PC News

First Impressions Of The iPad

2010-09-29T18:28:00.002-04:00

The first time I heard about the Apple iPad, I thought it was some joke. I eventually discovered it was a real device. I thought that it was a funny way for Apple to pun its own line of digital products. But then I realized that it is actually a pretty nifty idea for a product.

First, iPad is undeniably sticky; it sounds like Apple's digital genius, the iPod, which has spawned a line of its own.

The most common reactions to those who have detected the iPad for the first time is a mixture of surprise and pleasant confusion. The moment you hear it, you start to think about it.

Next, the iPad lives up to its name and I just do not mean the Apple brand. It is very literal that it is almost funny. When I first heard about it, after I got over its pronunciation issue, I thought about its looks. My friend told me that the iPad resembles a clipboard or a tablet, and I just couldn't really believe that it was going to look like that. It looked like a huge iPod. Somehow, we all got used to the fancy and metaphorical model names of gadgets

The iPad looks like a thick pad of paper, a clipboard or a tablet. It works on a touchscreen interface, which cancels the need for a keyboard or a pen. However, unlike most touchscreen gadgets, the iPad is a multi-touch device; you can pinch, drag, and tap two visual objects on the screen with your fingers at the same time. It is a lightweight gadget at 68 grams and 13.4 millimeters thick!

Think of it as a large iPod Touch with the ability to create documents via iWork, which is Apple's office program. It can create slide presentations, word documents, spreadsheets, and heaps more. The iPad can store and play music and videos through iTunes. It also has Wi-Fi capabilities; therefore, you can experience Internet surfing, email, and even chat!

An iPod will have you squinting at the screen, but the iPad provides a large enough screen to properly enjoy videos and movies.

Apple thinks of the iPad as its revolutionary project that will bring all the other competitors to shame. We have yet to experience the lasting power of this magical product and its 150,000+ applications from Apple. It makes you think: how in the world am I going to use all 150,000 of them?

Get free tips, advice, information, reviews and hacks about the iPad on
http://www.iPadReview.EmpireInformation.com

Antivirus Live Platinum Exposed

2010-01-27T19:42:00.002-05:00

By: Tael Grin

If you power on your computer and it stops dead before ever
getting anywhere close to launching your operating system, it is
quite indisputable that you just may have some form of spyware
crawling around in your system. Spyware commonly slips into your
PC masked as some innocent file, and when it is inside your
system it can do damage. Spyware in your computer system may be
your biggest situation come true, but you should recognize that
there are things that someone can do even when the spyware is in
your PC.
Discover more about Antivirus Platinum Live
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In addition, it comes with a staff
developed a real-time protection, called Intelliguard, which can
block the source of infection, before a chance to infect your
computer.So, if you are looking for the best way to remove
CoreGuard Antivirus 2009 once and for all, and make sure you
never have re-captured in a spyware infection Spyware Doctor, as
soon as possible - financial information on your computer and
can be blamed.Several types of Trojan spyware there opened in
the Internet world.Trojan pieces of software , a process that
runs on Windows.

It will be beneficial for you to
start off with reading the user agreement of the program so that
you will be unable to install those unwanted programs that tend
to be malicious. Another mode wherein the spyware software can
get into the mainstream of your computer network system is
through the access of the sites whereas your browser contains
security holes.

Zlob dramatically affect your
computer.The system will start faster, Internet Explorer will
work faster and the system works as it should.

Various methods of preventing spyware infection have been
developed as the threat continues to worsen. These techniques
include running software created to block or eliminate spyware.
A number of helpful user practices are proven in minimizing the
chance of spyware infection on computer system. However, spyware
is still a serious and costly problem. When a system employing
Windows has been infected by multiple spyware software, the
simplest remedy would be backing up important data and have the
operating system reinstalled.

Now home to remove
personal anti-virus, try to manually remove or delete the
correct use of legitimate anti-spyware tool.Manual removal is a
complex process, in which case the files are almost impossible
to HPA, which is able to restore itself., given during the
procedure, but remember, nothing is guaranteed, and you violated
the entire system if you delete the wrong file.This process is
only recommended for the entire computer technician.

The computer hangs, freezes, or slows down. It is because the
spyware software eat up a lot of the recall means that causes
the computer to catch up and be slothful.

Spyware is
a copy of another nasty called a complete or Anti-virus
Antivirus 2010th He uses a fake security warning that has
already been mentioned, in order to intimidate and force to buy
a fake version of security software.But the fact is that you are
already infected with spyware and to download Antivirus 09 ANG
infection spreads, and even more so when it infects the
program.This trick is part of the developed by cyber criminals
and hackers to earn money.

You experience numerous
trying pop up ads which tend to be very uncontrollable. They
just become too persistent that they keep sporadic on the
divider. These pop up ads resume to exist even if you do not pay
thought to clicking the websites or relatives. There are even
those that automatically come up when the windows are crooked
on.

Best Antivirus As the malicious program is
installed on your computer, which usually is not a backdoor
Trojan, which constantly remind you, fake pop-ups.These pop-up
indicates that the computer is infected with spyware and
such.BEST antivirus to install Browser Helper Object shows a
false warning that the next version of Internet Explorer has
encountered AntivirusBEST registered.

It is estimated
that 9 out of 10 computers have spyware, adware or both
somewhere in the files. Even though this is a serious Internet
privacy problem, you can do something about it.

If
one of the thousands of unfortunate people of this infection of
spyware on your computer, you should get rid of quickly.Security
Center has spread, and Bund Zlob Trojan, and will destroy the
system if given the opportunity, that you need.Then hijack the
browser, set the table, it hurts the people, and tries to steal
your data from credit card high-pressure marketing tactics and
false tests.Do not miss a moment.

The spyware
registry changes will stay in your system until you delete the
spyware program from your system. An anti-spyware software will
be able to do this easily for you. There are several of these
anti-spyware programs available when you search the web. The
software will then remove all registry changes done by the
spyware, and restore your registry to its original settings.

This may be a number of warnings, such as: ? Warning
spyware detected on your computer! ? Windows has detected
spyware infection ? Warning spyware threats found in your PC! ?
There is a security problem! not bite the bait.These rogue
anti-spyware to support a false virus warning.Proceed with
caution.2 From the desktop or the browser settings page change
without your permission.

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Conficker Worm

2009-03-31T20:34:00.000-04:00

The conficker worm hasn't done much of anything (yet) except spread like the plague, it's infectious if one doesn't have his or her Windows operating system up-to-date with the most recent security updates. The worm is supposed to execute on April 1st, and the computer world is holding its breath to see if a disaster comparable to the hyped-up supposed Y2K doomsday will ensue or if it's just someone's idea of a sick April Fool's Day joke.

Microsoft Virus: Confickr

2009-03-31T15:40:00.001-04:00

Microsoft is warning about a virus that some say will strike on April Fool’s Day. The virus is already on millions of computers and it’s believed it will receive instructions on April 1 that may create Internet havoc.

It’s a worm called Conficker and it’s already crawled into millions of computers, including some here in Kansas.

"The majority of the time, when a person gets it, they either lose Internet connection or they just get tons and tons of pop-ups,” said Justin Parson with Ribbit Computers.

Parson says his techs have already fixed dozens of computers conflicted with Conficker.

"By the time we get it, it’s one of those they we have to re-install, or it’s just too bad,” he said.

What makes the work concerning is that a PC can get it from almost any Web site that’s infected and once in your computer, it lies dormant. The idea is that on April 1, it will receive new instructions from its maker and some believe those instructions could cause massive problems while others, like Parson, believe it will be more on a nuisance.

"If anything, it’s just going to be a more wide-spread problem of viruses,” he said. “I don't see it shutting systems down."

Kyocera Ecopro c170n

2009-03-26T16:32:00.002-04:00

Hottest Color Printer today!

The EP C170N color printer is one of today's color solutions in the EcoPro series from Kyocera. This small and productive printer offers a 17 PPM engine for color and black and white documents, ideal for small workgroups that need color in their business documents. The EP C170N printer comes standard with a 600-sheet paper capacity and 10/100BaseTX network interface.

Wizcom Quicktionary 2 Premium Scanning Pen

2009-03-26T11:07:00.001-04:00

The Wizcom Quicktionary 2 Premium Chinese is a portable pen translator and notetaker. It can be used to scan a single word or an entire line of text and instantly give you word-by-word translation from Chinese to English or vice-versa as well as from English to 19 other languages. The Quicktionary 2 Premium is perfect for students, travelers, business people, and others who want text translated quickly wherever they are.

Using the Quicktionary 2 Premium is simple--just scan the text you want to translate by moving the optical scanning head over the printed text, as if you are highlighting it. The Quicktionary 2 Premium can recognize a wide range of font types and sizes (from 6-22 points, up to 8mm), as well as various color schemes, including inverted text on colored backgrounds (with the exceptions of red on white, white on red, blue on black, and black on blue.)

After scanning, the LCD displays both the scanned text and the word by word translation. This process takes mere seconds and is faster than searching through a paper dictionary or typing it into electronic ones. Now, instead of getting distracted by words you don't know and spending time looking them up, you can stay focused on your reading.

IBM Layoffs

2009-03-25T16:18:00.001-04:00

Looks like IBM is laying off American workers and transferring jobs to India according to this report from ZDNET: IBM Layoffs

"A big round of layoffs is expected in IBM’s U.S. global business services unit, with some of the jobs heading to India, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The number of jobs affected is unknown and IBM didn’t comment on the workforce reduction. But the WSJ points out that the group is the company’s largest in both revenue and employment, with 180,000 employees worldwide. Separately, IBM employees’ union posted on its site today an alert that job cuts are coming tomorrow and is asking its members to send any information they might have,

The job action goes to show that even companies that are profitable and showing growth are implementing cutbacks and shifting jobs. IBM had a strong fourth quarter and reportedly is in talks to acquire Sun Microsystems.

The company made a round of job cuts back in January. The WSJ said about 4,600 employees in its software, sales, semiconductor and finance groups received notices during that round."

Nokia 500 Review

2008-11-06T10:38:00.001-05:00

Navigate on course and in touch with a great traveling companion offering a clear view, turn-by-turn instructions, handsfree calls, and in-car entertainment. Stay on course with turn-by-turn voice guidance combining Nokia Maps and an internal SiRF Star III GPS receiver. Get a clear view with the intuitive Nokia interface, large 4.3" touch screen, 2D/3D maps, plus visual exit numbers and sign posts.

Communicate with excellent Bluetooth handsfree functionality, and digital signal processing (DSP) for echo cancellation and noise reduction. Download your own phonebook, voice dial, and manage your calls from a compatible device.

Take time out from your travel to enjoy music, movies, and photos with memory cards up to 16 GB. Or, listen to your tunes through your car stereo with the integrated FM transmitter. 2D / 3D Map view Split Screen with additional information also visible in other menus - next maneuver, current speed, estimated arrival time and remaining distance Visual signposts Voice instructions including street names Bluetooth 2.0 with Handsfree Profile v. 1.5 Phonebook Download in background (Phonebook Access Profile 1.0 plus additional methods to support wide range of cellular phones) / Up to 2000 Phonebook entries, 5 numbers each Store and play videos from the memory card in MP4 Store and view photos from the memory card JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF Store and play music from the memory card in MP3, AAC, eAAC+, WMA Navigate on course with turn-by-turn voice guidance - combining Nokia Maps, and an internal SiRF Star III GPS receiver Unit.

Flip Cam

2008-11-01T14:19:00.001-04:00

what's all the buzz surrounding the flip cam? Well here's a few reviews from Amazon.com.

"1. It couldn't be easier to take videos. You insert the batteries and press a button and you're filming.

2. You connect it to the computer by plugging it into the USB port. Software downloads to your computer, all very smoothly. The connection to the USB port is problematic. A USB connector pops out of the side of the camera, which is very elegant but doesn't work well in practice. I had to unplug another device to fit it into the available slot next door. It's kind of like having one of those big plugs taking up so much room on a power strip. I've already ordered an extension for it.

3. The editing software is very basic. This is to be expected. This is supposed to be a quick, point-and-shoot device that takes basic video that can quickly be shared on the web. Which is a great idea. But here's the thing: you can edit a video from either end, ending it earlier or starting it later. But you can't crop out a part in the center. Is that insane? Now, you can make copies of a movie and then take the beginning part of one and the ending part of another. It's inelegant but possible, right? And there is a "movie-making" feature that allows you to mesh these two movies together...except that you can only save the product if you're in Windows. With Mac you can't save it, so it's useless for posting the amalgam on the web. As far as I can see, at least.

4. Quality seems okay for the purpose. Looks good on my computer, at least.

So in short if you're going to take very short videos that you don't intend to edit and post them on YouTube, this works well. Though I have to say, it isn't super speedy. While I've been writing this my computer has been processinga three-minute video for posting online, and it's only gotten through about 5% of it so far."

So, apparently this device is ideal for youtube users.Sounds like fun!

Forensic Computer Analyst

2008-06-11T13:34:00.000-04:00

What does a forensic computer analyst do? This is one of the hottest jobs in demand right now. Check out this article for an in depth look at this career.

Computer Forensics Examiners
By:Alison Cole

Computer forensics examiners are professionals who use analytical and investigative techniques to provide digital evidence for a specific or general activity.

The International Society of Forensic Computer Examiners provides the Certified Computer Examiner (CCE) certification for individuals who are interested in making a career in the field of Computer forensics.

The CCE certification is provided with an intention to professionalize and further the field and science of computer forensics. The CCE certification provides a fair, uncompromised process for certifying the capability of forensic computer examiners. This certification is universally recognized, which helps in setting high and ethical forensic standards for forensic computer examiners.

CCE certification is only given to individuals with no criminal record. Examiners are certified only after they pass online exams and successfully perform actual forensic examinations on three test medias. The certified examiner must adhere to the ISFCE code of ethical standards and professional responsibilities.

Before trying for certification, it is recommended that one has a proper understanding of basic rules of evidence, as they are related to the seizure or acquisition of magnetic media, handling, marking and storage of electronic evidence, the ?chain of custody? and the ?right to privacy.?

Computer examiners are trained in proper evidence handling and documentation. With a logical thought process and investigative instincts, these individuals are able to operate at a totally professional level.

People with a military background, government or former law enforcement officers have a chance to be successful computer forensic examiners, as they already have developed a fine investigative instinct.

Certified Computer forensic examiners are held in high regard. This is because an increasing number of companies and government agencies need them.

CCE certification is becoming a valuable credential for computer forensic examiners. Unfortunately a number of computer forensic examiners have false certification, so it is advisable to beware of examiners whose credibility can always be challenged. Computer Forensics provides detailed information on Computer Forensics, Computer Forensics Software, Computer Forensics Consulting, Computer Forensics Jobs and more. Computer Forensics is affiliated with Industrial Robots.

Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole
http://EzineArticles.com/?Computer-Forensics-Examiners&id=353008

Great Plains Installation and Customization on Vista workstation

2008-05-21T15:12:00.000-04:00

By: Andrew Karasev

Microsoft Dynamics GP workstation is compatible with Vista,
including Vista 64 bit. However if you try to install it on
Vista as it is, you will be getting error message: â?oAn error
occurred while using the BCP utility -- data was not correctly
copied to the server.â? Actually all you need to do it to turn
off User Account Control in control panel User Accounts. Then
just launch GP installation and follow the wizard. We will be
assuming here that you are installing GP version 10.0, which is
the latest one at the time of writing this news ï¿½ï¿½" May
2008. Letâ?Ts review installation and modification in relation
to Vista and 64 bit Windows server and SQL Server 2005: 1.
eConnect runtime. At this time COM+ side of eConnect is not
compatible with 64 bit platform. So, if you are planning to
install the tool, where eConnect is utilized: Integration
Manager for example, please be sure that COM+ or local objects
of eConnect will reside on 32 bit computer

2. Dexterity custom logic and add-ons. They should be compatible
with Vista, assuming that Dex doesnâ?Tt call COM objects, but
being honest ï¿½ï¿½" this is very unusual for Dexterity to do
something like that. Such popular Dex add-ons as Posting Server
should work out of the box

3. FRx. When you are planning to deploy FRx, please know that
6.7 version SYSDATA folder must be resided on 32 bit Windows
server. Please, understand that FRx 6.7 was introduced in 2005
at the time when Vista was only in inception stage and AMD was
just releasing its first Athlon 64 processors

4. MS Visual Studio C# or VB programming add-ons. Here you are
typically deploy either ADO.Net or directly eConnect (which is
definitely preferred over ADO, but requires learning curve)

5. SRS versus Crystal Reports. In essence, if you are ready to
launch reports as stand alone application, we donâ?Tt see any
revolutionary advantage of one reports design tool over another.
SRS or Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is web
application, maybe this fact gives you some advantage, as SRS
could be deployed on your web server and so exposed to your
worldwide users

6. eCommerce. Here we encourage you to review Posting Server,
allowing you to post GP batches in Sales Order Processing and
other modules automatically

About the author:
Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving
Great Plains USA and Canada nationwide. Local service in
Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Diego. Please visit our
information portal Pegas Planet: http://www.pegasplanet.com

Networking Home Computers

2008-01-24T16:26:00.000-05:00

Have you ever thought about networking your computers at home? If you have a small collection of computers around the house (and a small collection of computer users), you can connect each one of those computers to one another and share data, software, and hardware including a single Internet connection. There are many creative uses for home networking, however it's an ideal situation when upgrading each computer to the same capability is financially out of the question. On a home network, each computer has access to the equipment of the better machine in the group as if that equipment were their own.

Connecting computers with either an Ethernet cable or a Wireless connection can create a home network. The easiest and cheapest method uses an Ethernet connection, which requires a series of network cards, a cable for each computer, and a router. The network card is similar to the old modems we used in the past to connect to the Internet, however in a home network, it's used to communicate with every computer that's connected to it.

You'll want to first, select the computers that will connect to each other and then install the network cards inside each of them. Then you'll connect a cable to each computer that will communicate with the server. These cables won't connect to the server directly. Instead, they'll connect to the router. To enable Internet access for each computer, this router will need to connect with a modem of the host machine.

Once the hardware is set up correctly (you'll need to read the instruction manual of your equipment for details), you can then setup the network from Windows on each machine. Within Windows, you can set up a home network similar to the way that you set up an Internet connection. Only this time, you'll set up a LAN (Local Area Network) connection.

Windows should walk you through setting up a LAN after starting the computer and once complete, you can begin to connect one of your machines to the network. You can do this through Internet Explorer by typing in the address and password required to access the router (the address and password required to access the router will be in the router manual).

Connected to the network, each computer can send files back and forth, open programs on a remote computer, play the sound files and videos located on another computer, and share a single Internet account to browse the web, download files, or chat with someone in an entirely different country. If a single printer is available on only one computer in the network, every connected PC can send documents to it and print them out. Kids will enjoy the ability to play multi-player games and adults will enjoy the ability to blast a single message to everyone at once or maintain a group schedule.

Since we're describing a home network that will connect to the Internet, you're strongly advised to install a protective firewall program to thwart Internet viruses, worms, or other damaging spyware code. Firewalls prevent - but they don't repair. Only anti-virus and anti-spyware programs can reverse damage. So you should install a firewall on the computer that grants access to the computer, and then install an anti-virus and anti-spyware program on each of the remaining computers in the network.

If you have files that shouldn't be shared (bank statements, credit card information, etc.), you can restrict their access in one of several ways. You can put them in a new folder and then remove the "read" permissions for that folder. Or you can specify who can (and who cannot) access specific files with a password from within Windows Control Panel.

RegCure

2007-11-05T21:16:00.000-05:00

RegCure Review - An Overview of the RegCure PC Registry Optimizer Software

By James Preston

Registry errors can significantly slow down the operating speed of your computer. Sometimes, they can even cause more severe problems like crashes and system failure. The longer you've had your computer, the more unnecessary items build up in this database. This is why it is so crucial for computer users to clean their registries on a regular basis.

However, you don't want to perform this task on your own as you could seriously harm your computer with one wrong move. You will need a good registry cleaner software program, such as RegCure PC Registry Optimizer, to do the job for you.

RegCure is powerful enough for experts yet easy enough for beginners. It offers easy one-click operation for those who don't want to deal with lots of technical stuff. You can even schedule this software to perform scans at a particular time. Of course, if you would like to perform manual scans, you can do that also. Flexibility such as this is one of the top features of this effective software. Another thing this software can do is backup your registry. This is very important because if your computer ever crashed you would need all those files to get it back up.

The makers of RegCure are so sure you'll be satisfied with their product that they offer a 60-day money back guarantee. Not only that, but you can actually download RegCure and scan your registry for errors absolutely free before deciding whether or not you want to purchase the program.

This software will work with most every computer, and comes with customer support should you ever need it. You may think your registry is clean, but with one free scan you'll see that there is more lurking in it than you ever imagined. With a program like RegCure, you can speed up a slow PC and keep a fast one working optimally. Everyone needs a registry cleaner installed on their computer, and RegCure is one of the best!

For an in-Depth Regcure review plus to see how it ranks versus other registry repair software, visit the Software Review Center at http://software-deals.org Today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Preston
http://EzineArticles.com/?RegCure-Review---An-Overview-of-the-RegCure-PC-Registry-Optimizer-Software&id=513829

Registry Repair Tool - Making Windows Registry More Consistent

2007-10-11T16:38:00.000-04:00

The registry repair tool scans the Windows operating system to
identify and repair the registry inconsistencies that helps in
enhancing the Windows performance.

The Windows Registry is one of the most essential components of
the Windows operating system, which is critical to the proper
functioning of a computer system. It is a database that is used
to store information and settings for all the hardware,
software, users, and preferences of the computer system.
However, the Windows Registry is very much prone to errors that
might hamper the smooth functioning of the computer. It is
therefore, recommended to use a registry repair tool for
recovering the Windows registry from various registry-related
problems.

There are several causes that can create problems in the
registry. The primary cause behind this is identified as the
overflow of registry entries, and this is generally caused by
continuous use of Windows Registry, incomplete installation and
uninstallation of applications, and various spyware keys. These
problems gradually affect the performance of your system, and
soon your system starts responding very slowly. In such
situation, you can use a registry repair tool, which you can
purchase online from various registry repair service providers.
Many a times you can avail the trial version of these tools as
registry repair free downloads, where these tools can be freely
downloaded with either limited features or for a particular
period of time. You can upgrade it to the full version or you
can buy the license for unlimited usage.

The registry repair tool is nothing but a computer program that
is developed to refine the registry inconsistencies in your
system. Therefore, it is also known as registry repair program.
The primary function of this program is to scan your system
efficiently and effectively to identify and delete the
unnecessary registry entries. This minimizes the registry
problems and enhances the system performance. Most of the
registry repair tools offer registry backups before deleting the
unused registry entries so that in case you need any particular
entry in the near future, you can restore immediately from the
backup. This helps in keeping the registry up-to-date.

About the author:
Author is admin and technical expert associated with development
of computer security and performance enhancing software like
Registry Cleaner, Anti Spyware, Window Cleaner, Anti Spam
Filter. Visit: Home Page.
Learn secrets for an efficient Registry
Repair.

Check out Computer Shows

2007-10-08T00:17:00.000-04:00

Shopping for a new computer can be tough. The problem is that the prices go down so quickly. Every time a new developments in computer technology comes out, it is initially hyped up, but it soon deflates. Wait six months and it will be substantially cheaper. The problem is that, whenever you find a deal today, it is likely to look like a ripoff by tomorrow! Most people like to feel like they got their money's worth, and the best way to do this is to go to computer trade shows.

You see, at computer shows, you can get new or refurbished computers for substantially below what you would normally pay. Of course, there are some costs to this. You have to be willing to buy from smaller businesses, ones that often don't have the same service policies. Whenever you buy a PC at a computer trade show, you should be sure to carefully check any warranty information. Above all, don't buy computer that doesn't have a warranty!

Nevertheless, if you know how to buy wisely, computer shows can be a great source of high-quality computing products. I got my new PC for about half what it would have cost if I bought it from Dell or IBM. Six months later, It is still hard to find such a good price from leading computer dealers. Of course, that's not the only great thing about computer shows. One of the best aspects is getting to check out all of the new technology that is on the market. Computer shows have demos of amazing new video games, sophisticated speech recognition software, home surveillance equipment, and many other products. Although many of these products don't interest me personally as a consumer, it is always neat to see what is out on the market.

Of course, if you are involved in the industry, computers shows can be a great place to network. Although I'm not personally involved with computers as a professional, one of my best friends is, and he never misses a computer show when it comes through town. He says that these computer trade shows are some of the best opportunities to meet other information technology people. Sometimes you see them at panels, but more often you just meet them walking around the show. From there, it is easy to strike up a conversation and make a new friend. If that friend turns out to be a good business contact, so much the better!

How To Speed Up Windows XP

2007-08-16T12:11:00.000-04:00

By: T. O Donnell

The default install of Windows XP includes features and
processes most users don't need. If you're involved in gaming or
multimedia, and you can't afford a top-of-the-range PC, here are
a few tips to get the most out of your machine.

For beginner users:

1. Go to: Start > Control Panel > Display > Settings.

Select: Resolution 800 x 600 pixels and Colour Quality Medium
(16 bit).
Click: Apply.
What it does: Reduces system
overhead. Less work for your CPU.

2. Go to: Start.
Right click: My Computer.
Select:
Properties > 'Advanced' tab > Performance > 'Settings' button >
'Visual effects' tab.
Select: Adjust for best performance.

Click: Apply.
What it does: Removes unimportant
cosmetic effects, thereby reducing system overhead.

3. Go to: Start.
Right click: My Computer.
Select:
Properties > 'Advanced' tab > Performance > 'Settings' button >
'Advanced' tab.
Select: Processor scheduling > Programs.

Select: Memory usage > Programs.
Click: Apply.

What it does: Prioritises _your_ programs over those that XP
_thinks_ are important.

4. Go to: Start > Control Panel > Display > Themes.
Select:
Windows Classic.
Click: Apply.
What it does: Cleans up
the desktop.

5. Go to: Start > Control Panel > Display > Desktop.

Select: Background - None.
Click: Apply.
What it does:
Cleans up the desktop.

6. Go to: Start > Control Panel > Display > Appearance.

Select: Windows Classic Style.
Click: Apply.
What it
does: Cleans up the desktop.

For Medium Users:

7. Go to: Start
Right click: My Computer.
Select:
Properties > 'Automatic Updates' tab.
Select: Turn off
automatic updates.
Click: Apply.
What it does: Stops
Microsoft messing with your computer at inconvenient times. You
can re-enable this when _you_ feel like an update.

8. Go to: Start > Run.
Type: msconfig
Select:
'Startup' tab.
Action: Untick all boxes, except those you
are certain you need to start when XP boots up.
Click:
Apply.
What it does: Stops programs starting when XP does.
Frees up system resources.

For Advanced users:

9. Run your favourite program.
Click these buttons on your
keyboard simultaneously: ctrl + alt + del (Control + Alt +
Delete).
Click: 'Processes' tab.
Right click: The
process of your favourite program.
Select: Set priority >
Realtime.
What it does: Diverts CPU resources to the
selected program.

10. Go to: Start > Run.
Type: services.msc
Right
click: Any service you are sure you won't need, like 'Automatic
Updates', 'Help and Support' or 'Indexing Services'.

Select: Properties > 'General' tab > Startup type > 'Manual' or
'Disabled'.
Click: Apply.
What it does: Stops
processes starting when XP does. Frees up system resources.

Warning: Change one setting here a day. Reboot your system after
each one. Run your most popular programs. If they're running
normally, try disabling another service the next day. This is to
make sure you don't turn off something important. If you're not
sure, leave them alone.

Related programs:

Tune XP http://www.driverheaven.net/dforce/ This is freeware and
simple to use.

X-Setup Pro http://www.x-setup.net/ This has a 30 day trial, and
is for more advanced users.

Enjoy!

About the author:
T. O' Donnell is an HREF="http://www.bookofpower.com">author running web sites
about HREF="http://www.ttoffshorebanking.com/offshore-banking-service.s
html">offshore banking and HREF="http://www.ttblog.co.uk/new-free-software-released-wordpres
s-templates/">blogging in London, UK.

Common Causes of Slow Computers

2007-07-16T17:48:00.000-04:00

By: Steve Faber

It's a common source of frustration for too many people; the
slow computer. In many cases the thing will freeze up entirely,
leaving you stranded in an electronic limbo. Thankfully there
are some common causes for the freezing and slowdowns afflicting
many computers and their frazzled owners. Here are some of the
most common causes and some ways you can do about them.

Slow computer cause #1 - Insufficient memory (RAM). A lack of
RAM will affect your computer the most when you are running
multiple applications simultaneously. That's a fairly common
occurrence these days. Think about how many times you run
multiple apps at the same time. It's not tough. In fact, you're
probably doing it now. In fact, it would be pretty difficult to
run one at a time for most people.

Now that many computers ship with 1GB of memory or greater you
may think that having computers slow down due to insufficient
memory would be a thing of the past, but thanks to Microsoft's
new Vista OS, we may actually see it continue or even increase.
It looks like Vista has a prodigious appetite for RAM. For all
but Vista Home Basic edition, Microsoft recommends at least 1GB,
but you'd do well to double that, and bring 2GB to the party.

Slow computer cause #2 - Spyware and adware These sometimes
malicious applications get on your PCs in all different ways,
from legitimate applications installing them for tracking
marketing data, to key loggers and other programs used to steal
your passwords, account numbers, and other sensitive data. The
bottom line is, the stuff is dangerous and slows down your
computer. Even the stuff that's not malicious can easily be a
culprit. It takes up valuable hard drive space and eats up clock
cycles you could use for other things.

Slow computer cause #3 - Viruses and worms Hopefully you have a
good antivirus application that's updated regularly. That will
nip most virus problems in the bud, but it's still possible to
get a virus. In fact, even if take all standard precautions,
such as not opening unrecognized email or attachments, etc., you
could still get one. If you're lucky, these malicious
applications will only slow you machine down, in many cases, it
will do that and much more, such as data corruption or deletion.

Slow computer cause #4 Too much stuff going on in there. You may
just plain be asking too much of the old girl, or you may have
to restructure your start menu so apps you don't use al the time
aren't started automatically. That can not only impact your
computer's speed as you're using it, but dramatically lengthen
its startup time.

Slow computer cause #5 - Registry errors These are one of the
most common causes of slowdowns and crashes experienced by most
users. Registry problems can also make your computer take a
longer time to start up. The registry is where, on a Windows
machine, all the important settings and other information is
stored that the computer and the applications use to run. It's
actually a database that's created by the system itself.

As you constantly add and remove programs, it creates problems
in the registry. When most applications are installed they put
new entries in the registry that's used to run the application.
One of the most common problems occurs when entries in the
database called registry keys are missing or corrupted. These
keys contain information that's sorted as either computer or
user specific. This enables the machine to support multiple
users and applications simultaneously, so it's easy to see how
important the registry is. Incorrectly uninstalling an
application is one of the most common ways a registry entry gets
corrupted or deleted.

Thankfully it's not too difficult to find and repair Windows
registry problems. There are applications available that will do
it for you, or you can try to do it yourself if you're
especially well versed in Windows. If take that path however, be
careful, as a mistake here can really cost you.

These common causes of a slow computer are, in most cases,
easily fixed, either through a little tweaking with your
machine, or with a specific application designed to solve the
problem.

About the author:
You'll probably never be so frustrated in your life as when your
computer slows down, freezes up, or crashes. Sometimes you'll be
unfortunate enough to experience all three, in that order. There
are some common causes and solutions for these computer woes.
You can solve your problems by checking out the fix a slow
computer guide.

The Blue Screen of Death!

2007-06-30T20:34:00.000-04:00

By: Wesley Atkins

Microsoft Corporation © calls it a system stop error. Most
computer users call it terrifying. Programmers call it the Blue
Screen of Death (BSOD). Causes of the blue screen vary and while
the blue screen details information on memory locations in your
computer that are probable causes, often they are only symptoms.

The recommended course of action starts with writing down the
information on the blue screen and then restarting your
computer. More often than not the computer will start right back
up and act as if nothing ever happened. The users then franticly
back-up everything they can as fast as possible, the first time.

If your BSOD experiences starts after installing new hardware
and/or software there is a good chance the new stuff is at
fault. No Problemo, just uninstall or reinstall following the
directions this time and the problem is all gone, maybe. If you
don't see a blue screen again you are golden.

Most blue screen of death experiences fall in the technical
realm of head scratchers. Also known as the FIIK syndrome (Frack
If I Know, for you Battlestar Galactica fans). My most recent
BSOD experience fell in the FIIK category. In the past I have
had memory blue screen of death issues. A bad sector on the hard
drive and a memory module that aged poorly. Both are fairly easy
to fix.

For the hard drive the old reliable check disk utility ferreted
out the culprit and marked the bad sector. For the memory bug,
well I had to bite the bullet and buy a new memory module. This
new one was a lot cheaper and larger than the old one, so it was
less painful.

Unfortunately, my latest BSOD was not one, but a series of
BSOD's. This would be called a reoccurring FIIK situation.
During the battle, I minimalized the laptop. Deleting every
seldom used program. Virus scanning was a daily chore with
QQROB, a seemingly docile little bug discovered and chased all
over the hard drive. I managed to corner QQROB during a
concerted search and destroy effort and deleted the rascal. Or
so I thought. QQ is a sneaky little rapscallion that must have
tucked itself into a cozy little corner of memory or the hard
drive. Finally, I gave in to QQROB and just let the virus
software block the little ... devil.

Just yesterday morning I awoke and fired up the little HP laptop
to check my Spam, I mean email. My computer was stuck in a
infinite loop. It would start and just as it was time for the
operating system to kick in, my once trusty HP defaulted to the
select boot device drive and quickly restarted. While I am sure
there is a computer guru that could have repaired this minor
problem, I personally had had enough.

Falling back on my vast knowledge of MSDOS, I used a system CD
disk that I had created to load the basic command.com on my
ailing computer and repartitioned my hard drive. This a very
quick and effective method for destroying everything on your
hard drive. This would not be recommended if you have
information on the drive you are fond of. I was much more
concerned with killing the little QQROB.... Bugger, than saving
any data.

Certain that QQROB was a thing in my past, I blew the dust off
the system recovery CD's and started to reinstall everything on
the old HP. With the condition of the recovery disk set, this
proved to be more of a challenge than I anticipated. Toothpaste
does seem to be very effective in removing various types of crud
that seems to attract itself to the business side of CD's. After
a lot of polishing and about 600 entries of "r" for retry
instead of abort or fail, my little HP is back in action. While
everything on the laptop works, it does have a bit of a retro
look with AOL 6.0 and a desktop full of cutting edge software
advertisements like Microsoft Money 2002.

The moral of this little story is never leave anything on your
computer you cannot live without unless it is backed up! The
second moral would be to store your system restore disk in an
area other than the general CD/DVD storage area. Some, not so
computer literate members of your family may try to play the
recovery disks in aging CD players.

One last note; on-line back-up of photos in a variety of free
sites is an excellent idea. Don't tell anyone but saving other
information as attachments to an email to yourself, saved on
your email provider's site is a good idea too. I learned this
little trick after a hurricane storm surge proved to be a little
more than my typical archiving methods could handle. Have a
lovely blue screen free day.

About the author:
Wesley Atkins is the owner of Reviewbooth.com that reviews some
of the latest advancements in technology including computer hardware reviews,
software, digit
al camera reviews and cell phone reviews. Visit us at:
http://www.reviewbooth.com to stay updated on our latest news
and reviews.

External Hard Drives To Keep Your Data Safe

2007-04-08T15:42:00.000-04:00

By: Niall Roche

If you want to keep your data completely safe, you should look
into types of data backup that do not require constant power
supplies. While discs such as CDs and DVDs are a good way to
make a smaller, permanent backup, external hard drives are
another great way to back up your data safely. Just make sure
that the drives do not stay connected to your computer and on -
otherwise they'll be as at risk as your normal internal drives.
You don't want your backup to be damaged in the same disaster
that takes out your computer!

External hard drives are not actually new technology. In fact,
these drives work in much the same way as a normal hard drive.
Before external drives were affordable, there are some computer
users who made external drives by setting internal drives into
an outer casing. These worked fairly well, but they did not
stand up to being moved around as much.

Over the last several years, external drives have become
affordable, small, and easy to use. There are even some compact
USB hard drives that can fit in a pocket. These drives are also
much faster than they used to be, something that is being helped
by the switch from serial and parallel connections to USB and
firewire.

How much data can an external hard drive store? Most external
hard drives are about the same size as a normal hard disk inside
of your computer. In fact, one of the smallest capacities is
just 60GB . However, there are many other disk sizes available
at this point in time. Recently, external hard drives with as
much as 1000GB of space have begun to appear on the market. It
won't be long before we move into true Terabyte territory. These
huge storage capacities are the main reason why external hard
drives are rapidly becoming the most popular form of computer
backup for the normal computer user.

If you do not want to pick and choose through the files on your
computer to determine which ones you want to save, don't worry!
Most of the hard drives will come with a CD that has drivers and
some basic backup software on it. In most cases all you have to
do is install the software, plug in the drive, and click
"backup" and the software takes care of protecing your email, My
Documents folder and all the most commonly backed up items.

Once again, if you are using an external hard disk for computer
backup, do not leave the external drive connected to your
computer. Additionally, you should also have more than one
backup of your important information. You can do this by using
an online backup service, or by burning your most important
files to a DVD or five.

The best hard drives out there are going to be the ones built by
major name brands. Maxtor, Iomega and Western Digital drives are
known to be high quality and will last a long time. Purchasing a
cheap, no-name external hard drive will save you money up front,
but it is very likely that you will end up regretting it when it
breaks down and you find out that your warranty is worthless

About the author:
Wanna know what the HREF="http://www.backupadvice.com/externalhd.shtml">best
external hard drives are? Why not visit BackupAdvice dot com
for more information on external hard drives and computer
backups.

Don't Let Your Computer Bite The Dust!

2007-04-06T13:52:00.000-04:00

Dust! Have you ever opened up your computer and noticed a
healthy sheet of dust dwelling inside? Well, if you live on Maui
you probably know the dust I'm talking about. The reddish cloud
that disperses into the air when you blow on it is genuine Maui
dust! So why should this dust concern you, and what can you do
about it?

Normal dust finds its way to every surface. Not even the fans,
floppy disks, hard disks, and circuitry of our computers are
safe from it. Dust on a computer fan isn't necessarily
catastrophic but if you notice the fan has trouble spinning it's
time to replace it. Floppy drives are very vulnerable to dust
because of their exposed nature. You may notice strange errors
or an outright failure of your floppy drive if it is damaged.
Hard drives are not nearly as forgiving as floppy drives. They
are built and sealed in a static and dust free environment but
after years of use it is possible for a grain of dust to find
its way inside the protective shell. Once inside the dust can
easily send the read/write mechanism to its demise by crashing
it into the data section of the disk spinning at up to 10,000
RPM. Unfortunately this destroys both your hard disk and its
data, and sometimes beyond repair! Now that we have covered
normal dust lets discuss Maui's dust.

Everyone knows that Maui's weather is unique, but did you know
our dust is equally unique? Maui's dust is heavily concentrated
with iron. Iron is a conductive, corrosive substance. Once it
collects on electronic components it eventually corrodes through
the circuitry's protective coating and then through the wires
themselves. Unfortunately due to today's advanced micro
soldering techniques this type of damage is not repairable. The
entire board must be replaced! I've seen a vast amount of
computers bite the dust while working here on Maui. It's an
unfortunate but avoidable event. So how can you protect your
computer from dust here on Maui?

First, do not use a vacuum cleaner to clean you computer! The
tiny dust particles that pass over the plastic nozzle of your
vacuum build a static charge. If the static discharges on your
computer (known as an ESD or Electro Static Discharge) you are
sure to destroy something. The best way to clean your computer
is to use compressed air that you can purchase from Costco or
any hardware store. The air will blow the dust away without
creating any harmful static. Another way to prevent dust from
getting to your computer is to cover it while it is turned off.
Those are the simplest ways to protect your computer from Maui
dust and it will help extend the life of your computer.

About the author:
For more information about keeping your computer clean and
running properly, check out my maui computer repair site!

How to Boost PC Speed

2007-04-05T15:50:00.001-04:00

By: Gaelim Holland

So, you want to increase your PC speed. Well, before we begin
with the tips and tricks on how to increase your PC speed...Oops
I mean return your PC speed, lets understand why your PC speed
has gradually moved from Giga Hertz to No Hertz. The number one
problem is your Windows' registry. What is your Windows'
registry? Well your Windows' registry is a data repository. So,
how are PC speed and Windows' registry connected? Well, each
time you install or delete a program. Windows keeps track of it.
Eventually, this leads to fragmented data that actually needs
your PC resources, that means less resources for PC speed. So as
time goes by, your computer becomes slower and you go out and
buy another one. Otherwise known as the viscous consumer
cycle.Lets talk about how to prevent you from spending money and
"organically" keep your PC speed at the original resource
specification.

TOP 4 Ways to increase your PC speed.

1. Use a Registry Cleaner.

This will free up resources to increase PC speed. The easy point
and click programs also defrag your hard drive and remove
spyware. All that with the push of a button weekly will keep
your computer running at it's original PC speed specs. There are
dozens of different registry cleaners software and registry
cleaner tools available for use with the registry, However only
about 5 have really proven themselves These registry cleaners
have proven themselves in the industry, Regsweep is the easiest
and best. It's easy to get scammed with inferior products so
it's best to choose a registry cleaner with an excellent record
2. Defrag your hard drive

Over time, the data on your hard drive gets scattered.
Defragmenting your hard drive puts your data back into
sequential order, making it easier for Windows to access it. As
a result, the performance of your computer will improve. An
excellent registry cleaner will allow perform this task. However
if you would like to defrag your PC with Windows software. Here
a link to show you how.

3. Scan for Adware/Spyware and Viruses

These nasty little worms can wreak havoc on your PC speed.
Detecting and cleaning viruses is an excellent way to improve
your system's performance and increase PC speed. Registry
cleaners will help to remove these buggers also!

4. Adjust your computer's Visual effects

Windows provides a number of resource hogging and interesting
visual effects like animated windows and fading menus. These
effects, however, can slow down your computer and kill your PC
speed. By Altering your preferences and performance needs you
can increase your PC Speed.

A excellent registry cleaner can perform all but number 4. If
you are serious about increasing your PC speed. Get a registry
cleaner and let it do most of the work. There are lots of
registry cleaner choices on the market.

Two Bonus Tips

1. Manage Your Startup Programs

Take control of your startup programs and processes to increase
PC speed. By simply halting unnecessary startups, your computer
will decrease its start up time exponentially

2. Customize Your Internet

By changing the way you use the internet you can have access
more of your precious bandwidth. This will ultimately give you a
faster surfing experience. Here is a link to 3 ways to customize
your PC speed on the net.

About the author:
Don't spend $2500 on a new computer. Click this link http://www.delete-computer-history.com to
see in an in-dept comparison of the best and easiest ways to b
oost your PC speed with a registry cleaner.

Choosing The Right Notebook - A Buyers Guide

2007-03-25T00:04:00.000-04:00

By: Harry Love

Notebooks - Finding the Right System to Meet Your Needs

A computer is a major purchase and should not be taken lightly,
especially if you are purchasing a notebook computer. There are
a number of factors that need to be considered before you even
get to the store to take a look at what is available.

The most important thing is to decide what are the tasks you
would like to be able to do with your notebook, is it going to
be just for work, or home use. Are you going to need it to be
able to play memory intensive games? Once you have decided all
these things and you have internet access take a look at some of
the various types of notebooks available. Review sites are some
of the best places to check out what notebooks are good for
what. Some of the things you do need to consider are the monitor
size, memory, processor, graphics, drives, hard drive, and
software.

Larger monitor size are excellent for people who need to have a
lot of different windows open at the same time or who like to
have their fonts and icons on the larger size. Memory, this
refers to computers Ram. Depending on the types of programs you
are planning on running this will be an important consideration.
More Ram means the more programs can be open at the same time.
If you are just going to search the web, you will not need as
much Ram as someone who is planning on doing graphic design with
their notebook. The processor is another consideration. Just
like with Ram, the more you plan to do, the larger this needs to
be.

If you are plan on gaming with your Notebook, you will
definitely want to pay attention to the graphics card. This
determines just how well things are rendered on your monitor.
The better the graphics card, the better the rendering. There
are many games that will tell you the type and size of card
necessary for play check out the requirements before purchasing
your notebook. Notebooks come with a wide variety of drive
options if you just want to do things like watch movies or run
CD's than a CD/DVD rom is probably enough. If you would like to
burn data then a CDRW might be what your looking for and if you
need to burn a lot of data or would like to burn movies, then a
DVD burner is something you should look into adding to your
Notebook. Hard drives are based also on need. If you are
planning on handing a lot of data, get a larger capacity hard
drive on the other hand if you are only planning on saving
things like word files, a higher capacity hard drive may not be
necessary. When it comes to software, there are a wide variety
of different packages available. Consider your needs and look at
getting the notebook that has the majority if not all of the
software you will need.

Now that you have the basics on choosing your next or first
notebook, you might want to check out some of these top
manufacturers MSI, ACER, IBM, HP, or FUJITSU.

About the author:
Harry Love writes on behalf of Spire Technology
(http://www.spire.co.uk/) and specialises in I.T and A.V
equipment, with his experience in cutting edge technology and up
to the minute product knowledge he prides himself at being at
the forefront of the technology industry.

Speed Up Your Computer - Clean Your Registry

2007-03-18T22:46:00.000-04:00

By: Alan Forbes

What is the registry?

The registry is a database that stores information necessary to
configure the system for your computers users, applications, and
hardware devices.

Why does it need to be cleaned (repaired)?

Every time you install software on your computer, change a
system setting, delete a program, all the changes are kept in
the registry.

Over time, your registry grows, however, it also can end up
fragmented and full of unwanted registry items.

These unwanted items occur by removing attributes of programs or
deleting programs you no longer want without using the Add or
Remove Programs function.

Some programs do not always come with proper uninstall programs,
so you are only able to delete a portion of the program.

Or possibly you have moved a file, and now the program that used
this file is unable to find it or it's an orphan file left over
from an unsuccessful attempt to delete a program completely.

In short, over time you end up with numerous misplaced files and
objects which your computer can not process, this can slow your
computer considerably, make start-up take forever and sometimes
cause errors that will "crash" your computer.

How can you fix this problem?

I'll admit that I was horrified with the amount of errors I
found when I finally got around to cleaning my registry.

My computer start-up had become terribly sluggish, opening
programs took twice as long as they should have, and every so
often I would get the dreaded "blue screen", or my computer
would lock up, usually when I was in the middle of something I
had not yet saved.

Once I cleaned my registry, the speed was noticeably quicker and
the program errors disappeared.

There are numerous registry cleaners available which can be
downloaded online and most are very easy to use.

Once downloaded start the program and the cleaner scans your
registry for all the lost and misplaced items that are no longer
in use and deletes them.

Most cleaners also offer backup and restore functions, so you
can revert back to your previous configuration if needed.

If you scan your registry regularly your computer will stop
accumulating fragmented information giving you a faster computer
with minimal errors.

For more information go to: Registry
Reviews

About the author:
Alan Forbes is a writer, marketer and freelance web designer.

3 Easy Ways To Protect Your Computer Againts Hackers

2007-03-15T19:59:00.000-04:00

By: John Miels

Protecting your computer is one of the most important things
that you need to do as soon as you build or buy your pc, there
is a lot of identity theft and other issues that can bring you
problems for example if you have personal information stored in
your hard drive someone could connect to your pc if you are
online or on a network and steal your information.

Here are three easy ways to protect your computer against
hackers and spy ware.

Install a firewall, most
operating systems have built in firewalls but sometimes they are
not turned on another good option is to buy a firewall from your
local retail store.
Install Spy ware removal software
in your comp
uter, this is a must have you need to have updated virus and
spy ware software in your system, there are a lot of malicious
websites online that try to install tracking cookies or programs
that can make your system vulnerable to hackers.
Run
automatic updates yes make sure that your copy of your operating
system is up to date, you can set your updates to automatic so
you don't forget to do this.

Follow this simple instructions and your system will be safe
from hackers and spy ware.

About the author:
For more computer tips visit http://www.CompuTips.info

Recover File and Recover Deleted File Tools

2007-03-12T15:47:00.000-04:00

By: Sam Roberts

Data recovery software is a very effective way of retrieving
data from a worn or damaged hard disk drive. Data recovery will
easily and effortlessly recover files you have mistakenly
deleted from your computer or have lost after formatting the
drives, and it will work for up to three formats.

Huge companies around the world have lost expensive information
due to corrupt hard drives, viruses and Trojans, and due to
those circumstances these companies have lost huge amounts of
money - and a few of them watched as their businesses came
plummeting to the ground for something as small and fragile as a
hard drive.

There is no longer any reason for your valuable information to
get lost on your hard drive. Data recovery software will recover
your data long after they have been removed from the recycle bin
or lost as a result from a really bad virus over load.

We all ignore the "Hard Drive Back Up" option that pops up on
our Operating Systems every now and again. The fact is that
people have just become too busy to leave their computer to
stand even for an hour to get backed up. Hence, you will have
hard drive crashes and data loss, which is where data recovery
software comes handy.

Data recovery software performs a deep scan, a quick scan, a
file scan or a scan over your entire hard drive. The best part
is that it does not take up a lot of system resources, so you
can still use you computer while the scan is running. So now
there is no need to leave your desk for a long back up process,
however data recovery does not replace the need to do a system
back up on regular intervals.

Another important feature of data recovery software is that you
can select the full system scan and choose which files you would
like to recover after the scan is complete, and you can choose
to save it to a removable drive or you could choose to burn it
straight to CD, remember that most data recovery software
programs do not allow you to save information on the same drive
you have recovered it from, as there is always a possibility of
the same problem occurring.

The great thing about most data recovery systems is that you can
recover data from you local hard drive, which means the drive
your operating system is working on, or you could recover data
from an extra hard drive, a removable or portable hard drive,
memory disks for cameras and even old CD's.

Majority of the data recovery software available today is easy
to install and is quite user friendly. Also, most data recovery
software's offer a free trial version, which can be easily
downloaded, from one of the many sites in the internet.

About the author:
Sam is CEO of recover
file and recover
deleted file Tools

How To Tuneup Your PC

2007-03-07T14:55:00.001-05:00

By: Gary Bracken

Make Your PC Run Fast Again By Scheduling A Regular Tune Up:

Your computer is just like a fine race car! Both must be
expertly maintained to run at their optimum speed and
performance levels. Unlike a formula 1 racer however, your PC is
relatively easy to fine-tune, and we will guide you through the
process with simple step-by-step instructions.

Initial tune-up

After getting all the programs setup on your PC the way you
want, there are a few tasks that will help you get the most out
of your system. The following maintenance tasks should be
performed initially and will form the basis of a solid tune-up
program for your PC:

1. Install and Update your Antivirus & Anti Spyware software:

The last thing you need is a computer virus ruining your day by
infecting your computer and either destroying valuable data, or
spreading your personal information all over the internet! We
cannot stress enough the importance of making sure you have a
solid and reliable Anti-Virus program installed on your computer.

Spyware and Adware is almost an even bigger problem these days
than Computer Viruses! If you have ever downloaded anything
online, music, books, files, etc...or if you have ever installed
downloaded programs on your computer, chances are you have
multiple spyware infections.

Pop-up windows and windows error messages are a prime indicator
of Spyware and Adware infections on your computer.

Spyware is a hidden software program created to steal your
personal information, and report back to their creators with
anything from your online browsing habits and patterns, to your
stored credit card numbers! identity theft is a growing problem,
propagated in part by Spyware!

2. Update your software and drivers

Make sure your computer has the latest video, hardware and
software drivers it needs to run at optimum speed and
efficiency. We recommend that Microsoft Windows Update be used
on a consistent basis. Microsoft and other hardware and software
manufacturers will regularly post updated drivers and fixes for
their products. Most vendors use the Windows Update tool to
distribute their updates.

The Windows Update tool can be accessed on your computer by
clicking Start, right-click My Computer, and select Properties.

Click the Automatic Updates tab, and select Keep my computer up
to date.

Keeping Windows updated can solve many errors you may experience.

3. Defragment your hard drive

Defragmenting your hard drive is an easy task that will improve
your system's speed and performance (especially noticeable with
larger programs).

As you install and uninstall different software programs, data
becomes scattered across your hard drive in various areas. This
results in your computer taking a longer amount of time to find
data it needs, which makes your system run slower. This holds
true even after installing a new program on your computer.

Starting Disk Defragmenter

Using Disk Defragmenter is easy and once started will work
without the need to monitor the process. Depending on the size
of your hard drive and the amount of fragmented files
defragmentation of your files can take up to several hours to
complete. Follow the procedures below to start defragmenting
your hard drive.

* 1. Shut Down all programs that are running. including
background programs and screensavers. * 2. Click Start, All
Programs, Accessories, then System Tools. * 3. Click Disk
Defragmenter. Follow the onscreen instructions. If Disk
Defragmenter starts itself over and over, then a hidden
background program is still accessing the hard drive. Restart
the computer in Safe mode and try again.

4. Create a Backup Or Restore Point Regularly On Your Computer

A Virus, Spyware or other bug could easily wipe out your data
without chance of recovery! Make sure you are regularly backing
up any data you don't want to lose (burning it to disk is an
easy and cost effective way of backing up important data).

Microsoft offers a Data Backup to automate the process, A virus
or software bug could wipe out data without any chance of
recovery. Devise a strategy for backing up your files now. Any
important data that you do not want to lose should be backed up
regularly. This can be done in any of a number of ways. Simply
write the files to a floppy diskette, USB drive, or a CD-R. You
might also consider using RecordNow!'s System Backup or
Microsoft's Data Backup to automate the backup process.

5. Clean Your Computer Registry Regularly

If you're running any version of Windows on your computer, then
you have a Windows registry. This Windows Registry is where all
the information about your computer is stored. The registry
includes installation data about the software you run and all of
your computer's preferences, settings, and registry keys.
Everything about your computer is essentially stored in your
windows registry.

Over time, as you install new programs, delete others, and use
your computer, the Windows Registry grows. Sometimes you will
get errors when you start your computer. In extreme instances
you will experience computer freeze-ups and possibly even system
crashes. Your computer can start running 'slower' as well, which
makes for annoying and time consuming 'hang' times, where you
essentially stare at your monitor in a trance, waiting for
control of your mouse cursor to be restored to you once again!

Fortunately, there is an easy solution to Registry build-up. You
need to run a registry cleaner tool on a regular basis
(depending on computer usage). This software will scan your
Registry to find the unnecessary data and delete it...the end
result should be a computer that runs as fast as the day you
brought it home!

RECOMMENDED: Put Your Computer Tune Up Schedule On Auto Pilot by
downloading and running our recommended Free PC Optimizer:
RegCure.

About the author:
Gary Bracken maintains RegCure.Registry-
Cleaner-Help.com and recommends you put your Computer Tuneup
Schedule on autopilot by running the FREE RegCure Registry
Cleaner Scan.

Why Can't I Access Certain Websites With Vista?

2007-03-06T14:40:00.000-05:00

By: George Christodoulou

One of the visitors to this site left a comment the other day
stating that he had problems visiting certain sites. I noticed
this problem has occurred to others on my daily forum and
research routines. Some users are unable to reach vital websites
that are important to work and school. According to a variety of
sources, the problem could be because the type of sites being
accessed are secure (SSL - Secure Sockets Layer ) sites. For
individuals with this access problem, I did a little research
and found a few answers.

Basically, from what I have read, this inability to access
certain websites stems from the security measures that Vista
comes with. All it takes is a little tweak of a few options and
the problem should be solved. The following is one step by step
solution to this problem: 1. Go to "tools" in the Internet
explorer or firefox. (I don't think it matters) 2. Go to the sub
category "Internet options" (This is only in Internet explorer -
for firefox, you must go to "options" at the bottom.) 3. Now, go
to advanced (IE) and uncheck, "use TLS 1.0″ ( For firefox,
you don't have to go to "advanced, you can see the box there.)

This is the basic rundown of what must be done. If you have this
problem, there is a chance the above steps may not help you with
your problem. That's okay because you may have a very similar
problem in which the sites you are viewing are set to only allow
SSLv3 enabled explorers. The steps to solve this problem are the
same as the above except this time you check the SSLv2 box.

Similarly, if a site you visit frequently is not displaying
anymore, it may be because the site has not updated the
configurations yet and has not changed from SSlv3. When
Microsoft updated Internet Explorer to version 7, they changed
the settings from SSlv2 to 3 in an act to make surfing the web
safer. All you need to know is how you can change the settings
on your explorer. I hope, your problems are solved.

If you have any personal problem that is related or not...
please feel free to leave the comment. If you surf through the
site, you will see that I try to answer everyones questions with
well researched and experienced answers.

About the author:
GeorgeChristodoulou

If you are still asking, "Why Can't I Access
Certain Websites With Vista?",

Please visit, http://download-microsoft-vista.com for more
information today!

Buying a Computer with Vista Installed

2007-03-04T15:03:00.000-05:00

By: George Christodoulou

As we all know, Computer technology changes rapidly. For this
reason, we all run to the nearest shop to get a new computer
when our machines are obsolete. No matter what financial status
you have, you are not exempt from having to take part of this
ritual. Sadly, if you're on a tight budget, you have to consider
the decision of buying a new computer because it will have a
greater effect on you economically. Since Vista was released,
many people are deciding to purchase a new computer because the
operating system is out and they needed to upgrade anyway. It's
time to look at vital information for anyone who is in this
situation and wonders if a Vista is a reason to make the upgrade
today.

It's all around the news that Vista has had its problems. For
example, if you use certain wireless adapters you might be stuck
with a computer that can't be connected to the internet because
a patch or update has not been released yet. Many "experts" warn
against purchasing a computer with Vista because it has many
bugs and compatibility problems. They say everyone should hold
off on the switch from XP until an updated version comes out. In
addition, many say that Vista takes up entirely too much memory
and computer processing capacity. Luckily, anyone who decides to
buy a new computer with Vista installed will have enough RAM and
other components made perfectly for running Vista. This makes
this dilemma void to you.

Glitter and graphics are boasted by all who have seen and
experienced Microsoft Vista. This is the main attraction of the
software. These features are only in the Home Premium edition of
Vista. The basic version has only a few features and the most
optically exciting are not present. Buying the software form a
store and upgrading a current machine would mean a smaller price
tag for purchasing the basic addition. Luckily for anyone buying
a whole new machine, they get to experience everything Microsoft
has to offer since they usually come with Home Premium
installed. The other features also shine through when Vista is
spoken about. New entertainment features and improvements on
games and other aspects of computer use. With any operating
system improvements are inevitable and Vista is no exception.

Now that the information is laid out in a simple format, a
decision can be made. Depending on your situation, you can
choose to buy a new computer now, and have Vista installed or
you can wait and have an updated version included. Actually,
some people are saying that Vista will be like the forgotten
Windows ME which left as fast as it came in. These days, nobody
can wait for the outcome of new technology. If you run an old
machine begging to be upgraded, by all means do so; but, if you
can wait for the update exercise a little patience. If you are
too impulsive, remember computers don't come cheap to all and
you may regret it later. On the other hand, if you can afford
the expense; by all means go for the upgrade, have fun, and
enjoy.

About the author:
George Christodoulou

If you still have questions about buying a computer
with microsoft Vista installed,

please visit, http://download-microsoft-vista.com for more
information!

The Computer War - MAC vs PC

2007-02-21T20:43:00.000-05:00

I guess this guy likes Macs.

The Computer War - MAC vs PC

By: Rich

I remember my very first computer. I was twelve years old. The
computer was a Wang 386 PC. I was amazed at the fact that you
could put a cd in it and view pictures and information. Back
then you put the CD-ROMs in a square holder, and inserted that
into the computer.

I quickly learned all I could about computers and have been a
die hard PC guy from then until about one year ago.

I took a job working for a large church as the video tech. They
used all Apple/Mac computers. At first I totally hated them. I
could not understand a computer not having Windows on it.

However, the more I used them the more I liked them. Many tasks
that would have taken a lot of time on my PC worked much faster
on the Mac. I also noticed how well the Mac software works in
harmony with each-other.

Macs also are more stable than a PC. You all have probably been
working on a PC when it has crashed, had an error message, or
even worse got a virus. On a Mac that kind of stuff just does
not happen.

After I left my church job, I had to go back to using my old PC.
I vowed that the next computer i bought would be a Mac.
Thankfully, a could of weeks ago I was able to purchase a brand
new Mac-Book. What an awesome computer it truly is.

Set up took about five minutes. After entering some basic
information I was ready to get online, check e mail, play games,
burn CDs, etc. Transferring files was also extremely easy. I put
almost 1 gig of files on my usb memory stick. It took a long
time to get the files off the pc, but once I put it into the mac
after about five minutes I had transfered everything.

So my point is, if you are looking for a new computer why don't
you at least check out a Mac. Especially right now with Windows
Vista being so unstable. I think once you go Mac there is no
going back!

Work at home - Visit http://www.richerich.com for more
infromation.

About the author:
I'm from the Charlotte, NC area. I have my own internet
business. I enjoy keeping up with the latest technology.

Choosing Your MP3 Player

2007-02-18T23:18:00.000-05:00

Consumers looking to purchase a new MP3 player will be happy to
know that they are afforded some diversity. In fact, a consumer
does not only have iPod as an option anymore. There are several
MP3 players on today’s market that a consumer can choose from.
Yet, how does a consumer know which of the MP3 players to buy?
Below are some of the better MP3 players available on today’s
market.

If a consumer is looking to save as much money as possible when
they purchase an MP3 player, there are a few inexpensive MP3
players to consider.

The MobiBLU B153 is a flash MP3 player that can be purchased for
under $100.00. It is considered one of the best MP3 players
because it has a considerable battery life. The Samsung Yepp
YP-T7J is another flash MP3 considered among the best MP3
players. It can be purchased at a low cost: between $95.00 and
$140.00 and it possesses excellent sound quality. Plus, the
Samsung Yepp YP-T7J is not without its special features: it has a
radio, recording abilities and 1 GB of storage space.

Other MP3 players are a bit more costly: MP3 players with special
features tend to cost the consumer a bit more, specifically the
hard disk MP3 players. Nevertheless, there are a number of
incredibly good MP3 players that possess higher price tags, all
which will prove satisfying to the consumer.

The Creative Zen Vision: M, made by Creative Technology, is a
media/MP3 player that has a sleek design, a radio, and voice
recording capabilities, produces excellent images and provides
the user with great audio quality. The price for the Creative Zen
Vision: M falls between $275.00 and $350.00 depending upon the
distributor.

Another fine MP3 player and a personal favorite of many is the
Epson P-2000, which can be purchased at a price of anywhere from
$250.00 to $550.00. The Epson P-2000 allows the user to view
pictures, video, listen to music and more. The Epson P-2000 is
particularly revered for the excellent images it produces, but is
somewhat lacking when it comes to audio quality.

As can be seen above, there are many MP3 players to choose from.
What will determine the choice will be solely dependent on the
need. Does the consumer want to simply be able to listen to MP3
files or is the consumer looking for a tool that is far more
diverse, allowing the consumer to view video and/or photos? The
needs of the consumer, will, in turn, determine the price range
in which the MP3 player falls.

Ultimately, consumers should make every effort to read up on the
various MP3 player reviews offered on the internet: it will help
them determine what rating the MP3 players have in terms of their
function, price range and features.

Click Here To Download Unlimited Music

How To Maintain Accurate Time On Your PC

2007-02-11T23:31:00.000-05:00

By: David Evans

PC's have internal real time clocks designed to maintain system
time. The internal clocks rely on relatively low-cost crystal
oscillators, which are notoriously inaccurate. In many cases PC
system time can drift by several minutes each day. This article
describes various methods of maintaining a highly accurate time
on your PC. It describes how to utilise Internet time
references, radio and GPS clocks and dedicated NTP server
systems.

Internet Time References

The Internet utilises the Network Time Protocol to distribute
accurate time information to network time clients. NTP has been
an important part of the Internet for over 25 years. The
protocol was born through the need to provide synchronisation of
time critical processes across the Internet.

Most modern operating systems, including Windows XP, 2003 and
LINUX have the ability to synchronise time with a NTP Server.
There are a host of Internet based NTP Servers with public
access that can be used to synchronise your PC. Below is a list
of popular Internet based public access NTP Server references:

time.nist.gov - US based time reference. ptbtime1.ptb.de -
German time reference. ntp.my-inbox.co.uk - UK time reference.
canon.inria.fr - French time reference. clock.isc.org - Canadian
time reference.

Windows XP has pre-installed SNTP client software that can
synchronise time with a NTP server. This is achieved by simply
entering the domain name of an Internet NTP Server in the time
properties tab. The host computer will then periodically contact
the NTP Server and synchronise the system time to the specified
reference.

LINUX and UNIX systems have the NTP software distribution
available from the NTP website, ntp.org. The NTP application
runs as a daemon, constantly monitoring specified NTP servers.
The application reads a list of NTP servers from a configuration
file, 'ntp.conf', and periodically synchronises time. A list of
NTP server references is specified with the 'server'
configuration command thus:

server time-a.nist.gov # NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland NTP server
server time-c.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov # NIST, Boulder, Colorado NTP
server

Once configured, the NTP daemon can be started, stopped and
restarted using the commands: 'ntpd start'; 'ntpd stop' and
'ntpd restart'.

Radio and GPS Clock Timing References

There are many commercially available radio and GPS clock timing
references for PC's. Radio and GPS clocks obtain accurate time
from national radio timing references or from the GPS system.
The devices have serial or USB interfaces and provide an
accurate timing reference to PC's. Driver software periodically
synchronises the system time of the host computer to the
received reference time. Often reference clock drivers are
available that interface to the NTP application software to
provide your own dedicated NTP server.

Radio time receivers often have the advantage of having the
ability to obtain a good signal, indoors, close to the host
computer. However, the signal can only be received locally to
the transmitter. There are a number of radio time broadcasts
available: MSF transmitted from Rugby, UK; DCF-77 transmitted
from Frankfurt, Germany; WWVB transmitted from Colorado, USA;
CHU, Canada and TDF, France. GPS has the advantage of providing
a global time and frequency solution; however, an externally
located antenna is required which can be impractical.

Dedicated NTP Servers

NTP servers are dedicated time servers that obtain time from an
external source, such as radio or GPS, and provide a network
with an accurate timing reference. NTP servers are generally
rack-mountable devices with an external antenna and an Ethernet
connection. The devices obtain time from a radio or GPS timing
reference and maintain an accurate internal time. The accurate
time is then distributed to network time clients over an IP
network. Dedicated NTP servers often minimize the set-up and
configuration effort required to get a NTP server installation
up and running.

About the author:
Dave Evans develops NTP Server synchronisation systems to ensure
accurate time on PC's and computer networks. Dave has been
involved in the development of dedicated NTP server systems, NTP
synchronised digital wall clock systems and atomic clock time
synchronisation products. Find out more about SNTP and NTP
Server Systems at:
http://www.timetools.co.uk/ntp-servers/ntp-server-s5000.htm

Apple TV Is Here

2007-01-09T18:35:00.000-05:00

Introducing Apple TV — Now there's always something good on TV!

With Apple TV, you can enjoy movies, TV shows, music, and podcasts from your iTunes library, plus photos and movie trailers, on your widescreen TVs — wirelessly, from your Mac or PC. Only $299.

Just introduced today, Apple TV will ship in February, but you can pre-order now.

Change the way you look at TV. Stream your movies, TV shows, and more from iTunes to your widescreen TV, wirelessly.

2006-12-15T20:05:00.000-05:00

The iPod Shuffle is the perfect stocking stuffer. Just $79 and Free Shipping. There is still time for a chance to get this great holiday gift and the Apple Store is fully prepared!

Here are the Shuffle last ship dates for December 25th delivery:

iPod Shuffle: 12/18
Overnight: 12/20
iPod Shuffle with Gift Wrap: 12/16
Overnight: 12/19
Laser-engraved iPod Shuffle: 12/16
Laser-engraved iPod Shuffle with Gift Wrap: 12/16

Everything iPod for the holidays. Buy now and get free shipping on any Holiday Gift Guide item.

Laptops Vs. Desktops: The Key Differences

2006-12-10T22:18:00.000-05:00

By: Jeremy Maddock

Laptop computers differ from their desktop counterparts in a
number of important ways. Aside from their sheer size and
portability, there are several other important features that
might contribute to your decision to buy a laptop or notebook.

One of these features is the power supply. Unlike desktop
computers, which need to be plugged into an AC Power outlet at
all times, laptops are generally equipped with a rechargeable
lithium, nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride battery,
contributing to the obvious benefit of increased portability.

The displays on laptop computers also differs greatly from that
of desktops in that they use LCD technology, rather than a
picture-tube, to display images on the screen. Although notebook
computer displays are generally smaller, and often have a lower
screen resolution, they can provide better overall color
quality, and are considerably easier on the eyes.

The integration of input devices is another difference commonly
associated with laptops. The keyboard is, by definition, built
right into the body of the machine, as is some sort of pointing
device. This adds to the portability factor, but is in fact a
mixed blessing, since a damaged keyboard or touchpad is a much
more serious problem on a notebook.

All in all, laptops are designed with different priorities in
mind than their desktop cousins. The cost of basic functionality
is much higher than that of a desktop computer, yet owning a
notebook is now a virtual necessity for a large percentage of
business users and other consumers.

About the author:
Jeremy Maddock is an experienced webmaster and technology
enthusiast who owns and operates Laptop Reviews.ca.

Laptops Vs. Desktops: The Key Differences

2006-12-10T22:17:00.000-05:00

A Complete List Of Accessories For Your Laptop

2006-12-07T11:57:00.000-05:00

By: Javier Fuller

The demand for laptop accessories is growing steady. People are
constantly looking for new accessories that go with their
laptops. Popular laptop accessories are nothing more than some
special add-on's or additional gadgets attached to the original
setup of your laptop which makes working of your machine more
smoother. Especially for the travelers it is a boon as they can
stay productive even while on the roads.

With the burgeoning demand of laptop accessories coupled with a
fray of these available gadgets in the market, you have many
options at your disposable. The most common and the top most
accessories available for your laptops are:

* Bags: The right kind of bag is very essential for your laptop,
as it is the outer most protective shield. The bag should be
sturdy enough to bear the weight of your machine.

* Note Book Security Cables: Preventing your dream machine from
theft is a very important concern. This lightweight cable wraps
around the stationary device and then locks the security slot of
your laptop. If your machine does not have an in-built security
slot, then an optional glue-on adapter comes with no extra
charges.

* Portable Hood: This necessary equipment improves the screen
visibility by eliminating glare and also reduces eye strain. The
shade also works as a privacy screen concealer of your
confidential documents.

* Laptop Mouse: If you are tired of scrolling your finger over
those hard touch pad, there comes an optical mouse at your
service, both wireless and wired, suiting your requirements.

* Mobile Printers: It is yet another important accessory needed
for your machine. It makes you independent wherein comes the
matter of taking printouts of the important documents for your
immediate use.

* Laptop Desk Version: This particular accessory is engineered
for the heavier laptops in order to give relaxation to your legs
on a journey, coupled with five typing positions and a rubber
surface.

* Podium Cool Pad: This add-on provides heat dissipation and a
360 degree rotation benefit along with helping you to adjust
your laptop keyboard.

* Headset Microphones: It gives you the benefit to control your
output.

* Speakers: Apart from the inbuilt speakers, using external
speakers gives you an extra edge at time of meetings and
presentations.

* Portable USB Handy Lite: This gadget is a convenient way to
illuminate your laptop keyboard when the light is poor. * Earbud
Headphones: It is an important accessory for the telecommuters.
It is small and compact and is also able to filter out the
background noises.

* Multi Power Car Charger: Multi Power Car Charger is a very
useful accessory for those who spend most of the time working on
laptops in their cars.

* USB Handy Fan: It is a perfect accessory for your laptop in
hot and humid environments, which helps to create a gentle and
refreshing breeze.

* DVB-T-USB Stick: with this add-on in your laptop, you can
watch and record TV and radio shows.

* USB Number Pad: It is a USB hub with two additional USB parts
that helps you to connect to more USB devices. This gadget helps
you to work more quickly, easily and accurately on the spread
sheets.

* USB Numeric Pad: It is a 19-key device which offers an instant
benefit to the notebook users.

*Web Camera: An accessory which you can use to stay in touch
with your friends by seeing them.

* Phone to PC recorder: It helps you to connect to your
telephone handset with your laptop's sound card, enabling you to
record the telephonic conversations.

To read more articles on laptop laptop accessories and buying
laptops visit http://www.iwantnotebook.com/

About the author:
The author writes articles on different topics. To get more
laptop articles visit http://www.iwantnotebook.com/

How To Get Rid Of Spyware Quake

2006-11-26T20:13:00.000-05:00

By: Bob Stewart

How To Get Rid Of Spyware Quake

Spyware is the most annoying, anger producing and downright
craziest invention ever made.

In this article I will show you how to get rid of spyware quake
and the techniques I show you will work for any type of Spyware
you need to remove.

What Is Spyware Quake

Spyware Quake is the latest variant of rogue programs using
adware and false alert messages to sell their product.

Spyware Quake is promoted on it's webpage as a solution to help
users to detect and remove spyware from their computers.

In actual fact, it is a rogue anti spyware program that uses pop
ups to alert the user about a critical system or registry error.

That pop up is actually an advertisement to get the user to
purchase and download Spyware Quake.

So there is no system error or virus APART FROM the tojan virus
that is Spyware Quake!

How To Get Rid Of Spyware Quake

Unfortunately, Spyware Quake is designed so that it cannot be
manually removed - either by the user or by security programs
installed on the computer!

However, there are few programs out there than can get rid of
Spyware Quake and every other type of Spyware out there.

I recommend using PC Health Plan which you can get by Clicking Here!

Once you have PC Health Plan you need to follow these steps
to get rid of Spyware Quake...

1)Download PC Health Plan

2)Scan your computer and remove all viruses

3)Restart your computer

4)Scan your computer again and remove any remaining viruses.

And BOOM - you have got rid of Spyware Quake.

Beware

To prevent your computer being infected in the future it is
vital to scan it frequently in order to find any Spyware.

PC Health Plan! is updated frequently and
filled with the new programs to detect all the new Spyware
viruses that come around monthly.

Conclusion

There you have it, how to get rid of spyware quake.

It is easy when you have the correct tools to do it and it is
important to use a reputable program such as PC
Health Plan! to ensure complete removal every time.

To A Spyware Free Future

Bob

About the author:
Spyware Quake (and all other foms of Spyware) "spy" on you and
steal your credit card details and other private information.

Stop being spied on and Click Here! to get PC Health Plan!

PS3 Madness

2006-11-17T18:07:00.000-05:00

It seems that PS3 madness has extended to Ebay. Prices are being bid up into the thousands. It's kind of crazy that people don't want to wait until they are fully stocked. I predict that you'll be able to get them any time in January. Check out this story here:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6161967.html

Get ready for Office 2007

2006-11-10T13:29:00.000-05:00

By: Mike Fletcher

Get ready for Office 2007, the most sweeping update to
Microsoft's popular suite of productivity applications.

An extensive re-education awaits those who will upgrade to the
new Office 2007. It's truly a redesign. The menu bar and
navigation buttons for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, for example,
look completely different.

But before buying, I'd suggest you visit
http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/default.mspx and click
through all the explanations Microsoft has posted that
demonstrate many of the new features and controls.

There's something else that's very different: Microsoft uses a
different format to save files with Office 2007 that, without a
special viewer that will have to be downloaded, makes them
unreadable with earlier versions. When saving a document with
Office 2007, you have the option of saving as a previous version
-- which makes them compatible with earlier versions -- but I'm
betting this change alone is going to cause massive amounts of
confusion among the early adapters.

That said, the beta of Office 2007 that I've been testing for
the past couple of weeks is faster, more powerful and lots more
intuitive and interconnected to other programs and files. Once
you figure it out.

There are lots of subtle new features, too, like built-in
blogging functionality and something called the ribbon that
replaces the traditional toolbar and gives greater control over
each program's various functions.

Office 2007 is the biggest change Microsoft has ever made to the
interconnected suite of software tools so many of us depend upon.

So big, it's going to take a learning curve to master.

Buying Office 2007 also promises to be confusing. There will be
no fewer than eight versions to choose from, all aimed at
different markets ranging from home and student users, to small
businesses, midsized companies and corporate conglomerates.
Depending on what software you have bundled into Office, the
prices will range from $147 to $679.

About the author:
The author is publisher of Notebook Scoop
(http://notebookscoop.com) and PC Scoop (www.pcscoop.com, sites
devoted to notebook and desktop computers.

How to Repair Stuck Pixels on LCD Screen

2006-11-07T16:46:00.000-05:00

By: John Eminescu

The biggest downside to LCD screens is the fact that they may
have one or more dead pixels. Fixing these white (TN + film) or
black dots (dead pixels) is not possible - which is a serious
problem, since they can really be distracting. So before
actually buying an LCD monitor, it's a good idea to find out how
comprehensive a warranty your dealer offers - in other words,
how many dead or stuck pixels do you need to have before you can
trade in your monitor for a new one?

Some dealers will exchange your monitor even if it only has one
dead pixel, which is an ideal situation, but most of them won't.
There's a very real risk that your display won't be considered
defective until it has eight dead pixels. That's eight too many.
Faced with this prospect, the best thing to do is to start
looking around for another dealer who offers you a better
warranty.

A lot of people have been complaining about stuck and dead
pixels. Well I have done my research and I heard about a guy
over at psphacks.net that had a LCD TV that had some stuck
pixels and when he went to Best-Buy they gave him a dvd that
flashed Red, Green and Blue over and over again. This supposedly
"un-sticks" the stuck pixels, by calling them to do rapid
changes (To my understanding). So I thought about it for a
while, and I said, what the heck, I'll try it. So I made my own
video that does this, and it works!

Several forums users have reported success with this video,
though several have reported failures. You don't have much to
lose, so just give it a shot and let us know your results. So
far, it has worked around 60% of the time. I tried it on my
friend's that had 6 stuck pixels, and it fixed them all. The
only real thing you can do is set the video to repeat and leave
it on for a few hours. In Version 2.0, I have added a white
screen and a black screen, so you can periodically check to see
if your pixels have been fixed. This video works with all
versions of the PSP, from 1.00 to 1.52; good luck with it to all
of you.

Find more information on how to repair stuck pixels on
http://fixdeadpixels.uv.ro

About the author:
I am a 27 years old writer working at my first book.

New iPod Shuffle

2006-11-03T12:37:00.000-05:00

Apple has come out with a new iPod called the Shuffle. It holds 240 songs and is the size of a matchbook. This is a signicant downsize and would be especially good for exercising as you can wear it clipped on anywhere. Check it out.

5 Simple ways to keep your computer secure and virus free

2006-10-28T22:26:00.000-04:00

By: William McRand Sr

These simple tips will help you stay virus and spyware free,
even if

you're connected to the internet 24 hours a day.

1. Protect yourself

Good protection on the Internet these days consists of 3
components:

anti-virus software, anti-spyware software and a firewall.

As for a firewall, Windows XP ships with a decent enough
firewall. Just

make sure it is always enabled. Alternatively you can visit a
site like

www.download.com and search for Zone Alarm, which has an
excellent free

version.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to
keep your

anti-virus software up to date. An anti-virus program that uses

definitions that are months old is just about useless.

Update your anti-virus and anti-spyware software at least once a
week.

2. Stop opening every attachment you receive.

Most of the devastating worms and viruses of recent times were

distributed via email. These viruses feed on the curiosity and
also the

ignorance of a huge number of email users. People will get an
email

from fakename@weirdsuspiciousdomain and they'll just open
whatever file

is attached to it.

If you don't know the sender, don't open the attachment - just
delete

it. It doesn't matter if the subject promises you'll see Britney
Spears

dancing nude on the kitchen table, just delete it.

If the email is from someone you know, always scan any
attachments

first before downloading or opening them.

If every email user in the world followed these simple
guidelines the

distribution of viruses via email will grind to a halt.

3. Stay clear of pornographic and illegal software sites

If you want to pick up viruses and spyware quickly, visit some

pornographic web sites. One wrong click on a subtle little
pop-up or

security warning window (which you'll run into often on these
type of

sites) and you'll have infested yourself with trojan horses,
spyware,

dialers and other unfavorable software that could leave your
computer

wide open to further attacks.

The same goes for web sites distributing software, serial codes
and

cracks illegally (warez).

Simply put - keep out of the dark side of the web and the odds
of

keeping your computer clean shifts decidedly in your favor.

4. Watch out what you download

Spyware is embedded in a lot of software on the Internet -
especially

those related to ripping, converting and playing music and
videos. That

free MP3 player or DVD Ripper you just downloaded may have
installed a

bunch of harmful spyware without you even knowing about it.

5. Keep yourself informed

Major anti-virus software developers like Symantec and Grisoft
updates

their sites regularly with the latest virus alerts. Visit these
sites

frequently to keep yourself aware of what threats are doing the
rounds

and how to avoid them.

Using this simple software I have kept my computer virus-free
for

the past 3 years. It's not rocket science. Just stay alert, use
some

common sense and you too can stay bug free while still enjoying
your

Internet experience.

About the author:
By William McRand Sr 1908 Clinton Ave Mobile AL 36617 Your P.C.
maybe infected with adware & spyware Fix your pc in less than
five minutes Click
Here

What You Need To Know About Adware And Adware Stoppers

2006-10-28T00:14:00.000-04:00

By: Jackson Summers

What is Adware?

Adware is software application incorporated into or bundled with
a program, and when installed, display or download advertising
material to a computer. Adware is usually a method used by many
programmers to recover development costs when a software program
is provided free of charge, or at a low cost. Adware can drain
the computer's resources, spy on user's surfing habits,
adversely affect Internet connection speed, and even redirect
web browsers without permission. Owing to this, a host of adware
stoppers has sprung up, which clean an infected system and
prevent new infestations with real-time protection, and becoming
some of the most downloaded programs on the internet.

Adware, Malware, and Spyware:

The three terms, and related terms such as adware stoppers,
spyware removers etc, are often very easy to confuse since the
concepts overlap. Adware is usually installed with the user's
consent and comes with an uninstaller, while spyware installs
itself without permission and can be almost impossible to
completely uninstall without assistance. Spyware is intended to
track, report, and re-sell user's activity and information
without consent, and malware refers to a worse form of spyware
in which the operation and functioning of other software
applications can be negatively affected. The problem of
distinction occurs, for example, when an adware that comes with
a tracking feature, when activated by the user, becomes a
spyware. So, an adware stopper can also refer to a program that
prevents an adware application from performing spyware
activities.

Well-known Adware Programs and Adware Stoppers:

Some of the most well-known adware programs include 123
Messenger, 180 Solutions, Bonzi Buddy, ClipGenie, Comet Cursor,
Cydoor, Direct Revenue, Ebates MoneyMaker, Gator, PornDigger,
WinFixer, Hotbar, ErrorSafe, and Smiley Central.

Popular adware stoppers, which have been around for a couple of
years include NoAdware, ErrorDoctor, Spynukker and PC-Cillin.

Top Adware Stoppers:

PC World evaluated ten existing adware stoppers and anti-spyware
utilities devised to detect and get rid of spyware and adware
from computers, based on -

* rates of detection, * scanning speed, * ability to prevent
unwanted applications from installing themselves, * and ease of
use

Seven spyware/adware stoppers in the price range of $20 to $40
were noted for their outstanding performances, which include

1. Allume Systems' Internet Cleanup, 2. McAfee's AntiSpyware, 3.
Computer Associates' ETrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware, 4.
InterMute's SpySubtract Pro, 5. Aluria Software's Spyware
Eliminator, 6. Webroot Software's Spy Sweeper 7. Sunbelt
Software's CounterSpy, and

Three other adware stoppers, which are available for free, were
also tested and found to be equally effective. These include
Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE Personal, Safer Networking's Spybot
Search and Destroy, and http://Merijn.org's HijackThis.
However, HijackThis was not included in the charts because it
does not scan for infections. Microsoft's new Windows
AntiSpyware was the only product in beta that was tested.

About the author:
Protect your computer from best free spyware remover and adware stoppers. For free trials, and
recommendation visit the adware critic.

How Do Viruses And Worms Affect Your Computer

2006-10-26T20:46:00.000-04:00

By: Jeff Clark

Unlike viruses that most commonly infect an individual
computer, the worms usually attack a computer network. A
computer network functions by using a collection of servers and
routers. This is what the internet is comprised of. A server is
like a PC but has more speed and storage and a router is a
server with specialized functions, it directs traffic through
the network. PC Security - Worm Viruses, Deadliest of All

A virus attacks the unit used to run programs on the computer
called the central processing unit or CPU for short. It does
this by running programs and being constantly busy, so that none
of the functions you select can be opened. Similarly, this is
how a worm functions on a network. The routers rely on memory
and processing time (similar to the CPU functions). These are
attacked and as a result the network drastically slows down.

Worms carry payloads which are comprised of other types of
malware, backdoor installations or spyware. Spyware is a
monitoring program that can keep an eye on activities on your
computer and backdoor programs set up hidden access points used
by hackers to steal your information or send spam.

"My Doom" sent out at the beginning of 2004, was the fastest
spreading worm to date. The worm came in the form of an email
with the message "andy; I'm just doing my job, nothing personal,
sorry."

Although the culprit was never found, its intended victim is
thought to have been a software company called Santa Cruz
Operation or SCO for short.

When a person opened this email, the worm was programmed to
overwhelm SCO's website with traffic. The worm spread through
the internet and caused a massive slow down.

For the individual computer, the worm's payload is more serious
because it allows ports to be opened on the computer where
hackers have access to steal or delete information. In addition,
a payload may come with a program to attack your antivirus
software and disable it.

De worming

Using firewalls will help protect your computer. Firewalls
reduce traffic and "hide" your computer. In this state, you are
less likely to be attacked by worms spread over the network.

Be careful not to open suspicious emails and if you don't know
the person or get and unexpected email don't open it. If you
find your computer is slow and reboots by itself or the internet
is sluggish, you may have been infected. Try running antivirus
software to check it out. If that doesn't work, try to manually
removing the virus. Information as to how this is done can be
found on the internet.

About the author:
Jeff Clark is a staff writer at Technology Digest
and is an occasional contributor to several other websites,
including Games
Enthusiast.

Recovery From PC Failure Using Windows XP's Restore Point

2006-10-19T22:29:00.000-04:00

By: Otis Cooper

Have you ever done something to make an improvement and later
regretted it?It would be awesome to be able to go back in time
and undo the the thing that were supposed to make an improvement.

While life in general will not allow us to return to an earlier
time to make changes, we computer users do have such an option
should we experience problems with our Windows XP operating
systems.

If you update or install the wrong device driver for your video
card, and you delete accidentally delete a critical Windows
file, so what.

You can simply use Windows XP's Restore Point feature and, Tada,
you're back on track and recovered that deleted file.

Restore Points are snapshots of the state your operating system
was in during that time.Windows XP automatically creates a
restore point when it senses a major change in your operating
system.And Restore Points are created every 24 hours as a safety
measure.But you can create a Restore Point manually any time you
feel there is a need.

If you have a change of some sort that causes problems with the
operating system, you can tell Windows XP to revert to any
Restore Point established before the problem occured.After the
rollback, every change in the operating system that happened
after that Restore Point is eliminated.

Restore Points are generally used when you experience such pc
problems as extremely slow performance of the system. Your
computer responds far more slowly that it did before you
installed or updated something.

Other times to run Restore Point is when your system stops
responding after an update or installation. Be sure to create a
Restore Point before making any significant change to your
computer's software or configuration.

To set a Restore Point, click on Start, point to All Programs,
click on Accessories, System Tools, and then click on System
Restore.When the System Restore windows appears, click on the
button labeled "Create A Restore Point" and click Next.

Enter a description of the restore point, something like "Before
scanner device driver install" and click the Create button.A
notification will inform you that a Restore Point was made.Now
click the Close button and you're all set.

Reverting to a Restore Point is as easy as create one.Click on
Start, point to All Programs, click Accessories, System Tools,
and System Restore.When the System Restore window appears, click
on the "Restore My Computer To An Earlier Time" and then click
on the Next button.

Choose the date on which you set the Restore Point and click the
Next button.Review the information presented and save any open
files.Shut down any other programs that may be running.

Click on the Next button and now your computer will restart. As
it restarts, it will present a message informing you of the
restore point. Click OK and you're done.

After reading all about setting and reverting to restore points,
you should make a known restore point if you have not done so
already.Whatever you do after reading this article, don't say
I'll get to it soon.Familarize yourself with this feature and
create a restore point one.

You should try Restore Point and see how it works before you
need it.Create a Restore Point now and update something.You can
update Windows Media Player for example.

After the update or the installation of a program,wait a day or
so and go back to Restore Point.Revert to the Restore Point you
created and see if the old version of Windows Media Player comes
back.Or see if that old device driver is present.

Doing a simple task like this can and will boost your computer
skills and give you much more confidence in yourself and the
Windows XP operating system.

About the author:
Otis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting the knowledge and
confidence of every computer user. Sign up to receive his
informative articles every month and learn PC Repair absolutely
free.Sign up now at http://www.repairarticles.com

Aperture 1.5 Is Out

2006-10-02T22:14:00.000-04:00

Apple has upgraded Aperture with some cool new features. Check these out:

- Ability to store photos anywhere.
- Tight integration with the iLife '06 and iWork '06 application suites.
- Ability to automatically generate XMP metadata when exporting masters.
- A new color adjustment tool.
- New Edge Sharpen tool for high-quality results.
- Pre-filled metadata templates. No repetitive typing!
- Ability to use Aperture on a MacBook for a super-affordable mobile studio

Aperture 1.5: the first all-in-one post-production tool for photographers. New Features. Free Shipping. Only $299 at the Apple Store.

Troubleshoot Your Wireless LAN

2006-09-14T21:24:00.000-04:00

Setting up a wireless LAN at home to share computing resources is becoming more and more popular. Wireless LAN manufacturers have simplified the process of setting up a wireless LAN to just a few quick and easy steps. However, like any computer hardware, wireless LAN can work for months or years and then all of a sudden, it stops working. Before you call in the professionals to check your wireless LAN, here are a few simple things you can do to troubleshoot the wireless LAN yourself.

1. First of all, save your work and restart your computer. If you have access to the wireless LAN router and broadband modem, restart them as well. This simple technique has a surprisingly high success rate.

2. If this technique fails, the second thing is to check for loose connections. If you have a USB or PCMCIA wireless LAN card, ensure that it is seated firmly in the slot. If you have an internal PCI wireless LAN card, you will need to open the computer casing to check the connection.

3. If a loose connection isn't the cause of failure, the next thing to try is check Windows' My Network Places. Are there any new network icons that appear there? Sometimes, your wireless LAN card may detect another network nearby that has a stronger signal and connect to the new network instead. If My Network Places showed any unfamiliar network name, simply remove it. Then double click on your own network name to re-establish the connection.

4. If there is no new network nearby, you can try to bring your computer right next to your wireless LAN router. If this works, then it is likely to be a case of interference. You should think carefully what has changed recently in your house. Maybe you have added a new cordless phone or other equipment that use radio waves. Try switching them off one at a time to determine the source of interference.

5. If you can't determine any source of interference, you can now try resetting the wireless LAN router to its original factory setting. You can login to the router's control panel using a web browser and look for the option that allows you to restore the settings to the factory defaults.

If none of these techniques worked, it is likely that there is a hardware failure in your network. You need to unplug each piece of hardware in your wireless LAN in turn to figure out where the failure is. Once you identify the source, call the manufacturer and report the fault. In the event you are unable to isolate the source of failure, call the manufacturer and seek their advice. They should be able to advise you on how to troubleshoot your network further. Just remember to stay polite and be patient.

iPod Nano Update

2006-09-13T14:48:00.000-04:00

Here's a few more tidbits to add to yeterday's post on the the new iPod.

Up to 2,000 songs & 5 brilliant colors.

Aanodized aluminum enclosure and rounded edge.
3.5 inches tall, 1.6 inches wide, and just over quarter of an inch thin.
Brighter color screen.
1.5-inch color display that's 40% brighter than before.

Check it out.

New Remastered iPod Nano

2006-09-12T21:09:00.000-04:00

Just out today:

• 2GB/500-song, silver iPod nano for $149.
• 4GB/1000-song silver, green, pink and blue iPod nano for $199.
• 8GB/2000-song black iPod nano for $249.

Check it out.

Apple Computers - Compatibility With Windows Applications

2006-09-12T17:52:00.000-04:00

By: Yina Dong

In the early days there was little compatibility between Apple
applications and Microsoft Windows applications. However, much
has changed over the years, and many applications can be
seamlessly shared between the two operating systems. This is
especially true of the Max OS X Tiger which enables not only the
sharing of files, but can co-exist peacefully on the same
network. Sharing printers, scanners and other peripheral devices
between Macs and PCs is now almost a non-issue, while there are
still the occasional user who has problems sharing files between
PCs and Macs, the difficulties have mostly be resolved. It is
expected that within the next few years, there should be
problems at all.

Best of all, in today's highly wired world, where electronic
mail is a way of life, now even email can be shared across Mac
and PC platforms with minimal fuss. Apple started on the road to
compatibility in 2003 when they resumed installing PC Compatible
Cards into their systems. This was done in partnership with Dell
Computers.

With so many businesses using Microsoft Windows, it was only
natural that Apple made their systems compatible so that users
could work across platforms. Nowhere is this compatibility more
appreciated than in the freelancing world where clients and
freelancers need to quickly and efficiently exchange files. The
introduction of Intel processors in the current lines of Apple
Computers has cemented this compatibility relationship across
multiple-platforms.

Prior to this, users of Mac applications had to use third party
software, like Stuffit Expander and Conversion Plus, to be able
to access and work on files created with Microsoft applications.
Also, the current generation of Macs now has Mac compatible
Windows application suites which include everyday Windows
applications, Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Microsoft Office for
Mac can be used between Macs and PCs with no problem.

About the author:
Click here
now to find more observations from Yina.

Laptop Computer Sale

2006-08-17T17:32:00.000-04:00

On almost any given day, you can find a store that is having a laptop computer sale. These are hot items, and many people are beginning to prefer laptops over personal computers because of their portability. This means that stores are fighting for that share of the computer sales pie. To find a laptop computer sale in your area, all you have to do is look through your local paper, or keep an eye on local television ads. Laptops are often hot items, and discounts are used to draw customers into the store.

Not all sales are created equal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save a lot of money. One type of laptop computer sale is not a deduction in price. Instead they offer a huge rebate. There are two different kinds of rebates, in store and mail in rebates. In store rebates are often taken off the final price, while mail in rebates come after the sale. Many stores like to use the rebate laptop computer sale. As wonderful as these rebates are, there are many people who will not actually follow up on the rebate, and the company gets to keep the money.

If you find a laptop computer sale price that seems too good to be true, find out why. They may be offering a low quality model to get you in the store so they can talk you up to a pricier model. If you want to take advantage of the laptop computer sale, do your best to ignore the sales pitches, or you may end up spending more money than you wanted to. Sometimes, a laptop computer sale is not really a price break on the computer itself, but is instead an offer for extras. These extras can include free upgrades or even a digital camera. Read the fine print. The upgrade may not be something you need, and the digital camera may be low quality, and not worth the price.

There is one place where there is always a laptop computer sale, and that place is eBay. Many, many sellers have laptops they are trying to sell, and if you are patient enough, you can find a great deal on a top of the line, quality laptop. The most important part of finding a bargain at a laptop computer sale is to read all the fine print, and make sure there are no hidden charges, fees, or costs that will jack up the price of the model. Also remember, a deal is not a deal if you don’t get what you need.

Protect your computer against viruses

2006-08-10T14:55:00.000-04:00

By: John Fallens

Learn how to protect your personal computer against viruses by:
John Fallens

More and more people have access to computers and the Internet
at home, school etc it all computer systems are at big risk of
getting infected with a computer virus, here will give you ten
tips on how to avoid this and protect your computer.

·Install a good ant virus program in your computer, there are
many free versions out there but it is better to buy a trusted
ant virus program in your local computer store.

·Keep your ant virus software updated, this way your system
will always be protected/

·Backup important files at least once a week, you don't need
expensive software to do this, use a cd burner and make copies
of your most important documents.

·Be careful when opening email attachments, if you receive
something that you don't trust simply delete the email don't
open the attachment.

·Use plain text in your email program, html emails can open
wholes in your computer and you could end up with a virus.

·Be careful when downloading programs for free online, some of
this program will record your Internet activity, read their
privacy policy before installing them in your pc.

·Setup your ant virus program to monitor instant message
programs since other people are able to send files using this
type of software.

·Scan your floppy or cd roms when you bring a disc from another
computer.

·Run a virus scan in your computer at least twice a week.

About the author:
If you need more computer help or tech support visit our
computer forums http://www.computerhelp2u.c
om.

Who's Tracking Your Online Identity?

2006-07-31T21:08:00.000-04:00

By: Greg Culver

If you spend a lot of time online, looking for that special
little spot on the web-then this may intrigue you. With all the
information floating out freely on the WWW, you have to wonder,
is someone watching you? Surfing the web is entertaining in many
ways, and dangerous. This formed the usefulness of anti-spy ware
products as well as pop-up blockers, and antivirus programs.
That is a lot of protection, and it doesn't even include the
recommended firewall.

Have you ever had a pop-up show on your screen that asked you to
buy products similar to a site you were surfing, or through
random keywords you put into a search engine? That is no
coincidence.

There are companies that watch your every click, monitor your
surfing habits, and offer services to you at their leisure.
Someone is watching you, and they're not too shy about admitting
it. Every computer online has to have an IP address to identify
itself, it is the social security cards of computers. Without an
IP address, computers cannot get online. What is your IP
address? If you know it then read above-protect it like you
would protect your social security card.

With an IP address anyone can find out exclusive private
information about you, and in extreme cases, take over your
entire computer. However IP address trackers operate more on
an annoying telemarketer function, and although harmless, is
still a huge blow to privacy.

If you just happened to see flash banners online with an
interactive game, promising you'd win something if you'd win,
then you would be surprised to see your location information
filled in on the winners form after winning the game. The only
thing missing would be some personable information such as your
name and email address.

This is what website trackers do, it is similar to MSN's and
Yahoo's portal that can give you relevant information-only these
website trackers ASK for your information before displaying the
relevant details.

Normally, with the protection available to computers we surf
aimlessly without worry, not even considering how wide open our
computers are. And with IP tracking software freely available to
the public online, privacy becomes even worse to protect.

Education is the best weapon, and ways to hide and protect your
IP is freely available online.

To read more articles by Greg Culver, check out http://homeandfamilyweb.com

About the author:
www.coolcomputerweb.com
is owned by Greg Culver and is a directory dedicated to
providing information about computers and related information.

Windows Vista - An Overview

2006-07-30T23:24:00.000-04:00

By: Lucy Bartlett

After a gap of nearly 5 years, Microsoft released the latest
version of Windows which is named as Vista. With a name change
from Longhorn to Vista, the stable version of Windows is
expected to be released during November 2006. The beta version
of this software is already available as a free download. If you
have a lot of patience or a very high speed internet connection
then you can download Vista which is nearly 2.5 GB in size.

Microsoft promises that Vista will have plenty of new features
which includes updated graphical user interface (GUI), Windows
DVD Maker - a new creation tool for multimedia - and totally
revamped audio, print and networking sub-systems. Vista will
make use of peer-to-peer technology to make file sharing between
networked computers easier. With the inclusion of Virtual PC in
Vista, Microsoft claims that running previous versions of
Windows simultaneously on the same machine will not be a problem.

The developers can make use of the Net Framework version 3.0
introduced in Vista. This version is claimed to be easier to
work with than the traditional Windows API.

The most common criticism of Windows XP is its unstable security
and its inability to protect the system from buffer overflows,
viruses and malware. The stated goal of Vista is to improve the
security considerably and make the system protected from the
invasion of malwares and virus threats.

Vista comes with improved performance of Windows Shell, easier
and faster search functions, a sidebar resembling Apple's
Spotlight, desktop gadgets for applets, the latest version of
Internet Explorer - the controversial web browser of Microsoft
-, Windows Media Player 11, specialized User Account Control,
built in Firewall to control and monitor outgoing and incoming
traffic, Windows Defender, a Windows version of anti-spyware and
Windows mail which will replace the existing Outlook Express.

Microsoft claims Vista will help in improving the performance of
the PC in certain key areas which includes starting up, response
to user actions, and waking up. The start up is going to be very
quick and while background processing of scripts and
applications are executed, the other desired tasks can be
performed by the users.

The new sleep state provision in Vista has combined features for
standby mode, data protection and low power usage during
hibernation.

If you want to try Vista on your desktop computer then your
system should have a processor which should be at least 800MHZ
speed, 512 MB RAM and have the latest version of any good
graphic card capable of executing DirectX version 9 or above.
This is only a minimum requirement. For optimum results a better
processor - above 1.2GHZ is needed.

About the author:
Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find more articles
here. For more
info visit Windows
Vista or Vista Products

Laptops and the College Student

2006-07-23T22:06:00.000-04:00

If you are the parent of a student that is soon planning to go to college, then you may want to purchase a laptop computer. A laptop

computer will give the student an effective tool that will allow them to keep track of their busy college schedule, to keep in touch with
friends and family, and to do academic research and papers.

A laptop for the college student is more than ideal; it’s a necessity in today’s technologically advanced and equally demanding society.

College students are expected to type all of their papers in the proper format, whether it is in the Modern Language Association or
American Psychological Association format, and they can easily do so on any of today’s laptop computers.

Don’t make your college bound child rely on the computers at the campus they attend. It can be a hassle when all of the computers

are in use or when the computers malfunction, especially when a term paper or a project is due. Let your college bound child know you
care about their education by giving them a tool they will find invaluable during their college years. College students can use their laptop
to create PowerPoint presentations, lectures, writing assignments, charts, diagrams, websites and more.

Finally, a college student will undoubtedly want to use their laptop computer for entertainment purposes. Downloading music, blog

writing, web surfing, and sharing photos with family and friends are all activities that can be accomplished with the laptop computer you
provide.

Deals On Laptops

2006-07-20T16:09:00.000-04:00

By: Larry Haywood

Are you looking for good deals on laptops? There are an endless
amount of websites on the internet about laptops and finding
good deals on laptops. You could literally spend hours and hours
on the web researching laptops or you could visit a site like
TigerDirect.com. This site is by far one of the most helpful
sites I have been to when it comes to trying to figure out which
laptop to buy. There are so many brands and different types of
laptops out there today, it's almost mind blowing. You have
laptops, notebook pcs, and tablet pcs to choose from. Do you
know which one you need? How will you find good deals on laptops
without knowing what you need to fit your situation.

Some of the top laptop brands available today are: Dell laptops,
Gateway, Acer, Toshiba, Compaq, HP, Sony, Apple, and more. Along
with each type of laptop brand, you've also got a large variety
of models to select from. You can expect to spend anywhere from
499.00 to 1500.00 dollars for a decent laptop these days.
However, if you do your research and are open to different
laptop models and brands, you can save a load of cash.
TigerDirect.com provides a review and complete specifications on
the laptops available to buy online.

Now, the laptop specs are pretty darn important. This is what
your laptop will be made up of, so to speak. For example,
howmuch disk space and storage will your laptop have? I have
seen some laptops that come with 60-100 GB of disk space. That
is a massive hard drive for a little bitty laptop! With that
kind of storage available, you will have plenty of space for all
your mp3s, videos, movies, or whatever you want to download on
your laptop. Another important specification is the processor
used. Some of featured laptops on TigerDirect.com come with a
1.7 BHz processor, which should be more than enough juice for
the job. Then, you've got your memory, also called RAM. For
memory, I would get atleast 256MB, but you might want to go with
the 512MB memory if don't plan on updating for a while. With a
setup like this, you could use your laptop for business or
personal use.

Also, you will also want to know the dimensions of the laptop.
Howmuch does the laptop weight? How thin is it? What is the size
of the viewing screen? Now, these things really matter! You
don't want to buy the heaviest, most bulky laptop you can find.
Lightweight and thin laptops are the wave of the future. I know
I do not want to be carrying around a clumpy piece of technology
that weighs 15 lbs. when I could easily carry a 6lb. laptop
around much easier.

Finally, you will also want to pay attention to the type of
networking setup the laptop comes with. Do you plan on using a
LAN at your house? Are you going wireless? Maybe you're still
using a dial up isp. Whatever your situation, you'll want to
find a laptop that is ready to plug into your setup at home or
business. So, with a little time and patience, you can find good
deals on laptops without much effort.

About the author:
Larry runs the website Laptop Buys where you can
find information about laptops, notebook pcs, and tablet pcs.

Windows Repair Xp

2006-07-18T15:18:00.000-04:00

By: Tom Jackson

Learn about a new way to speed up Windows XP using a new method
called computer speed system design.

According to the experts at http://windowsrepairxp.com speeding
up Windows XP has been a big problem for it's users only because
it is been approached from the wrong angle by. The correct way
to speed up Windows XP is to create a computer speed system that
has six specific parts. This computer speed system is a
collection of several pieces to a puzzle once you have these
pieces put together you'll always have computer speed.

You're very lucky to be reading this article on windows repair
xp because we are going to reveal all six parts to computer
speed. You're about to learn how to eliminate computer freeze
ups, prevent computer crashes, extend the life of your computer
almost indefinitely, and create computer speed that you've never
seen before. Now that may seem like a bold statement but most
computer owners are missing one or more pieces to this puzzle.
And as anyone knows if there are missing pieces to a puzzle you
never get a perfect picture until you find the missing pieces.

Normally computer speed has been attempted by making changes to
your computer hardware. The most popular is simply adding more
memory or getting a bigger hard drive. This does work well but
it doesn't solve the problem so your computer slows down later
on. So, what is slowing down your computer and what are the
parts to computer speed?

Computer speed has six specific parts to it when you're using
only one or two of these parts you don't get the kind of speed
that you really want.

The parts to computer speed are. 1) Windows XP optimization 2)
Windows XP tweaks, maintenance, and adjustments 3) Spyware an
Adware Removal 4) Antivirus Software 5) Software That Organizes
Your Hard Drive 6) Special Privacy Software

Now in order to have a very very fast computer you'll need to
design a system that has all of the things above in it and
working together. These are the things that slow Windows XP down
and these are the things that can speed Windows Repair XP up.
The six items are not new and they are no mystery to most of us
who've been on Internet for a long time. The real mystery is
learning how to use them properly to create computer speed.

It doesn't take much to learn and become an expert on the six
items above. What it takes is the time and effort to research
each of the individual items. You'll have to learn who, what,
where, when, and how of each individual area. You can use the
help that is available to you on many web sites like

Windows Repair Xp

where they address all six items individually and show you how
to design your own computer speed system.

The fact of the matter is computer speed is the responsibility
of the computer owner not the computer itself. Your computer
simply will not stay fast, safe and running well unless you
address all six areas of computer speed.

About the author:
This article is written by researcher and Thomas Jackson and is
taken from his e-book on XP computer speed secrets. Visit

Windows Repair Xp

to
get a free copy of Spybot Search & Destroy spyware removal
software. Watch our free advanced spyware protection video on
this software while you are there.

Laptop Essentials! Five Basic Accessories to Think About

2006-07-18T12:12:00.000-04:00

By: Garry Allen

Everybody, it looks like, has a laptop today, and if you don't
have one, you most likely are thinking of buying one. As if it's
not difficult enough to choose from the many types and brands of
laptops out there, you are also confronted with the many
accessories that are available for one to. Of the overwhelmingly
large amount of accessories out there, it can be certainly
overwhelming to figure out what you really need for your laptop. Clearly, it is completely dependant
upon your needs and plans with your computer, but there are five
essentials you may want to consider to start with first.

Laptop Essential 1: If you are planning to use your laptop at
home with any kind of regularity, you will want to consider
getting an external keyboard and pointing device (mouse). Why?
Well, believe me, if you have ever tried typing on a laptop for
any more than an hour, then without a doubt you know that your
neck, shoulders, and wrists can start to feel wiped out, to say
the least. Well, the solution is to buy an external keyboard,
which you can plug into the back of your laptop, as well as a
mouse. And if you use your laptop in the office you can raise
the screen up with books or risers of some sort to make looking
at the screen a little more ergonomic. Of course you can also
purchase accessory swivel stands for your laptop as well if you
want them.

Laptop Essential 2: When you're home you will most likely want to
connect other peripheral devices to your laptop, like a printer,
maybe a DVD player, or even a CD burner. This can create a lot
of clutter with all the wires you need to plug in and unplug if
you want to take your laptop out of the house or move room to
room or even take it to the office. So to resolve this problem,
you will absolutely love a docking station.

Now a docking station basically turns your laptop into a desktop
computer when you're home and when you're ready to take it away,
you simply slip it out of the station and off you go.

Another alternative along the same lines is a port replicator,
which has computer ports. You connect your external devices to
the replicator and then to your laptop. When you want to move
your laptop, you simply detach the one port replicator, rather
than each external device.

Laptop Essential 3: Now this isn't as exciting as some of the
other accessories, but I assure you, you will be thankful you
have it, and that is an external hard drive. It's certainly not
going to make your day, and it certainly won't throw any
excitement in your life, but the morning you wake up and your
laptop won't start will be the day you are overjoyed that you
decided to get that external hard drive.

Here's a little tip to go along with your new external hard
drive: never pack your backup drive and your laptop in the same
case when going on a trip, keep them separated. If you happen to
lose your bag with both the backup drive and the laptop in it,
you're going to have a really bad day!

Laptop Essential 4: This little device will allow you to hook up
everything you need. So make sure you go out and get yourself an
external USB hub. Desktop computers sometimes come with several
USB ports, some with as many as 8 or 9. But, laptops since they
are smaller, often only have a couple of USB ports. USB hubs
will usually have four or more ports that will connect through
one of your laptop's USB port making them very easy to use to
hook up multiple USB devices.

Laptop Essential 5: You need to think about the worst thing that
can happen with your laptop. Now you probably bought your laptop
so you can work out of the office, or your home, or wherever you
need to, right? Well, since you will be out and about, you will
definitely want to think about insurance for your laptop. The
manufacturer's warranty usually doesn't cover anything beyond
parts, and an extended warranty will certainly not cover theft,
though it may cover you for breakage or fire.

Finally, there are literally thousands of different accessories
available for your computer. Of course some you might need and
others you won't. It really depends on what your plans are for
your laptop as well as where you plan on using it. Nevertheless,
these five things are indispensable to making your laptop as
functional to you as possible. While there may be some variation
to what you need, most of these items will be valuable to anyone
who owns a laptop, no matter how you expect to use your portable
computer.

About the author:
Garry Allen is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Best-Rated-Laptops-and-Computers.info.
Providing you with more information on computer technology and
answering the question what's the best rated
laptop that you

Home Internet Options: The War Between DSL And Cable

2006-07-15T21:45:00.000-04:00

By: Ross Gravett

If you are still using dial-up, you have probably gotten either
the "You don't use DSL yet?" or the "You don't use cable yet?"
expressions of credulity. So you've decided that it's probably
time to get off of dial-up - yet, the question remains: which is
better, DSL or cable? There are advertisements arguing the perks
of both, but which will really get you more bang for your buck?

The three issues to take into account when comparing DSL and
cable Internet connection are speed, customer satisfaction and
security.

Theoretically, cable modems run faster than DSL because they
offer more bandwith. There is also a form of DSL called VDSL
which can match the speed of a cable modem. However, the speed
of cable is relative to the number of people in your area who
are accessing the neighborhood at the same time. One popular
commercial compares cable modems to drinking out of a straw -
the straw is fine, if one person is drinking from it. But if the
straw must be shared - well, obviously things slow down a
little. Both DSL and cable also vary in speed by the minute
depending on the congestion caused by multiple users.

Customer service surveys conducted by J.D. Power and Associates
in 2004 showed that DSL had an edge over cable in customer
satisfaction ratings. This survey looked at billing, the
provider's business image, cost and tech support, and email
services. Earthlink and Verizon, both DSL, were the top two
service providers rated in the survey.

Since cable modems necessitate the sharing of a cable line to
provide service to the entire neighborhood, DSL is slightly more
secure. However, cable modems are easier to install, and many
sources believe that the difference in security is not
significant enough to go through the trouble of installing DSL.
Many cable customers avoid security problems by putting up
firewalls in order to protect themselves, and their information.

About the author:
You have full permission to reprint this article within your
website or newsletter as long as you leave the article fully
intact and include the "About the Author" resource box.
Thanks:-) To find the best home based business ideas and
Opportunities so you can work form home Visit:
http://www.yer-it-tis.com

iMac for Education

2006-07-05T23:25:00.000-04:00

Apple has just introduced the iMac for Education. This is an affordable entry level iMac with the dual core processor than everyone has been raving about.

Check out these specs:
• Built-in iSight camera
• 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor (1)
• Built-in AirPort Extreme
• 512MB memory (2x256MB SO-DIMMs)
• Front Row • 80GB Serial ATA hard drive
• Mac OS X Tiger • 24x Combo drive (DVD-ROM, CD-RW)
• iLife '06 • Free Shipping
• 17-inch widescreen LCD
• 1440x900 resolution
• Starting at $899 or $21/month

This looks like another killer Apple product!

The new iMac for Education - providing students and teachers everything they need to learn and create in today's digital classroom, all in the ultra-efficient iMac design.

Apple MacBook Rocks

2006-06-13T21:05:00.000-04:00

This box rocks. It is super fast and easy to use. Check it out.

Built upon the revolutionary Intel Core Duo — with two processor cores on a single chip — MacBook leaves other consumer notebooks in the dust. It performs up to five times faster than the previous generation iBook without compromising on size or style.

At 1280 by 800, the 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display delivers 30% more viewing area than the iBook or 12-inch PowerBook — perfect for movies and more. And the ultrabright LCD makes photos and graphics come alive with color. You can also connect your MacBook via the mini-DVI port to an external display and create twice the workspace.

Learn the truth about Spyware

2006-06-10T17:50:00.000-04:00

Learn the truth about Spyware and how you may be stuck in
QUICKSAND!

By: T.J. Vanek

Spyware is a software that sends personal information to a
third party without your permission or knowledge. This can
include information about web sites you visit or something even
more sensitive such as your name and password.

In reality it is like having an uninvited guest in your home
and allowing him unfettered access to all your most personal
information including banking records,credit cards
records,social security number and computer passwords. The
effects of Spyware can be devestating.

On a National level we have been shocked to learn of security
lapses at the Veteran's Administration that affects about 28
million American's and their most sensitive records.It is
therefore extreemly important that american's protect themselves
from Spyware intrusions due to such lapses.

Here are the most common ways that Spyware gets into your
Computer.

1.Bundled with free software like screensavers or P2P file
sharing programs which you download. For example Kazaa, a P2P
file-sharing application, installs adware onto a user's computer
even though it claims to contain "no spyware." Waterfalls 3 from
Screensaver.com installs spyware and Trojan horses. Examples are
courtesy of a report from StopBadware.org's website.

2.Opening Spam email attachments

3.Being enticed into clicking on links in pop up adverts which
then downloads spyware. These pop ups usually display messages
to do with winning money or entering a special prize drawer.

4."Drive-by downloading" - this is when spyware is automatically
downloaded onto your computer from the website you are surfing.

Earlier this year a report published by the University of
Washington revealed categories of websites which are mostly like
to host spyware or infect users through"drive-by downloads."
Their research revealed the following categories.

1.Gaming sites

2.Music download sites (I interpret this to mean "illegal" music
sharing sites like dailymp3.com or where you can find P2P
applications)

3.Adult sites

4.Celebrity sites

5.Wallpaper / screensaver sites

For Additional information on Spyware or to Free Scan your PC or
Tips to Protect your computer go online
to(http://www.myaxxessmarketing.com/spywarenuker.html,http://www.
myaxxessmarketing.com/spywarenuker1.html)

Father's Day iPods

2006-05-31T12:40:00.000-04:00

The Apple Store has a special going on for father's day. You can get dad a personally engraved iPod. Father's day is June 18, so there's plenty of time to order one. Check it out here:

Disk Defragmentation: All You Needed To Know

2006-05-31T11:28:00.000-04:00

By: Andrew James

Much like an automobile, a computer needs a little bit of
maintenance every so often to keep it running smoothly. One of
the most overlooked of these tasks is defragmenting the hard
drive. Here are some frequently asked questions regarding
defragmentation.

What Is File Fragmentation? Think of your computer's hard disk
drive as a large warehouse for your data. Every bin in the
warehouse represents a file, and the boxes filling the bin
represent the bytes of data that make up the file.

In order to ensure fast access to your bins, you want to keep
the bins at the front of the warehouse full, so they can be
pulled from as quickly as possible. Let's say, however, that
when you get a new shipment of product, you completely fill up
the bin, have more boxes of product to store, and the bins next
to it are full as well. In most warehouses, the extra product is
moved to the back of the warehouse and a note left in the
original bin as to where the overstock is stored.

Your computer works in much the same way. Space is allocated on
the hard drive to keep each file. To keep your computer running
smoothly, files are often stored right next to each other in the
first available space. However, if you go back and add a few
pages to that story you were writing, the computer doesn't see
any space on the hard drive to store the new data. Therefore, it
moves the new data into the next available spot on the hard
drive and leaves itself a "note" of sorts as to where the rest
of your file is. This splitting of the file into separate pieces
is known as "file fragmentation".

Why Do I Need to Defragment My Hard Drive? As more and more
files get more and more fragmented, it takes the computer longer
to access these files, whether you're opening, editing, or even
deleting them. If we revisit our warehouse analogy, when someone
purchases the entire stock of a product, the warehouse employees
may have to visit 3-4 different bins to fill the order. This
same exact thing is happening on your hard drive.

What Does Defragmenting My Hard Drive Do? The disk
defragmentation process takes all the pieces of a file and puts
them back together in one single spot on the hard drive.
Additionally, your file is moved toward the front of the drive
so that it can be accessed faster.

How Often Do I Need to Defragment My Hard Drive? This is going
to depend on how you use your computer. If you access a lot of
large files on a frequent basis, chances are your files will
fragment more quickly than someone who only checks his e-mail a
few times a week. Generally speaking, the average home user
should defragment his or her hard drive 4-6 times per year
(which is every 2-3 months).

How Do I Defragment My Hard Drive? Your operating system should
have a built-in utility for performing this task. Check your
manual, help files, or favorite search engine for the full
procedure. Although the process can take a long time, depending
on the size of your files and how many files are fragmented,
starting the process is usually straightforward.

If it's been a while since you last defragmented your hard
drive, you should notice your computer running much faster and
more stably than it was before.

About the author:
Mr James started My Business Tips
Online in 2006 to provide business advice, etc and write
articles about his industry-full article here

Adware Removal Tools: Why You Need Them

2006-05-27T19:43:00.000-04:00

By: Guy Ray

Do you need an adware removal tool? If you computer has been
running slow, you're seeing new toolbars in your browser, your
home page has changed, your internet favorites list has new
unwanted entries or strange software loads when you start up
your computer then your computer has probably been infected by
adware. Now that you know you have an adware problem you should
know what adware is.

Adware are programs that have the ability to track your internet
browsing habits and even steal personal information like your
bank account numbers and passwords. Adware programs are
perfectly legal because most of these companies get your
approval beforehand without you even knowing it. They hide
licensing agreements in files that you would normally download
like file sharing programs. Even though your infected adware can
be gotten rid of by using a adware removal tool.

Primary Response Safe Connect is one of these adware removal
tools. This adware removal tool provides instant detection and
removal of adware without scanning. It also constantly updates
to cover new threats automatically. Along with complete removal
of all adware programs it eliminates all traces of the malicious
programs and prevents reinstallation. This adware removal tool
is very easy to use and will only cost you about $25. Acronis
Privacy Expert Suite is another adware removal tool. This adware
removal tool provides you with real time protection against
adware programs. It not only provides protection against adware
programs but also spyware parasites, rootkits, keyloggers,
hidden dialers, browser jackers and other malicious programs.
There is a trail download available but it will only tell you if
you have any malicious programs on your computer, it won't get
rid of any of them. To use this adware removal tool to get rid
of these programs you will have to buy it for $30.

Super Anti Spyware Professional is another type of adware
removal tool. This adware removal tool will basically do
everything the others do and the cost is the same as the Acronis
Privacy Expert Suite. It detects and removes malicious programs
from your computer and protects against any further
infestations. One new feature of this adware removal tool is
that it scours the internet for new threats and provides you
daily definition updates on these viruses. Two other adware
removal tools made by Lava Soft are Adware SE Professional and
Adware Enterprise Edition. These are both very competent adware
removal tools designed for businesses. They are designed to
block aggressive adware programs and prevent reinstallation.
Being designed for businesses both of these adware removal tools
are available in several different languages and can be
purchased over the internet or on a hard drive. These two adware
removal tools are going to cost you about $40 apiece with an
extra ten bucks for a backup copy. Adware removal tools remove
malicious adware programs from your computer. By removing these
programs your computer can run more efficiently and you won't
have to worry about being cyber stalked.

About the author:
Guy Ray is a published web author on various subjects as well as
a certified copywriter and webmaster. To learn more about
protecting your computer from stealthy adware visit his site
atadware removal

Benefits of Wireless Routers

2006-05-26T20:31:00.000-04:00

By: Michael Sterios

Broadband is now streamed into more homes and business around
the world than ever before. Much like television before it,
broadband has provided a medium for content providers to supply
customers en masse. Unlike television, however, broadband is
delivering a more on-demand selection of content allowing its
users more freedom to choose what they want to watch, read, and
listen to, whenever they want.

As download speeds continue to increase a greater number of
broadband users are downloading heavy content items such as
entire films. This is because the time it takes to complete such
tasks are shortened. It is also the case that several computers
sharing the same broadband connection may accessing the Internet
simultaneously, therefore creating a situation in which these
machine must be connected to the point at which broadband enters
the premises.

In the past this was achieved by using cables and wires. More
recently, wireless routers have become popular amongst broadband
enthusiasts as they allow for the connection of multiple devices
to the same broadband connection, as well as the ability to
connect peripherals such as printers and cameras together,
without the need for unsightly cables running between each
device.

Apart from the obvious advantage of improving the look of your
home or office by not having cables running between devices,
wireless routers have other useful features as well. As the
router is a stand-alone device, it does not require a computer
to be switched on for it to operate. Therefore machines that are
not being used may be turned off while the broadband connection
remains active for other devices to use.

Wireless
Routers also provide an extra layer of security against
malicious programs such as viruses which can infect your
computers via the Internet connection. Routers have built-in
security features such as firewalls and the ability to protect
your wireless network by making it accessible through a
password. It is always recommended that this feature is enabled
in order to avoid unwelcome users hijacking your broadband
connection if they are in range of the router's output.

The router should also provide the ability to connect itself to
other devices with wires. Routers usually come with several
sockets for Ethernet cables which can be connected to your
devices' wireless network cards, should the need arise.

Broadband is often touted as an always-on service, and while
this may be true from the providers' point of view, it is not
usually the case if you connect from your computer via an
Ethernet cable and a modem. This is because the computer will
often be switched off when not in use, and therefore the
connection to the Internet is not active.

As mentioned before, a wireless router does not require an
active PC to function and therefore helps to provide a true
always-on broadband connection from the customers' perspective.
While ADSL modems require dialling up each time the computer
connected to it is turned on, a wireless router can remain
switched on and connected to the Internet 24 hours a day.

About the author:
Broadband-is-cheap contains information and deals on Wireless
Routers in the UK.

Dual Core Laptops: This Isn't Your Last Year's Laptop!

2006-05-23T17:27:00.000-04:00

By: Titus Hoskins

The laptop world is seeing double. The next evolution in laptops
is dual-core technology. Dual-core processors are quickly
raising the laptop experience to the next level and laptop users
are benefiting from the extra boost in performance.

Dual-core means exactly what you think it means, you have two
processors or CPUs in your laptop instead of one. Theoretically
this should mean twice the performance level for all those
multi-tasking chores we call upon our laptops to do. However,
you must have ways or technology (the platform) to utilize and
handle all this extra power. There is some catching up to do but
to keep things simple, Hyper-Threading, PCI-Express and SLI are
all ways of harnessing or using this extra power.

With the recent introduction of the new Centrino Duo Mobile
Technology, Intel has entered the multi-core arena. All this
extra dual power and Hyper-Threading will finally put some punch
into laptops and especially gaming laptops. Now almost on par
with desktop PCs, laptops and notebooks can finally hold their
heads high when it comes to performance. This isn't your last
year's laptop!

How quickly things change, Intel expects the Core Duo chip will
be in 230 different laptop designs in the first months of 2006.
Intel also claims this Duo chip will deliver 68% more
performance over the current Sonoma processor (many
manufacturers say this will be around 30%) and reduce battery
consumption by another 28% (Giving 5 hours for a standard
battery and 10 hours for an extended cell battery).

Still, dual-core processors coupled with Hyper-Threading
technology, will and does greatly improve the multi-tasking
functions of your next laptop. The only minor hurdle, many of
today's current video games can't use all these multi-
applications features. But as more games come on stream which
can take full advantage of all this new technology, expect your
gaming enjoyment to increase. As with any new technology there
will probably be a lag time before all the multi-applications
can be applied to the majority of new games hitting the market.

Some major laptop makers now sporting the Intel Core Duo include
Dell with its new "entertainment" Dell Inspiron e1705 line of
high end laptops. HP with its Pavilion dv1000 line of laptops,
which comes with a remote and you can play CDs and DVDs without
booting up.

Nor is Intel the only player in town with a lot of chips on the
gaming table. Intel's main rival AMD has introduced dual-core
into its mobile Turion 64 X2 processors. Also keep in mind, in
recent head-to-head CNET Labs testing, AMD's Athlon 64 X2 chip
performed better than Intel's desktop Dual-Core chip.
http://www.cnet.com/4520-6022_1-6410042.html

You're probably wondering, how will all this new laptop
technology be applied? And what does it mean for the average
laptop owner? What does it mean for gaming laptops?

Well, lets examine one sample notebook to see what all this next
generation technology will do for laptops. Take for example, the
Xtreme SL, a new gaming laptop designed by Rockdirect.
Rockdirect, formerly known as Rock computers, is a leading UK
laptop manufacturer who introduced some of the world's first
dual core laptops last summer (2005).

Rockdirect's latest gaming offering, the Xtreme SL has specs or
features which are rather awe-inspiring, even for the non-gamer.
It comes with an AMD Turion 64 ML-44 2.4GHz processor, sporting
1MB L2 Cache and 2 Gigs of DDR 400MHz RAM. More importantly, it
has twin NVIDIA GeForce Go 7800 GTX 256MB graphics cards with
PCI-Express and SLI (Scalable Link Interface).

SLI lets you have two graphics cards on your laptop, working in
tangent to increase or double your graphics performance and
visual quality. Throw in a 19 inch WSXGA+ X-Glass TFT Screen and
you have a perfect example of where gaming laptops are headed
with all this new technology.

For those involved in gaming, this means the ultimate gaming
experience can be best captured on a laptop with Dual-core
processors and dual graphics cards using all the latest SLI or
Hyper-Threading technology. And it is just not for gamers. The
new mobile multi-core chips are turning heads for ordinary
laptop users who want the best performance possible in their
sleek shinny new laptops or notebooks.

Besides, why should gamers have all the fun, these new
technologies will greatly benefit all laptop users. It means a
sleeker, faster, and more powerful laptop for everyone. It also
means longer lasting battery life for your laptop, a much needed
improvement. For the demanding laptop user working in
multi-media authoring, multi-tasking with video editing, spread
sheets, large graphics... these dual core laptops offers a very
capable alternative to the bulky and oh-so stationary desktop PC.

This new multi-core technology offers ultimate performance in a
sleek, quiet package that buyers will find hard to resist. It
will draw even more potential customers into the laptop market,
looking for the ultimate in style, portability, and performance.
Dual-core laptops may just deliver the goods.

This surely is not your last year's laptop.

About the author:
The author has an unhealthy interest in all things laptop!
Including Dual Core laptops. Gami
ng Laptops He also owns a modest website on Marketing Tools
for eMarketers. Marketing
Tools Copyright © 2006 Titus Hoskins. This article may be
freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

The Skinny On LCD Monitors

2006-05-15T10:30:00.000-04:00

By: A. Pruder

There are advances being made in science and technology
everyday, and a good example of this is the LCD monitor. LCD
monitors have several benefits over the old chunky computer
monitors that most users are familiar with. Old computer
monitors, take up quite a bit of desktop space, put out a ton of
heat, drain a ton of energy, and most often have low picture
quality and resolution. Modern advances with the LCD computer
monitors have changed a lot of that. The screen itself is flat,
and very thin, needing very little desktop space, therefore
giving you more room while working at your PC. A big advantage
in my opinion is that LCD monitors don't put off all the heat
that the old monitors do. Those old monitors could quickly heat
up a room, especially if you have more than one in the same
space. LCD monitors require very little energy, making your
wallet a little fatter by avoiding high energy bills. LCD
monitors also reduce the glare, making them a better choice for
gamers, and anyone who spends a lot of time in front of their
computer.

A big problem with the old monitors, other than the obvious, is
that if you forget to use a screensaver, images left on the
screen will actually burn into the screen, which can affect
picture quality, not to mention the fact that screensavers are
just flat out annoying.

LCD monitors also tend to be less expensive on repair costs as
well. They have less parts inside them to break, therefore
saving you money in the event of a problem. Many people who have
CRT monitors will just opt to buy a new monitor when something
goes wrong, because it is often cheaper than trying to repair
the problem, again saving you money.

As with any major purchase, it is important to do some research
and shop around before making a final selection. Many people are
often thrown off by the price of LCD monitors, but they are a
good investment in the long haul of things. The good thing is
that LCD monitors are quickly gaining popularity, so dealers
have to work harder to keep their prices competitive, which puts
the consumer at an advantage. Before going shopping, you should
decide what type/brand of LCD monitor you need, and know the
average cost of that particular monitor, so that you can get the
best overall deal. You should also have in mind what size
monitor will best suit your needs, which will narrow down your
search once you are actually at the store to make your purchase.

Purchasing any kind of new technological gadgetry can be a
daunting task, but if you arm yourself first with good research
and planning, purchasing an LCD monitor should be an easy
decision. If you spend as much time in front a computer screen
as most people do, an average of 3 hours a day or more, you will
be thankful that you made the decision to purchase an LCD
monitor.

About the author:
For more information about lcd monitor,
click the link to visit our website at
www.top-lcd-monitor-guide.info . We have some great free
articles and resources about lcd monitor.

Data Recovery Procedures For Hard Drives

2006-05-11T15:38:00.000-04:00

By: Stu Pearson

Your computer's data is at risk. Whether you use a Mac or a PC,
viruses, power surges, hackers, human error, natural disasters,
hardware failures, and more are real everyday threats. To keep
your data safe and sound, you will first need to back up your
files on a regular basis. Secondly, when hard drive failure does
occur, data recovery is the only solution.

Of course it is ideal to back up data and avoid the complicated
process that is data recovery altogether, but even when you take
the necessary steps to prepare for hard drive damage, you might
run into problems.

Here are some procedures to follow if you experience trouble.

If a program is not functioning well on your computer, turn the
computer off! This may seem a simple task, but shutting down a
computer at the moment you notice your hard drive to be working
overtime - perhaps you hear unusual sounds (like "cleaning") -
can prevent damage to the disk and data loss. If you let a
failed hard drive run, it will eventually self-destruct. Damage
to your disk is inevitable in this scenario.

If this is the case, unless you know exactly what you're doing,
don't fix your computer yourself. Professional expertise is not
a luxury in this situation - it is a must. Data recovery is a
difficult and sensitive process requiring special tools and a
clean environment. Not only will it be tremendously challenging
to repair a hard drive on your own, but you might actually make
matters worse and ensure irreversible data loss.

There is "do-it-yourself" data recovery software, but be
cautious of things like this. With most computer problems of
this nature, at-home instructions can be more dangerous than
useful. Even if a company boasts that its products and
instructions will handle your vulnerable data properly, it is
important to be a skeptical consumer.

A local service provider is the average solution. Repair can
happen on your own premises and you can be assured that your
computer is in good hands. However, there is always the
possibility that your hard drive is beyond repair - even for
expert technicians - so be prepared to buy a new hard drive
altogether; data recovery may not be an option any more.

About the author:
Stu Pearson has an interest in Business & Technology related
topics. To access more information on data
recovery services or on restor
e data, please click on the links.

Get The Facts About Wireless Laptops

2006-05-10T12:44:00.000-04:00

By: David Stone

Laptops give you unbelievable portability for all of your
computing needs, but as the need for communication grows more
each day you need a computer that will keep you in touch. There
are many options for portable computing. Laptops now come in
many different sizes to match your specific needs.

Large or small screens are the biggest factor affecting the size
of a laptop. Extra options like media drives and larger
batteries will add overall weight to laptops. The current trend
for any traveler is to get the smallest computer that will get
the job done. Airports have wireless internet access available,
so a wireless network or wi-fi card is a good option. Large
screens used to be popular but strict travel regulations have
caused many people to get smaller screens. This will make the
computer easier to deal with at security check points.

Major reasons for the trend in "less is more" with laptop
computers, is that they have become simply more of a tool and
less of a novelty. Most basic computers are very capable in
running any business application and have the necessary options
for general use. Basic laptops have also dropped in price
dramatically. The options have become the expensive part as
competition grows fierce to have the lowest priced computer
available. People are now buying computers more frequently with
less options because it is more cost effective that buying the
newest technology. Fast processors and large hard drives start
out very expensive and quickly become standard features on basic
laptops. You can keep more up to date by getting a new laptop
every two years instead of getting the newest technology and
trying to make it last for 4 years. Anyways, most laptops show a
performance loss after about two years if the hard drive is not
defragmented and formatted. It may not sound cheaper to buy a
computer more often, but it also what you buy. Doing a little
shopping around and assessing what you really need in a computer
can save you the money that you need to buy one more often.

About the author:
Get more of the information that you need at
http://www.find-laptops-now.info

4 Great Advantages Of Having A Rack Mount Computer

2006-05-08T15:57:00.000-04:00

By: Bill Johnson

1. Really provides better cooling for your computer hardware

We all know that heat can really kill the motherboard, processor
and other chips that are found in a computer case. If the
temperature is too much it can fry the chips and leave your
computer worthless. The more work you do, the longer you do it,
the higher the workload on the pc. This causes heat to build up
inside your computer. The traditional cooling fan that you can
find on the back of the power supply of your computer is
normally not enough to get it all the cooling it needs. Even
with the other fan attached to the processor chip, your computer
will most of the time not get all the cooling it needs.

If you were to use a rack, this would help to give your computer
the cooling it needs, since it gives you a lot more space,
unlike computers that don't have racks.

2. You'll have better air circulation

Without adequate space for your computer, there won't be good
air circulation and this can damage many things in your
computer. A rack mount computer therefore gets better air
circulation than one without it. And this goes a long way in
protecting your computer.

3. Prevents vibration when playing load music

Good computer racks out there have vibration-dampening
tendencies to prevent the vibration of your computer- especially
when listening to load music from your speakers. Without these
vibration-dampening tendencies, your speakers and even compute
can slowly slip off your desktop, thereby causing damage.

4. Give more space for your computer

Your rack mount computer has more space than others without one.
You are able to do more work than if you didn't have a rack for
your computer.

If you take all the above advantages into consideration you will
come to find that using a rack mount computer instead of one
without a rack is the way to go.

About the author:
By Bill Johnson LCD Monitors Rack
Mount Rack
Mount Computer Cases

What Is Spyware Software And What Does It Do?

2006-05-05T15:44:00.000-04:00

By: Oliver Turner

If you own a computer and are connected to the internet then you
will almost definitely have heard of spyware software and will
also be at risk. The purpose of this article is to inform
readers as to the risks of spyware software and explain exactly
what spyware is and what it does.

Spyware as the name suggests is software that spy's on you and
collects information on your internet usage. The computer user
will be unaware that this is happening as spyware software
applications are usually hidden components in both freeware and
shareware programs that can be downloaded from the internet.
Spyware is installed without your knowledge or consent and poses
some very real threats.

Once spyware software has been installed onto your computer it
will actively begin monitoring your activity on the internet and
will transmit all the information it gathers onto its owner
which is usually an advertiser of some sorts.

Spyware software is very dangerous and this illegal software can
record your internet history, passwords, and keystrokes, and
some spyware can also record other confidential and private
information. The only proven and successful way to get rid of
spyware is to install a spyware blocker or anti-spyware
software. These are available in both free and paid software
versions.

If you use the internet, for whatever use, you should also use a
spyware blocker or spyware removal software. It is also
essential that you run this spyware removal software daily to
remove any threats to your personal information. Doing this will
not only help to keep your internet usage and private
information safe but it will also help to keep your computer
running efficiently.

Spyware software is as mentioned very dangerous and allowing
your personal information which can include passwords and bank
details to get into the hands of the wrong people can prove
detrimental. Act now and install anti-spyware software and keep
your information safe.

About the author:
Read more on anti spyware programs only on the Spyware removal info and software. All about spyware and
adware on LeanderNet - http://www.leandernet.com

Buying a Refurbished Laptop Computer

2006-05-04T16:14:00.000-04:00

By: David Perlmutter

When considering buying a used or even a new laptop, the first
thing you need to do is to determine your computing needs.

* word processing * e-mail * browsing web pages * moving the
laptop from home to work (weight) * gaming * on-line shopping *
a database application * personal finance * is battery power
important

Check out the Minimum Systems Requirements needed to do all of
the your applications. They will not come with the laptop, as
refurbished laptops often only include the Operating System
(OS). If they don't include an installed OS, then be prepared to
install it yourself. This is not for those that don't know what
they are doing, so research what is involved before buying one
without an OS.

Once you understand what you really need, you need to determine
your budget.

Most old laptops do not have working batteries. If you need a
battery, shop around to figure out how much they cost. You
should know that on older laptops, batteries don't last more
than an hour or two, so purchasing a new battery for the purpose
of longer battery life may not be worth the expense. And by all
means, stick with a name brand... IBM, Dell, Toshiba, Compaq-HP.

If you are new to computers and you want to browse the World
Wide Web, you will need to obtain the services of an ISP
(Internet Service Provider). There are basically two types of
Internet access options: broadband (cable modem, DSL, satellite)
and lowband (dial-up). Broadband is the preferred type since
download speeds can range from 128kbs to 6000kbs. The faster the
better, of course. But, if your budget is tight, dial-up works
just fine for typical browsing and e-mail usage.

Your choice of ISP's will be dependent upon two things: budget
and location. If the budget allows and you don't mind paying
upwards of $35-50+ per month, you can purchase a broadband
connection. However, even if money were no object, your physical
location will determine what types of services are available to
you. Broadband is not available everywhere (with the exception
of satellite). If you have a telephone line, you can always
choose dial-up. AOL's bread and butter is dial-up users. Do your
research to determine what is available in your area and compare
costs.

And for you gamers out there, you definitely need a reliable
broadband connection. Gaming over a lowband connection can be a
frustrating experience and sometimes even impossible. You will
need to check out the minimum systems requirement for the games
you are interested in using to make sure the CPU speed and the
RAM and graphic chip requirements will support the games you
wish to play.

Once you have figured out your budget and your needs and the
requirements of your laptop it is time to search for the laptop
of your desires.

Some people choose to search at www.ebay.com. If you do be sure
to check out the seller to be sure you will have a smooth
transaction.

Many people don't want the hassle of bidding, so use your
favorite search engine: Google or Yahoo or MSN for the terms
"used laptops" or "refurbished laptop".

An important thing to keep in mind is how will the vendor treat
you should there be a problem. If you don't like their attitude
or they don't pick up the phone shop elsewhere. Price is
important, but if you have a problem and spent the least amount
of money possible the vendor may not have any resources
available to help you after you have purchased and spent your
money.

If all the above seems like too much of a hassle, then buy a new
computer. It will cost around $700 + but will come with a new
battery and a one year warranty, although some new ones seem to
have only 90 day warranties. It will also have the latest
Windows XP system and an 800 number to call the vendor, should
their be a problem. I'd call the 800# first before buying to get
an idea what kind of support they will provide.

About the author:
David Perlmutter is the founder and CEO of UsedLaptops.com, Inc.
His first portable was a Compaq Plus 20 years ago.
UsedLaptops.com, Inc. has sold over 20,000 refurbished laptops to
consumers and companies over the last ten years.

Change Passwords

2006-05-03T14:55:00.000-04:00

By: Richard Romando

All passwords should be changed regularly. A change in password
could also be necessitated by the fear or reality of a user's
current password being compromised. As a precautionary measure,
any system should provide an encrypted method for changing a
password. If a new password is passed to the system in an
unencrypted form, security can be compromised before the new
password can even be installed in the password database. And if
a compromised employee or other intermediary gets hold of the
new password, there is little to gain from changing a password.
There are some web sites that include the user-selected password
in an unencrypted confirming e-mail message.

Today, automatic issuance of replacements for lost passwords is
mostly done with the help of identity management systems. To
verify the user's identity, questions are asked and answers are
compared with the ones previously stored. Some samples: "Where
were you born?" or "What is your favorite soccer club?" or "Who
is your favorite actress?" There is a possibility that in a
number of such cases the answers to these questions can be
guessed, found by research, or determined with the help of
social engineering. Although many users have now learnt not to
reveal a password, there are a few as well who consider the name
of their favorite soccer team to need similar care.

If a user is forced to change his passwords frequently, then a
valid password in the wrong hands will eventually become
unusable. Though not yet universally used, many operating
systems provide such features these days. The security benefits
of these systems are limited, as attackers often exploit a
password as soon as it is compromised. In several instances,
more so with administrative or "root" accounts, it has been
found that once an attacker succeeds in gaining access, he/she
makes alterations to the operating system that will allow
him/her future access even after the expiry of the initial
password.

Again, if forced to change a password too frequently, a user may
forget which password is current, and there is almost always a
possibility that he will write his password down or reuse an
earlier password. Such steps are most likely to cancel any added
security benefit. It is imperative that human factors be duly
considered before implementing such a policy.

About the author:
Passwords provides
detailed information on Best Passwords, Change Passwords,
Password Generators, Password Protection and more. Passwords is
affliated with Electronic
Keyboard.

Laser Printers or Inkjet Printers? A Buyers Guide

2006-05-01T20:49:00.000-04:00

By: David Haysom

Should you buy an inkjet or a laser printer? Often people buying
a new printer are confused about whether to buy a laser printer
or inkjet printer. The short answer is it depends on what you'll
be using it for, and how much you'll be using it.

Inkjet printers have a lower initial purchase cost but cost more
to run because the ink is more expensive when measured on a per
page basis. Laser printers cost more but their running costs are
lower and they have a better print quality because in general
they have a higher resolution (expressed in dots per inch - dpi).

If you want to print photos at home however, you are best to
choose a photo quality inkjet printer.

Inkjets are great for home use and for photo printing. Lasers
are good for high-volume applications, like offices, or for
applications that need high print quality.

Inkjet printers transfer tiny droplets of ink directly to the
page. A laser printer creates an electrostatic pattern on a drum
that attracts ink powder that is subsequently fused onto the
paper. This is more complex technology so means a higher price
than for an inkjet printer.

If you examine the same page printed on both a laser printer and
an inkjet, you will be able to see that the characters on the
laser printer produced page are sharper. That said however,
inkjet printers are getting better all the time in terms of the
sharpness of printed characters.

Another aspect to consider is how heavily you will be using a
printer. Printer manufacturers express the durability of a
printer in terms of duty cycle in pages per month.

For example, a typical laser printer will be capable of a duty
cycle up to 7,000 pages a month while a typical entry level
inkjet printer is capable of up to 500 pages per month.

Some of the more recent inkjets provide excellent color clarity
and brightness, and are very well suited for printing
photographs.

While inkjet printers themselves are cheaper, their ink is more
expensive per page printed. Ink cartridges need to be replaced
fairly often if you print a lot, especially if you're printing
pictures or photos.

The manufacturer's stated pages per cartridge measurements are
very much dependent on what you printing. They are based on only
a small percentage of the page actually being covered in ink.
Toner cartridges for laser printers have a higher unit price
than inkjet cartridges, but have a higher capacity so that the
cost per page is lower for lasers.

About the author:
David Haysom is the eCommerce Manager for OfficeRocket - an
online store that specializes in providing New Zealand consumers
and small businesses with Laser Printers, Ink
Cartridges and Office Supplies at extremely competitive
prices.

TrendMicro PC-Cillin Internet Security Review

2006-04-30T20:55:00.000-04:00

By: Joel Smith

Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security is the best Internet
Security software in its market. This release combines
award-winning antivirus security and a personal firewall for
comprehensive protection against viruses, worms, Trojans, and
hackers. It also detects and removes spyware and blocks spam. It
even guards against identity theft by blocking phishing and
pharming attacks. PC-cillin also protects your wireless network
with Wi-Fi Intrusion Detection, an innovative security feature
that alerts you when an intruder uses your Wi-Fi connection.

Major Features That Make TrendMicro PC-Cillin Internet Security
2006 so effective include:

Comprehensive Antivirus Security that detects and removes
viruses from emails, Internet downloads, removable media, and
your personal computer's hard drive. The improved Outbreak
Warning System sends alerts to warn you of new threats. Security
updates automatically execute as soon as they are available.

Powerful Spyware Protection is assured using Trend Micro's
leading anti-spyware technology that blocks spyware and grayware
in real time. Manual and scheduled scans detect and remove
spyware that may already be installed on your personal computer.
New Exception Lists and improved Quarantine Management give you
more control to keep, delete or restore programs.

Phishing Fraud Defense allows URL filtering, anti-spam, and
patent-pending technologies to work together to block fraudulent
websites, phishing emails, and pharming attack. These scams are
designed to attack financial data, user names, and passwords.
The Anti-Fraud Wizard makes it easy to configure and the new
Anti-Fraud Toolbar helps you avoid future scams by displaying a
credibility rating of Web sites in real time.

Wi-Fi Intrusion Detection is the industry's first alert system
for wireless home networks and is now faster and better at
sending rapid alerts as soon as an unauthorized user intrudes
your wireless network.

Improved Spam Filtering employs advanced spam-filtering
technology that blocks spam from flooding your inbox and new
integration with Microsoft Outlook makes it easy to set
preferences. New user-friendly tools and more reports make it
very easy to view and manage.

Enhanced Personal Firewall is your personal firewall that
prevents intrusion from hackers, and blocks network viruses like
the well-known ZOTOB worm that targets network vulnerabilities.

Home Network Control is a centralized management console makes
it easy to configure, update, and manage all aspects of security
for every computer on your home network or wherever PC-cillin
2006 is installed.

Vulnerability Assessment is provided via PC-cillin as it
performs regular scans of your computer, alerts you to operating
system/browser vulnerabilities, and provides one-click access to
Windows Update.

System Requirements for TrendMicro PC-Cillin Internet Security
2006:

Hardware - Microsoft Windows XP/2000: Intel Pentium 300MHz or
above; Microsoft Windows Me/98/98 SE; Intel Pentium 233MHz or
above; Microsoft Windows XP: 128MB or above; Microsoft Windows
2000/Me/98/98SE:128MB or above. Requires 120MB available hard
disk space

Software - Operating System: Windows XP Home
Edition/Professional SP 2 or above; Windows 2000 Professional SP
4 or above; Windows Me, Microsoft Windows 98/98 Second Edition;
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 SP 2 or above; Netscape 7.1; AOL
7.0 and Firefox 1.0; Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0; Microsoft
Outlook 2000, 2002, or 2003; Netscape 7.1; Eudora Pro 6J; AOL
Mail; Yahoo! Mail; MSN Hotmail and Mozilla Thunderbird 1.0;
Windows Messenger 4.7, 5.0 and MSN Messenger 6.2; ICQ 5; ICQ
Lite; AOL 5.1; Windows XP SP 2 or above; Microsoft Outlook 2000,
2002, or 2003; Microsoft Outlook Express 6, SP 2

Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security 2006 with an MSRP of
$49.95 offers a broad range of protection for your PC. It is a
feature rich, powerful choice in Internet Security protection
your PC.

About the author:
Joel Smith recommends reading the TrendMicro PC-Cillin Internet Security review at Identity
Theft Spy.

ZoneLabs Zone Alarm Pro

2006-04-29T23:20:00.000-04:00

By: Ben Sikes

A firewall is essential on any Internet connected PC. Firewalls
control what is allowed in and out of the computer, virtually
eliminating the possibility of a hacker gaining control or of
spyware that has found it's way in transmitting any data.

ZoneLabs Zone Alarm Pro is a popular personal firewall
application - a piece of software installed onto the PC to block
unwanted connections by using:

* the Triple Defense FirewallT

* an anti-spyware system

* the SmartDefenseT service

* protection of privacy and identity

* email protection

* wireless PC security

Zone Alarm Pro is available in a variety of packages, from the
single user license to large volume license packages, making it
ideal for the home, small network or larger working environment.
The program is clearly laid out and easy to use. If a query
can't be fixed through support documentation, there are online
user forms for quick and handy advice.

The Triple Defense Firewall, as the name suggests, has three
layers of protection, providing excellent security against
Internet pests:

* defense against hackers, spyware, and Trojans by not allowing
them through

* prevention of "bad" programs attacking "good" programs on the
PC by surrounding each application with a second firewall

* deep down protection of the operating system against malicious
attacks

SmartDefense works with the firewalls, automatically updating
itself with information on new spyware programs and adjusting
Zone Alarm's security settings to match. SmartDefense examines
everything that tries to connect to the Internet from the PC to
see if it is performing a valid operation. If it is not, access
is blocked. If it does allow the connection, SmartDefense will
continue to monitor the activity to ensure it does not perform
any operations outside of it's built-in policies.

The privacy and identity protection works to stop annoying
pop-up ads and to prevent personal information leaving the
computer without permission. Email is kept secure with any
suspicious attachments being quarantined for examination in case
they contain anything harmful. Likewise, any suspicious outbound
messages are also stopped to prevent unintentionally passing on
anything nasty.

Even with all of the protection offered by the firewall, some
persistent spyware will still find it's way into the computer.
The anti-spyware system within Zone Alarm Pro roots it out,
while learning to recognize legitimate items with spyware-like
tendencies, such as the cookies for your favorite websites.

Wireless protection is crucial when out in the open on a laptop
as well as on the home network. It's easy for a hacker to hijack
a wireless connection or even set up their own. Zone Alarm can
prevent connection hijacking wherever the connection is made.

Zone Alarm Pro runs on Windows systems only, with minimum
specifications of:

* Windows 98SE/ME, 48MB RAM (some functions may be limited and
support is due to end for the operating systems late 2006)

* Windows 2000 Pro, 64MB RAM

* Windows XP, 128MB RAM

* Pentium III 450 MHz or higher

* 50MB available hard disk space

* Internet access is required for updates (Internet Explorer,
Netscape, Firefox, AOL and MSN compatible)

* POP3 and SMTP mail only

* Instant Messenger compatibility with minimum version number:
MSN 6.2.0205, Windows Messenger 4.7.0.2009, Yahoo! IM 5.5.1226,
AIM 5.2.3292, ICQ Pro 2003b, ICQ Lite 5.0, Trillian 0.74i,
Trillian Pro 1.0, GAIM 0.74, Miranda 0.3.2

About the author:
Ben Sikes recommends reading the full product review of ZoneLabs Zone Alarm Pro at Identity Theft Spy.

The Home Computer User's Guide to Spyware

2006-04-27T23:02:00.000-04:00

By: Richard Rogers

As with the computer virus, spyware can be broken down into a
number of different categories. Most users are familiar with the
term "adware" which refers to software which serves annoying
ads. There are however a number of other spyware variants you
should be aware of.

To begin with it is important to have a clear definition of
spyware. This will also help us understand why the term is
commonly used to encompass a number of different variants.
Spyware is a program, usually installed without your knowledge,
which records what you do on your computer and then shares it
with its creator.

The information which the spyware program collects can vary from
the websites you visit to log-in and passwords for your online
banking site. The sharing of your personal information with a
third party is why spyware in its purest form is labelled as a
malicious threat and clearly is a major privacy issue.

Adware is the second mostly commonly used term. Adware is
designed to display adverts relevant you, commonly based on your
surfing habits, to generate Pay-Per-Click advertising revenue or
sales through affiliate links. Adware is commonly bundled with
free software by developers instead of charging a price.

The malicious nature of adware can vary enormously. At one of
the scale, adverts are displayed in a non-intrusive manner in a
window within the free program you have downloaded. When the
program is not running, ads are not displayed. At the other end
of the scale, a user could find their desktop overwhelmed as the
adware program spews out multiple pop up ads in a very
aggressive manner. Whilst it may be possible to believe the
former is not transmitting personal data to a third party, it is
difficult to expect the later not to.

The adware issue is further complicated by marketing companies
who do not like their software being labelled "spyware." These
marketing companies generate millions of dollars of income often
via recognised brand name clients. So to avoid legal issue
security companies refer to this software as PUPs (potentially
unwanted programs).

Browser hijackers are another aggressive form of spyware. They
attack important browser settings like your default homepage
which your browser loads when you start the program. Hackers
direct you to sites which generate revenue for them like the
Russian website "Cool Web Search". Browser hijackers can also
insert sites into your bookmarks. They also can cause your
browser to crash and stop working completely and are typically
difficult to remove.

Key Loggers capture all your key strokes into a DLL file which
the creator retrieves. Software key loggers are often bundled
with a Trojan Virus which gives the creator access to your
computer.

Here are some tips and strategies to fight the different types
of spyware.

- Keep Windows XP and ALL your web browsers (including Internet
Explorer and FireFox) up to date with the latest patches.

- Install a reputable anti-spyware program like Webroot Spy
Sweeper or PC Tools Spyware Doctor. Run frequent scans and keep
the definitions up to date.

- Install a reputable anti-virus program like Norton Anti-Virus
or McAfee VirusScan. Run frequent scans and keep the definitions
up to date.

- Install a firewall which manages both inbound and outbound
connections. Top personal firewall software picks include Zone
Labs's Zone Alarm and Norton Personal Firewall. Alternatively
purchase a router with a hardware firewall.

- Avoid downloading free software programs including
screensavers and weather toolbars.

- Avoid know high spyware risk area on the internet including
illegal music sharing sites, Peer-to-Peer programs, free game
download sites and adult sites.

About the author:
Richard Rogers runs a number of computer-related sites offering
Spyware Remover and Anti Virus Software help.

Several Common Ways That Viruses Spread

2006-04-24T21:06:00.000-04:00

By: Jordi Shoman

In addition to the common methods of spreading through email
attachments, boot infections and program infectors, there are
other ways by which viruses spread to your computer. These
include:

Infection by Disk(Floppy, Zip, CD's, Tapes, etc.)

Floppy disks, though not as commonly used as in the past, are
still a very common way viruses being spread from machine to
machine. Anyone with an infected machine, using a floppy disk to
copy and save files, can also copy and transfer the virus. Any
use of that same removable disk, by any user, at any time in the
future, will most likely contaminate, or re-contaminate the any
computer it is used with. The only way to properly clean an
infected floppy disk is to perform a low-level format. The
normal Windows(tm) "format disk" is often not enough.

With CD's, all the above holds true with the exception that an
infected CD can never be cleaned. To get rid of an infected CD,
you need to put it in the trash and never use it again.

Infection from Networks

Peer-to-Peer network, Local Area Networks (LAN), a Wide Area
Network (WAN), Wireless Networks, and the Internet, are all
computer networks. They all have the same basic purpose; to
share software, and information resources between two or more
computers. As with anything else that is shared between
computers, networks let users share files, and wherever files
are shared, viruses can be shared and spread.

Most network virus/worm/Trojan activity is like what we
described earlier, although more and more examples of automatic
mass mailing attacks, system resource attacks are being found.

Recently many attacks are designed to specifically target major
corporate interests (Microsoft, eBay, Amazon, major Banks etc.)
in an attempt to disrupt their online services. Very generally
these are called DOS (denial of service) attacks. The way they
most commonly work is by secretly infecting thousands of local
user computers (like the one you are using right now), and then
at a specific time, launching a combined attack from all the
infected machines against the primary target.

As you can see, your computer can be hijacked without your
knowledge and then used in a major attack against an
unsuspecting company. However with up-to-date virus/firewall
protection, your computer will be immune to such hijacking.

Other ways by which virus spreads

Other sources of viruses have been found to be the result of
software downloads available over the Internet. Software
patches, drivers, demonstration software, from reputable
companies, generally carries little risk. However, the Internet
is also filled with "unofficial" software, pirated programs, and
low-budget software from questionable sources that may be
intentionally or unintentionally infected with viruses. Files
downloaded directly from the Internet (either through
file-sharing programs or direct download from websites), are
among the fastest growing sources of computer virus infections.

Email, with its nearly universal availability and ease of use;
chat rooms and messenger systems, not only make communication
simple and quick, also make the transmission and re-transmission
of infection simple and alarmingly fast. Creators of newer
viruses, and internet worms specifically target these systems
because they are widely used, and are often built right into the
operating system and used with default settings making them much
easier to attack and exploit.

As a point of reference, Internet Explorer, and Outlook/Outlook
express email clients are two of the applications most targeted
by Internet viruses and worms. Why? Because they are installed
on more computers around the world than any other software, and
they are installed 99% of the time with default settings (which
means virus programmers have an easy blueprint to follow).

If you use an email system or instant message system that is
installed automatically with your computer's operating system
you need to install and use current antivirus software. You also
need to learn how to turn off certain default settings that can
leave your system open to very easy attack.

About the author:
Learn how to remove black worm virus & block trojan horses,
spyware, computer viruses, etc. in the future. Growing library
of Compu
ter Security Articles

External Hard Disk Drive: The Best Backup Medium

2006-04-21T20:32:00.000-04:00

By: Anonymous Coward

Want to backup quickly and easily? Backup to external hard disk
drives.

Backup to external hard disk drives easily, securely and
efficiently.

As a hard disk is the fastest and largest backup medium you can
get, you may want to backup all your important files to an
external hard drive. You can backup literally everything: your
Outlook and Outlook Express files, your bookmarks, your
favourite save games, and of course, your important work
documents, photos, images and maybe even videos.

As an external HDD is detatched from your system and, combined
with a strong encryption algorithm, like blowfish or 3DES, you
can get maximum security. Just make sure you actually remember
the encryption password. You can also store your external hard
disk offsite (at a friend's house, a paid locker or specialized
fire-proof storage place) in case your information is very
important (well, generally, anyone can do that and it can't hurt
for sure).

As external hard disk drives have the cheapest storage volume
(about 200Gb for $150?) and you can reuse them for several
years, you may as well get the cheapest backup medium at your
disposal. When using a backup schedule, you can simply backup
the backup program run when you are absent (or maybe even at
night) to backup everything without supervision. If you need two
or more backup disks, you may as well get another external HDD.

Also, now there are quite large mobile hard drives, which can
admit all the necessary data: work documents, e-mail files, etc.
You can also carry your data anywhere you want and feel safe,
because some external hard disks are now hard to break by
dropping.

So, go with external HDD and backup as fast as you want, as much
as you want, secure your important data, get the cheapest
backups and even be able to carry your backups anywhere you
want.

About the author:
Learn more
backup tips and read more articles at www.FairBackup.com.

Protect Your Privacy by Erasing Tracks Left on Your Computer

2006-04-20T17:56:00.000-04:00

By: Richard Rogers

When you browse the web information is continuously collected by
the websites you visit and by your own computer. For example,
websites at a minimum collect information about the web browser
you use the operating system of your computer and the geography
you reside from. However, what surprises most users is the
amount of information that is collected on your computer from
your surfing habits and daily use.

Your web browser stores a lot of different types of information
which is designed to improve your internet surfing experience
but nevertheless poses a privacy risk. The sites or URLs which
you visit are stored in the browser's "history." Search results
are saved when you enter a search term into a search engine like
Google. Web content and images are stored in the "temp" folder.
Files that you download are stored in the download manager.

Websites also place "Cookies" onto your hard drive. A cookie is
a small text file and is used by websites to offer advanced
features. Some of the information that cookies store include
shopping basket items or log-in information for a membership
site. Cookies can also store information about when you visited
the site including date and time.

Given all this information being collected above you can easily
see why this could become a privacy risk. It would not take
someone who knew what they were doing too long to figure out
what websites you visit, what you have bought online and what
search terms you are looking for. This is unfortunately not the
end of it.

If you are a user of instant messenger or chat programs like
AIM, MSN Instant Messenger or even Skype then it is important to
be aware that the programs saves your chat history. Most
programs allow you turn this feature off.

There are number of other places besides your web browser where
information is stored on your computer. This data can allow
people to figure out what you have been doing on your computer.
Media players like RealPlayer and Microsoft Media Play store
audio and video playing history. Microsoft Office like Excel and
PowerPoint applications store information about the most
recently accessed files.

Another important thing to remember is that when you delete a
file it is not necessarily permanently erased and can be
recovered with the right software. When you first hit delete the
file is moved to the Recycle Bin. Even when you empty the
Recycle Bin the file still exists on your hard drive until
Windows overwrites it.

Here are two things you can do to help reduce the privacy risks
from your computer.

- Use a free software tool called "CCleaner"
(http://www.ccleaner.com) to clear information collected by your
web browser and Windows's Temp Folder. This software automates
the manual process of using your browser options menu to clean
out cookies, URL history etc. Try to run this tool once a week
or more frequently if you are a heavy internet user. - If you
work with sensitive data files on your computer then you may
want to consider investing in secure file "shredder" software.
This type of software actually overwrites or "bleaches" the file
you want to delete which means that it cannot be restored.

About the author:
Richard Rogers runs a number of computer-related sites offering
Spyware Remover and Anti Virus Software help.

Reduce Eye Strain with Flat Screen Monitors

2006-04-19T15:43:00.000-04:00

By: Mike Johnson

Copyright 2006 Online Crazy Deals

Do you have a job where you are constantly working at the
computer? Well, thanks to new innovation technology they have
found a way to dramatically reduce eye strain with flat screen
monitors for you computer.

This technology is widely used in movie screens, household
televisions and now computer screens. Flat screen monitors are
completely flat so they reduce glare, which in turns takes off
more strain from your eyes.

Doing more with computers these days is nothing new. You can
view your digital photos, watch DVD movies, watch video clips
and more. The flat screen monitor enables you to view all this
in a more deep, rich, and vibrant color and picture. Bringing
everything to maximum texture.

There are many advantages to flat screen monitors like reducing
eye fatigue, so you can work more efficiently, watch movies, and
view picutures all in true color format. They can be viewed from
different angles too, so you still get a great quality picture.

Do you get headaches, or are your eyes straining after working
on the computer? There is a solution: flat panel, or flat screen
monitors. The most likely problem is glare and poor color. You
will be able to enjoy deep, rich color and the highest picture
quality with less glare with a true flat screen monitor. Nothing
else comes close. Flat screen monitors take up less space and
are easier on the eyes.

Most people must use a computer these days. Whether it's at
work, or home the computer is here to stay. One problem that
arises though is the way our eyes respond to the monitor. They
can get drained, irritated and make us down right miserable
while we're trying to work or research on the computer. Drink
all the coffee you want, it still won't keep your eyes from
fatigue. The monitor is causing your eyes to strain even though
you don't realize it. With less glare and better picture quality
you will be able to perform better at work, or school because of
less irritation that glare poor color causes.

Headaches, sleepy eyes and more are symptoms of staring at a
poor quality computer monitor. Now you don't have to suffer from
eye strain. Flat screen monitors reduce glare, enhance images,
increase picture quality, take up less space and will bring
pictures alive.

Investing in your health is never a bad idea. Take advantage of
new technology to help your eyes feel better and work more
efficiently, so you can get out and do better things. If you get
frequent headaches, take several breaks during the day, or just
can't seem to concentrate you might want to consider a flat
screen monitor.

About the author:
At Online Crazy Deals we are always helping people. With flat
screen monitors you can help yourself to better health. OCD is
always putting customers first. http://www.onlinecrazydeals.com

Spyware - Know Your Enemy

2006-04-13T22:30:00.000-04:00

By: Kenth Nasstrom

Spyware is a term that has become quite common to hear.

The term spyware refers to a broad category of malicious
software designed to intercept or take partial control of a
computer's operation without the "known" consent of that
machine's owner or user. Spyware is as a term is being used
quite loosely and includes a number of different programs. The
thing they all have in common as spyware, is that they monitor
the computer and/or user and share information with a third
party. With or without the consent of the computer's owner.

Semi spyware has become widely used and they manifest themselves
as software, plugins or help files to other programs you want or
need, and if you accept their policies and term of usage, you
also accept the fact that these semi spyware programs will be
installed and used.

They are normally not directly malicious as the secret spyware,
but they do send out information from your computer to a third
party. Most commonly some kind of habit tracing or statistics of
surfing or similar. In most cases the information is completely
anonymous and do not pose any kind of threat to you as an
individual.

Spyware - a virus or not?

Spyware differs from viruses and worms in that it does not
usually self-replicate. Like many recent viruses, however,
spyware - by design - exploits infected computers for commercial
gain.

Typical tactics furthering this goal include delivery of
unsolicited pop-up advertisements; theft of personal information
(including financial information such as credit card numbers);
monitoring of Web-browsing activity for marketing purposes; or
routing of HTTP requests to advertising sites.

These things are very hard to keep track of and know if a
spyware is alive in your computer or if pop ups and other
changes in your surfing programs behaviour should occur.

The only reliable way to know if an evil spyware is living and
thriving inside your computer, is to install and use a good
spyware removal program.

How does spyware infect?

Spyware does not spread like a computer virus or worm. Instead,
spyware installs on your computer through deception or
exploitation of software vulnerabilities.

Spyware Trojan horse!

A Trojan horse, by definition, smuggles in something dangerous
in the guise of something desirable. So spyware often hide as an
add on to some other program you really want.

Bundled Spyware

Spyware can also come bundled with shareware or other
downloadable software, as well as music CDs. The user downloads
a program (for instance, a music program or a file-trading
utility) and installs it, and the installer additionally
installs the spyware. Although the desirable software itself may
do no harm, the bundled spyware does.

Manipulating Security Features

Another way of distributing spyware involves tricking users by
manipulating security features designed to prevent unwanted
installations. Internet browsers like Internet Explorer for
example are easy targets t this method. Everybody has them and
use them online almost daily. The way you protect yourself
against this, is to always keep your operating system up to date
when it comes to security updates.

Use Microsoft Update regularly (and often).

Examples of Spyware

As with computer viruses, researchers give names to spyware
programs which frequently do not relate to any names that the
spyware-writers use. Researchers may group programs into
"families" based not on shared program code, but on common
behaviours, or by "following the money" or apparent financial or
business connections.

For instance, a number of the spyware programs distributed by
Claria are collectively known as "Gator". Likewise, programs
which are frequently installed together may be described as
parts of the same spyware package, even if they function
separately.

It is also important to know that different anti spyware program
creators and big antivirus software creators may have different
names for the save spyware. This can cause you to believe that
you have 2 or more spyware products installed when you actually
only have one, but mentioned with different names.

* CoolWebSearch, a group of programs, installs through the
exploitation of Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. The programs
direct traffic to advertisements on Web sites including
coolwebsearch. To make this happen, they display pop-up ads,
rewrite search engine results, and alter the infected computer's
hosts file to direct DNS lookups to these sites.

* Internet Optimizer, also known as DyFuCa, redirects Internet
Explorer error pages to advertising. When users follow a broken
link or enter an erroneous URL, they see a page of
advertisements. However, because password-protected Web sites
(HTTP Basic authentication) use the same mechanism as HTTP
errors, Internet Optimizer makes it impossible for the user to
access password-protected sites.

* 180 Solutions transmits extensive information to advertisers
about the Web sites which users visit. It also alters HTTP
requests for affiliate advertisements linked from a Web site, so
that the advertisements make unearned profit for the 180
Solutions company. It opens pop-up ads that cover over the Web
sites of competing companies.

Toolbars from any other then the big players like Google, Yahoo,
Msn and similar very often contains spyware to some degree today.

And even the big guns have started to incorporate "spyware like"
statistics gather from their toolbars. They do tell you about
them, and ask for your permission to install or active these
routines. But they often do it in such a convoluted way, no one
actually understand it.

So start out the day by cleaning your computer and then working.
Make sure you have a restful safe day, download, scan and clean
your computer from any spyware today ...

About the author:
Kenth "The Designer" Nasstrom writes about spyware, adware and other non wanted
software. You should find out how to remove spyware and adware
from your computer now and reduce the risks.

Refurbished Laptop Computer Batteries-Don't Risk It

2006-04-11T22:50:00.000-04:00

By: Mike Johnson

Copyright 2006 Online Crazy Deals

Some laptop computer batteries dealers offer a refurbished
laptop battery claiming they are restored to original specs.
"Caveat Emptor", buyer beware. Most are cheap and won't hold the
charge for very long. You might get lucky and get a good one,
but the life of the battery is in jeopardy.

Why take the risk? New laptop batteries are not that much more
in price and they are going to last a much longer time. If you
buy a refurbished laptop battery it may only hold a good charge
for a couple of months and once it's dead, it's dead!

Many people trust buying refurbished laptops and computers
because the replacement parts are new and can make it last an
extended amount of time. The laptop battery is different. Think
back to when Dick Clark was selling the battery re-charger for
regular AA, C, D and AAA batteries? If you bought one you
quickly found that the charger worked great. One bad thing- the
battery only held about half the original charge and you could
only charge it a few times and then the battery wouldn't charge
at all anymore.

If you take the same concept with refurbished laptop computer
batteries you get the same results. They will last for a short
time and most people only saved a few extra dollars, but were
not happy with the overall performance. The technology just
doesn't exist yet to supply a good refurbished battery. In the
case of refurbished laptops, we have figured out that you can
replace the hardware and it works as good as new. Sorry, but a
laptop battery doesn't have hardware parts to replace, so the
end result could be bad.

If the laptop battery isn't too old it should work just fine,
but how many dealers tell you the age of the battery? Not many.
If you want to save a few dollars then please buy a better MPG
car, not a refurbished laptop battery. A lot of the time you
don't know exactly what you're getting like how many times has
it been charged previously, or how old is it. If you know the
answers you probably can get a decent deal, but good luck
finding out the answers.

Although a great way to save money it to buy refurbished
electronics because they have replaceable parts, the technology
to recondition batteries isn't quite up to the same speed. The
good news is most new laptop computer batteries have a one year
warranty and a discount price. You are much better off buying a
new laptop battery.

About the author:
Online Crazy Deals specializes in mobile computer technology
including refurbished laptops, but only new laptop computer
batteries. We recommend visiting us for more info.
http://www.onlinecrazydeals.com

The Top Five Spyware Issues Dealing With Internet Security

2006-04-10T00:03:00.000-04:00

By: Greg Lietz

One of the main ways to compromise internet security on your PC
is via a program called a Trojan Horse. A Trojan Horse is a
program that quietly runs in the background, inviting the user
to run it, while spreading its malicious code. This code can do
any number of things. It can start right away or it may simply
install a program that won't start for sometime. Once it does
start, it can delete all of the files on the computer or it can
infect the computer and try to infect other computers on the
network. There are a number of ways spyware is delivered, and as
a Trojan horse is the most common.

In addition to these things, spyware may infect your e-mail
address book. Once this occurs, spam will be sent to every
single person in every single infected address book.

The major difference between spyware like Gator and most other
spyware programs is that users are understandably notified of
its download before it actually occurs.

Another significant spyware threat is CoolWebSearch. This
spyware can do a number of things to compromise your internet
security. First, it can take over your current internet
settings, making things display wrong, and causing other system
inconsistencies.

The third major spyware threat is 180searchassistant. This
program has both pop-up and pop-under ads based on the user's
search terms. Moreover, once a site is clicked on, a new browser
window opens to display more advertisements based on the search
terms. It constantly updates by itself, and it can display
pop-up ads even when the internet is not running. In addition to
compromising your internet security, it can cause system slow
downs.

The fourth detrimental spyware threat to your internet security
is ISTbar. This spyware program displays adult pop-ups, even
when the internet is not in use. It can hijack your browser
settings, reset your homepage, and cause continual cascading
pop-ups while you are using the internet. It will continually
download related files without your knowledge. Moreover, it can
cause system slow downs.

The final major spyware threat to your internet security is
Internet Optimizer. This program redirects your computer to its
advertising sites. It also downloads and continually updates
itself without your knowledge. The worst part about this
spyware, though, is it leaves a back door open to your system so
other viruses can penetrate your defenses.

About the author:
Greg Lietz is a freelance writer, an internet business man and
enjoys working with and building computers. To discover how to
Knock-Out Spyware issues on your PC, visit this Spyware Removal
website as soon as you can.

Hard Disks: Firewire Vs. USB

2006-04-07T20:47:00.000-04:00

By: David Stone

These two technologies are competing to be the best way to
connect electronics together. They both began as a connection to
your PC or Mac, but they have grown to be a form of data
transfer between almost any electrical data storage device. See
who is the winner in one of the biggest technological races of
this century. USB fist showed up on the map to solve the problem
of Plug N' Play devices. Most devices were, at that time,
connected to a computer via a serial port. Serial ports were not
intended for such a wide application of uses and it is a
relatively slow port. What USB set out to do was to create a
standardized plug that can be duplicated easily with adapters
and hubs. The result was the same standard port you see today.
It is much faster now than its original version, but it has
remained as unchanged as a wall socket. When it was introduced,
you actually create 144 USB ports from just one source by
duplicating it with hubs. Of course, the PC needs to able to
handle the software load. USB started popping up on all types of
devices from digital cameras to MP3 players. It is now used to
even connect devices together with out even using a computer.
Firewire came about shortly after the release of USB. This
severely hurt the spread of its use because USB had quickly
become a standard for personal computers. It was developed by
Apple and released in 1995 on its G3 Power Mac. Apple had the
advantage of being the standard computer in the artistic
community, so this was the edge that they had on USB. It took a
couple of years, but consumer electronics began using Firewire
to appeal to the industry that connected video and sound
equipment to their Macs. It was also praised for its speed of
data transfer. It was nearly impossible to transfer digitized
video via USB because it was too slow. Firewire affected the
entertainment industry in such a way it won the 2001 Primetime
Emmy Engineering Award. Which technology is better? With the
release of USB 2.0, USB has dominated Firewire and almost made
it disappear in the PC industry. Mac still embraces it; even
cell phones have USB ports on them. USB is now fast, universal
and you can actually charge devices like cell phones and iPods
through a USB port. Firewire started out with the speed, but USB
has pulled ahead in a dominating way.

About the author:
David Stone is a regular contributor of articles on computers
and technology. Find more great information at
http://www.hard-disk-help.info

Spam Is Now Dead Meat

2006-04-05T20:50:00.000-04:00

By: J Schipper

Other than the canned meat sold by Hormel, the term spam is used
to describe unsolicited bulk email. It is rumored that the term
Spam came from an old Monty Python comedy sketch about a
restaurant where every item on the menu came with an order of
Spam. Certainly this is an accurate comparison due to the
ubiquitous nature of junk email, which first started to appear
in bulk in the early 1990s. The usual definition of spam is
email that is unsolicited, without prior permission or business
relationship, transmitted in mass mailings and containing
commercial content.

As the Internet became used increasingly in homes and
businesses, marketers did their best to promote their wares
through this new medium. Email, unlike postal mail that requires
a separate postage charge, can be sent out in bulk just as
cheaply as it can be sent to one person. Therefor, bulk email
became an irresistible way to advertise for Internet-based
marketers. Their only difficulty was to find valid email
addresses for recipients.

Bulk marketers began to compile lists of known email addresses
and sell them to other advertisers. Consumers often sign up on
mailing lists to be notified of sales or product promotions,
even from companies the openly pass their clients' email
addresses on to other companies. Spammers get email addresses
off publicly available web sites and user groups. Spammers have
even been known to hack into businesses' customer databases to
harvest even more addresses for their lists.

It did not matter if some of the addresses had expired; if an
address is not valid, email is simply not delivered. Millions of
simultaneous email messages could be sent out at little or no
cost to the marketer, so customer targeting was no longer
necessary. Spam was lucrative for marketers, as any response
rate at all would bring in profit from this essentially free
advertising. Much of the spam advertised goods and services of
dubious quality, such as pornography, get-rich-quick schemes,
multilevel marketing, stock promotions, quack health remedies,
and of course the services of internet marketers offering to
send out even more spam on behalf of the email account holder.

Internet users, however, were less pleased with spam than were
internet merchants. Many consumers resented receiving
advertisements through what is to be considered a personal
electronic mailbox. Finding legitimate emails became a time
consuming process of sifting through hundreds of unwanted
messages. Furthermore, some of the spam contained viruses.
Constant flow of spam used up bandwidth and filled up server
space. Parents objected to pornographic pictures being sent to
family websites which were accessed by children.

Spam is costly to the business world. It takes up bandwidth and
server storage space. Legitimate email may be lost, inboxes fill
up and staff spend office time deleting unwanted email. A study
published in May 2004 by Radicati Group shows that large
businesses (with approximately 10,000 employees) which do not
use spam filters lose $2,923.20 per user per year or a total of
$30 million annually in terms of email productivity. As Bill
Gates said, "The torrent of unwanted, unsolicited, often
offensive and sometimes fraudulent email is eroding trust in
technology, costing business billions of dollars a year, and
decreasing our collective ability to realize technology's full
potential."

Aside from being an annoying, time-wasting nuisance, spam also
includes "phishing" emails, false requests purportedly from
companies such as Ebay or Paypal, asking for credit card
information.

The total savings for businesses which do install anti-spam
filters is approximately $19.9 million per year. (Claburn,
2004). Filtering software looks for tell-tale signs such as an
invalid or spoofed "From" address, invalid host name in the
"From" or "To" address, similarity to previous emails, direct
SMTP transmission from a host without a fixed IP address,
receipt of the email from an unrestricted mail server, an IP
address, netblock or domain matching that of a known spammer or
"spamhaus", and unique headers created by spamming software.

No matter what kind of anti-spam system you employ in your home
or office, from the most basic to the most thorough, it's bound
to save you time and money.

About the author:
J Schipper loves Spam
Blockers Accounting
Software Business
Software Disk
Recovery

Beat the Printer Scheme and Save a Ton of Money on Ink or Toner

2006-04-02T21:55:00.000-04:00

By: David Picella

Copyright 2006 Majella.us

Before you buy another printer, make sure you read this article.
The printing manufacturers actually don't make any money on the
printer itself. Instead, the real profits are made on the ink
and toner. In general, the cheaper the printer, the more you
will get gouged when it comes to replacing cartridges. But this
is not always the case. The high end printer manufacturers are
ready and willing to jump deep into your pocketbook. And if you
let them, they will stay there for very long time.

The Microchip Scheme

The primary way in which the printing companies gouge your
pocketbook is by placing a small microchip on the ink or toner
cartridge. The cartridge will stop working when you print a
fixed number of pages (usually around 5,000) even if you have
plenty of supply remaining. Sometimes the chips are also
programmed to stop working after a fixed period of time (e.g.,
six months) regardless of how many pages you have printed. The
chips are usually patented so as to guarantee that you will
always buy a new cartridge from the original manufacturer.

Just to illustrate how costly it can be to buy the wrong
printer, here is a personal example. I fell for HP's marketing
scheme and bought a "low cost" HP 1500 Color Laser Jet two years
ago for $499.00. I just checked with Staples.com and the cost of
replacing all the toner cartridges and drum including tax (free
shipping) is $597.33.

Is there a way around this?

Yes! If you do not have a chip on the cartridge then you can
simply look on the internet and find a refill kit. This will
work quite well. However, as a general rule, printing quality
will decrease after approximately five refills.

If you have a microchip on your cartridge, there are a couple of
options. First, with many cartridges you will be able to find a
"chip reset" kit on the internet. Buying ink or toner and a chip
reset kit is usually much cheaper than replacing the cartridge.
You will be able to use the reset kit over and over again, so it
will pay for itself. If you can't find a reset kit for your
cartridge, you can probably find a replacement chip. The
microchips are usually glued on the side of the cartridge, so
you can just pry off the old chip and glue on a new one.

The "Nuclear Option"

I saved the best for last! If this works, it is your best
option, but you might have to do a little bit of internet
research on your specific printer. What the printing companies
don't want you to know is that there is usually a way to
configure your printer such that you are able to reset the chip
memory. In some cases, you can completely disable the printer's
use of the chip. Getting back to my HP 1500 Color LaserJet, I
was able to do this by holding down the big green button for 20
seconds when the power is turned on. On this printer, this
causes what is known as a "hard reset" of all internal memory
settings. Whereas I should have been forced to replace all of my
toner and the drum, I have now been printing for months in
normal operation without a glitch and with no error messages!

Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that you will be able
reset, replace, or bypass the microchip on your printer's
cartridge. Every year, it seems that the printer manufacturers
become more and more skilled at preventing you from taking
charge of your machine. However, now you are armed with a little
bit of knowledge--and knowledge is power. The next time your
printer runs out of ink or toner, don't be so eager to go out
and buy a new cartridge. Remember, if there is a way around it,
you can find it! The personal satisfaction you get in saving
money and beating them at their own game will put a little bit
of excitement in what might have been a depressing and costly
situation.

About the author:
David Picella is a Family Nurse Practitioner and PhD Student who
studies women's health issues, infertility, and NaProTechnology.
He also writes computer technical articles. You can find
additional technical resources for this article in the
technology section at: http://www.majella.us

The Ongoing Transition Of Hardware

2006-03-28T20:02:00.000-05:00

By: Paul Babs

Before the 1970s the word "hardware" usually meant one of two
things: the beautiful chrome handles on your new dresser and the
kitchen cabinets, or the hammer, saw, and nails that you
purchased at the local hardware store. Then came the computer
boom! Hardware took on a new meaning! If all the programming
that made a computer work were called software, then the hard
box and its components took on the name of hardware.

Hardware became a massive, competitive industry that expanded
beyond the largest, most powerful dreams of the 1970s. Made of
hundreds of various components that can be added, disconnected
or exchanged depending on which features you want, the computer
has a versatility that is limited only by ones imagination,
budget and, realistically, one's patience.

The basic components consist of the system unit itself (which
contains the so-called brains of the computer, the CPU, plus
various items referred to as 'boards'), the keyboard, mouse,
speakers, and of course, the monitor. To these basics one can
add printers, scanners, PC cameras, digital cameras, video
cameras, and joysticks.

During the mid 1980s several home-type computers became
available for the courageous home-computer geek. These used only
floppy disks, for the hard disk was still not portable in size.
Writing a book could use up to 75 floppy disks and nevertheless
was a major improvement over creating or working with a
typewriter.

After a few years the amazingly huge 10 MB Hard Disk came out
for home use, replacing the need for using floppies except for
backups. Since 10 MB didn't really hold all much data, the world
of floppies was still lively.

There was a word whispered about in murmurs in computer circles
back then: Gigabyte! It meant something so huge in size that the
human mind couldn't quite grasp it. Then it happened. A 100 MB
hard disk evolved into a 1 Gigabyte hard disk. People wondered
if it could possibly be reliable. And while they wondered,
computer stores started selling 10 Gigabyte hard disks. People
blinked and the hard disks were 100 Gigabytes.

While the capacity of the hard disk increased, the size of the
outside hardware began to get smaller and smaller, and before
long - there it is, sitting in the palm of your hand! The
flexibility of the hardware opens the door to thousands of
various software applications: now, instead of using the
keyboard to punch in letters, one can just talk to a computer
and it will record what was said. Modern e-mail delights people
of all ages as they communicate in seconds around the world.
And, computers can also read your e-mail back to you in the
language of your choice.

The competition between the hardware manufacturers has resulted
in prices dropping and dropping, creating a beautiful
opportunity for people of all income levels and all ages to now
enjoy a computer in their own home.

About the author:
Paul Babs is the owner of Tendon Ventures which
tackles all hardware issues. For more information, go to:
http://www.formhardware.com

Getting A Rack Mount Computer

2006-03-27T13:07:00.000-05:00

By: Jeff Jefferson

Who says that only professionals need rack mount computers? This
is a very erroneous assumption that many people have about rack
mount computers.

Anyone, including you who are confronted with the problem of how
best to handle your computer, surely needs a rack mounted
computer. One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they
think they are far better off not buying one.

The argument that only professionals need rack mounted computers
certainly springs from the cost of acquiring one. But what
should be clear is that if you can afford it, why not go for it
instead of the normal computer. A smart person would take a rack
mount computer over a regular computer any day of the week.

You need a rack space for your computer. In other words, you
need a rack mounted computer to ease your work with the
computer, even if you are not a professional.

Before going into details on why you need a rack mounted
computer, it is necessary to familiarize ourselves with what a
rack mounted computer really is.

Many people are not very clear on exactly what it is.

A rack mounted computer is simply computer that is mounted on a
metal frame (other wise called a rack).

To prevent use of inferior computer racks, the Electronics
Industries Association (EIA) has provided standards for computer
racks. This standard helps to ensure that you only get to use
the best computer racks for your computer.

Note that there is a big difference between a computer rack and
a computer cabinet. The computer rack is the frame used for
mounting the computer, while the computer cabinet is fitted with
doors and usually side panels- and used to put in the computer.

About the author:
"Want to Discover 4 Secrets?" Computer Rack Mount
LCD
Monitors Rack Mount Rack Mount
Computers

Wireless Networks Are Easy to Setup

2006-03-26T16:13:00.000-05:00

By: Ollie Brandt

In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
(IEEE) created the first wireless LAN standard - 802.11. Because
it could only support a maximum bandwidth of 2Mbps, 802.11
wireless products are no longer being manufactured. The next
wireless version was 802.11b, which supports bandwidths of up to
11Mbps, followed by the creation of 802.11g, which supports
bandwidth up to 54Mbps. Here is a brief summary of the two
wireless standards used in home networks today.

802.11b, - This technology supports bandwidth up to
11MBps, which is comparable to the speeds of traditional
Ethernets. 802.11b uses the same 2.4GHz radio signaling as the
original 802.11 standard. Because it is an unregulated
frequency, 802.11b devices run the risk of incurring
interference from appliances that use the same 2.4 GHz range,
such as microwaves and cordless phones. However, if you install
802.11b devices out of range of other appliances, you can avoid
the interference.

802.11g - This technology supports of up to 54 Mbps,
uses the 2.4 GHz frequency and is backwards compatible with
802.11b devices. 802.11g supports more simultaneous users,
offers the best signal range and is not easily obstructed. The
disadvantages of 802.11g are higher cost and possible
interference with appliances on the unregulated signal frequency.

Wireless computers and routers use radio waves to communicate.
Those waves are sometimes strong enough to carry outside your
house. If your network is unprotected, your information could be
hacked. Many intruders already know this. They'll drive through
neighborhoods searching for stray signals with radio equipment.
With the right information, they could access your networked
computers and files. They could even borrow your Internet
connection. Hackers search for networks that use the default
factory settings. Those settings usually include no security.
You need to protect your network by reconfiguring your wireless
router for security.

Wireless routers are configured through a browser such as
Internet Explorer. First, you need to connect your wireless
router to a computer with a Network Interface Card (NIC).
Connect the router from one of it's LAN ports to your computers
Network Interface Card using a RJ-45 cable.

Open your Internet browser. To communicate with the router,
you'll need its IP address. You can find this in your manual
under a heading like "configuration setup" or "manual
configuration." Most routers, for example, have an IP address
like 192.168.0.1. Type it directly into your Internet browser's
address bar. You'll then be prompted for a user name and
password. These will also be listed in your manual.

Now, you'll see your router's configuration tool. It looks like
an ordinary Web page. Most new wireless routers have a network
configuration wizard. Just follow the steps in the setup wizard.
The wizard will detect whether you are using broadband cable or
DSL. Each one requires a different configuration, (for example
DSL uses PPoE authentication). however the setup wizard will
walk though all the steps. It's really that easy.

Wireless routers default settings disregard security. That's
because low security makes them easy to install, but you need
change your router's settings to add security. Different routers
put these settings under different menus. You should be able to
find each without trouble. You need to change some of the
default settings.

Change the default administrator's password
Change
the default SSID (Short for service set identifier. An SSID is
also referred to as a network name because essentially it is a
name that identifies a wireless network)
Disable SSID
broadcasting

The best way to protect your wireless network is through
encryption. Use WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) for your encryption
setting. All new wireless routers support this standard. You'll
typically see this setting as WPA-PSK (pre-shared key). You'll
be prompted to enter a passphrase of eight to 63
characters--letters, numbers and symbols. The router will use
your passphrase to build an encryption key. WPA is the latest
and safest version of encryption. The only weak point of WPA is
your passphrase. So make it as strong as possible. Here are some
tips:

Use at least 20 characters.
Avoid words found in a
dictionary.
Include letters, numbers and
symbols.

Now your router is switched to use WPA encryption. But your
computers don't yet know what you've done. You'll have to update
them with the new setup. Here's what to do for each computer
you've got on the network. For Windows XP follow these steps.

Click Start>>Control Panel. Double-click Network Connections.
Right-click Wireless Network Connection. Select Properties from
the pop-up menu. Select the Wireless Networks tab. Under
"Preferred networks," click the Add button. In the box labeled
"Network name (SSID)," enter your network's name.

Under Network Authentication, select WPA-PSK. Under "Data
encryption," select TKIP. Under "Network key," enter the same
passphrase you used for your router. You'll have to enter it
twice to confirm it. Then make sure that the checkbox labeled
"The key is provided for me automatically" is not marked.
Finally, click OK>>OK.

Windows 98 and Me do not have built-in wireless networking. All
of the wireless configurations options are provided by your
wireless adapter software. Just make all the previously
discussed configuration settings with your wireless adapter's
software.

And that's all there is to it. Encryption makes your network a
less attractive target for hackers. And if your neighbors were
using your Internet service, they've just lost their connection.

About the author:
Ollie Brandt is a Microsoft Certified Professional and A+
certified PC technician.

Visit his web site at www.acecomputerguy.net

Don't Be an Identity Theft Victim

2006-03-25T20:38:00.000-05:00

Don't Be an Identity Theft Victim: Tips for Creating Good
Passwords

Crystal Coast Technologies, Inc.

According to recent studies, up to 7 million people per year
(yes, that is "million") are victims of identity theft in the
United States alone. That is more than 19,000 per day and nearly
800 per hour. Wow! While some feel that these figures may be
greatly inflated, they still are sobering. Regardless of the
actual number per year, we still need to protect ourselves from
this problem. Many, though not all, of the yearly victims become
so because they are not as careful with their sensitive data as
they should be. Carelessness is all a thief needs to make a
victim.

CCT
offers this article "Tips for Creating Good Passwords."
This will be the first article in the CCT Tip Series entitled "Protect your Data Online and in the Office". Please give
us your feedback. Feel free to leave comments and suggestions.

The chain of protection is only as strong as its weakest link.
Many times, the weakest link is a poor password. One of our
clients recently told me that at one time, every computer in
their office had a password of "password". Obviously, that
offered as much protection as a screen door on a submarine. A
password is the first step to safeguarding yourself and
protecting your sensitive data.

Password No-Nos

1. DO NOT

2. DO NOT

3. DO NOT

4. DO NOT

5. DO NOT

6. DO NOT

7. DO NOT

8. DO NOT

phishing

9. DO NOT

10. DO NOT

YES

Ok. Now we know a little about what we should avoid. Let's
learn a little about what is involved in making a good password:

Proven Methods of Great Password Creation

1. DO

2. DO

Where Oh Where Has My Little Dog
Gone

WOWHMLDG

wOWhmLdG

wOW^hm%LdG

3. DO

Changing your password for your Online accounts

Changing the password for your office computer

I am sure that some of you may think that the suggestions
mentioned in this article might be a little extreme. However,
stop and consider this: In the time it took you to read this
article, 53 people in the United States became victims of
identity theft. Many of them because they were careless with
their sensitive data. A secure password is the first step in
making yourself safe online and in the office.

Next in our series, we will discuss "How to be Safe
While Using Email." Be on the lookout for that article.

About the author:
Crystal Coast Technologies is a web design team headquartered in
Swansboro North Carolina. We specialize in Flash web design and
database driven e-commerce. Our blog contains more tips and the
latest tech news, including security alerts.

Recent studies show that 9 out of 10 PCs are infected

2006-03-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

By: Jason Frovich

Internet connections are infected with Spyware or other types of
information-gathering Malware. Spyware and malware are large
problems for Internet users today and can be both annoying and a
real threat to you and your computer. There exist a number of
different spy and malware of which some are relatively friendly
and only spies on your surfing habits, while others like the
Trojans can be used to corrupt your hard drive or steal your
usernames and passwords. A Trojan can even be used to steal your
identity by extracting all necessary information from your
computer.

You may think that ad ware might not be that bad, that it is
good if the ads are chosen to fit your interests. This might be
true if the spy ware didn't have a number of other negative
effects, such as an increased amount of pop up ads, unexplained
home page changes, strange results when searching the web and
the fact that your computer are being slowed down by the spy
wares. These are all very common results and symptoms of spyware
and ad ware.

More unusual problems connected with spyware and Trojans are the
corruption of the hard drive, the loss and exposure of private
information and login information and in a worst case scenario,
the theft of the identity of the owner of an infected computer.

Spyware is a large treat to the security of your online privacy.

There are however steps that you can take to avoid suffering the
negative effects that spy- and ad ware can bring, and start
protecting you computer and building an Identity Theft
Protection. The first of these steps are to get a good anti
spyware and anti adware program able to remove spyware. There
are a number of different spyware removers available and three
of the most well known might be Spy Sweeper,Ad Aware and Spybot
which are all good programs.

Spyware removal software can scan your computer and successfully
remove spyware like CoolWebSearch. Spyware removal software also
uses a system monitor that automatically discovers spy ware and
prevents installation of spyware on our computer. Spyware
removal software is effective for spyware and adware removal.

The active shield uses System Monitoring to in real time prevent
new spy- and adware programs from being installed on your
computer. This fact combined with the fact that Spy Sweepers
uses a constantly updated database of all available spy- and ad
wares means that this adware remover can clean your computer,
ridding it of any and all spy- and ad ware. Once it has cleaned
your computer it can keep it clean and assure that your computer
stays clean from ad- and spy ware.

By keeping your computer free from spyware and adware Spyware
removal software also protects your information and keeps your
identity safe. Spy Sweepers prompts you to update it if it has
been to long since it was last updated.

If Spyware removal programs finds a spyware it will immediately
quarantine the spyware and disable the spy wares functionality
until you can decide whether to delete the file or try to clean
the file from spyware elements and return the file to its
original place on your hard drive.

About the author:
Supportcave.com offers new and enhanced Free Spyware
Removal Software. Not only will these programs effectively
check and clean your computer from Spyware, once installed they
will also shield your computer from future Spyware intrusions
and browser hijacks - before the malevolent software even have a
chance to enter you PC! Spyware Remover Software is an important
funct

Reclaim Your PC from the Internet Spies

2006-03-22T16:21:00.000-05:00

By: Jason Frovich

Most Internet users recognize the need of protecting their
computers against viruses, as the vast majority of us sooner or
later become painfully aware of these nasty little programs when
they shut down our PC, spam our mailbox or delete our files.
Viruses are, however, not the only malicious software programs
out there. The newest addition to the evil software family is
the so called Spywares and a good anti-virus program or firewall
is not enough to safeguard against these clever programs.

Spywares are known by many names such as adware, trojans,
malware, browser hijackers etc. The thing they all have in
common is that they will transmit your personal information to
companies and individuals who have an interest in knowing about
your surfing habits, online purchases, credit worthiness,
interests, web searchs, chats, birth date and even your credit
card number. The list goes on and on, since Spywares are
constructed by promotional companies who need to know as much as
possible about the online consumers to target them effectively.
By ewes dropping on you online, these companies hope to be more
successful when sending out promotional materials.

Spyware usually enter your PC by piggybacking on other software
downloads. Every time you use downloaded or otherwise shared
files, including Freeware, Shareware or p2p sharing programs,
you stand the risk of unknowingly infecting your computer with
Spyware. Even confirmed virus free music files, films and
computer programs can have Spyware stowaways. Once inside your
computer, they will hide, monitor all your actions and promptly
start telling your secrets to anyone willing to listen.

Contrary to most viruses the Spywares actually make an effort
not to be observed. Since they won't cause obvious harm such as
deleting important files or shutting down your computer, they
can thrive in your PC for years without you noticing, sending
out massive amounts of information about all your online habits.

At a first glance, you might find this annoying but essentially
harmless. Why not let the companies send me promotional material
about things I am actually interested in? Spyware is however far
from harmless, since the infiltration by Spyware not only let
the companies know about your latest online search, but also
much more private matters such as credit card details, online
purchases of medicine and your private e-mail correspondence
with family, friends and business partners. There are even
examples of how this massive gathering of personal information
has led to an overall loss of privacy and stolen identities. In
the computerized world of today it is not hard to imagine the
amount of damage and personal suffering the fraudulent use of a
persons' identity can cause.

It is obvious to anyone that we must start combating the Spyware
programs, but the best way of doing this is not to panic and
pull the plug on your PC, never go online again and keep five
feet away from all Freeware. There is a much better solution:
http://www.supportcave.com

About the author:
Supportcave.com offers new and enhanced Free Spyware
Removal Software. Not only will these programs effectively
check and clean your computer from Spyware, once installed they
will also shield your computer from future Spyware intrusions
and browser hijacks - before the malevolent software even have a
chance to enter you PC! Spyware Remover Software is an important
funct

5 Ways to Optimize Your PC

2006-03-21T08:55:00.000-05:00

By: Keith Park

Check for viruses

Viruses are the most common problem when a PC's performance
begins to slow down. If there is one piece of software that you
must have on your PC, make sure it is Virus Scanning software.
There are many paid and free versions of software, I recommend
AVG Free Edition from Grisoft www.grisoft.com

As the title states, it is a free version and I have found it to
be just as good as any paid version I have used. It can be set
to update automatically, scan your hard drive at specific times
and scan your emails as they come in.

Do a complete scan of your PC once you install the software and
then set it up to scan incoming emails as well as do a complete
scan monthly, just to be safe. Set it to run in the middle of
the night or during the day while you are at work when you don't
use your PC.

Check for spyware

Spyware is becoming just as prevalent as viruses when it comes
to infecting your PC. There are over 38,000 spyware and adware
programs infecting PC's around the world. Chances are that if
you have been on the Internet, you have been infected with some
form of spyware.

For those that don't know, spyware is a program that collects
information from your PC without your knowledge. It is usually
installed without the user knowing but often it is installed
with the users consent whether they know it or not. How many of
us read the End User License Agreement (EULA) when we install
software?

Not many! I know I don't.

Hidden in the pages and pages of these EULA's are statements
that you agree to share information on various things including
your surfing habits, purchases you've made and even to install
extra software to track other things or to store files for their
network they have created. In their eyes this makes it all legal
because they have told you about it, again who reads the
EULA?

Spyware is not only bad because of what it tracks, it also
brings along with it unwanted trojans, worms and viruses. All
these combined running on a PC can bring it to a grinding halt.
There are spyware removal tools and software, most of them free,
Spybot, Ad-Aware SE Personal, Hijack This.

These are just a few, there are many more, too many to count. I
personally like Ad-Aware SE Personal, it is free and has been
able to remove most of the spyware I have come across. Download
it free at www.lavasoftusa.com

Update the definition files and run a scan on your PC, chances
are you are infected. Check out Lavasoft's website for more info
on how to use this software.

Remove unnecessary programs from your computer

Software that you are no longer using not only takes up space on
your hard drive, it also can run at startup using system
resources that could be used for other things. Go into your
Control Panel (Start --> Settings --> Control Panel) and
double-click on Add/Remove Programs. Go through the list of
programs and remove any that you don't use.

Run scan disk on your hard drive

Running a scan disk on your hard drive will detect and attempt
to fix any problems with files or the hard drive itself. File
errors or bad sectors on your hard drive can cause PC slowness
or random computer crashes. If bad sectors are found on your
hard drive it is highly recommended to back up your data and it
may be time to look into buying a new hard drive.

Double-click My Computer on your desktop, right-click your C:
drive (or whatever drive needs scanning), select Properties and
then click on the Tools tab. Click on the check now button to
begin scanning.

Run a defrag on your hard drive

Defragging is done to increase disk speed access and retrieval
of files. As files are updated or deleted they are stored on the
largest continuous space on the hard disk, often in a different
section of the hard drive from where the other parts of the file
are stored. When files are fragmented like this, a computer must
search the entire hard disk each time the file is opened to
locate all of its parts, which slows down response time
considerably. It is recommended to run a disk defragmentation on
a regular basis, approximately every 2-3 months.

Double-click My Computer on your desktop, right-click your C:
drive (or whatever drive needs defragmentation), select
Properties and then click on the Tools tab. Click on the
defragment now button to begin the process.

About the author:
Keith Park has been in the IT industry for the last 7 years and
is the author of the website TechCorner PC Resource Zone. Go there for
more articles and resources.

Additional resources @ http://mgrcentral.com/computers/default.aspx?stud
entid=1575219

Wireless Troubleshooting

2006-03-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

Wireless networks can be funny things. They'll work for weeks or months and then suddenly, one day -- bang! They're dead. But what can you do to try and resuscitate a dead wireless network?

The Simple Things.

Before you go to too much trouble to fix your network, you should try the simple solutions. No-one's quite sure why they work, to be honest, but they have a surprisingly high success rate.

To get Windows to attempt to fix problems with a wireless connection, double click the connection's icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. Go to the Support section of the box that appears, and then click Repair. Windows will deactivate and reactivate the connection in an effort to get it to work.

Once you've tried this, the last-ditch simple solution is that Windows classic: restart the computer. If that doesn't work either then, well, you'll have to try something else.

Has Your Wireless Card Come Loose?

If you have a USB or PCMCIA wireless card, you should check now to see whether it's come loose. The best way to do this is to disconnect everything and reconnect it. USB devices are especially vulnerable to gradually coming loose -- make sure you unplug your USB wire at both ends of the connection, if possible.

Of course, if you have an internal PCI wireless card, you might want to try a few other things first before you go to the trouble of opening the computer to take a look at it.

Have the Networks in Your Neighbourhood Changed?

Sometimes, if someone sets up a new network near you, it can cause some interference and take precedence over your own network, especially if you're in a part of your house where your network's signal is weak. Once your computer is connected, though, there's no guarantee your computer will be granted -- the other network could be set up in any number of strange ways. This leaves you in a position where your computer has connected to a network that it thought was 'better' without telling you, even though it turns out that network is useless to you.

You need to go to the 'View Available Wireless Networks' screen and take a look at what you're connected to. If it's something you don't recognise, you should double-click your own network in the list to connect to it. If this works, make sure you remove other networks' names from your 'preferred networks' list, to avoid connecting to them in the future.

Check for New Sources of Interference.

If you find that your connection will work if you put your computer right next to the source of the Internet signal, but stops working as you get further away, then the cause could be interference. You should consider any changes you've made to your home recently. For example, did you just get a new cordless phone? They can often interfere with wireless networks. Treat any equipment that uses radio waves as suspect -- try switching each thing off in turn and see if the performance of the wireless network improves.

Reset Equipment to Factory Settings.

With routers and access points, one thing that might work is to log in to their admin control panels (using a web browser) and click the option to restore to factory settings. This removes all your settings and makes the router or access point 'like new' again, meaning that any problems it was causing should be solved, unless it has been physically damaged.

If none of these things work, but the network was working fine before, the chances are that you've got a hardware failure somewhere on your network. This could be as simple as someone having sat on a USB device, or knocked an antenna on a router. You need to try unplugging things in turn to figure out where the failure is, and then call the manufacturer to report the fault -- be prepared that you might need to replace the item yourself, though, if it's not their fault or the equipment is outside warranty. Even if it turns out not to have been a hardware failure, they should be able to help you fix your network.

Which Hard Drive Is Right For You?

2006-03-17T22:47:00.000-05:00

Deciding on the appropriate hard drive is a personal decision made according to an individual’s computing needs. These days, 20 gigabyte, up to 40 gig, 80 gig, 100 gig and even larger are common. When pricing hard drives, it is common to see very little price differences between smaller size drives and larger. For instance, the price difference between a 20 gig and a 40 gig may be only twenty dollars. An old rule of thumb among the computing community has always been to buy the largest hard drive that you could possibly afford since everyone loads and uses more software than they initially imagine they will, and since that will put off the need to upgrade the computer the following year. However, if your budget is limited remember that a 20, 30 or 40 gig hard drive is plenty for the average user.

These hard drive sizes would astound a computer user from the 1980’s or early 1990’s. Back then hard drives were sized in megabytes, not gigabytes. The original IBM PC commonly had a ten Meg or twenty Meg drive, and when the thirty Meg drive came out it was considered absolutely gigantic. However, that was a time of smaller programs, less software and before Windows dominated the home computer world.

When choosing a hard drive you should always remember that the type we are most familiar with is called Parallel ATA type. A new type, serial ATA, is gaining popularity. This type is much faster – as much as twenty percent – and has other benefits including improved airflow. Your hard drive will need flowing air because it is constantly rotating at extremely high speeds and generates heat. The airflow helps the hard drive stay cool and run properly.

Most of the name brand hard drives are fine quality and it is hard to go wrong if they are purchased from an authorized reseller. If you buy your hard drive from an OEM – original equipment manufacturer – or from a discount store be sure to check out the warranty.

When choosing a new hard drive, keep several things in mind: size measured in gigabytes, size physically measured in inches, speed, and brand.

When looking at brands, there are many good choices. Choose a brand you’ve heard of and trust. Possibilities from good companies include Maxtor, Quantum, Western Digital, Fijutsu, Toshiba, and IBM among others.

When looking at price, remember the old adage “you get what you pay for.” A wise shopper will look around for the best price, but price isn’t the only thing here. A low price without a warranty, or from a dealer you don’t trust, could just cost you more in the long run. Fortunately with hard drives the manufacturer provides warranties on new drives, but a company willing to back up their product and replace a defective drive out of inventory can save you lots of hassle and downtime.

Size of drive in gigs, as said before, will have little price difference in certain increments and are usually very small. Figure out what each gig is costing you on each drive. Take a calculator into the store and do the math, then make your choice. Size physically is important because you must have a hard drive that fits the slot in your particular computer. Hard drives come in two primary sizes. The smaller, standard size is the size of a 3.5 inch floppy disk drive. The larger type is the size of a CD ROM drive. Larger drives tend to cost less, but most computers have enough slots for smaller, standard drives and most computer users consider them a little more preferable.

Speed is used to describe the revolution speed of the spinning hard drive. The faster the better of course, but check out the price difference when going from a relatively slow hard drive to a faster drive and see if the price difference is really worth it. After all, the hard drive is really spending most of its time waiting for you to type in data.

In summary, choosing a hard drive is as individual as choosing a car, but most people want as much size and speed as they can afford. Ask your friends, check online message boards, and perhaps members of a local computer users group to see what other people’s experiences have been, analyze all of your options and then make a wise decision.

Top Warning Signs of a Failing Power Supply

2006-03-15T20:09:00.000-05:00

The death of a power supply could be rather traumatic. A PC is almost like a part of the family. When we loose touch with our computers, it is great cause for concern. How are we going to chat with our friends? How are we going to research that project that is due the next day? What about those very important and vital files?

A power failure could cause you to loose important files on your computer. Since everything from journal entries to the monthly budget is usually stored on computers now, it is comforting to know that your files are safe. The best way to reinforce safety of files is to have a backup power supply.

Don’t fret. There are ways to make sure that your precious computer is safe and sound. There are signs to watch out for and measures you can take to keep your files safe. You can prevent this forbidden tragedy by paying close, and careful, attention to your power supply.

The power supply is one of the most important units of your computer. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most overlooked components as well. This being the case, it is incident prone because few pay attention to it until it fails. Don’t take your power supply for granted. Make sure it is as healthy and happy as the rest of your system.

Before you draw the conclusion that your power supply has failed, make sure it is connected properly and set to the correct voltage. A PC that you have recently moved or move frequently may have this problem. If the voltage selection is changed and you try to use your power supply, you could blow a fuse. If the voltage selection has been altered, unplug the power supply and adjust the voltage selection.

The first sign of a failing power supply can be its failure to turn on. This obvious sign may be interment at first, but eventually it may become permanent. If you hit the power switch and it does not come on, then you might have an issue. Of course, there can be other reasons why the power supply does not power up.

There are many other reasons for a power supply to lay dormant. Many of which can be easily corrected. So don’t immediately run out and get a new power supply until you are sure that the old one is not any good. You don’t have to be a technician to detect some of the signs that your power supply is on the way out, but you do have to pay attention to your computer.

If you can not hear the fans turning, or if your system is as hot as a summer day in Florida, you have a problem. If the fans are very noisy check to see if anything is obstructing them, like a piece of paper. If all is clear and there is still noise, your power supply may be the culprit. A hot system may mean that the power supply is working its way to frying your system. This is not only dangerous for your computer, it potentially dangerous for you as well.

Spontaneous reboots and lock ups are a warning sign. If your system, on occasion, decides to shut down on its own accord, it may be the power supply. A system that freezes up is a sign as well. These are often defensive mechanisms on the part of your motherboard.

An old AT power supply drastically increases your chance of a power failure. How do you know if you have an AT power supply? Look for a heavy cord that feeds into a big switch on the front of the case and has four connections. This kind of power supply has a potentially fatal live line voltage at the switch.

There are a few ways to test your system to find out if your power supply is the source of your problem. None of which require you to do anything terribly technical. Unhook all of your peripherals and try your system. If it works properly, then it might be one of your accessories that may be causing the problem.

The Top Five Most Popular Computer Upgrades

2006-03-13T18:35:00.000-05:00

Most everyone with a computer is looking to have the fastest, most efficient computer filled with the latest computer technology. To keep up with the continual changes as technology becomes more and more advanced; it requires complete upgrades on the computer. But, what are the best computer upgrades available?

Memory Upgrade

One of the most popular computer upgrades is a memory upgrade. A memory upgrade is one of the easiest ways to boost the performance of a PC. Before making a memory upgrade, first check the BIOS operating system to determine how much memory is already on the system.

To make a memory upgrade, it is also necessary to open the case of the computer to find how many modules are currently installed and how many slots are still empty. It may be necessary to take some out and replace them with larger modules if all of the slots are already full.

After finding out the current memory situation, review the operating system and application programs to determine how much memory is needed to make the computer perform at its optimal level. In general, these programs provide a minimum and a recommended rating. To reach the fullest potential of the computer, the memory should meet or exceed the recommended level.

Before running out and buying a memory upgrade, however, check the computer manual or go directly to the motherboard to find out what type of memory is supported by the current computer operating system. If this information isn’t gathered, the memory upgrade may not work.

When buying a memory upgrade module, it is best to buy the largest amount of memory with the least number of modules. This way, there is room for growth in the future. For example, instead of buying two 128MB modules, purchase one 256 MB module.

Video Card Upgrade

A video card upgrade makes it possible to play all of the great games that are currently available on the market. In fact, some games are so advanced that they won’t play at all without a very powerful video card.

Since there are literally dozens of video cards available, it can be tough choosing the right one. But, it is important to first take a look at the motherboard to determine what type of video cards can be supported by the system. The best video cards are the ones that transfer data the fastest. In order from fastest to slowest are PCI express, AGP 8x, AGP 4x, AGP 2x, AGP, and PCI.

Sound Card Upgrade

A sound card improves the sound produced by the computer. This makes computer gaming more enjoyable, as well as listening to music and watching digital media.

To install a sound card, locate an available ISA slot on the back of the computer. These slots are the longest sockets on the motherboard and there might be other cards already installed in the sockets. There are two internal openings on each of the slots at the back of the computer. So, remove the access plate at the rear of the socket to insert the sound card. Make sure the access plate on the sound card covers the hole created by removing the initial access plate. But, be sure to gently insert the sound card with a slow back and forth movement, otherwise the sound card can be damaged.

DVD Player/Burner Upgrade

With so many digital videos becoming available, many people are looking to upgrade to a DVD player and burner combo. The most power DVD player/burner currently available is the DVD+R/RW. These do tend to, however, be incompatible with older DVD-ROM drives and DVD players. But current big names in the industry, such as Sony, HP, and Phillips, support these players. DVD+R/RW drives are faster than previous models and are capable of formatting while burning data to the disc.

Motherboard Upgrade

For those who are truly serious about upgrading their computer, motherboard upgrades are another popular option. A motherboard upgrade is the most difficult upgrade to accomplish. Those who can manage, however, will enjoy the freedom of never having to buy a new computer. Instead, the motherboard can be upgraded as technology advances.

In addition to eliminating the need to buy a new computer, a motherboard upgrade also makes it easier to upgrade other components on the computer. This is because purchasing a motherboard ensures receiving the most up to date technology, which is then compatible with other upgrade components.

Upgrading the motherboard, however, requires serious advanced planning and reading of the computer manual. If done incorrectly, the computer will become nothing more than a paperweight. If finished correctly, however, the computer will remain on the cutting edge of current technology.

Wanna Go Wireless?

2006-03-11T01:45:00.000-05:00

The ability to access the Internet via wireless means has become one of the top selling assets for cell phones. Consider yourself being out and about, while your real estate business information is locked up tight in the memory of a personal computer. You know you have your latest client’s information in your e-mail, but unfortunately you are far away from the office, and you cannot retrieve it from anywhere else. Will you lose that multi-million dollar deal? Will you entrust your client’s information to someone else? Would it not be wonderful if you could access your e-mail account from the front seat of your parked car in the mini-mart’s parking lot? Actually, what you need is wireless access and there are five essentials you need to make it happen:

First and foremost, you will need a cell phone. Believe it or not, cell phones are the most useful gadgets to get on the Internet. While it is true that many cell phones themselves offer little web browsers, it is also true that they offer Internet access at data transfer rates of about 14.4 Kbps at best or maybe even less -- sometimes even only in the range of 9.6 Kbps. Computer users will remember that even dial-up Internet service usually operates at about 56 Kbps. Nonetheless, these little gadgets also have other tricks up their sleeves. When investing in a cell phone, be sure to choose a provider that offers data services!

Second, you will need a laptop or other notebook computer that runs an operating system that will support your cell phone’s data services software.

Third, be sure that your hardware is compatible. For example, will you be using a PC Card as a modem? Check the model number (usually imprinted on the card itself) against the specifications of the cell phone service provider. Similarly, if you will use your phone as a modem, again check the model number (usually located underneath the phone’s battery). If your cell phone service provider does not recognize your choice of modem, it will not be supported by its software, and thus will be useless to you. Additionally, this hardware cross check will enable you to ascertain what other possible hardware needs you might be facing, i.e. will you be connecting via a USB port or via a serial port?

Fourth, know your data service provider’s fine print. Not all data service plans are created equal, and the fine print will spell out the terms, conditions, and costs. For example, some plans will permit unlimited access while others will not. Many will only work in certain areas, similar to the cell phone coverage, and if you foresee traveling outside these areas you may need to sign up with an alternate provider. Other providers may contract with alternate providers to allow for seamless use, but your will be presented with two bills. Additionally, security issues are quite often on the forefront of warnings in the fine print, and many data service plans readily admit that they lack encryption, authentication or other security features. At times, these features may be available at additional cost. You will also need to be sure to understand access limitations, such as non-connectivity for periods of 90 days or more, or connection limits of 150 uses per month. Again, all of this is spelled out in the service agreement.

Fifth, and last, secure your alternate power supply! No matter how useful your data services plan is, if your cell phone or your laptop computer shut down because they run out of power, you will be as bad of as you were before. Fortunately, you may purchase a car charger (CD adapter/charger) for you cell phone, which will allow you to charge it as you drive. You will also need to buy a car charger (DC adapter/charger) for your laptop, but since the batteries in these devices may run for long periods of time, you may need it less, especially if you only use the laptop periodically.

In closing, if you have an adapter/charger, a well-rounded data services plan, and compatible equipment and software...you will travel well!