained control of endpoint security, and even greater scalability for large, dispersed networks. ESET Business Editions include version 3.0 of ESET’s Remote Administrator, which enables businesses to remotely deploy and manage ESET software.

ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 and ESET Smart Security 4’s new, industry-first security features include:

• Advanced Archive Scanning – This new feature makes ESET’s consumer products the first to allow experienced users to fully customise scanning to do a “deep dive” of archive files created with popular compression formats, including .RAR, .ZIP and others. Comprehensive controls allow users to define archive scanning with scanning depth, maximum scan time, and maximum file size.

• Removable Media Access Control – Gives consumers removable media security for USB flash drives and CDs – protection previously extended only to businesses. The feature gives administrators the ability to allow or block mounting of removable media. If removable media is allowed, dangerous files like AUTORUN.INF are scanned for threats.

• ESET SysInspector – Newly integrated into ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 and ESET Smart Security 4, this powerful system diagnostics tool quickly discovers hidden/potentially dangerous rootkits without running a full antivirus scan. It can also reveal hidden changes to the operating system, web browser, registry and applications. The scan results are standardised and can be reviewed by IT personnel, speeding up malware analysis and removal.

• ESET SysRescue – Enables users to diagnose and recover compromised systems more easily. Customers build their own system rescue CDs, which can be used to clean up and repair systems compromised by malware without reimaging the system.

With ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 and ESET Smart Security 4, the company also adds the following additional features to further improve threat prevention, detection and management:

• Business-class interoperability and management – ESET includes powerful features to integrate into multi-layer security environments. Enhanced reporting, support for Cisco NAC, removable media control, and improved policy authoring simplify deployment and ongoing management, with improved interoperability.

• Power conservation – Already the most efficient and lightweight anti-malware products on the market, ESET NOD32 Antivirus 4 and ESET Smart Security 4 go one step further by automatically adjusting performance on laptops to maximise battery life without compromising security.

• Improved self-defence technology – ESET software features improved defences against disabling of the antivirus system by malware or unauthorised users – among other things by restricting changes to ESET’s processes and registry entries to authenticated users.

• User-friendly interface – Numerous enhancements to the GUI make the product even easier to use. Among many enhancements, there is auto-disabling notifications when full-screen applications like presentations, games or video are running, and a new non-graphical user interface that allows disabled and visually-impaired users to easily interact with the software using screen readers and other assistive technologies.

“While other companies attempt to play catch-up to the ever-increasing flood of complex malware, ESET’s advanced heuristics and new feature-rich solutions continue to deliver superior prevention and detection capabilities, without compromising system performance,” said Anton Zajac, CEO of ESET. “More than 70 million consumer and business users worldwide rely on ESET’s reliable, proactive protection to secure them from Internet attacks. By continuing our tradition of delivering maximum protection with minimum overhead, we increase efficiency and decrease total cost of ownership.”

Existing users can download version 4 from Eset’s website, free of charge, using the credentials from their current ESET Licence.

Our security partners Eset who provide the excellent Nod32 and Eset Smart Security have released this video promoting the next generation of Eset’s award winning product.  The cool looking robot is called Andy… which is an excellent name wouldn’t you say?

Our good friends at ZyXEL have just informed me that we have been upgraded to a ZyBronze Partner! Please don’t get too excited ;)  So what does this mean on the grand scheme of things?  Well for us it means we get better support which in invaluable especially in business environments where the majority of our switching and routing is provided by ZyXEL kit.  This will also mean we are able to be even more competitive on price which is something we can all relate too.  Home users will also see the benefits of this scheme for the home networking solutions that we have been providing.  Next stop is silver where you get a free unicorn and magic beans with every purchase! benefits

All this brilliance will not come cheap however! The entry level chip is going for around £240 inc VAT ( that’s the 15% flavour ) and a new motherboard will cost you between £200-300 depending on how deep your pockets are.  Not only that but the x58 chipset supports Quad DDR3 and most importantly in my opinion it is the first chipset to support SLi & Crossfire!  Well I am pleased to announce that it is time for me to decommission my current machine *sob* which is a totally water-cooled AMD X2 with Sli 7800GT’s, and dip my toe into the world of i7.  My trusty current rig has seen many a session of BF2 but is starting to struggle with the latest games Especially when I am trying to run at 1920×1200.  You might ask why I am bothering you tell you guys about this?  Well I am going to be launching a review section on my site and I thought perfect! this is a great opportunity to show case some of the latest parts on the market, and show off our talents for PC building. 

Of course the ironic thing is my fav game at the moment is Left 4 Dead and that runs peachy on a leapfrog from Argos..

Watch this space !

Coastal Computing are now able to offer the latest Antivirus solution for mobile users, Eset Mobile Antivirus!

Smartphones and Pocket PCs are enormously popular with consumers and businesses. These mobile devices are used for communication, entertainment and services. As a result, they are warehousing increasingly sensitive information.

This trend is attracting the attention of financially motivated cybercriminals. Analysts agree that mobile devices will become increasingly targeted for attack, putting hundreds of millions of devices at risk to these emerging and unknown threats.

Created by the team that brought you the award-winning ESET NOD32® Antivirus, ESET Mobile Antivirus delivers proactive and comprehensive protection from viruses, spyware, adware, trojans, worms, rootkits and other potentially unwanted software.

As this is a brand new product we will be rolling this out on our HTC pda’s over the course of the next week, so if you would like a demonstration of the software please get in touch and we can make arrangements to show you how Eset can help protect mobile users.

Epygi Technologies designs, manufactures and distributes globally feature-rich IP PBXs, voice over IP gateways and cost-saving conference servers.

Epygi’s Quadro IP PBX appliances have been designed to serve the SMB and SOHO markets along with enterprise teleworkers and companies with many small branch offices.

Using its own IP PBX call manager software based on standard Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) technology and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) software, Epygi combines telecommunications network knowledge with emerging computer telephony protocols to deliver robust voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) utility.

See how VOIP can save your business money by contacting Coastal Computing!

Here is a little snip of the Echo article in all it’s glory… 

By Harry Hogger for The Dorset Evening Echo

SOUTHILL Fireworks will be back with a bang after a businessman stepped in to save the popular event.

Organisers had been forced to cancel the 12th annual fireworks display at Southill shopping centre after claiming the credit crunch had left them unable to attract sponsors.

But when Stuart Barnes saw the plight of the community event he was determined not to let it fizzle out and offered to be the main sponsor for the event.

His backing means the event has been resurrected and will now go ahead as planned on November 8.

Mr Barnes, who attends the display every year, says he was spurred into action when he spotted a story in last week’s Echo concerning the economic plight of the fireworks display.

Southill Fireworks normally attracts between 2,000 and 3,000 people and raises around £1,000 for local charities, but the 2008 event was under a very real threat after organiser Jon Gabb revealed they were £1,300 short of the funding required to put on the display.

He said: “When I first heard it was under threat I thought they would come up with the money but when I read about it in the paper last week I realised they needed someone to come in.”

Mr Barnes contacted Mr Gabb and agreed to come on board as main sponsor to cover the funding shortfall.

His three companies, Coastal Plumbing and Gas, Coastal Computing and Stuart Barnes Ltd, are all sponsoring the event.

Mr Barnes said: “They have made us the main sponsor of the event and we will be working closely with Jon to get it all back on track as there are still the fireworks to get and things and he has to design the firework display.

“They will benefit from it and hopefully we will too.”

He added: “It’s for the people of the community, to give a little bit back as it’s easy to take all the time.

“Hopefully it will be a good night with lots of people there.”

This year’s event will also raise money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, Southill Youth Club, Kidz R Us pre-school, Radipole Scout Group and Southill Primary School PTA.

A grateful Mr Gabb said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. We are back on again and everyone’s really quite happy about it. I have had a lot of feedback from people saying it’s fantastic news that it’s going ahead and the charities are thrilled.

“We will try and make it as special as possible this year.”

By Harry Hogger for The Dorset Evening Echo

ZyXEL is one of the top 3 global broadband CPE manufacturers and produce everything from IP DSLAM’s which are found in local telephone exchanges, to home networking equipement such as Wi-Fi routers.  The new partnership will allow Coastal Computing to work directly with ZyXEL in the UK to provide the best possible prices and by far the best customer support available.

If you are interested in learning more about how Coastal Computing and ZyXEL can help you at home or at your business, please give us a call on 01305770447 or email info@coastalitservices.com