r/InformationTechnology

information technology branch

I have an old 500GB Western Digital drive that is barely recognized by Windows.

What free tool do you use to scan and recover the data that is not corrupted?

Retired parent wants to test out “how can it be illegal if they sell” streaming box. Can’t set up a guest network afaik with spectrum router, so the box will be on the same network as all the other devices in the house. Any best practices to protect against what is seemingly a malware box? Im admittedly uninformed but know enough to know these things can be a security risk. Thanks

Hey folks,

As the title suggests I am currently stuck in dilemma between my current role which is a Senior Project Specialist in MSP where I mostly work of server migration, networking and azure related projects

vs

I have an offer in hand for a Senior Infrastructure Analyst in a hospital. This environment includes VMware infra with HPE nimble SAN and role is mostly project work and 20-30% escalations for infra related tickets. Team also has a senior networking specialist so role will be focused purely on managing server infra, role also has plan to migrate to cloud with long term plan to completely go cloud and remove on prem AD dependency as well. In terms of pay this new role pays 20% more than current role but also has HOOPP pension plan as role is based in ON, CA

Around 2.5 years ago I worked indirectly for one of the FAANG/MAANG companies through another company. I was there for only around 50 days and was issued an M1 MacBook for work.

When I left, I asked them multiple times to arrange pickup of the laptop, but for whatever reason it never happened. Nobody followed up afterwards either. The MacBook has basically been sitting unused at my home ever since.

I don't want to sell it or make money from it. At this point I'd just like to either finally return it or, if they've written the asset off and are okay with me keeping it, use it myself.

I've contacted the company again asking them to either collect it or confirm whether it has been written off/released.

My technical question is: what security layers could still be present on an M1 corporate Mac after this long? MDM, Apple Business Manager/DEP, Activation Lock, FileVault, Recovery Lock, etc.?

Is there a safe way to check what it's currently enrolled/locked with before erasing anything? And if the company formally releases the laptop to me, what would they need to remove on their end so I can completely erase it, reinstall macOS and set it up as a normal personal Mac?

Also curious whether anyone here has dealt with a similar forgotten company asset after leaving a job.

Helppp where did you all prepare for aptitude and technical rounds for IT ? please share the best sources or platforms you used?

Feeling completely lost and pressured in BSc CSIT 4th semester

I’m currently studying BSc CSIT and I’m in my 4th semester. Lately, I’ve been feeling really confused and drained because I don’t know what I’m actually supposed to do with my career.

There are so many things to learn—programming, web development, networking, databases, projects, internships, etc.—and sometimes I feel like everyone else is moving forward while I’m just stuck.

I want to build a good career in IT, but I honestly don’t know what I should focus on or whether I’m learning the right things. The pressure of college, assignments, exams, and thinking about my future is becoming overwhelming.

For those who studied BSc CSIT or are already working in IT, what did you focus on around your 4th semester? What skills would you recommend learning now, and how did you figure out which career path was right for you?

I’d really appreciate some honest advice from people who have been through this.

I work in cybersecurity compliance for a very small company with only 3–4 employees. Wedo not have Active Directory or a domain environment; our Windows endpoints are managed individually using local accounts/settings.

Our auditor has requested the following evidence:

“Based on the evidence provided, the normal user is able to access the Event Logs and download/export them.

Kindly provide evidence from three (3) endpoint samples showing that an unauthorized/non-administrative user is unable to open, access, delete, and download/export the Event Logs. When a normal user attempts to access the Event Logs, an ‘Access is denied’ message should be displayed.

Kindly provide evidence from local GPO policy configuration from each endpoint, showing that log/audit capture is enabled.”

I’m trying to understand the correct way to satisfy this requirement in a small, non-domain environment.

My questions are:

On Windows 10/11, what is the recommended way to restrict a standard/non-admin user from accessing or exporting Windows Event Logs?
Is it actually expected that a standard user should receive “Access is denied” when simply opening Event Viewer, or should the restriction apply to specific Security logs/privileged operations instead?
What Local Group Policy (gpedit.msc) or Local Security Policy settings should I configure/capture as evidence that auditing/logging is enabled?
What would be considered appropriate evidence for each of the three endpoints? For example, screenshots of:
Standard user account/group membership
Event Viewer access attempt
Attempt to save/export or clear logs
Local audit policy/GPO configuration
auditpol /get /category:* output
Since we do not have Active Directory or centralized Group Policy, is providing the equivalent Local GPO / Local Security Policy evidence from each endpoint generally sufficient?

I want to make sure we implement the control correctly rather than changing Windows permissions simply to produce an “Access is denied” screenshot.

How would you approach this requirement in a small organization with standalone Windows endpoints?

So I bought an almost $500 intel processor i9 14th gen 2 years ago and I’ve been having issues for a long time that I couldn’t figure out. My pc would just randomly crash with no blue screen and every time it would be new errors. I tried everything reseating memory, removing sticks, updating bios, updating all drivers, and even replacing my nvidia graphics card.

Nothing fixed it and then I started reading online the intel 14th gen processors are notorious for these issues and it’s a known issue by intel.

I created a warranty case and this is where it all went to hell. Intel provides a phone number but guess what you can never talk to a person just leave a message.

So I reach out to live chat, guess what they can’t help either ha.

So I open a support case and it goes on days of where they’ll be like what’s your address then come back a full day later saying what’s your credit card address and say they’ll offer rapid replacement.

So days go by and I’m working and have a missed call I immediately call back and the number says “this isn’t monitored”

What an absolute joke so then they don’t even try calling back the next day I have to reach out again and I get the run around again that live chat can’t help but don’t worry the next day they’ll call again but you cannot call them.

My belief is intel is purposely doing this so you give up and they deny your ability to exercise your warranty rights.

I have completely lost faith in intel after this and I have been buying intel products for 25+ years and was always a die hard fan and told everyone intel was the only right choice.

For anyone that ever told you linkedin was a scam or that it’s pointless to be in there is steering you in the wrong direction. I just finished my first week at an msp last week after applying for MONTHS to get into IT Helpdesk/Support roles. Just a little background I graduated with my Bachelors Degree in Comp Sci this past May and I have Help desk experience from working there at my school. Nonetheless, I went through multiple interviews and phone screenings for months even before I graduated and it was always the “Unfortunately we have moved forward with another candidate” email. Then, out of the blue I get a message in my linkedin inbox from a recruiter saying they liked my background and asked if I was interested in a IT Technician position at their company. Long story short, I didn’t get the original position that they wanted me to apply for because it required 5+ years of experience according to them, but they had a contract position for me which they said was catered more to new grads and early career people and they could even possibly bring me on full time after the contract is up. Now sure I may have gotten the long end of the stick in this situation but nonetheless this all came because my linkedin profile was professional and did a good job showcasing my skills. I have also heard stories from many people saying that this is the best way to land a job because once it’s directly from a recruiter you’re just way more likely to get a job than applying to a job and praying you even get an interview with the hundreds of applicants. I say this to say whoever is out there that’s been in my shoes and has been applying for months and weeks to not give up no matter how discouraging it is! All it takes is one company or person to believe in you or your skills. I will also say i’m blessed that I went through this because it made me very good at taking interviews. I am not longer nervous or anxious for them because these recruiters and managers tend to ask the same type of questions and once you’ve been through so many of them your confidence during them is very high.

I've recently started applying to call center/customer support jobs alongside entry-level IT positions, mostly because I'm trying to be realistic about getting a job while I'm in school.

And honestly, I'm not surprised that call centers respond more often, but I am surprised by just how much more responsive they are.

For context, I have a B.S. in Information Technology and I'm currently pursuing a master's degree in Human Computer Interactions. I also have an IT internship where I helped refurbish and deploy computers for local schools, including supporting the rollout of over 2,000 devices.

More recently, I've been doing independent IT contracting, where I've handled things like hardware installation, troubleshooting, network setup, software upgrades, and end-user support.

I've also worked in customer-facing jobs at Best Buy, Starbucks, McDonald's, and currently DoorDash. So I have a pretty substantial combination of technical experience AND customer service experience.

My IT background includes networking, Active Directory, DNS, Group Policy, Linux/Apache servers, virtualization, security fundamentals, web development, and accessibility/UX. I also have a Google IT Support certificate.

My resume isn't exactly "I watched a YouTube video about how to build a PC yesterday and now I'm applying for IT."

Yet when I apply for entry-level IT roles — help desk, desktop support, IT support, junior technician, etc. — I can send out application after application and hear absolutely nothing.

Then I started applying to call center/customer service positions.

• Suddenly I'm getting emails.
• Suddenly I'm getting interview requests.
• Suddenly companies are interested in talking to me.

Which got me thinking:

Are call center jobs basically becoming the new entry-level IT jobs?

Obviously, call center work isn't IT, and I'm not saying that it should be considered equivalent. But a lot of entry-level IT positions seem to want someone with 1–3 years of experience, multiple certifications, knowledge of several enterprise systems, and sometimes a bachelor's degree, while still calling the position "entry-level."

Meanwhile, call centers seem much more willing to take someone with transferable skills and train them.

I'm curious what other people in IT think. Has anyone else with an IT degree, certifications, and technical experience found it easier to get hired for customer service or call center work than an actual entry-level IT position?

And for people who did start in a call center: did it actually help you transition into IT later, or did you find yourself getting stuck in customer service?

Besides the obvious of people doing crazy stuff. And more than likely teams messages (I would think that’s an obvious thing yall can see - like messages).

So this is my first post on Reddit, and I'm already asking for help, which feels very on-brand for me.

I work in marketing at a B2B tech company, and we're heading to a major tech conference next month. My manager has tasked me with coming up with booth game ideas to drive foot traffic, and I am completely lost.

Here's my problem: I genuinely do not enjoy games. And on top of it, I don't know what kind of games people enjoy at tech conferences. So asking me to come up with "fun" booth activities is a bit like asking someone who hates cooking to design a restaurant menu.

So what I actually want to know from people who've been to tech events:

• What booth games have actually made you stop and engage vs. ones you walked right past?
• Is there anything you've seen that felt fresh or actually clever rather than just "win a tote bag"?
• Do people at B2B tech events even want to play games, or is that a myth marketers tell each other?

Any ideas welcome. I promise I'll actually use them even if I personally would never play them.

Hey again, quick follow-up since a bunch of you helped me out last time with the booth games thing, I really appreciate that!!

Disclosure: I work in marketing for the company behind this, and this is something I planned. Mostly just wanted to show you what became of the ideas you gave me so thank you for that.

So here's the context I skipped over before. The company I work for is a sponsor at Dreamforce this year, and for the first time we're actually putting our own product at the center of the booth instead of just showing up with a banner and hoping people wander over. It's called ChargeOn, a payment processing app that lives inside Salesforce. We've already got a handful of clients using it, but this is our very first time we are taking it to a big reveal on a big enough platform. So yeah, the pressure to not have a boring booth was very real, hence the whole post.

And if I talk about the goodies, we genuinely went a little overboard (since we are sponsoring for the first time, so wanted to make it a deal ngl). Not the usual pens and stress balls that end up in a drawer within a week; we sat down and actually picked stuff people would want to hold onto. Worth stopping by just for these honestly, even if you don't care about the product at all.

Anyway, that's how we landed on a small arcade-style runner game and a giant Jenga on the floor instead of the spin-the-wheel thing we were originally going with. honestly, a lot of it came from stuff people said in that sub, so credit where it's due (thanks all!).

On the product side, without making this a whole pitch, it handles payments, recurring billing, invoicing, all natively inside Salesforce. One thing we really cared about was keeping pricing reasonable since a lot of similar tools quietly get expensive once you actually need the advanced stuff, so yeah, that's something we leaned into.

If you're heading to Dreamforce and want to swing by, play the game, grab some goodies, or just say hi, would genuinely love to meet some of you in person. Happy to answer questions about the product too if you're curious; drop a comment or DM, whatever's easier.

I am a female 31 and just started in the IT helpdesk at a grocery chain.

They’ve given me 9 different trainers that rotate every week sometimes everyday.

9 different training styles.

Some are hands off some are extremely hands on.

The training is extremely inconsistent between trainer to trainer. Some don’t care some micromanage me.

They’ve advanced two other new people forward except me. They won’t let me be on my own. The two newer people ask just as many questions even more. But explain to me I have a retention issue.

Today I was criticized for not asking questions but I do ask a ton of questions.

Then I was told no more critical tickets even though my prior trainer told me I needed more critical tickets.

I need help. How do I navigate this?

Hello everyone,

I am currently learning web development and my goal is to become a Full Stack Developer. Right now, I am focusing on JavaScript and React.js. Honestly, I am finding these technologies interesting and not as difficult as I expected.

My plan is to become a Full Stack Developer first, gain real-world experience, and then work in my cousin's software house to improve my skills by working on real projects.

After becoming a Full Stack Developer, I am thinking about adding another specialization that can make my career stronger in the future. My main concerns are:

- Which field will be more valuable in the next 5–10 years?

- Which career path is less likely to be replaced by AI?

- Which one can provide better salary growth and make me more valuable as a developer?

I am confused between:

1. DevOps / Cloud Engineering

2. Cybersecurity

I am not really interested in AI and Machine Learning, so I want to focus on another field.

My questions:

- After Full Stack Development, should I move towards DevOps or Cybersecurity?

- Which one has better long-term career growth?

- Which one is harder to master?

- Which one is easier to enter as a Full Stack Developer?

- Can a person realistically learn Full Stack + DevOps + Cybersecurity during their career, or is it better to specialize in one?

- If you were starting your career in 2026, what path would you choose?

I would really appreciate advice from people who are already working in software development, DevOps, cloud, or cybersecurity.

I am trying to make the right decision early because I want to build a strong career that remains valuable in the future.

Thank you!

I work on the brand marketing team at a big Fortune 500. Not a tech-facing role at all. But my entire life I’ve been a hobbyist programmer with a mild (okay, not mild) obsession with infosec, networking, and privacy/opsec.

A while back one of the IT guys I’m friendly with pulled me aside and told me I’ve been flagged by the security team as the “riskiest employee.” I was genuinely shocked. I don’t do anything sketchy. The nature of my job just means I talk to a lot of external people, download massive files, and generate/process hundreds of reports every week.

Because of that flag, every single request I submit now gets treated like I’m asking for national security clearance. Last week I got denied access to a shared mailbox that I legitimately need for my job. I also suspect that because I’ve spent years thinking about this stuff, the way I word my requests comes across as “too savvy,” which only makes them more suspicious.

I’m in a fairly senior role, so they usually end up approving most things eventually… but the friction has become a massive annoyance. At this point I feel like a little psychological chess is fair game.

I want to keep them slightly on edge and guessing, while staying 100% compliant. No actual malice, no policy violations, nothing that could get me in real trouble. Just enough weirdness to make their threat models itch.

Stuff I’ve already thought about:

• Naming my personal devices (iPhone, laptop, etc.) something mildly suspicious
• Running WireGuard / other VPNs on my personal devices so the traffic patterns look interesting on corporate Wi-Fi

What else can I do? Looking for creative, low-risk, fully compliant ways to keep the security team mildly unsettled.
Hit me with your best ideas.

I am trying to transfer files from my s21 to my new s26 via wired connection. I am trying to use the blue files app that come up when you plug in phones, but for whatever reason, my phone can't see the other phones files when I go to transfer it's just blank.

I already activated developer options and set the default USB configuration to transferring files/ android auto. Both phones are also unlocked the entire time, im not sure what could be stopping me.

The cable i am using works. I've tried my s21 to my brothers a16 and the in order to transfer my files I would have to use the a16, if I try using the s21 the a16's files don't show up. But it can definitely transfer files

Not entirely sure what's going on or how to fix if anyone has advice or an external app that would be great

I'd rather not use smart switch as it scans everything before letting me transfer files which takes a long time when I just need my files

Anyone have any sugguestions?