Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Hacking The Web Raises Security Issues



If there is one thing that people do not want to put up with when they are online, it is a hacker that disrupts Internet connections and even affects the files a user has on a computer. Here is a look at how hacking the web raises security issues and how hackers can be stopped so that these security issues will not be a problem.

One of the ways that hacking the web raises security issues is that it can create dangerous software. Hackers can easily insert malware into a computer. This consists of files that can be especially damaging to the computer. The reason for these damaging capabilities is that a hacker can easily look through and edit files that are inside a website or the computer of a user on a website. Hacking the web raises security issues because it not only affects the websites involves, but it can also affect the users of the sites that have been affected.

Hackers who work on hacking the web can steal specific information that other groups may give to websites. This includes phone numbers that can be used to call people with unsolicited offers. In some cases, a hacker may have more control over the malware that is used and therefore insert this software into a mobile phone that is listed on a website database. This can cause the hacker to steal even more phone numbers.

In many cases, the hackers can send data to people on a contact list and this is then considered spam. They can send viruses and other pieces of malware that will only end up expanding the level of power that the hacker has. Some people may not know what to do with the emails that they get from a hacker because they may not know exactly whether the message is legitimate. This makes it clear that hacking the web raises security issues.

A hacker can steal the especially sensitive financial data, and this is another reason why hacking the web raises security issues. For people who are going to be sending financial information and other important pieces of data to a website the information can be especially important. A hacker for that person to use for that person’s advantage can steal the information. This includes not only credit card numbers and other information regarding these cards but also Social Security numbers.

Since hacking the web raises security issues, it is best to use a few simple tips to work with improving security. For businesses that run websites that may be prone to hackers, it is best to install a good firewall onto the server. This can be used to help monitor incoming transmissions and block any software that is going to be sent to the server without the permission of the company that owns the server.

Having the appropriate antivirus software is needed. A typical firewall program will have all of this information. This can be used for a server as long as the program will automatically update itself as new information on viruses and other dangerous things that hackers may have to gain access to a website or your computer are known. With automatic updates, it will be easier to be protected.

In addition, for people who visit these sites, a firewall can be used. General measures that the average person should be using can help too. These include visiting only websites that can be trusted and by not opening any online links from any emails that may have been sent as a result from visiting any sites.

It is very clear that hacking the web raises security issues. By taking care of these risks with a good firewall and antivirus program and by recognizing how hackers will look into affecting a system it will be easier to handle hackers and any other dangerous things that may come around.

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Great News For Computer Users – The New Intel 3 Chip Is Out




The new Intel 3 chip is out. This is the newest chip in the world of Intel computer processors. This is going to be a chip that will be used to power some of the world’s fastest and most powerful computers and will be used to help make a computer more efficient. Now that the new Intel 3 chip is out let’s take a look at all of the different things that will work with this new chip.

The reason why the Intel 3 chip has the three in its name is that the speed and strength of the chip is incredibly powerful at three gigahertz or higher. This is one of the strongest chips that is available on the market and will be impressive for high end products in terms of how well they will work on a computer.

One of the best things about the Intel 3 chip is how it performs in certain display technologies. Image technology is one of the newest technologies in computers, and the new Intel 3 chip works very well with this technology. It also performs incredibly well in integrated illustration display.

The audio quality of the programs that are run with the Intel 3 chip is impressive. 7.1 channels of ambient sound can be produced on programs that are run with the Intel 3 chip. This is the best sound technology that is available on the market and it can make computers that run with the Intel 3 chip work like a home theater system with its unbelievable sound quality.

One of the most notable things to see now that the new Intel 3 chip is out is that the chip supports HDMI technology. This is High-Definition Multimedia Interface technology. It works to transmit fully uncompressed video and audio streams in high definition quality. This is found to be one of the newest technologies and is expected to replace coaxial cable based technologies in the future and VGA video technologies.

Another thing to know now that the new Intel 3 chip is out is that it is a 45nm, or nanometer processor. With the smaller size of this chip there will be less power consumed by the chip. This is impressive in that it will help to keep from overheating or being especially stressed while still sending out the best technology available to a computer. Of course, because of the much smaller size of the chip, it will cost more money to make, and this will result in a cost for the chip that is going to be higher than that of other chips on the market.

Because the new Intel 3 chip is out, there will be a greater demand for this than other chips in the world of computing. However, it will also be more expensive than that of other chips that are on the market. A typical chip that has a speed of three gigahertz or more can cost over a thousand dollars in most cases.

In addition, since the new Intel 3 chip is out there will be many stores that will have them for sale. Technology stores like Circuit City and Best Buy will generally have these computers available for sale. Specialty stores like Fry’s Electronics will have them also.

Wholesale computer part stores and outlet stores will have these products in the Intel 3 chip family as stand-alone items that can be installed into certain computers too. For instance, Tiger Direct outlet stores in the Chicago, Miami and Raleigh areas will have them for sale. These outlet stores can generally be found online also for those who do not live near any of these places. For instance, by going to tigerdirect.com Tiger Direct products can be purchased online.

The new Intel 3 chip is out. Not only is it powerful but it is also on top of the latest technologies in the world of computing.

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Finding Affordable Hard Drives




One thing is for sure, the hard drive is something that no computer can be without. In fact, when you are looking to upgrade your computer or buy a new one you should use the hard drive as one of the most important considerations to follow. There are all types of affordable hard drives to choose from though. These will help to not only give your computer a place for its data to be stored but they will be useful in that you will not have to spend more money than you need to.

The first thing to consider when finding affordable hard drives is the capacity of the hard drive. While larger hard drives have become the way to go for some computers these days the more affordable hard drives are going to be the ones that have lower levels of data capacity. A hard drive that fits 250GB of data will certainly cost less than that of an 800GB hard drive.

Another thing to consider for the affordable hard drive is the USB capability. Some hard drives will only be able to be used inside of the computer. Some of them can be read through a USB connection. This has turned into one of the most convenient methods of data storage on the market. Groups like Western Digital and Seagate have been making these, but it should be noted that the most affordable hard drives in this range are ones with lower capacity levels.

Affordable hard drives will still have great data transfer rates also. Inner zone transfer rates for one of these cost efficient hard drives will be at around fifty megabytes a second and close to a hundred megabytes in a second for data at the outer zone.

There are various different places where you can find affordable hard drives. For instance, a typical computer hardware store will have new hard drives available for sale at different price levels so you can find one that will be in the range that you are willing to spend it on.

Some independent computer hardware stores will have refurbished hard drives for sale. These have already been used but are cleaned up and restored so that they will work just like new. Even the higher end hard drives may be available in refurbished quality. This will mean that you can save a great amount of money on top quality products.

An outlet store will also have affordable hard drives. This is because these hard drives are sold individually to people who are looking to customize their computers. In addition, with no middleman involved money will be saved because of the small transfer costs. You can find an outlet store in your area through your local phone book.

Online sites can be useful too. TigerDirect.com, which is the website for the Tiger Direct Outlet Store, has many of these affordable hard drives. SuperWarehouse.com has plenty of hard drives and special deals for sale too. PCNation.com has more hard drives and arranges its hard drives by capacity size. Of course, those are some of the more credible sites to visit. Remember, some online stores may not be protected or secure like these three are.

A hard drive is something that you should use for your computer. By using the considerations of the hard drive in terms of the size, you want and by looking at various different stores, you can find affordable hard drives that your computer can use without you having to spend more money than you want to.

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Computer Viruses Are A Hot Topic



No matter who you talk to, everyone has either had a computer virus or knows of someone who has gone through the agony of trying to get rid of the problem. Computer viruses are a hot topic that seem to affect everyone who owns a computer system, whether at work or at home. The companies that produce software programs that catch and delete these computer viruses are constantly updating their databases for virus types and definitions so that they can better protect your system against all the newest viruses. Creating virus protection programs is a multi-billion dollar business that is growing more and more everyday. The number of viruses being created and uploaded to the Internet is growing at an astounding rate of a new one every eighteen seconds! This definitely keeps the virus protection companies on their toes with research and development.

Because these viruses copy themselves to any computer system they come in contact with, the spread of viruses throughout a computer network or the Internet is a very fast and deadly thing to happen to your computer. Because computer viruses are a hot topic, they routinely are the subject of magazine articles and forum topics online. While some viruses do nothing more than frustrate you with pop-up ads or other messages, others are completely malicious and set out from the start to destroy the files and operating systems of your computer.

Of the 53,000 viruses that have been identified and classed, more than 80 percent of them have been classed as malicious and capable of harming your computer system or data files. These computer viruses behave in much the same way as biological viruses by contaminating any computer systems they come in contact with. These self-executing programs are generally very small and work at damaging the way your computer works or by damaging or completely removing key system files.

When computer viruses are a hot topic, more and more people find out about the destructive power of these programs. In this way a great many people find out about virus protection programs and rush out to get the newest protection programs or they ensure that their computer virus protection is up to date. Many magazine and news articles about computer viruses have the effect of sometimes panicking people into believing that their computers are at risk. Having a good anti-virus program and current updates is one of the best ways to protect your computer system against virus attacks.

This must also be coupled with good file habits such as scanning all downloaded files with the anti-virus program before opening them. It is always a good idea to take the time to ensure that the file you thought you were downloading is indeed the file you have. For instance, a file that labels itself as a movie file and is less than one megabyte in size is not a movie file. Movie files are generally nearly a thousand times that size and therefore, the file you have downloaded is most likely not a movie file and may in fact be a computer virus.

Computer viruses are a hot topic at the office when a virus attack manages to get past protection protocols put in place by the network administrators. All it takes is one person allowing some executable files they have been sent to open and start replicating itself through the network of computers to make life Hell for that company. Virus attacks can cripple office systems very quickly resulting in lost revenue and consumer confidence which can affect the way that stocks in that company are traded resulting in even further financial losses. That is why it is so important for larger businesses to have comprehensive computer virus protection programs in place.

These virus programs are much more detailed and powerful than the anti-virus programs that many consumers have protecting their computer systems. Because the fallout from a virus attack is much more financially damaging to a large corporation, the virus protection program needs to be much more robust and capable of protecting multiple systems within the corporation. Computer viruses are a hot topic among businesses simply because of the way that they can affect the company financially.

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Computer Use by Seniors Eases Loneliness




More and more seniors are catching the ‘computer bug’ and taking the plunge to go online. The active baby boomers have grown up and become active seniors looking to get out and explore the world around them. The Internet and computers in general, have opened the doors to many avenues of entertainment and excitement for these seniors. No longer are they resigned to the playing of shuffleboard or canasta with their friends for their entertainment. Now with the aid of computers and the Internet they can play these games and more over online connections with people from all over the world. While learning to use a computer is still one of the biggest challenges to many seniors, many of them, when they learn to use a computer, cannot believe that they were ever worried about it at all.

Some seniors have expressed nervousness when it comes to learning how to use a computer and interact with others over the Internet. They are doubly proud when they cannot only learn to use a computer but can also manage to send emails and use computer programs without any outside help at all. While some seniors may have had some experience with computers in their past employment, most are learning the basics of computer use for the first time from the ground up. It is quite an ordeal at first for many people who find it all a bit overwhelming. This quickly passes though as they learn the basics very quickly and can see basic results after only a few lessons.

Computer use among seniors has proven to be very beneficial to them in many ways. It gets them active again in something. While using a computer is not the same thing as doing exercise for the body, the use of a computer is a very stimulating way for them to exercise their most important muscle – their brain. By keeping mentally active, many seniors find that they are not lonely any longer and they have much more that they can accomplish with the aid of a computer. Not only can they use computer programs to help them work on any hobbies they have, but the Internet can also help them to stay in touch with others who share in their hobby. Staying in touch with family and friends by way of email is another great way to help seniors feel connected to the lives of others and to the world around them. By staying in close contact, they find more purpose in their old age.

Some seniors even become competent enough with their computer usage that they can take on part time jobs doing simple data entry for businesses. They can also help to teach other seniors about the benefits of learning to use a computer and the amazing world of the Internet. Many seniors may have only heard about the millions of web sites out there that have so much information that they can access easily. For many seniors it is like turning on a light that shows them what they have been missing all these years. They become passionate about their search for knowledge with computers and the Internet. The sense of isolation is immediately lifted the very first time they send and receive their initial email message to someone they know. Whether the person is across the country or just across the street, the excitement is the same. They soon learn to feel part of the world again and can take part in many more conversations as their knowledge about computers and the Internet grows.

Being able to reconnect with old friends that they have not talked to for years is a very big deal for these seniors. They can also encourage each other to learn more as they go through many of the same things together while learning about computers and the Internet. Many seniors with hearing problems find it much easier to email someone rather than try and talk to them on the telephone. Seniors who are grandparents find the Internet a great way to stay a part of their grandkids lives. By sending emails and talking over everyday events, the family grows closer and stays closer as well. By using the Internet, many seniors have found friends with common interests, whether those interests are hobbies or health matters they share, the excitement at being able to message someone and have them chat back to you in nearly real-time is very fun for these seniors.

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Friday, February 8, 2008

Banning USB Flash Drives From The Workplace




The last few years we have seen an increase in sales of the fancy looking USB flash drives. They have been made as small as a keychain figurine or a tie clip. Yes, USB flash drives to wear on your tie. Now that these flash drives have made their way to everyone because of the affordable pricing, many workplaces are banning them from the office. It is one of the best ways to steal company information without anyone knowing about it. Many companies have as far as disabling the USB ports on employee’s computers. This may seem a little extreme, but companies have to protect their information.

Although some businesses give these little units to their employees for advertising purposes, they are not allowed to use them in the workplace. They are basically given as an advertisement with the company logo on them for others to see. There are so many harmful affects that these flash drives can have on a business. Because of their different shapes and designs, businesses have decided to pull the plug on the USB ports. You might look at someone’s keychain and think that little gadget they have is cute, but that cute little gadget could ruin your business.

This type of theft and the creation of the USB flash drives brought concern from many businesses and individuals alike. What if you are individual that carries around a USB flash drive in their purse or on a keychain would lose the unit? All information would be loss and open to anyone who finds the flash drive. This causes concern for concern for how to properly store the flash drives that have sensitive information recorded. Carrying around a flash drive is just like carrying around your credit card. If you lose it, you are vulnerable to fraud.

For the most part, flash drives have allowed people to download music, pictures and files and free up room on the laptop or the desktop computer. These are also valuable in the event you would lose information on your computer due to a hacker or a virus. In this case, the USB flash drives are extremely necessary. You can buy different size flash drives to hold different amounts of information. If you download a huge amount of music, you may want a USB flash drive that can accommodate all the files or more than one.

New technology has enhanced the use of the computer for more than one reason. People can now use flash drives for file storage and businesses can storage vital information on these drives in order to keep it safe from potential security leaks. Although businesses ban the use of the flash drives from employee’s, the company themselves do use these as way’s to conduct business during travels. They can make presentations and instead of carrying a laptop along on their travels, they just take the flash drive.

Today, with the higher security in airports, it is always important to check with new security rules before attempting to take a flash drive on the airplane to make sure it will be accepted. In most cases, you will fid that they are allowed. Other business concerns the flash drives are a valuable and handy little piece of technology that will help secure important files and information.

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An Abundance Of Pyramid Schemes




Are you a candidate for working at home on your computer? You might just be, but there are some hot issues you need to understand first. Not all companies or job sites have legitimate offers. This has become a hot topic as more people have become frustrated after finding out you have to pay so much money to work online. The advertisements in your email box tend to arrive quickly, but the money just never appears. One thing many are unaware of is that you never should pay to work online. You are supposed to be paid for work you do.

One issue that never seems to go away is the pyramid schemes. If you receive an email to join a program free and earn money from your down line, this sounds like the easiest way to make money. In all reality, it is a nightmare. You have to sign up and then “upgrade to a status member” by buying the product in question, whether you want it or not. After that, you are told you can make money from those under you, but only if they in turn buy the product as well. Now the pyramid scheme is taking place.

Therefore, to make twenty dollars, you may have to spend sixty dollars. There is no guarantee that someone under you is going to buy the product. You could wait until the pyramid scheme falls apart and learn a valuable lesson, or you could stay away and look for a more legitimate way to make money. The companies that pay for work done are on the Internet, you just have to know where to look and how to tell if they are legitimate. A legitimate company already has people working for them and has a good standing on the Internet as far as people experiences with the particular company.

There are many websites that offer opinions and advice for working at home and these websites or forums as they are called, offer some valuable information about specific companies and there reputation. A few years back, you may remember hearing about pyramids schemes and other types of moneymaking ideas. If everyone can make money then why are there so many people losing money on these types of pyramids? The answer is quite simple, who has money to buy sixty dollars worth of product that you will never use to make a few dollars.

Therefore, people may be hooked into signing up because the advertisement does not tell you that you have to buy something in order to make money. After you sign up, they continue to send you emails, telling you that someone else has joined under you, “upgrade now” to start making money. Well, in order to upgrade, you are going to have to buy that product and take a chance that someone else will feel the same way. In many cases, you are going to find out that you were the only one to do it.

After waiting to make money, you will give up and be out the sixty dollars for a product you never used. If people would just understand that pyramid schemes only benefit the original product owner, then maybe it would be easier to find real work at home jobs. The Internet would then become a place to find work at home jobs without the need to investigate before applying or signing up for anything.

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A Look At What Caused Skype To Shut Down



Skype is one of the most popular communication programs used by people on the Internet. People with Skype accounts can call one another and talk with each other verbally with computer microphones. Phone calls from standard landlines can even be received and handled through a Skype account. Rates for calls through Skype are cheaper than that of standard calls and calls between Skype users are free, and this makes Skype especially popular. However, on August 16 and 17 in 2007 there was a time in which Skype shut down because of a crash in the system. Here is a look at what caused Skype to shut down.

One of the factors that caused Skype to shut down was that there was a security update that took place on the Microsoft Windows operating system. Microsoft Windows users will receive routine security updates from time to time. These updates are all used with the intention of helping to protect the user’s computer from the newest hazards that are online.

One of the requirements that are needed for a security update on the Windows operating system is that the computer will have to be restarted so that the new updates will be installed and able to function. According to reports from Skype, there was a high amount of traffic and it seemed that everyone was rebooting their computers at the same time and then trying to get onto the Skype program. This plays a very important factor into learning about what caused Skype to shut down.

Another issue that caused Skype to shut down was from an error in the software code in the Skype program. This error prompted Skype to shut down in the event that excessive activity takes place. It is not clear as to how the error came about, but after this was found, work began to close the error so that a shut down like this would not take place again.

The Skype Company described the error that caused Skype to shut down as a “deficiency in an algorithm within Skype networking software.” The algorithm was described as an interaction that helps to connect the Skype network with the client that the individual Skype user has to connect. This was considered to be the first time in which this took place within the system. Some have argued that the company was not prepared to take care of this particular type of error.

Many other factors evolve around what caused Skype to shut down. One of the biggest problems is that more people are using Skype more so than in recent years. This has prompted more people to use up the bandwidth that Skype has available. It is in theory that because of the incredible demand for services from Skype that the system may have shut down as a result.

How popular has Skype become recently? In the early part of 2006, there were a little less than a hundred million Skype accounts throughout the world. As of July 2007, there are a little over 220 million users throughout the world. With an average of nine million individual users on at once at any time of the day around the world, the bandwidth amount and activity that can take place with all of the Skype accounts can cause the Skype program to be over taxed.

That is a general look into what caused Skype to shut down. While the original problem has been fixed and Skype is now available for all people to use again, the Skype Company will be looking to take care of the problem so that this will not happen again. However, with the continuously growing popularity of Skype and the increased activity that is used in Skype, there is always the chance that something new may happen, unless Skype can upgrade their system to handle so much traffic.

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