Windows PC Help

Which Wireless Plan And Phone Should I Buy

2005-11-20T13:25:00.000-08:00

"Which cell phone should I buy" is a question a lot of people ask, but it is one that doesn't have an easy or simple answer. That's because there are so many cell phone choices and plans available today, and different people have different needs and different reasons for wanting to get a cell phone.

If someone is looking for a cell phone to carry just for emergencies or if their vehicle breaks down, a basic phone with a low cost plan is all that is needed. A prepaid phone with minutes that do not expire quickly is another good choice. On the other hand, if someone wants to have a phone to use as their primary mode of communication and also wants to be able to store information in it, a combination cell phone and PDA might be the best choice. A calling plan that includes a significant number of calling minutes that can be used any time would probably also be a good choice for that person.

The first step in buying a wireless phone and calling plan is to get out a piece of paper and a pen. Write down the reasons why you are going to purchase a cell phone along with what you are going to use it for. Think about how many minutes a month you will probably be using the phone. If you plan on using the phone often you will want a plan that has a lot of "anytime" minutes, not just minutes that can be used at night and on weekends.

Where is the phone going to be used? Will you be using it primarily in the area you live and work or do you travel frequently? If you travel frequently and plan to take your phone with you, a plan that gives you nationwide coverage is a good choice. If you travel out of the country frequently, look for a phone that can be used internationally. If you plan to use the phone extensively in your home area, look for a local or regional plan that offers a lot of minutes during the times you plan on using the phone.

If you want to be connected with your spouse and children, a family plan is a good choice. Look for a family plan that lets family members talk to each other as much as they want without using any of their plan minutes. Look for specials on phones. Wireless companies often offer specials deals when purchasing a family plan (and other plans as well). It is sometimes possible to get phones for the entire family for very little money or even free with a contract commitment to keep the service for a certain period of time, usually two years if you want to get the best deal.

Some people want to be able to have short and quick conversations. For those people a push-to-talk phone may be a great idea because it allows quick conversations that do not count against a person's plan minutes. One caveat; the other person or people you want to have a conversation with also have to have a phone with push-to-talk capability in order for a push-to-talk conversation to be held.

If the ability to text message is important check to see how much text messaging is going to add to the cost of your plan each month. Text messaging is most popular with teens. Many adults however would rather call someone than try to type a text message into a cell phone that has tiny keys, and most cell phones do. If you do a lot of text messaging, a stylus (the type used with PDA's) can make typing messages much easier.

One of the most important considerations is your budget. How much can you afford to spend each month? Even low cost plans can start to get costly if a lot of additional features are added to the basic plan such as text messaging, picture messaging, Internet access, and any of the myriad of downloads that are available from ring tones to games to the latest news and sports scores.

Optional insurance on a phone also adds to monthly costs. Depending on the wireless company you use, the monthly phone insurance cost is approximately four to six dollars. Insurance may be a good idea if the phone isn't always going to be handled with care or if it is a picture phone, because one hard fall on concrete can ruin the picture-taking capabilities of a picture phone.

Take time to consider how many minutes you will realistically use. Although the charges for going over plan minutes can be costly (usually at least 40 cents a minute with the exception of some plans that allow for overages and charge a reasonable fee), most people don't ever get even close to using all their minutes each month. If you are not sure how many minutes you will use, choose a mid-range plan and closely track your minute usage for three months. Then adjust your plan accordingly.

If you are not a person that wants to commit to a one or two year contract, a pay as you go plan is probably the best option. There is no long term commitment and most of the major wireless carriers now offer a pay as you go package.

Another big consideration is coverage. Some of the major carriers do not have good coverage in some areas so also check with the local and regional companies in your area to see what their coverage areas are. Probably the best way to find out how good the coverage is in your area is to talk to family and friends who already have cell phones. Ask them what their reception is like and if there are any areas where it is so poor that conversations are nearly impossible. Also ask how often they have dropped calls. Those pieces of information will give you a good idea of how good the coverage really is in your area.

Once you decide on a company, a plan, a phone, and your contract is signed; use the fifteen or thirty day return period that many companies now offer to use your new phone in all the areas you will most often use your phone. If the phone does not work well in those areas, do not be afraid to return the phone and try a different carrier. Be aware that even though coverage areas are quickly getting more expansive, there are still areas that do not have very good coverage no matter which carrier is chosen.

There are lots of phone choices available. Many plans offer decent quality phones for a nominal cost or for free with the contract commitment. Phones can be free or cost several hundred dollars. Shop around. Try out phones. Get a phone that you like and can easily use. Many people overbuy on their phone. They want all the latest features and gadgets but hardly ever use them. For instance, picture phones are very popular right now but most people who have a picture phone hardly every use it. Do not let an overzealous salesperson talk you into the latest and greatest phone unless that is what you want.

In the end, the choices are yours to make. By doing some planning, research, and by shopping around before buying, you will be able to make an informed decision based on your needs, wants, and budget; and will have a plan and phone you are comfortable with.

Can Cell Phones Harm Your Health?

2005-11-20T13:22:00.001-08:00

It seems like everywhere a person goes there is at least one person in view with a cell phone to their ear whether it is on the road, in a store, in a parking lot, walking down the street, etc. Even in places where cell phone usage is banned such as concert halls or movie theaters there is the occasional offender, or more likely, at least a few people using the text messaging feature on their phone.

Cell phone usage has exploded over the past decade and continues to rise. Nearly two hundred million people in the United States have cell phones and there are well over one billion users worldwide. That means there are a lot of phones sending their frequencies over the airwaves at any given time.

Concern has arisen over whether or not cell phone usage can harm a person's health. Brain cancer rates in the United States have risen since cell phones were introduced, leading some people to wonder if cell phone usage is the reason for the increase.

There have been reports of people developing brain tumors in the exact same spot where they held their cell phone. Some studies have expressed concern over long-term cell phone use, believing it can lead to a person to develop cancer. That is not to say a person who uses a cell phone is going to get cancer, but some studies suggest long-term use increases a person's risk.

Things may not be all gloom and doom however. A large study done in Denmark with almost a half million cell phone users showed no increase in cancer for cell phone users.

Yet, other studies have concluded there is a greater risk of cancer but only with analog phone users. Some other studies conclude that any type of cell phone usage can raise a person's risk for developing cancer. There are a lot of varying opinions on the subject. According to the FDA, available data does not show there are definitely health problems associated with using wireless phones, but the information goes on to say that there is also no proof that wireless phones are completely safe either.

What about cell phone usage is causing the concerns and the numerous studies to be done? Cell phones emit radiation when they are used. The levels are low and are the same type of radiation as a microwave oven emits but in much smaller amounts.

It has been suggested that using hands free sets can alleviate the problem of the head being exposed to the radiation. Again opinions vary. Some studies say it does not decrease the amount of radiation exposure at all. Other studies say it significantly decreases the amount of radiation exposure.

Some people say the biggest danger with cell phones isn't from the either real or perceived potential to develop cancer, but from inattentiveness while using the cell phone. How many of us have seen vehicles driving somewhat erratically down the road and then see when we get near the vehicle that the driver is talking on a cell phone. It is a proven fact that a driver on a cell phone is less attentive and more likely to get in an accident. And, hands free sets aren't the answer that some people may believe. Yes, they free up both hands for driving and prevent a person from getting a sore arm, but the driver's mind is still occupied with the conversation and therefore less attentive to what is going on around him or her on the road.

Even people who are walking and talking on a cell phone at the same time can put themselves in more danger because they are not as aware of what is going on around them.

All the conflicting reports make a person wonder what they should do. The good news is that more comprehensive studies are being done to see if cell phone usage does or does not cause cancer. At the same time, manufacturers are working on new processes that will decrease or even possibly eliminate a person's radiation exposure. Until more definitive answers are given, a person may want to avoid talking on a cell phone for several hours every single day, but a person probably does not need to feel like they should have to give their cell phone up. It is still a great tool.

The advice about driving and talking on a cell phone is the same as it has been though. A person should pull over in a safe area out of traffic before engaging in a cell phone conversation.

Home Computer Security

2005-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

This is a paper about securing your home computers and networks.

The goal of computer security is to keep unauthorized users from using your resources. This can be anything from your computer to your printer or even your web camera. Detection is another important aspect that should be monitored as well.

I often get asked "Why should I worry?"

Maybe you shouldn't. If you are concerned about any of your files or the possibility of losing them you should care. There is also online banking that many people use to watch their accounts. Malicious users can also use your computer to launch attacks against other networks, or put files on your computer as a means of storage. Even if you have the computer just to send email to Grandma don't think that you are not at risk. Attackers like to hide there tracks by jumping thru multiple locations such as your computer. Malicious users can take over your webcam and watch and even listen to you!

Attackers like to use multiple systems to launch denial of service attacks-sending tons of packets to bring a network to its knees.

Identity theft is huge right now. Your credit report should be reviewed frequently. Identity thieves can gain allot of information from your home computers. FTC said there are approximately over 10 million victims a year. If your ID is stolen or think it is visit www.consumer.gov/idetheft. Never send out your personal information in email it is not secured.

The risk is getting greater daily as more people connect to the Internet. Script Kiddies download tools that make breaking into computers as easy as pressing a button. Security patches are offered thru vendors but most people do not bother to patch there systems or have the time.

Do people in your household use file sharing programs? I cannot believe the amount of Spy ware and viruses that are hidden in some of those files. I removed over 600 different Malwares from a home computer who thought they were just downloading music. The system was always freezing and changing homepages in Internet Explorer. Not to mention these file sharing programs can be sharing your financial data, medical records, secret recipes or your last tax return.

Key loggers can be on your system recording every keystroke and emailing it to an attacker, enemy or even your spouse. This includes IM's, Emails, and passwords anything.

There are Anti-Virus software that will detect most of these programs.Anti-Spyware can also detect allot of MalWare or malicious code.

Use strong passwords that are alphanumeric or use a password strength tool. I would not use anything in a dictionary American or Foreign as those can be cracked easily thru Brute Force.

Don't use the same password for every account. Change your passwords regularly, and don't write them down.

I recommend making regular backups of at a minimum your critical system files. Back up to a CDR to ensure that your data cannot be overwritten.

Please monitor your children's surfing habits and teach them about the dangers of the Internet. I recommend installing filtering software to keep their curious minds out of the wrong sites.

Staying abreast of Anti-Virus updates.

Don't upon email attachments that can contain viruses or other malware.

Don't run programs if you don't know where they came from than can have Trojan horses. Trojan Horse is a program that appears to be a regular program such as Solitaire buts its actually sending your bank account information to an email address. Attackers can also take over your computer have .mp3 file ran at 3AM in the morning to scare you, even open and close your CD-DRIVE door.

Disable JAVA, JavaScript and Active X

Keep up to date on patching your operating systems and applications. In Windows you can set up automatic updates. You can also visit the Windows Update site.

Microsoft releases patches even second Tuesday of the month this is known in IT as black Tuesday, there is always allot of patches. Upgrade to Service Pack 2.

Internet Explorer always has security issues. There are Open Source browsers like Firefox http://www.firefox.org which is a great browser and has more security feautures. Firefox has allot of great add ons as well that can make researching more effective amongst other utilities

Disable scripting in email

Enable NAT Network Address Translation on your router. This will hide your private IP address from the Internet. While still allowing computers to access the Internet. Most network firewalls have IP NAT masquerading where multiple device on the Internet appear as one IP address.

Make sure you are not enabling shares on your computer for any of your drives. This will look like a hand holding a drive in Microsoft Windows.

Be aware of Phishing these are Internet Con-Artist looking to catch a some fish. Emails are sent that look like Bank Emails, Amazon and PayPal, it amazes me how many people I work with think its the real thing.

If your considered about security consider encryption. For Home users look into PGP or Pretty Good Privacy to secure your email, you can even encrypt your hard drive.

When you think you have deleted your files they are still retrievable consider a file wiping utility.

Use a Surge Protector.

No firewall can stop all attacks.

Benjamin Hargis CEO

Phuture Networks

http://www.phuturenetworks.com

Blog: http://phuturegenius.blogspot.com

Choosing A Digital Camera Printer

2005-11-20T13:20:00.000-08:00

There are so many types of digital camera printer on offer that finding the right one for your personal and business needs can be a very daunting task. However, there are a few main points to consider when choosing a digital camera printer that will help make the process a little easier.

It isn't necessary to have a high-resolution digital camera printer to make great pictures. The higher the printer resolution you use, the more pixels you'll need in your original image file to produce a decent size print with your digital camera printer. The actual file size (in pixels) of the image from your camera, divided by the printer resolution (in dots per inch), determines the final print size. So, if the image file size is 1,478 x 1,280 pixels, and you print the file at 163 dpi with your digital camera printer, the final print size will be 9 x 7.8 inches.

If your digital camera printer resolution is 300 dpi, then you will have a higher resolution with more dots per inch laid down on the paper but a smaller print size. It is therefore important to ensure that you have the image file size to support the resolution of your digital camera printer.

The price of a digital camera printer is lowering whilst the quality is increasing. If you choose the right digital camera printer you can have your own photo lab, greeting card designing and sign making department with just your digital camera, some software and a printer.

The aim of having a digital camera printer is to produce photographic prints that look as close to real photographic prints as possible. This type of digital camera printer was once very expensive to buy and run, but technological advancements and competitive pricing have made them much more accessible to the average buyer. Ink-jet printers are now available that can produce excellent prints and a near photo-quality printer is much easier to find for people with a small budget. You will probably want to have a digital camera printer with a scanning feature built-in. If you want to produce same-size scans of photos you don't need scan resolutions higher than 300 samples per inch for the scanner.

Your digital camera printer should also have the same interface that you already have on your computer. So if you have USB, then get a digital camera printer with USB, a Firewire printer if you have Firewire or a SCSI printer if you have SCSI. There should be no need to buy a digital camera printer that requires a different interface to the one you already have on your computer or it will cost you more to upgrade if necessary.

Stopping Spyware From Stopping You

2005-11-20T13:19:00.000-08:00

Spyware can be a real time waster. It makes its way onto your machine, usually without you knowing it, and eventually becomes a problem which causes you stress, costs you time and money and possibly leads to even worse consequences if not dealt with quickly. Learning how to eliminate spyware before it becomes a problem is critical for every computer user today.

Spyware is written with the intent to intercept or take partial control of your computer without your informed consent or knowledge. While the name suggests it is created to simply spy on you, spyware also refers to software that subverts the operation of your computer for the benefit of someone else. While the motivations of those who write software like this is beyond the scope of this article, it is important to at least understand that spyware certainly does not exist for your benefit and you should take regular steps to remove it.

By using a simple spyware scanning program, detection and removal of spyware is generally a quick and painless process. Instead of waiting for the results of spyware on your computer to become a problem, run a spyware scanner at a regular schedule to find and eliminate spyware software that has found its way on your computer. It typically is something you can start and leave running on your computer without any intervention on your part. If you look at it this way, keeping your computer safe, and operating at its best shouldn't take more than 5 minutes of your time a week!

New spyware is created constantly and your spyware scanning software should have a simple way to check for updated information to detect the latest threats. Again, this process is usually automatic and should require very little intervention on your part. Be sure to choose the option to check for updates in your spyware scanner before you scan your computer. This simple two step process will help ensure that you are always free from the latest threats.

It is unfortunate that it is necessary to deal with threats like spyware, adware, viruses and Trojan horses, but it is a simple reality. Fortunately there are excellent programs out there that will work to protect you from these threats and allow you to focus on the fun, enjoyment and utility your computer should offer you. By taking a few, regular steps to maintain your computer you will keep it running better longer. Just like a well-maintained car.

Disc and Data Recovery

2005-11-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

Data Recovery is probably the last thing on anyone's mind when they buy a computer. Most of us never think something will go wrong until it's too late. Data recovery or Disc Recovery services is something we hope we will never have the need for. Whether your computer simply crashes or you accidentally delete software that is important or imperative to you, it may seem that your information is lost for good. Although, if you have quality data recovery software already in your system or on your computer, you should feel good in the fact that it has backup, even though things like this can and will happen at times. This can be extremely important for you state of mind and well being when it comes to safeguarding your personal or business information and software.

What many don't understand is that there are numerous reasons things can go wrong on their computer. Whether it is your own personal computer you are responsible for, or a large business computer system, having a method of restoring the information when things go wrong can be of the utmost importance. Your computer could run slow or be packed full of non efficacious adware and spyware that can ultimately destroy your important files, siphon and transfer personal data, this could cause a computer crash. In a blink of an eye, everything that is important to you could be gone. Storms can cause Power surges quickly and without much or any advance warning, that could be all it takes to lose everything.

These are not the only ways you can lose the data that is stored on your computer. Most people think this will never happen to them, it's human nature. So what do we do? Nothing, which means you could lose everything. Disc recovery is an absolute must to avoid these things from happening. Disc and Data Recovery is very easy to install and use and can be virtually self maintaining. So why doesn't everybody take advantage of data recovery? It could be the expense, but it doesn't cost much, more likely they just don't understand the importance or simply don't think about it at all until it's too late. Data recovery is quite possibly the most important thing for computer users. Don't get caught without it!

How to 'Download' Your Old Computer to the Highest Bidder

2005-11-06T17:16:00.001-08:00

When you think trash, you surely don't think about your old, trusty personal computer. But that's exactly what will become of it when you make the inevitable move toward your next laptop or desktop. And, yes, buying a new computer is inevitable, considering the pace at which computer technology zips along. Just think--about a handful of years ago, a fast microprocessor for a laptop was at 233 MHz. Now you're looking at about at least 2 GHz! That's Giga, with a G.

So eventually, you will want a computer that can handle the latest software, the latest games, and the latest interactive Web sites, and then you'll have to throw away your old computer, right? Wrong. Try selling your used computer instead. Throwing out your computer is one of the worst things you can do. For one, your computer may be useful for someone out there, even if just for scraps.

Trashed computers and other digital equipment also make up one of the fastest growing, and most dangerous, new trash "categories" out there in your neighborhood landfall. On one hand, computers are generally bulky and made of plastic and other materials that won't be breaking down in a landfill for the next few million years. What's more, other materials in your old computer are highly toxic to the environment, like mercury, lead and cadmium. They're so toxic that their actually name in the waste-management field is "toxics."

You don't have to be a techie or a scientist to understand the danger in that--nor the benefits of selling your computer. On the Internet, there are a vast number of auction and classifieds sites, some better than others, where you can "download" you computer to a worthy buyer.

Before you boot up your replacement laptop or high-performance PC, however, be sure you read and compute the following tips. These tips will help you avoid the crashes and shutdowns that befall the computer seller who doesn't do his homework first.

Hold onto all of the operating system and software manuals that came with your old computer. This will add value to your sale, not to mention it will make you a trusted seller for offering up these helpful books to the buyer.

Erase all personal information from the hard drive. And we're not just talking about simply putting stuff in the "trash bin." It's extremely important to purge all data from your computer's memory repository, even from invisible backup files on the hard drive. If you're not sure how to do this, ask your IT expert at work or a techie friend for advice. You don't want the next user to have access to your bank accounts, old e-mails, and other private info, do you?

Uninstall any application from the hard drive that you'd like to use on your next computer, keeping the installation disk and the software serial number for yourself. When it comes to software, the manufacturers made sure that you never really own software, you license it. So you don't get free reign to keep software on multiple computers. You only get one license, so you need to bring your licensed version with you to your new computer.

Do your homework on your computer's worth. Just like you would for a car, check around at other classifieds and auction sites to see what other people are selling your make and model for.

Be sure you want to truly get rid of old faithful. You may be able to repair your old laptop rather than buy a new $2,000 Centrino model. Or you may be able to add RAM memory and a new hard drive to your four-year-old desktop rather than invest in a new $3,000 multimedia masterpiece. In other words, do a thorough cost-analysis of what it would take to rebuild your old computer, versus what it would cost to sell it and buy a new one. And check your heart too. You might be surprised just how attached you are to your old faithful.

Once you go through these steps, you are prepared to make your move and sell, sell, sell. And then, of course, you'll be ready to start on a whole new list of steps--for buying a new computer. But that's a topic for another article!

Spyware and Adware - what it is and how to get rid of it

2005-11-06T17:16:00.000-08:00

Perhaps you're wondering what spyware and adware are. Many folks hear about one or both and have that question. We'll answer that here and give you some tools to rid yourself of both.

Spyware Remover

Spyware & Adware are files that are installed on your computer, even if you don't want them, without you knowing it! They allow companies to monitor your Internet browsing patterns, to see what you purchase and even allow companies to inundate you with those annoying "pop up" ads! If you've downloaded some music, files or documents and suddenly started seeing annoying ads popping up on your screen, you could definitely be infected with SpyWare or AdWare!

SpyWare Remover will scan your PC Absolutely FREE and let you know if you have any files that are infecting your PC.

Spyware Remover's Instant Download stops the chaos caused by installed Adware and SpyWare, protecting you and your PC with their easy to use tools. Is your PC running slower than usual? Are you getting pop-up ads and do not know where they are coming form? Other consequences from Spyware:

- hijacked browsers - reset home pages - changed search results - spam emails sent to you - slow browsers - toolbars added to your browser and many more....

Spyware Nuker

Spyware Nuker is so confident they will be able to locate the SPYWARE and ADWARE on your PC, that if they cannot they will give you their POP-UP BLOCKING software FREE of CHARGE! Did you know that SPYWARE is the number one threat to personal computing? 9 out of 10 PCs that are hooked up to the INTERNET are infected with SPYWARE or ADWARE, and in many cases both. SPYWARE and ADWARE can ruin your expensive computer, and they can possibly lead to you being fired from your job or even divorced. People can also be sent to prison for what SPYWARE has added to their computer. There are hundreds, possibly thousands, of SPYWARE programs that allow people to monitor what you do online. Many spouses and employers secretly load SPYWARE programs onto PCs so that they can monitor everything their spouses and employees do online. These programs can record all of the following, and more:

* Every WEBSITE you visit * EMAILS you send and receive * CHAT ROOM conversion made * INSTANT MESSAGES sent and received * Every PROGRAM that your run * Every KEYSTROKE you type

Do you want to stop Spyware from taking over your PC? Then Spyware Remover or Spyware Nuker is just what you've been looking for. Stop ALL those annoying ads. Stop the monitoring of your every movement. Make your surfing experience a positive one again.

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Article Date: 05 November 2005

Article links: - Stronghold Network Systems, Inc. - - Spyware Remover - - Spyware Nuker -

How to Erase Hard drive Completely

2005-11-06T17:13:00.000-08:00

You definitely need way to erase your hard drive completely. Your hard drive is being used within your computer to record all the things that you are doing on the web? If you are worried about the websites that you have visited, the movies you have watched or the things that you have downloaded, you need an effective way to erase your hard drive completely.

But how?

Unfortunately, even reformatting your hard drive will not completely clean out your hard drive. You can still be at risk of this collection of data to be found and used against you. In fact, there are government agencies waiting for you to mess up so they can collect this data and use it against you. But, there are ways to erase your hard drive completely.

The program called Evidence Eliminator can help you by completely erasing everything that is located on that little black box inside of your computer. It will erase things so well that it can never be found again. No other method is available to do this type of work. If you are allowing yourself to be watched by your boss, government agencies or even your friends and family, then you are at risk of being put in jeopardy.

Even authorities with a microscope can not recover files that were once on your computer once you use Evidence Eliminator. With this easy to use bit of software, you will never have to worry again about your privacy and whatever you are doing on the web. Become safe again with the use of Evidence Eliminator.

Top 10 Ways To Protect Yourself From Computer Viruses

2005-11-06T17:11:00.001-08:00

As more and more people are becoming comfortable using their computers at school, home or in the office it's only a matter of time before they encounter a computer virus. Here are our top 10 steps to protect you from computer viruses.

Use a high quality anti-virus program. There are many different anti-virus computers programs on the market some of them are better than others. Look to reputable computer magazines or websites for ratings to help you find the one that matches your needs.

Always use your anti-virus software. Make sure your anti-virus software is always turned on and scanning, incoming and outgoing email messages, and any software programs you run.

Keep your antivirus programs up to date. Most programs come with a yearly subscription make sure you take advantage of the updates. More advanced programs allow you to schedule updates or full system scans for "off hours" like 2AM when you aren't likely to be using your computer.

Keep your computer up to date. From time to time operating systems fall victim to security holes or issue updates. Make sure you check periodically to make sure you are running stable up to date versions of your software.

Backup your data regularly. Most windows computer users keep their documents in the "My documents" folder. This makes it easy to back up all of your important documents. Make weekly or monthly copies to CD or USB drives.

If you use floppy disks or USB drives on public computers like your school computer lab, Kinko's, or even digital photo printing store make sure you scan them for viruses. Public computers are notorious for not being up to date and properly protected.

Be wary of email attachments. Treat any email attachment as potentially dangerous. Never open attachments from people you weren't expecting. Also be careful of attachments from people you know but weren't expecting. Many computer viruses replicate themselves by reading the contacts from an infected computer.

Use text email if possible. While HTML email is prettier and allows you more control over formatting it also can carry computer viruses. If you use text based email the only way to get a virus is by opening an attachment.

Use downloaded freeware and shareware files or software with caution. Try to download them from popular reputable sources that scan the programs before they are uploaded. To make sure you are safe scan the program before you install it on your computer.

Be wary of links in IM or instant messaging software. Don't accept invitations from people you don't know and never click a link from someone you don't trust, they can easily redirect you to another website that will try to install a virus on your computer system.

© Computers.6ln.com, All Rights Reserved.

Laptop's Hard Drives: Speed Also Matters

2005-11-06T17:11:00.000-08:00

Buying a laptop? Want to upgrade your old one with a new hard drive? Besides hard drive's space size for storing your applications, documents, music, movies and other data, you should also pay attention to its speed performance. If you want fast access to stored data on your laptop's hard disk, you should purchase hard disk with SATA interface, higher rotational speed and larger buffer cache size.

Buy Laptop with SATA Drive

Serial ATA (SATA) hard drives use less power, so they save your laptop's battery. But, they also enchase your laptop's speed performance. Most hard drives usually support ATA/66 (66 MB/sec), Ultra ATA/100 (100 MB/sec), or SATA (150 MB/sec) interfaces. The numbers refer to the maximum burst rate at which the drive can pass data to the system (66, 100, or 150 megabytes per second). SATA transmit data in a serially (in a single stream) as opposed to PATA or Parallel ATA which is commonly referred to as an IDE hard drive.

Check the Hard Drive's Rotational Speed

Don't forget to check the hard drive rotational speed! The hard drive rotational speed tells you how fast the drive spins its disks in revolutions per minute (rpm). A higher rpm means higher drive performance. A 7,200 rpm hard drive is faster than a 5,400 rpm or 4,200 rpm and gives better performance.

Larger Buffer Cache Size - Better Performance

Buffer Cache Size is a temporary data storage area used to enhance drive performance. When the computer requests data from the hard disk if that data is in the cache, there is a performance boost directly related to the speed of the cache. Larger buffer cache size usually results in better hard drive performance. Buffer cache size on the most of laptop's hard drives is usually 2 MB, 4 MB or 8 MB.

Power Supply Tips

2005-11-06T17:09:00.000-08:00

The power supply keeps things in your computer running smoothly. When they run well, you won't even think about them, but when things go wrong, it can become very annoying.

The power supply doesn't just run the power to the different parts of the computer. It needs to run different voltages to different parts, and besides that, it has to deliver them within a very tight range set out in the ATX standard.

Power supplies went through a phase of being extremely unreliable. This is because the actual parts are very cheap and standard and the profit margin in the power supply business is higher than almost any other computer part. The flooding of the market with poor quality power supplies led to lots of failures and complaints.

More recently, the problems in that sector have decreased, the general quality and build of power supplies has increased to a level where nearly any power supply will deliver what it claims it will and within specs. Most, but not all.

As with computer monitors, power supplies are one part that does not need to be upgraded very often. The only additions have come from SATA specific power plugs and the additional P4 plug in recent years and even those are not always necessary.

So what do you actually need from a power supply?

The most basic requirement is that its power output can match the power needed by the components inside your computer. Each part has its own requirement and its own maximums and minimums on what it needs. The claimed maximum power for each voltage are added together to give the power rating for the power supply.

The main power user in the computer is the CPU. Some Pentium 4 processors are known to gobble lots of power. Hard drives use some power too, but no more than 10W each, optical drives even less. The motherboard itself uses some too. The other major user of power are graphics cards.

As graphics cards have become more powerful, and with the advent of Graphical Processing Units (GPUs), which are like CPUs which are dedicated to graphics work, and situated on the graphics card, they can now use more power than a CPU. If you are running a very fast PCIe graphics card or a pair of them, you will need more power.

At the most basic a 300W power supply will be more than enough for most day to day use desktop computers, even if they have a small AGP graphics card. Only get more than 300W if you know you need it, or expect you will need it in the future after upgrades. 500W will more than suffice for even the most demanding system with 2 graphics cards, but it needs to be a reputable brand.

Enermax, Antec, Fortron and Seasonic are good names in the power supply business, you will not go wrong with their products. Even though there is a small price premium, the security in knowing that nothing will go wrong is worth it. Another power supply I like is the X-connect from Ultra. Each of the cables that come from the power supply are removable, so only the ones you are using need to be in the box. Very convenient and neat, as long as I don't lose the cables.

Pre-assembled computers are known for having the cheapest power supplies in them. As no-one really checks the power supply when buying they just put the minimum inside. These are usually fine, but will often buckle under the load of extra upgrades you may make. Bear in mind that you might have to upgrade the power supply when installing those new, really cool graphics cards.

So, keep these things in mind...
- Stick to major brands
- 300W only unless particularly needed
- Functionality before looks

Spyware versus Adware; the Difference Impacts Your Privacy

2005-11-06T17:08:00.001-08:00

Many people use the terms Spyware and Adware interchangeably. You shouldn't! There are important differences between the two. True, both terms refer to the act of tracking your computer activity, such as how long you visited a particular Web site.

However, the key difference is the intent behind how and why a business collects your information. Adware is commonly associated with pop-up advertisements used by businesses trying to sell you something. However, Spyware, the more malicious of the two, isn't trying to sell you, instead, it's trying to take something from you -- your credit card and social security numbers and bank account information. Some Spyware collects information about you and, if placed in the wrong hands, could be detrimental to your financial wellbeing and used to steal your identity. Adware is usually something you can see. Whereas Spyware often can't be seen, in fact, businesses behind Spyware don't want you to know they're lurking. Therefore, you may have a Spyware infection and not know it. One vicious Spyware is keylogging, a tool that hangs about in the background, logging your keystrokes, including account numbers and passwords you type on your keyboard, and then sends the information to the originating source.

Future of Spyware Spyware will only become more invasive with no concern for your privacy, regardless of what you want or think. Worse, no one piece of software will protect you from the above. Why? One belief is that there are far more research dollars being spent on developing Spyware than combating it, since the information derived from the former is more lucrative.

Protecting Yourself There are two methods to protect yourself, both are equally important.

1. Manage your computer usage behavior. If you download most anything for free - movies, software, music, etc., then you can anticipate being exposed to highly aggressive forms of Spyware.

2. Utilize anti-spyware software programs and a hardware firewall. Both help to fend off Spyware. Lavasoft's Ad-Aware se and Microsoft's AntiSpyware (Beta) programs are reputable.

Buying a Hard-drive - How Much Space Do You Need?

2005-11-06T17:08:00.000-08:00

For novice buyers of computers or of a separate hard drive, it's often hard to tell exactly how big you should go. Many people don't even have a good idea of what a "gigabyte" is or how much space there files will take up. How exactly do you figure out how much storage space you'll need?

If you already have a computer, this is actually an extremely easy thing to figure out. Right-click on your C: drive under the My Computer option, and select "Properties." This will bring up a little pie chart that tells you how much space you have and how much you are using. It will tell you in "gigabytes" or "GB", a unit of storage space. Once you've found out how much you're currently using, you should make sure that you get a hard drive that has at least a little more - you'll want at least 20-25% more than what you're currently using, just to allow yourself room to grow. If you're on the low end (under 20 gigabytes), you should get even more, mainly because newer programs will take up more and more space. What if you don't already have computer space to measure? It depends on what you're doing with it. If you're just using your computer for basic business functions (e-mail, typing, etc.) then you only need 20-40 gigabytes. If you're using it for games, you'll want as much as you can get. If you have more advanced business functions (such as graphics design), then go for at least 100 gigabytes or so. The most important thing is that you don't want to run out - if you do, you'll have to delete something or buy a whole new drive.

How To Protect Your Ebooks And Software From Being Stolen

2005-11-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

There are many systems that can lock your software or document, allowing you to control access to that file. But the problem arises with assuming that this will stop all theft. A well thought out, thorough protection system can deter theft, but it cannot stop it 100%.

An "unbreakable" protection system simply does not, and will never exist. If someone really wants your information, they can get it, even if it takes years of work.

SO WHAT'S THE POINT? WHY USE ANY PROTECTION AT ALL?

There is no 100% security guarantee in anything, but that's no reason to totally ignore protecting your intellectual property -- A thief can easily kick in your front door and rob your house, but you still lock the door. Locking the door is not 100% effective security, but we still do it. Why? Because it deters most potential theft and those who are more determined will have to work a bit to get in.

WHO SHOULD USE PROTECTION?

The big question here is, HOW VALUABLE IS YOUR INFORMATION TO YOU? Sensitive, proprietary or private information demands some sort of protection, otherwise transmitting over the net is not an option.

If your information is not free, then it's obviously of some importance. So, how much damage would it do to you if it were made freely available? What type of impact would it have on your sales and could you (or would you) absorb that without thinking twice?

Is a $14 Ebook worth paying for another service to protect it? Probably not, but it depends on the situation and target market. What about a $2,000 report? Does the price change the perspective?

Businesses protect their property. If you believe your information or software to be of a unique or proprietary nature, you should protect that information using some means, no matter how small.

Companies like Microsoft lose hundreds of millions of dollars due to software theft and fraud, yet they continue to implement protection measures in their software. I would guess that without any protection whatsoever the losses would be in the billions.

WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT?

Like I said, there is no 100% way to prevent every possible incident, but you can make it very difficult and less likely to happen. At best what you should hope is to provide just enough security to close obvious security flaws and discourage would-be thieves. But not so much security that it discourages honest users and customers.

PROTECTION OPTIONS

Here are some common protection schemes:

No Protection: Just distribute your information and hope for the best.

- Pros: No special process to access file which means less support issues.

- Cons: File can be passed around, copied, distributed and/or sold without authorization from the owner. Can't prevent access after chargeback or refund.

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General Password Protection: Simply requiring a predetermined password to install or register the file.

- Pros: Simple for customer or end user.

- Cons: File and password can be passed around, copied, distributed and/or sold without authorization from the owner. Can't prevent access after chargeback or refund.

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PC-Unique Password Protection: Generates a unique password based on the user's computer.

- Pros: Can't pass around the file since it is basically locked to one machine.

- Cons: Requires an extra step for registration; Customer cannot move file to another PC; If their PC crashes they will need another unique password; Can't prevent access after chargeback or refund.

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Delayed Registration: This requires a user to enter a second registration number a specific number of days after they first register the file. For example, after 90 days of use, they must enter a new registration number that they receive from you.

- Pros: It allows control over chargeback and refunds. The file will be disabled after the second registration period because you will not provide the second key to reactivate the file.

- Cons: Requires an extra step for registration; A user can request refund or chargeback AFTER the second registration period.

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Post-Purchase Activation: Requires activation by online server. After user purchases they are entered into an online customer database. They then install and register the file by entering their name/email or some data. The server confirms the purchase and then activates the software.This method is become more and more common with big name software.

- Pros: Can prevent unauthorized distribution of file since the file must be activated by the online server.

- Cons: User must be online to register file; Can't move file to a different PC; Can't prevent access after chargeback or refund.

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Active Password Protection: Each time user attempts to access file it checks an online server to confirm the usage rights and permissions for the user.

- Pros: Prevents distribution or copying of file; File Owner can revoke access to file after chargeback or refund; Access permissions can be changed and applied in real-time.

- Cons: must be connected to the net to register and/or access file; User may not be able to move file to another PC; User registration can be somewhat cumbersome and difficult for some customers.

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EVALUATING PROTECTION SERVICES

When looking to protect your digital information any protection system or service that you consider should have a few basic security bases covered.

For software and executables:

1. When opening the file, a protection system must not save or copy an unprotected version of the file to the windows TEMP directory or anywhere on your PC for that matter.

2. The system should automatically prevent password sharing and access by unauthorized parties. This will prevent the document from being passed around or distributed illegally since it can't be opened unless you are authorized.

3. It should have some method to revoke or cancel access for refunded or fraudulent users.

For PDF documents, providing adequate protection requires a bit more security as their are many more ways to obtain a protection free copy of the document.

Any PDF protection system must cover the three bases above, as well as:

* It must prevent emailing of file and exporting or extracting pages from file.

* It must prevent copying file and text to the clipboard

* It must prevent redistilling of the file and printing to PDF

* It must prevent unlimited, uncontrolled printing of file

* It must watermark all printed pages

* If using Adobe Reader, the company providing the protection service must be an authorized Adobe DRM provider.

WHAT ABOUT COST? IS IT WORTH IT?

Is $300 a year too much to protect your copyrights? Definitely not. Protection costs money, but if your business is making money then it's a cost of doing business.

Is it for you? I don't know. Selling a few low priced applications a month probably won't warrant any sort of protection, but if you generate a substantial income from your software or the information distributed is of a critical nature to your business, then you need to protect your intellectual "capital" at some level.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Personally, I believe that some level of protection should be implemented on any piece of software or document that is of any value to you. You should never mass distribute a file in an unprotected format. Otherwise you will be scrambling when you find someone misusing it... if you find them!

It's easy to listen to those that say "don't worry about it" (a common reply to the document protection topic) until someone is actually stealing from you. Then all you can do is worry about it, but it's too late really. The damage is done. You can't take something back once it's out there unprotected. No amount of legal threatening is going to phase someone in Prague who just doesn't care about your copyrights.

Top 5 Reasons To Go Wireless

2005-11-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

Wireless networking is 1 of the greatest new computer technologies in terms of convenience. If you're weighing the pros and cons of wireless before taking the leap, here are 5 to put in the "pro" column.

#1: No More Wires

Of all the reasons to switch your network to wireless, this is perhaps the most important. Wires are inconvenient, expensive, dangerous, and downright ugly.

No more wires across the floor improves the safety of your home, since it's easy to trip over exposed wires.

The average Ethernet wire doesn't cost much per foot, but it adds up quickly. To run wires between rooms or floors, you have to knock holes in the walls, which might not even be an option for renters.

Plus when you move you don't have the mess of disconnecting all the wires only to re-connect them at the other end. Nor do you have to examine every wire for damage if your internet connection goes down.

#2: Internet Access For All

Wireless networking gives you a cheap, easy way to share 1 internet connection among multiple computers. You can add new computers to your network simply by plugging in a wireless card and switching them on -- they get an internet connection immediately!

#3: Share Files And Printers

A wireless network gives you access to your files wherever you are, and makes it easy to synchronize the data of a laptop and a desktop computer. It's much easier to send files between computers with a wireless network than by email, or CD.

Plus, with the printer connected, you can also write things wherever you happen to be, press print, and go collect them from a printer connected to another computer. Printers plugged into 1 of the network's computers are shared by all the computers automatically.

#4: Always ON

Broadband revolutionized networking with internet connections being continuously connected -- no need to dial in every time. Wireless networking lets network connections be always-on, so any of your computers can connect to the internet whenever you want. Take laptops from room to room or out on the deck -- they'll have an internet connection. Plus, there's no need for excessive password entry.

#5: Freedom!

With wireless networking, you can even take your computer wherever the signal reaches. Going wireless is much like the switching from the old fashioned wall-mounted telephone to a cellular phone. The freedom is exhilarating.

Data-Recovery: What You Need

2005-11-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Data recovery is something we hope that we will never need. Whether you simply make the mistake of deleting important software or you lose it all in a computer crash, that valuable asset of information may seem like it is lost forever. But, if you have complete and quality data-recovery software on your computer or through your system, you can be confident that it has a backup and it is there even though these things will happen to you. This can be so important when it comes to safeguarding your business or your personal information.

What people do not realize is that there are a number of ways that things can go wrong on their computers. Whether you are responsible for the computers of a large corporation, a small business or even just your own personal computer, having a way to restore information when things go wrong is quite important. Here are some things that could happen to you, well, anytime, even right now. Your computer could be running slowly or be loaded with powerful spyware that can destroy files, transmit personal data or, even worse, cause the computer to crash. All of a sudden, it's gone. Or, you could be working along nicely without a care in the world and bam! A power surge, an electric storm or something else electrical happens and it's all gone.

There are many more ways in which you can lose all of the personal data that is stored on your computer. You don't even have to have the programs running to lose it. Nevertheless, many people mistakenly believe this will not happen to them and therefore do not do anything to prevent this total loss. Data recovery is necessary for this not to happen. The strange thing is, it takes only minutes to install and use and it virtually and it takes care of itself. It is not overly costly either. So, why don't more people use data recovery? They just don't realize its importance. And that is one mistake we don't want to make. Data recovery is a need all computer users have.

How To Find The Perfect Images Online

2005-11-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

Has this ever happened to you?

You need a photo for a website, brochure, flyer, or CD / DVD cover.

You buy one of those 100,000 photo and clipart collections on 10 CD-ROMs hoping to find the "perfect" picture, but after hours of searching you find your brain tired, your mouse hand numb, and no "perfect" photo in sight.

Fortunately, the photo and clipart business got a lot smarter online, and anyone who ever needs good photos at rock bottom prices stands to benefit.

Buying one of those mega-photo collections to find one photo rates about the same as buying an entire aisle at the supermarket in hopes of finding a single Snicker bar!

Personally, my shelves hold over 2,000,000 photo and clipart images on over 100 CD-ROMs, most of which rate quite useless to me.

To further complicate matters, photo collections on CD-ROM tend to go out of date.

Many of the photo collections I bought in the mid-1990's contain photos of people from the 1980's, so the hair, clothes and even makeup look out-of-date.

The solution to this dilemma lies in the fact that you can now buy photos online at bargain-basement prices.

Previously, in order to buy photos online, you either joined a membership site, which charges a monthly fee, or you bought by the photo from sites charging $100 or more for one photo.

Do a search on google.com for "royalty free photo," "stock photo," or "buyout photo" and you'll find plenty of websites offering photos at premium prices (not to mention the confusion of finding what you want).

Two excellent options for buying photos and clipart are ClipArt.com and BigStockPhoto.com.

Clipart.com charges a membership fee to browse their database and download images.

Their best deal is the yearly subscription of $169.95 (equates to about $15 a month) with unlimited downloads.

This represents an excellent option if you plan to use a large number of images over the year, but I found the actual photos (they also carry clipart, sounds, illustrations and more) about average.

At BigStockPhoto.com I found the photos much more compelling and dramatic than ClipArt.com.

I also like the fact that BigStockPhoto.com lets you buy only the photos you want by purchasing credits instead of paying for a membership.

You can buy a single photo for $2.50, but the price per picture goes down when you buy multiple credits (10 gives you the first price break).

Whenever you buy images, carefully read the fine print in the license about how you can and cannot use the images, especially for commercial purposes.

It does you no good to buy an image you can't use. Beware of "free" clipart and photo websites, they can often display images of dubious origin.

Also, free clipart sites frequently carry tons of banner and pop-up advertising (along with some more sinister spyware applications that install themselves automatically on your computer).

Regardless of why you want them, buying images online now rates much better than buying a huge clipart collection and hoping to find what you need.

And, by purchasing only the pictures you need, you'll save yourself significant time and money in the long run.

Free Gadget and ultra cheap PC Offers

2005-11-06T17:02:00.000-08:00

You've probably seen the ads for "low cost" PC's - "PC's for $199" - or even "free" computers. If you're in the market for a personal computer, the you should know that "free" doesn't always mean free. Very often, certain conditions and restrictions found in the fine print of advertisements for "free" or "low cost" PC's can turn a so-called deal into a big ticket buy.

"Free" or "low-cost" PC offers often require "bundled" Internet service contracts, which may last up to three years. In return for signing up for Internet service, you can get as much as a $400 rebate on the computer purchase. While some of these offers can be good deals, many are not as affordable as they may seem. Frequently, important details about the rebate and Internet service offer are difficult to ferret out because they're left out of the advertising or buried in the fine print.

Up-Front Costs To get a "low cost" PC, you may have to pay the full cost of the computer up front - that is, the total price without any rebates. If the PC is advertised for $199 after rebates, you may have to pay $599, plus any sales tax and shipping charges, and then send for the $400 rebate.

Usually, you have to apply for the rebate in writing, mail in documentation of the sale and then wait - sometimes months - until you receive your rebate check. Sometimes "instant" rebates are offered and you can get your deduction immediately. But some offers allow you to spend the rebate only on other merchandise from the manufacturer or retailer, meaning you still have to pay the full price for the computer.

Internet Access When you buy a "free" or "low cost" computer, you often have to sign up for three years of Internet service at $20-$30 a month - a total cost of up to $1,000 for three years. Technology is changing at a dizzying pace. It's possible that the three-year Internet service you lock in today could be out of date in six months or a year. And if you'd like to cancel your service, you'll likely have to pay a substantial penalty.

If you decide to cancel your Internet service for any reason, chances are you'll have to pay back some or all of the rebate you received; you also may have to pay a cancellation fee of $50 or more.

If you don't live in a major metropolitan area, you may have to pay long distance telephone charges to access the Internet. Or you also may be able to use a "toll-free" (800, 888 or 877) number supplied by the Internet Service Provider (ISP), but you may be charged five or six dollars an hour to use their "toll-free" number. Whether you choose to use the ISP's telephone number or pay long-distance charges, your phone calls to access the Internet could add up to more than you'll save through the rebate.

If the PC offer requires you to sign-up for Internet service, ask the retailer and the ISP for the Internet access phone numbers closest to you. Then check with your local phone company to determine whether you have to pay long distance rates to use those phone numbers. You may want to consider another offer if the "deal" you're considering requires you to call long distance or pay a fee to access the Internet.

Other Costs It's possible that the cost of a monitor or other crucial system components may not be included in the PC offer you're considering. The advertisements for the offer may not be clear about what's included. If you have to buy a monitor, for example, plan on spending at least an additional $150.

When considering a "free" or "low cost" PC offer, ask the retailer about up-front costs, rebates, essential components, Internet access costs, long-term commitments, cancellation policies, local or long distance phone access and any other important issues. Details will help you make the deal that's right for you.

Purchasing Ink Cartridges

2005-10-30T13:43:00.001-08:00

There is something hard and difficult about finding the right printer cartridges for your specific needs. The good news is that you do not have to worry about where you can purchase them. You don't have to hope that the office supply store down the street or in your local mall will actually be carrying them. You will find the printer cartridges that you need right here on the web.

In order to know which printer cartridges you need for your fax machine, your printer, your copier... you need to know several things. For most computer printers, you will be able to find out just what you need in the way of printer cartridges when they are ready to run out. A message will pop up and telling you so. In fact, it may even tell you what type you need to purchase. But, if not, you can find this out by referring to your owner's manual.

What if you no longer have that owner's manual though? Many people mistakenly can't find it or they have thrown it away. There is no problem in this though, as long as you know what type of printer you have as well as what model number it is. This information is usually provided on the printer simply because they know you will lose it!

When the time comes to make the purchase on your printer cartridges, all you need to do is use the web to help you find it. You will find a wide range of products available and you may even be able to find some discounted printer cartridges out there as well. In fact there are some excellent opportunities for saving money on the printer cartridges that you need on the internet. You can find these by simply researching a few of the better websites that sell them. This is great news to all of you out there that hate spending money on those hard to find printer cartridges!

Converting Videos To DVD

2005-10-30T13:43:00.000-08:00

Technology marches ever onward and, as it does, it carries us right along with it. In the early 1980's, as VCR's dropped in price and appeared in more and more homes, there was a sudden mass appeal for people to have their old Super 8 home movies converted to video cassette. Video tapes last far longer than film and it just made sense to convert those old reels into a more watchable and compact format. People brought their movies of their baby's first steps, birthday parties, and weddings and turned them into video tapes. Not long after that, video cameras became cost effective for people to buy and those old super 8 cameras and projectors went the way of the dodo. People began using video tape for everything and the wedding video was born.

Technology has shifted yet again, folks. You may have noticed less and less video tapes at your local Blockbuster store. The medium is becoming extinct, replaced by DVD. Guess what? It's time to convert yet again. DVD discs last far longer than video tape, offer higher quality picture and sound, and can run longer than video cassettes. By converting your wedding videos to DVD you can ensure that the memories you saved will last even longer.

The process of converting your wedding video to DVD is not complicated, but to do it yourself you will need some special equipment. Obviously you'll need a DVD recording device and a way for your VCR to connect to it. If you have a DVD burner on your computer, you're halfway there. You will also need a way for your VCR to interface with your computer. Most computers do not come shipped with a way to do this. You'll need to install a TV card on your computer that has inputs that match your VCR's outputs. Most TV cards do have both RF and A/V inputs.

Next you'll need to record the wedding video onto the computer's hard drive. You may need special software to do this if your TV card didn't come with any bundled. Sony's Vegas Video is a good one, but there are a number of different titles available. Keep in mind that the video will take up a lot of drive space. In order for the video to be placed on DVD it will have to be in an MPEG format. Your video recording software should be able to save it this way. Once that is done, it's simply a matter of using your DVD burning software to transfer the video onto a DVD disc that you can then watch on any DVD player. The software will have instructions for doing this. Once the process (which can take some time, be warned) is complete, viola! Your wedding video is now on DVD and can be enjoyed forever.

If you don't have or can't afford the equipment and software to follow the preceding steps, fear not. There are companies that can take away all of the hassle and transfer your wedding videos to DVD for you, for a price. Whichever method you choose will have the same end result and you'll be enjoying your old wedding videos and other home movies on a new format that's built to last.

How to find Adware removal that is really free and avoid the pitfalls

2005-10-30T13:42:00.000-08:00

Many of the Adware removal programs marketed as free will turn out to have hidden costs when you read the fins print. Learn how to avoid the pitfalls and find Adware removal that is really free Really free adware removal programs can sometimes seem hard to find. You click on a link that promise really free adware removal programs, but end up on a site with programs that eventually turn out to have a lot of strings attached. You might only be able to try out the really free adware removal program for a very short time, such as a few days, before you must purchase an expensive version of the program. A few days is usually not enough to find if you are comfortable with you Adware removal program or not. Another disadvantage with this system is that when you purchase an expensive Adware removal program, you will most likely stick to that program even if the program becomes out-dated or a better program is offered on the market. In other cases, you can use the really free adware removal program for as long as you wish, but it turns out to be so basic that it offers very little protection from Adware. You are then encouraged to buy a better, but pricey, version of the program. Sometimes it is actually a really great free adware removal program that you are offered, but the updates cost quite a lot of money. Since all Adware removal programs need to be updated frequently to stay modern, this can turn out to be very costly in the end.

There are however examples of really free adware removal programs that are available for download online, but you might have to spend some time looking for them. Really free adware removal programs are seldom available off-line, since it would be too expensive to distribute them. Be vigilant when you choose a website from which to download a really free adware removal program, since there are a lot of dishonest sites offering fake adware removal programs. When more and more computer users began to protect their computers from adware with adware removal programs, the deceitful companies that gain from the Adware programs developed their own fake really free adware removal programs.

These fake programs are promoted vigorously on the Internet, and many computer users are lured into installing what they think is a protective. If you spend some time online, you will probably sooner or later stumble over a banner add that warns you about the dangers of Adware, or claim that your computer is already infested with Adware. You will be offered a great really free adware removal program, and if click on the banner your will be sent to a website. From this website you can download something that looks like a very good and really free adware removal program, but it is actually a fake. Your computer will not be protected from Adware when you use this fake adware removal program, and the fake adware removal program will probably also install Adware, Spyware and other types of Malware in your computer. You can minimize the risk of downloading a fake adware removal program by only downloading really free adware removal programs from trustworthy web pages with a good reputation.

7 Ways GPS Can Save You Time, Money, Your Mind, and Even Your Life

2005-10-30T13:41:00.000-08:00

Here are 7 ways to save with GPS:

1. Have a personal trainer at a fraction of the cost! Devices such as the Garmin Forerunner GPS provides a way to keep track of the time, speed, distance, and pace information for athletic activities. It also provides a way to measure the amount of calories burned based on a variety of customizable personal options and factors.

2. Save on Gas, brake wear, etc on your car as you drive more efficiently.

3. Find where you want to go faster: important business meetings, life events, but also to save your own time so you can use the balance to be with your loved ones.

4. Gain peace of mind knowing where your children are, whether your elderly parents have wandered off, or when and where your family pet has wandered off your premises.

5. Save money on your car insurance. Some auto insurance providers, in return for allowing them to implement GPS tracking devices on your car, can help you reduce your premiums.

6. Run a more efficient business with time tracking of employees and prevent lost company time and money.

7. And the most important reason is that GPS can help save your life from reckless driving, etc. Such as providing voice prompts when you are approaching your specific destination, warnings that you are going over the speed limit, advanced notice of potential accident blackspots, etc.

Two more bonus reasons on how GPS won't make a significant dent in your wallet

1. Don't have to worry about new models coming out every few months like the PC. 1 Decent model from Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance should last the typical user many years.

2. No monthly fees like internet, GPS Signals are free like radio waves. You just need a receiver. Advanced features such as tracking services are different (i.e. for your children, elderly, your valuable possessions, and your pets, and may cost a nominal monthly fee depending on the service provider and your needs whether commercial or private.

These are just some of the ways you can benefit it time/money savings as an individual. And just a few ways for you to get a good Return on Investment for your business.

Warnings/Caveats

Remember, that technology will NEVER subsitute basic common sense such as teaching your kids about personal safety, being a safe driver, etc. The best technology for all those starts within your own brain and senses. No matter what the big companies tell you, never let technology replace your own judgment but rather to complement and help refocus it.

Also just because GPS makes it simple to track your employees for instance, doesn't mean there are no human barriers to overcome such as the trust factor. It's important to explain to your employees in a manner that allows them to understand the business savings and benefits of incorporating such a tracking system, and is not designed to compromise their privacy and integrity. This applies to family members as well. If you think your family pet has issues with privacy then you may need to convince him/her if applicable.

Registry Cleaners: Why do you need one?

2005-10-30T13:39:00.001-08:00

The registry is the place where your computer stores the configuration information about your computer and your installed programs so that your operating system can use them.

Maintaining the registry is an important step in keeping your computer healthy. Registry problems can include slow performance, computer crashing, and the annoyingh Microsoft Windows error messages.

If any of these describes you as a computer user:

- Has old drivers on their system that have not been removed.

- Installs or uninstalls software very often.

- Have third party programs running such as Spyware and Adware (you can't stop these from being installed)

- Remove software by deleting them from the Program Files folder.

- Installs or Uninstalls hardware.

Then you absolutely need to be repairing your Microsoft Windows registry regularly! All of the above leave traces in your registry that will only hurt your computer in the long run. If you don't clean your computer to fix your registry than you are going to be in a whole world of trouble.

Make sure that you backup your registry before you try to clean or fix anything. Most registry cleaners have registry backup automatically for you, but be sure to check them out. Remember, don't try to edit anything in the registry yourself unless you are very computer savvy.

Why do you need a registry cleaner? Registry cleaners are important because it protects your PC from harmful processes. Is your computer slowing down for no apparent reason? Are you having errors that are not solved by your anti-virus or anti-spyware program? Your PC might be affected by applications that are running without your knowledge. Registry cleaners are a must! Registry cleaners ensure that your registry is clean.

Some errors are just a quick registry fix, while others could be more problematic.

If you keep your registry clean, free of viruses and spyware your computer will last much longer. Spend the time or money now for a registry cleaner to save you even more time or money later down the road.

If you are short on cash then there is a free registry cleaner available that I use exclusively. The program is called Error Nuker and it is a free ware registry cleaner. Error Nuker works on Windows XP, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT4, and Windows 2000. Microsoft Windows does NOT come with a registry cleaner.

Securing Your Network And Your Career With Cisco's CCSP Certification

2005-10-30T13:39:00.000-08:00

You don't need me to tell you that security is the #1 concern in today's networks. With that in mind, your career path must include some security certifications, or you will be left behind.

Cisco's Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) certification demands a candidate be well-rounded and well-versed in Cisco security measures. Besides the difficultly we've all come to expect from a Cisco exam, this five-exam path covers every major aspect of network security (from Cisco's viewpoint, anyway!)

You must hold a valid CCNA certification to earn your CCSP. Typically, the first exam CCSP candidates take is Securing Networks With Cisco Routers An Switches (SNRS), followed by Securing Cisco Network Devices (SND). After you've nailed these two exams, which obviously focus on devices more familiar to CCNAs and CCNPs, you'll be faced with three exams that are more specific to Cisco security devices.

Your PIX knowledge will be tested with the Securing Networks With PIX and ASA (SNPA) exam, followed by the Implementing Cisco Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) exam.

In October 2005, the final exam is scheduled to change from a VPN exam (CSVPN, Cisco Secure Virtual Private Networks) to Securing Hosts Using Cisco Security Agent (HIPS). If you're just getting started on the CCSP track, you'll be taking the HIPS exam. (Insert your own joke here.)

The CCSP is valid for three years; to recertify, you'll need to pass the 642-541 CSI exam or any CCIE written exam. As always, this is subject to change, and you should bookmark Cisco's Learning page (found off the main Cisco webpage) to make sure you're aware of the latest changes to Cisco certification and recertification requirements.

Not only must you know how to secure your network, you also need to secure your current job and the possibilities for your future. By pursuing and obtaining the CCSP, you will do all three at once.

COMPUTER BACKUPS

2005-10-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

COMPUTERS AND HALLOWEEN, DO THEY MIX?

Computer backup is so important to your computer that to ignore it is to risk its damnation.

Computers require care and feeding. They require that you attend to their needs. If you don't, then they will most surely be sent to Hell.

Halloween means Hell. What! What do you mean that Halloween means Hell?

Well, if your computer is given the option of trick or treat, which will it accept? Will it accept the trick or the treat? What do you think?

Halloween is the time that computers are subject to tricks or treats. Did you know that more computers fail on Halloween than any other day of the year? That's right. It's true (smile). Your computer is in danger! Protect it. Do your computer backups.

Back to the Hell thing. Hell you say? Yep. Well, what do you mean by Hell?

Computer hell is the place for computers without computer backup. The failure to perform hard drive backup means that you are playing Russian Roulette with your data. Data needs your protection. Failure to protect your data may cause your home or business records to be sent to Hell.

Hell in this instance is for the records and files that cannot be resurrected. Resurrected you say, what does that mean?

It means that without computer backup as a source of salvation then the files can safely enjoy eternal oblivion. Oblivion you say, what does that mean? That means they are eternally lost from computer resurrection.

Is there any mercy for my precious files, you ask?

Why yes there is. Would like to know what the mercy for your files is? Yes! Yes! You say.

OK boys and girls listen carefully. The salvation, mercy, resurrection and redemption of your files lies in regular and consistent and persistent computer backup.

If you backup your computer consistently and persistently your files will be resurrected and saved from accidental deletion, hard drive failure and those nasty things like fire, flood, theft, earthquake, hurricanes, tornados and the like!

Computer backup is the key to your data's salvation!

Do your computer backups boys and girls.

Milk and cookies will be served in the pantry.

Trick or treat for your computer backup?

******* Did You Enjoy This Article? ********

If so, go ahead and publish it on your website, blog or Ezine.

Kindly include the following Resource Box and notify the publisher Jack Back at Jack@tweakspeed.com when you publish the article. You may publish the article only if you do so in its entirety without change.

Jack Back has been a working computer consultant company owner since 1991. He started in IT in 1983. Now get your FREE 2 part guide on how to save your precious computer data from loss at the http://www.tweakspeed.com/Computer-Backup-1.htm website.

Getting The Most Out Of A Tablet PC

2005-10-30T13:34:00.000-08:00

What is a tablet PC, how is it different from a laptop and is it the right computer for you? To find the answer to these questions lets take a look at tablet PC's and how they work.

Tablet PC's were originally designed to put mobile computers in the hand of people working in the field. The people using them spent the majority of their time away from a desk and wouldn't have access to a keyboard or mouse. Users would make entries via stylus or digitizer. The lightweight and highly portable nature of these types of computers made them perfectly suited to field technicians and health care workers. These original models are known as slate tablets do to their distinctive one piece design. The entire computer screen and all was encased in one small unit, usually weighing 4 pounds or less. All of the units came with ports for connecting an optional keyboard, mouse, CD/DVD drive, printer, monitor or other computer peripherals. By choosing not to include all of these peripherals computer manufacturers were able to shave off pounds and lengthen the battery life considerably.

Many people were attracted to these new tablet PC's but still wanted a traditional keyboard setup. Manufacturers responded to consumers demand and the convertible tablet PC was born. A convertible tablet PC looks very much like a small notebook computer. Aside from the monitor it functions exactly like a traditional laptop computer. The monitor is attached on special hinge that allows the monitor to swivel, making it an extremely powerful tool for small customer presentations and demonstrations. The monitor is also capable of swiveling completely around and lying on top of the keyboard with its screen facing up. This gives it the appearance of the traditional slate tablet PC. Convertible tablet PC's traditionally have a larger viewing screen, larger hard drive, larger battery, and other accessories. These extras make it a much more powerful computing platform, but they also make it heavier and more expensive.

Is a tablet PC the right PC for you? The real question is how portable does you're computing lifestyle have to be? Do you spend a lot of time outside of a traditional office environment? Do you need to use a computer to record or makes notes while you're walking, or moving from place to place, if so a tablet PC is the perfect choice for you? For salespeople or business men who spend a lot of time traveling a convertible tablet is probably a much better option. It gives them more power, and more features, with a more traditional computer setup.

MPEG encoder for burning DVDs

2005-10-30T13:33:00.000-08:00

MPEG, or Moving Picture Experts Group, is a jointly working group comprised of the International Standards Organization and International Electro-Technical Commission (ISO/IEC) to standardize the coding of moving pictures and the associated audio in a digital compressed format.

MPEG-2 uses very sophisticated compression techniques to compress audio and video in order for it to be burned on a DVD. You can purchase and download hardware and software MPEG Encoders to burn a DVD.

MPEG-2 is the process needed to encode video and audio information for a DVD burner, by burning the information onto a DVD disc with time stamps. The process of an MPEG encoder for burning DVDs is done using codec's to encode the video and audio and save it in smaller pieces to be transformed into a frequency space and then quantized.

MPEG-3 is one of the discontinued encoding processes for digital media, and is often confused for MPEG-1 (what we know as MP3). MP3 encoding has quickly become the standard for digitizing music around the world, and listening to it on your computer, laptop or personal MP3 Player. Most people burn mp3 songs to CDROMS, however for digital archiving, some people burn the files to DVD as well.

To burn a DVD, you need a DVD burner, an MPEG Encoder, a blank DVD-R (recordable) disc and the audio and video that you wish to burn onto the DVD-R.

MPEG Encoders can be bought as hardware or software and downloaded to transform and compress your audio and video file into MPEG format so that it can be burned onto a DVD using a DVD Burner. The process itself is quite complex and took a team of specialists to perfect. However, the process is streamlined where you as the end user are only expected to follow short, simple commands by the software to burn your encoded data.

You can search the internet for a suitable MPEG encoder and also for a DVD burner that will best suit your needs. Your local computer shopping store will also have a variety of DVD burners with some expert advice on which products will best work for what information you are looking to encode and burn.

And lastly, when in doubt about which MPEG compression algorithm to use to encode your data, "google" it. Chances are that you are not the only person who has had a question regarding MPEG encoding and DVD Burning. By doing your research early, you can ensure your next burn will go smoothly!

Online Faxing: the next 'faxing' generation

2005-10-30T13:32:00.000-08:00

In the late 1990s, despite Adobe Acrobat render faxing obsolete, most people still depends a lot on the normal conventional fax machine. Rumors of the traditional fax machine's impending demise have been greatly exaggerated but nothing significant happens. 99% of the faxes were still coming in as paper form and people doesn't seems likely to make a switch to the virtual faxing service, or so call, online faxing. Self employed professionals were still there to bare the high cost for a fax machine and an extra fax lines.

Fortunately, with the rapid development in internet technologies, online faxing (or also known as internet fax, online fax, and virtual fax) had once again rise back as one of the hottest products sold on internet. As the internet users can gain numerous benefits by going with an Internet fax service; more than 30 billions of internet faxes had been sent out based on recent research.

With the online faxing services, one can send and receive faxes via e-mail, which means you can do it from work, home, or on the go, as well as view them online from your e-mail account whenever you wish. Faxes sent our or received can be in PDF format, Microsoft documents format (.doc, .xls, .ppt), CAD drawing format (.dxf) ,graphical formats (.gif, .jpeg, .bmp, .tif and so on) and the list goes on.

For another plus point, online faxing save a lot on the faxing expenses. No more expenses for extra fax line, or cost for fax machine, or cost for buying fax toner or any other extra money to maintain your fax line. All you need now is a PC which is connected to the internet.

The downsides are few. You'll need a scanner or an all-in-one printer in order to scan handwritten and signed documents into your computer before faxing them online. The printer doesn't need fax capabilities of its own, however; the online fax service takes care of that part. Some services charge by the fax, which can get expensive, though others include 100 or more pages free each month as part of the service fee.

There are probably more online faxing services available than you think, though not all are independent of one another. One of the well-known online fax products is eFax. eFax is part of j2 Global Communications, and its been used by millions of users. With subscription fees range from $0 to $19.95/month; you can receive faxes up to 200 pages for free; you can then send out faxes with a low price of $0.10/page; you get a local or a toll-free number; you get additional services such as voicemail-to-email services.

eFax is strongly recommended due to its low price; its technology reliability; as well as its reputable customer services. ther notable services include Electrosoft's 32-bit Internet Fax, ClickFax, MyFax, Send2Fax, and MaxEmail. For more info about internet faxing, visit this page: How Internet faxing works.. To download free eFax services from official eFax site, Click here.

Police Radar Calibration - The Old Bait And Switch Game

2005-10-30T13:21:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody, Richard Wallace here again with my latest article in the continuing series of articles. In this, the fourth article in the series, I am about to blow the lid off and truly reveal insider information on police radar calibration that will just leave you absolutely stunned and in complete disbelief. You will learn why I believe 3 out of every 5 speeding tickets has been written illegally or in error. Please read on. The Law Of Radar Calibration

Every state here in the United States requires by law, every law enforcement agency be it local, city, state or federal, to either annually or semi-annually send out every police radar unit in that departments inventory to an independent laboratory for a complete inspection and certification. The purpose of this is quite obvious; we want to be sure that every piece of police radar being used be in proper working order so that mistakes are not made and speeding tickets not issued in error or unjustly. Ok, so how does all of this work and why does it matter?

First, we want an independent inspection performed which will assure the integrity of the inspection. We do not want the police to police themselves, which is why state law requires an independent laboratory conduct the inspections. All states require the yearly or semi-yearly inspections. Secondly the law requires that each and every law enforcement agency deliver to any laboratory that has been government certified to conduct these inspections, their departments police radar units. Thirdly, the law requires that every police radar unit in that departments inventory be sent out within that states yearly guidelines. The majority of law enforcement agencies all across the United States fail to confirm to these standards as required by law. This is why I feel that 3 out of every 5 speeding tickets has been issued either unjustly or in error of some kind.

I Conduct A Survey...

In the summer of the year 2003 I began to conduct a survey of various local, city and state law enforcement agencies all across the United States. I interviewed either on the telephone or in person a department member of each of these law enforcement agencies, which totaled over 150 departments. The survey took months and months to complete but nonetheless it was finished late in 2004. The focus of this survey was quite simple actually; I was looking to find the answers to two questions in two subject areas. The first question revolved around finding out how many police radar units any given department had, followed up with did each and every radar unit get sent out for inspection as required by that states law. The second question was a follow-up question based on the answer to the first about the number of units any given department had in its inventory. What I attempted to elicit from the department official I interviewed was if that department sent an officer to court with calibration and inspection paperwork from a police radar unit that they knew not to be from the unit the police officer was operating at the time the speeding ticket he was going to court for was issued. The answers to these questions in these subject areas were just startling and left me in complete disbelief.

The Survey Says...

Out of the over 150 different local, city and state law enforcement agencies that I interviewed, I learned that 127 or the majority of these agencies had in their departments inventory police radar units that were routinely being used yet had not been sent out within the mandated annual or semi-annual inspection period. Further, 107 of these law enforcement agencies admitted that their officers went to court with calibration and inspection paperwork from a police radar unit that may have been different from the one they were operating when the speeding ticket they are now appearing in court on was issued. Many times I was told, the officers were not aware of what I called the "bait & switch" of the calibration and inspection paperwork. These officers would go into court and testify under oath that the paperwork they brought with them that day into court was in fact from the actual police radar unit they were using when they issued the speeding ticket that was the subject of the court case they were now testifying about. Let me explain how and what this information means to all of you who receive a speeding ticket and plan to fight back in court. This piece of information alone could be the one thing that makes your case and breaks the states case against you.

The easiest way to sum up what I learned from this independent survey was to just use my own police department as an example. Many of you are well aware that I am a retired police officer from the State of Connecticut with over 14 years of loyal and faithful service. I was forced to retire in 1996 due to a line of duty injury, which caused me a permanent disability. My own department had about 6 radar units in our inventory. We would send out 1 or 2 of those 6 radar units to be inspected and certified by an independent laboratory each and every year as required by Connecticut Law, yet we would use all 6 of those radar units all the time. Many of our radar units had not been sent out for inspection in years. If and when we had to appear in court on a speeding ticket matter, my department provided to me paperwork from whatever radar unit had been sent out for calibration and certification that year, even though it may have not been the unit I was using when I stopped the motorist for speeding who was now appealing his ticket in court. Oftentimes I knew I had paperwork from a different unit and other times I did not. As is the case in most states, it takes months and months for a speeding ticket matter to be brought up in court for trial and by that time many officers forget which piece of police radar they were using when they made that traffic stop and issued the speeding ticket. It is this reason most officers are unaware they are going to court with paperwork that may not necessarily be from the unit they were using many months ago. So just using my own department for example, if we only calibrated 2 out of the 6 police radar units in our inventory each and every year as required by law, then every speeding ticket issued with those 4 police radar units that were never sent out for inspection and certification were issued either illegally or unjustly, thus bringing me back to why I believe that 3 out of 5 speeding tickets issued every day in the United States was issued unlawfully. This "bait & switch" practice did not just occur in my own department, based on the survey I conducted it appears as though it takes places in the majority of law enforcement agencies all across the United States and most likely everyday.

How This Helps You Beat Your Ticket

Ok, so now we know the truth, that the majority of law enforcement agencies are unlawfully using police radar every day. What does this mean to you, the motorist or to you, the operator who has received a speeding ticket and wants to fight back? It means that you are know armed with true insider information that you can use to help you beat a speeding ticket that was issued with police radar.

Many of us have long suspected that the police do not play fair or by the rules, and the results of my survey clearly point this fact out. Let me tell you how we use this "bait & switch" against those law enforcement agencies who don't play fair or within the scope of the law. If you find yourself on the receiving end of a speeding ticket where police radar was used, the most important piece of information you need to obtain with your discovery request is a list of all models, makes and serial numbers of each and every police radar unit the arresting department has in its inventory along with the calibration and certification paperwork from each unit. You may be met with some resistance but you must be determined to obtain this important list. Seek the assistance of the trial court if you are having difficulty with the arresting law enforcement agency. The obvious reason you want this list is to check and be sure that this department has calibration and certification paperwork for each and every radar unit they have in the inventory. If you discover they have 20 pieces of police radar and only have calibration and certification paperwork for say 15 of those units, that means 5 of their radar units may or are being used in violation of state law guidelines. You want to bring this to the attention of the court. The point you want to make is to get the court to believe this law enforcement agency may have used a radar unit to stop and ticket you that had not been sent out for calibration and certification. You want the court to suspect the department may have used one of those 5 units unlawfully. This creates reasonable doubt in your case and you could easily win a complete dismissal of your speeding ticket.

As I have explained to you in my other three articles as well as in my book entitled "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets - How to Beat & Avoid Them!", if you are unfortunate to find yourself on the receiving end of a speeding ticket you must remember to remain calm, be polite to the officer, cooperate without admitting any guilt, and do not be afraid to use a good excuse or ask for a written or oral warning from the officer. And always appeal each and every speeding ticket because the odds are in your favor if you fight back and go to court. Over 50% of those who appeal their speeding ticket win in some fashion, be it a compete dismissal or at least a reduction in either the fine or points on their driving record.

For those of you who received a speeding ticket and police radar was used, you must follow my advice and first, appeal your ticket in court, and then request all calibration and certification records from each and every piece of police radar the arresting department has in its inventory. If you follow my advice as discussed in this article, you should be able to raise doubt if you have uncovered a department has not conformed to the calibration and certification laws in your state. You should also follow all of the tips, tactics and strategies I talk about In my book the "Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets." You should do your homework and prepare for your day in court. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need advice. You can contact me via my website or telephone number as found in the "Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets" book again which is available for purchase right here.

I hope you found this article both revealing and easy to understand. Thank you for taking the time and interest in the reading of my articles. May God bless us all and keep us safe upon the highways and byways.

Protect your self from Anti-Spyware frauds and download a genuine Anti-Spyware program for free

2005-10-22T18:50:00.000-07:00

Protect your self from Anti-Spyware frauds and download a genuine Anti-Spyware program for free Learn more about how to avoid getting bogus Anti Spyware, and choose a high-quality Spyware remover and download it online for free. There are a lot of different types of Anti-Spyware programs out there. You will not only have to decide whether you want a Spyware blocker or a Spyware remover or a program that combines these two features. You must also decide if your want to pay for the Anti-Spyware program or if you prefer a free program. When it comes to Spyware Removers, some are very expensive, some comes with a small fee and there are also totally free spyware removers available. Most computer users choose to begin with one of the totally free spyware removers available online. Some are lucky enough to find the one of superior totally free spyware removers available on the Internet today, and will stick with this totally free spyware remover. Other chose to upgrade one of the not-so-good but totally free spyware removers available, to an enhanced but more pricy version of the program.

By starting out with one of the totally free spyware removers available online, you can try out several totally free spyware removers to find out which one is most suitable for your. Totally free spyware removers available off-line is hardly ever heard of, since it would be too expensive to distribute them. Instead, the programs available on the market today is found online where you can download them directly to your computer - easy and convenient. Despite the enormous amounts of online advertising about this type of programs online, it can be hard to actually find a totally free spyware remover available online. When you read the fine print, you will usually find out the products marketed as totally free spyware removers available online is actually not at all totally free. Sometimes the program it self will be totally free, but the necessary updates costs a lot of money. Since all spyware removers need to be updated regularly to learn about new types of Spyware, such programs will soon turn out to be not-at-all totally free spyware removers available online. Other programs claims to be totally free spyware removers available online, but are only free during a trial period - sometimes for just a few days. As soon as the trial period is over, you will have to buy one of their not-at-all totally free spyware removers available online. The third kind of bad totally free spyware removers available online are those that are so basic that they offer hardly any protection at all against new and clever Spyware.

You should also be aware, not all sites with totally free spyware removers available online are run by sincere Anti-Spyware companies. When the public knowledge about the potential dangers connected to Spyware programs grew, the computer users started to install spyware removers to combat the Spyware. The companies that gain from Spyware countered this by offering phoney spyware removers available free online. These false totally free spyware removers available online will not at all protect your computer from Spyware. Instead, a lot of them will even install Spyware on your computer and start sending information back to their owner. False totally free spyware removers available online can seem great, but will actually do more harm than good once you have installed them. Always use a critical eye when you check out a web site that offers totally free spyware removers available online. Only download free spyware removers from web sites that you know have a good reputation.

A Brief Intro To VoIP

2005-10-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

If you have an ear open to new computer technologies, you are sure to have heard about VoIP. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an emerging set of applications which allows you to make telephone calls over the Internet. It is already starting to replace existing telephone networks, with some people and businesses opting to cancel their traditional phone line and use VoIP instead.

VoIP was originally developed to provide voice communication between computer users in different locations. Although it still has this application, it has been further developed into a telephone network in its own right. People using VoIP can call any telephone anywhere in the world and can receive calls on telephone sets connected to the Internet or Local Area Network (LAN).

Background

It all started back in 1995 when Israeli computer enthusiasts made the first computer to computer voice connection. In the same year this technology was developed into a software package called Internet Phone Software. All that was needed to talk to another computer user was a modem, sound card, speakers, and a microphone.

The software digitized and compressed the audio signal before sending it over the Internet in data packets. These voice connections could only occur between computers which had the software installed. The sound quality was very poor -- nowhere near the quality of standard telephone connections.

The technology continued to be developed and by 1998 gateways had been established to allow PC-to-phone connections. Later that same year phone-to-phone connections that used the Internet for voice transmission were set in place. These phone-to-phone connections still required a computer to initiate the call, but once the connection was established, the callers could use a regular phone set.

VoIP Today

There are currently many VoIP services available for residential and commercial use. Some of these still rely on PC-to-PC connections but may offer other services such as PC-to-phone and phone-to-phone.

Internet phones are available that plug into the sound card or USB port of a computer. These phones may have number pads and ringers that allow you to use them the same as traditional telephones. The computer can be bypassed completely by connecting a phone directly to a broadband modem (either DSL or cable).

How Does It Work?

The first step in using VoIP is converting your voice into digital data. This is done by 'sampling' your voice -- dividing the analog sound signal into discrete steps that can be assigned a number value. Once your voice is digitized, the data can be compressed.

This compressed digital data is split up into 'packets' of about 1500 bytes that can be transferred over the Internet. As well as the voice data, the packets contain information about their origin, their destination, and a timestamp that allows them to be reconstructed in the correct order. Once they arrive at their destination, they are reassembled and converted from digital back into analog so that the receiving party can hear your voice.

In order for voice data to be transmitted without noticeable delays, a broadband Internet connection is necessary. Many households and businesses are already using broadband (either DSL or cable) so adding VoIP is relatively simple.

GPS Vehicle Tracking

2005-10-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

GPS monitors have a multitude of legitimate uses, but have also generated controversy as they further diminish privacy. Some customers of car rental companies have complained that their movements have been tracked without their consent by the installation of GPS vehicle tracking systems in rental vehicles. However, the positive uses of this technology have, at least so far, outweighed the negatives.

Fitness enthusiasts use GPS tracking devices to measure distances remaining in marathons, and back-country hikers use them to prevent themselves from getting lost (or to facilitate rescue if they already are). Police can enforce restraining orders and parole conditions by stopping criminals from stalking victims and being in neighborhoods (such as near playgrounds) where they are forbidden. Lost and stolen vehicles can be located with the touch of a button. Parents can use GPS vehicle tracking to check on teenagers' driving habits to make sure these inexperienced drivers are not speeding or otherwise endangering themselves and their passengers. And GPS in-car navigation systems can guide drivers through unfamiliar terrain to their destination.

Information Loggers (Passive Tracking)

These basic systems are for companies or individuals who seeking a record of an asset's or even person's whereabouts during a given time period, without the ability or cost of real-time tracking. These are useful for fleet management.

GPS vehicle tracking eliminates moonlighting with company vehicles. It reduces accidents and lowers insurance premiums by promoting safe employee driving habits. GPS vehicle tracking creates reports of miles driven by each vehicle. Fleet management will reduce the company fuel bill and increase miles driven per gallon of fuel. Some GPS systems even have maintenance modules to inform the fleet manager when each vehicle is due for an oil change or tire rotation.

Real Time (Active Tracking)

This allows the user to watch the progress of the persons or assets travelling in real-time from their PC. This option is more expensive because of the costs of devices, programs and air-time charges for communication between the PC and the asset. It is used, for instance, by a taxi company to dispatch the closest available vehicle to a customer.

In Europe,some of the most popular in-car tracking systems are the Tom-Tom Navigator, Magellan Roadmate, Navman and Garvin. They range in price from five hundred to a thousand dollars, depending on what features are chosen by the user.

TomTom GO 300 offers the most easy-to use GPS system of travel planning throughout the UK. This award winning private navigation program is a portable, cable-less design that fits in any briefcase, handbag or even backpack. TomTom GO 300 is ideal for any car driver. It is easy to install, just plug in, switch on and drive away. There is no need for a PC link, in fact no technical knowledge is needed at all. It fits simply into the included car mounting kit, which is easily attached to the car dashboard or windshield. It is extremely easy to opertate: just turn it on and users can instantly access all the programs, maps and colour 3D navigation views, as well as voice-guided instructions in their chosen language. It has a touch screen interface to avoid fumbling with multiple buttons or extra devices while sitting in traffic. The touch screen is totally intuitive and the entire route can be planned with just a couple of screen taps. The features of this user-friendly system along with its relatively low price (around 700 dollars) has made it a hit with consumers.

Others, such as the Magellan Roadmate, are slightly more difficult to use but also come with a database of maps and local attractions such as restaurants.

In North American, the most popular brands are Garmin and Magellan.

Selecting the Right GPS Unit for Your Needs: Handheld vs Dash-Mounted

When selecting between a handheld unit versus a dash-mounted unit for your vehicle, consider whether you may want to use it for any other purpose, such as boating or camping.

Pros and Cons of Dash-Mounted GPS Units Advantages

Larger screens with better resolution which are simple to read at a glance even in poor lighting conditions More sophisticated models have features such route recalculation if the driver diverges from the planned route

Larger buttons for ease of operation while driving

Unit is securely attached to your vehicle to thwart theft

Some units have voice instructions that communicate distance, street names, and direction of the next turn thus keeping the driver's eyes on the road instead of on the screen

No batteries needed, runs off car battery

Address lookup capabilities

Some units have a individual address book to store locations for quick and simple search

Advanced mapping capabilities

Better reception outside the city

Boosts car resale value

Disadvantages

Difficult to remove from vehicle if you decide to use it elsewhere

Larger footprint in/on dashboard

Too large for use by bikers, kayakers or hikers.

More expensive

Hopefully this advice will help you find the best unit for your needs among all the different GPS vehicle tracking units available.

Create Your Own Download Links

2005-10-21T21:01:00.001-07:00

One of the great features of working with the web is the ability to download a file by clicking on a link. As most earthlings know, a link is most frequently visible as blue underlined text displayed on a website, or on an HTML email. Links can also be presented as hot spots on an image, or a button which can be clicked.

Sometimes when we click on links, we are magically transported to a new web page. Behind the scenes, we are actually receiving new files from a web server, and our browser software is "rendering" the files on our screen according to instructions contained in the files.

These new files could be served up by the same web server which served up the previous page, or with equal ease we could be receiving files from a totally different location, possibly from halfway around the world! Such are the wondrous ways of the web.

Other times when we click on links, we get a different experience. Our browser offers to download a file and patiently awaits our answer. When we accept and possibly tell our browser where to file the download, the web server sends the file to our computer and a download takes place.

The usefulness of this functionality is obvious. We don't always want to see the information painted on our screen, sometimes we just want to use it. Consider a spreadsheet file as an example.

If I want to share my spreadsheet with you, I can easily send it to you as an email attachment, but what happens if the file is too large? Chances are, your file attachment could hit a bottleneck somewhere in your, or your recipient's email system and may never deliver.

However, if I send the file as a download, email system bottlenecks are bypassed and the pipe is wide open. Here's how it works:

1. First, I upload my large file to a web server somewhere. 2. Then, I place a download link to that file in my email to my pal. 3. When he receives the email, he either clicks on the link or pastes it into the address bar of his browser. 4. He easily downloads the file. 5. He is incredibly impressed.

To do this, here is what you will need: 1. Rights to a web server to host your file - many web hosting companies offer this. 2. Software for uploading your file - for starters you can actually use Windows Explorer. 3. Knowledge of the correct "path", or URL which will allow your recipient to access the file. This should be available from your web hosting company.

The format of the URL will look like this: http://www.domain.com/downloads/myspreadsheet.xls Where "domain" is the domain you have registered for your use, which is targeted at a folder on a web server, which has a subfolder named, for example, "downloads". Your example filename, in this case, "myspreadsheet.xls" should match the actual filename exactly. Filenames should not have spaces or odd punctuations.

In case the above steps seem too intimidating or labor intensive, there is a software/webhosting package available called Personal FTP (www.poingo.com).

The software uploads your large files to your private webspace on the Personal FTP server, opens a new email, and places a download link onto the email, all in a few clicks. In addition, you get your own subdomain, which not only adds your identity to the link, but also enhances the reliability of the download.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

2005-10-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

When I observe most colleagues and friends working on their PC's they mostly use the mouse as they are unaware of the powerful Windows keyboard shortcuts that will make their lives so much easier. Some people might be aware of the keyboard shortcuts, but they are used to be working mostly with the mouse and old habits are hard to let go.

In this article I will take things step by step so you can learn the keyboard shortcuts that are required to navigate your way around the Windows operating system.

Let's assume your machine is starting up and due to a faulty mouse or some other related problem your system cannot be accessed with the mouse. A user that is not using keyboard shortcuts on a regular basis will be completely lost. Ok it's relatively cheap to replace the mouse, but what if you had to quickly perform a task that cannot wait until a new mouse is acquired or the problem is fixed?

Navigating the Start Menu in Windows XP

I will firstly explain how to launch an application without the use of the mouse and instead use keyboard shortcuts. Immediately after system startup if you are required to log in, type out your password and press the Enter key. Once the system have fully initialized you will be presented with the Windows Desktop. As an example we will launch Notepad. Follow the steps exactly as explained below:

Press Ctrl and Esc to show the Start menu or press the Windows Logo key. Now press the Up Arrow until you can see the selection rectangle moving upwards in the Start menu. Once the selection rectangle enters the Start menu press the Left Arrow to move to the left section of the Start menu. Then press the Down Arrow until "All Programs" is selected. Press the Right Arrow to expand the "All Programs" menu. Press the Down Arrow until "Accessories" is selected. Press the Right Arrow to expand the accessories menu. Now press the Down Arrow until the Notepad menu item is selected and the press Enter. This will cause the Notepad application to launch.

Armed with this basic keyboard shortcut knowledge you will be able to launch any application without the use of the mouse.

Moving Around the Desktop

Frequently users place icons on the desktop to quickly access some application, files or folders they regularly use. What now if the mouse packs up and you have to get to that file? Here is how to make use of the Windows keyboard shortcuts to get that done: Depending on the current situation different steps might be required so keep in mind that you do not have to do all the steps.

Press the Windows Logo key and M simultaneously to minimize all Windows. Press Ctrl and Esc simultaneously and then press Esc again. (Only required under certain conditions so you might only need to perform this step if you do not get the desired results from the step below). Press the Tab key and release it. Keep on pressing and releasing it until you see a "focus rectangle" surrounding one of the icons on the desktop. If there are a lot of icons on the desktop you might need to look carefully if any receives the focus indicated by the focus rectangle. Also occasionally use the arrow keys to see if you can move between different icons if it is difficult to notice the icon with the focus rectangle. Normally the focus will move between the Windows Taskbar and the last icon that had the focus (being selected) on the desktop when the Tab key is pressed. Once you got the "focus rectangle" on any icon on the desktop it is just a matter of moving to the icon of your choice using the arrow keys. When the required icon got the focus or is selected press the Enter key to open the file, folder or launch a program.

Working with Windows

Our next step in this Windows keyboard shortcuts article is to manipulate windows in the context of minimizing, maximizing, moving and closing them. To minimize the currently active window press Alt and Spacebar. The Control Menu for the window will appear. Now press N to minimize the window.

To maximize or get a window to its restored state when it is minimized to the Windows Taskbar hold down Alt and then press and release the Tab key until the desired window is selected. When the window of choice is selected also release the Alt key which will ensure that the window will either be maximized or restored depending on its previous state.

If you want to maximize a window from its restored state press Alt and Spacebar. After the Control Menu appears press X to maximize the window. To restore an maximized window press Alt and Spacebar. When the Control Menu appear press R to get the window from its maximized to restored state.

To move a window press Alt and Spacebar. When the Control Menu appear press M. Now use the arrow keys to move the window to the desired location and press the Enter key to round of this operation.

When you want to re-size a window press Alt and Spacebar. When the Control Menu appear press S. Now press the arrow keys depending on which side you want to size the window from. Right will take you to the right edge of the window for sizing and the Down arrow will take you to the bottom right corner for sizing purposes. When pressing the left key first you will be taking to the window left border to carry out sizing from that side. Once you have selected your sizing location by pressing the left or right arrows and up or down arrows do the sizing by using any of the arrow keys. When finished press Enter to complete this operation. Pressing the Esc key will leave the original size of the window intact.

To close the currently active window press Alt and F4 or press Alt and Spacebar, then press C.

General Use Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Take note that the WINDOWS key is the Windows Logo key on the keyboard.

ALT+TAB
Display list of open programs and switch to next program.
(Press TAB again to advance to the following program).

ALT+SHIFT+TAB
Display list of open programs and switch to previous program.
(Press TAB again to select the pervious program).

WINDOWS or CTRL+ESC
Displays the Windows Start Menu.

WINDOWS+E
Open My Computer.

WINDOWS+D
Toggle between Show Desktop and Show Open Windows.

WINDOWS+M
Minimize All Windows.

F2
Rename selected folder, file or shortcut.

CTRL+N
Create a New document for the active application.

CTRL+O
Display the Open dialog box of the active application.

CTRL+S
Save the current document of the active application.

CTRL+P
Print the current document of the active application.

CTRL+A
Select All content of the current document.

CTRL+X
Cut the selected text or object.

CTRL+C
Copy the selected text or object.

CTRL+V
Paste contents of clipboard into active document.

CTRL+Z
Undo the last operation.

CTRL+Y
Redo the last Undo operation.

CTRL+B
Make selected text bold or remove bold formatting.

CTRL+U
Underline the selected text or remove underline.

CTRL+I
Make selected text italic or remove italic formatting.

CTRL+F
Displays the Find dialog box.

CTRL+H
Displays the Replace dialog box.

To download keyboard shortcut reference and training software with 100's of shortcuts referenced, visit http://www.best-of-computing.com/shortcut-wizard.html

Tidy Up Your Hard Drive

2005-10-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

If you are like me before buying a product you will download and try lots of demo versions to find the software that fits best your needs. But with all this installing/unininstalling your hard drive becomes fragmented, your registry cluttered with unneeded information and your system performance degrades. Here are some programs which could help bring thing back to normal.

Registry Washer
Registry Washer safely scan your entire Windows registry using Registry Washer robust searching algorithm for errors, any invalid entries and provides you with a list of all registry errors found, you can then choose to selectively clean each item or automatically repair them all. In addition with Registry Washer tools you can easily search inside your Windows registry, detect and manage Internet Explorer components installed on your machine and manage your windows start-up items with Registry Washer registry tools.

SpeedUpMyPC 2.0
Now, you can get a faster, cleaner, and safer PC within minutes - without being a Windows expert! SpeedUpMyPC automatically finds the best settings for your PC and carefully controls your system resources to give you the best performance. Easy to use, this award-winning utility has all the features you could ever need to clean up your system, monitor resources, and improve performance.

Smart PC
Smart PC makes your PC faster, error-free and more efficient!

By a few easy steps you can make your PC run faster, cleaner and error-free with the help of a new system tool Smart PC. The software fixes stubborn errors, cleans-up space-wasting junk and debris making your PC more efficient and reliable. Special features of the new software ensure your personal privacy while surfing through the Web and protect your PC from information theft.

And your benefits are:

Fix up your PC!

You can fix your computer by yourself. Use the software to detect, diagnose and repair all types of PC problems. Regular use of the software will keep your computer running smooth and error-free without system failures

Clean up your PC!

Normal operation of your PC generates lots of junk files some of which contain private information. The software easily detects useless junk and safely removes it reclaiming valuable disk space, ensuring personal privacy and security.

Optimize your PC!

Do you want to make your computer more powerful? The software can drastically quicken Windows start-up time and the performance of all applications.

Protect against Identity Theft

Operations you perform with your computer are recorded and may be exposed to unauthorized disclosure without your knowledge. The Ensure Personal Privacy tool helps you to maintain your personal privacy while surfing through the Web and protect your PC from information theft.

Smart PC has 3 operation modes: Quick, Normal and Full varying from basic functionality to professional one. Smart PC allows you to make undo of any repairs so that you can easily recover any changes.

Are you ready to set up your computer on a proper mode in a blink of an eye?

For More Information:
Registry Washer
SpeedUpMyPC 2.0
Smart PC

CONNECTING A LAPTOP TO MULTIPLE NETWORKS

2005-10-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

I. CONNECTING A LAPTOP TO MULTIPLE NETWORKS

Having a notebook or laptop provides the freedom to be truly mobile. You can work in many places and situations. But this brings an annoyance: if you move your notebook between various different networks, you always have to change network settings.

Recently my employer has issued me a brand new notebook. When I came home at the end of the day, I had to disable DHCP, set up an IP-address and DNS configuration. Next morning I needed to reverse my configuration to work at my office. The real headache began when I went to our customer site...

II. SWITCHING NETWORK SETTINGS ON THE FLY.

There are three ways to switch a notebook between networks with one click. First is to use a built-in windows feature of saving and loading network settings. This way is for experienced users. Second is by using Windows XP "alternate configuration" feature. The third way is to use third-party utilities like Net Profile Switch, IPSwitch etc. Let's discuss all three.

III. WINDOWS "NETSH" UTILITY.

Windows 2000 comes with the "netsh" utility that gives you the possibility to "dump" all network settings into a file which you can later use to restore your complete Network settings.

To Save the current Settings use "netsh -c interface dump >netset1.txt" To Load the Settings again use "netsh -f netset1.txt"

Create a dump file for every Network that you use (e.g.., netset2.txt, etc.) and create a desktop shortcut for every Network.

Pros: - Cons: hard for inexperienced users, does not deal with switching a proxy server in a web-browser, mapping network drives etc.

IV. WINDOWS XP "ALTERNATE CONFIGURATION" FEATURE

Windows XP contains the "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) properties" dialog box, which has a tab "Alternate Configuration" in it. You can specify "alternative" settings, which would be used when the "default" settings are not accessible.

Pros: simple Cons: does not deal with three or more networks, no proxy switching etc.

V. "NET PROFILE SWITCH" UTILITY

Another way is to use the Net Profile Switch utility from Jitbit Software (http://www.jitbit.com/). This tool creates a profile with your configuration settings, and you can easily switch between locations by activating a profile with one click. Net Profile Switch not only switches the TCP/IP protocol settings but also switches the proxy-server settings of your Web Browser (Internet Explorer or Firefox), Windows Firewall settings and maps/unmaps network drives for each location. There a free non-commercial edition of this tool available.

Pros: multiple locations, proxy settings, drive mapping etc.

Your Guide To Buying Security Cameras

2005-10-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

Today's technology has made setting up security precautions such as security cameras a cinch! You no longer need to be a millionaire to set up one. You could even install one yourself! Security cameras provide a means for its owner to watch over his or her propery from the safety and convenience of any area he chooses. This type of system is a great deterrent to thievery and unwanted entry. Most organizations that have sensitive items or are off limits to the general public employ these cameras to help keep their places safe.

Purchasing and implementing such a system may save your business from the terrors of illegal entry. Investment in such could save you a whole lot of trouble.

Before purchasing a system, you will want to consider the following factors.

Your needs Study your needs. The type of security measures installed will depend on your specific security needs. For example how large is the area you would like covered? How many cameras will it take to monitor this area? You must make sure the security camera system you will purchase can accommodate enough slots for expansion.

Do you need audio too? Some camera systems have audio recording equipment as well so you can not only see what happens, but hear it as well. This is important in cases when you would like everything documented. However, this may be costly. Many establishments only require video records of their security.

Also, you must ascertain whether you need to have your security cameras record in color or black and white. Color cameras are, of course, more sophisticated and show a clearer picture. However, they tend to be pricey. Color cameras might also not work in low-light situations.

Consider the location of the cameras. Will the location be hard to set up a wiring system in? In that case, you may want to consider wireless security camera systems. However, these cameras must be in a place that is conducive to high quality broadcast. There must be no interference. They can, though, be moved around the area. They are a bit more flexible than their fixed-wire cousins.

Will the camera system be for outdoor purposes? Cameras that monitor outdoor locations need special weatherproof housings and may not be recommended for extreme temperatures and various elements. Also those that may be vandalized must be protected against such.

Also, you must take in consideration the lighting for an area. If your camera cannot record a scene due to bad lighting, you will end up with muddy images that won't help in your surveillance activities. Choose a security camera that has a good sensitivity to light. Also, try to illuminate such areas with external lighting.

You must consider where the power sources will be located. Make sure they are well protected against the elements and from tampering.

Consider the available methods for recording the images. You may use a variety of backup media. And with the advent of computer storage media, even the use of hard disks, compact discs, and DVDs can prove to be an inexpensive way to store your data.

Installing a Security Camera System Most home security cameras require little wiring, but installation differs according to model. Here are the basic steps:

1. Survey the area to be monitored. Follow the instructions/manual that comes with your security camera product. Install the camera at a proper distance from the area to be surveyed. Cameras vary in the distances from which they focus, so it would do well to pay notice to such.

2. Secure the camera using proper mounts, etc. Make sure that if the camera you are to install should not be moved, its placing should be secure and tamper proof.

4. Connect the camera to the monitor according to the manufacturer's directions. Make sure the wiring is as hidden and as secure as possible. This will make it harder for vandals and thieves from damaging your wiring.

5. Fine tune your system. Make sure you optimize the images you receive from the camera. Set a maintenance plan and fail safe plans to employ in case your cameras break down.

6 Organize an archival system according to your needs. Backing up and recording your images are implemented here.

Broadband Review

2005-10-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

The Uses Of Broadband

Broadband is a high-speed Internet connection that provides a large bandwidth. It is considered a very quick connection. It is an "always-on" type of connection and can transmit data at a much faster rate than your usual dialup connection. Broadband also has the added advantage of not tying up your phone line, which means you can use the both the Internet and telephone at the same time. Broadband can be provided from a variety of sources, including over the top of your phone line as in ADSL or on dedicated line such as Cable or ISDN.

Typically, low-band Internet access is running up to 56kbps using a dial-up modem. Mid-band Internet is described as dialup access that operates at 64kbps or 128kbps. Standard broadband starts at 512kbps, which is about five times faster than dial-up service. Broadband is also available at 1mbps, 1.5mbps and 2.2mbps. There are companies that offer broadband at 4mbps and 8mbps. The maximum possible for cable is around 26mbps and 24mbps for ADSL. These speeds are not sold commercially because the cost to upgrade the telephone lines to be able to transmit data at these speeds is very high.

Downloading and streaming music and video is very quick with broadband. There are a lot of websites now that are designed especially for broadband users. They have intense integrated graphics, flash and video. Broadband is also popular for online gaming. Game consoles like Xbox and PS2 have broadband support included. You can then subscribe to different types of gaming packages from your current ISP, which makes it possible to play Xbox and PS2 games live with other gamers over the Internet. Actually, online PC gaming has been going on since the Internet came into use, but in the past it was difficult to do. Slow and jerky response from your computer made it hard to play, and you always had to keep an eye on the time. Now, with the faster speeds of broadband, it has become much easier and is quickly gaining in popularity. Some games are now being released that require an Internet connection to play.

The growing popularity of broadband has made it necessary for most providers to put a maximum limit on the amount of music, video and other data you can download. This limit can vary greatly, from as low as 1 GB up to 30 GB. Extreme users can get unlimited downloads if they wish. However, exceeding your ISP's download limit usually results in having a limited connection or no connection at all.

One of the possible futures of broadband is Internet Television. The current bandwidth, which is the amount of data you can send and receive, is not wide enough to provide an image that is of comparable quality to that of your standard television. The ever- increasing broadband speeds will make Internet Television a reality. Since you can currently download clips from the shows, music videos and other content you like, it will soon be possible to do it legally in real time. Another use of broadband is online telephony. This is software that allows you to use your computer as a telephone and talk to people from anywhere without any extra cost. It is becoming commonplace, and has a higher quality or recording than a traditional telephone line. With the increase in the speeds of broadband, it may soon replace your television and telephone, and will find its way into every home. The success of broadband is making the Internet a great resource that's easy to use and fun to access for a variety of needs.

The Complete Guide To Spotting Computer Spies & Recording Devices

2005-10-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Can you be absolutely sure, that your activity isn't being monitored and recorded right now, while you're reading this?

The problem with many people is, because they're alone in a room with their computer, they think that no body can be watching.

If only they knew how easy it is to plant a computer recording device or software recording program onto a computer, they wouldn't feel so safe.

Whether you're a total computer newbie or a seasoned Internet veteran, everyone needs to know how to protect their privacy using the right anti spyware tools for the job.

In this article, I will show you how to easily spot a computer recording device or detect spy software using specific anti spyware tools.

It's really quite simple if you know what FREE anti spyware tools to use.

Computer monitoring devices come in two main categories, Hardware Key loggers & Spyware Software:

In this article I will address each of these categories and give you the best anti spyware solutions available, to spot and prevent them from spying on you

Hardware Key Loggers:

This type of Key Logger requires that the perpetrator have physical access to your computer.

Key Loggers can easily be installed in less than 5 seconds.

It doesn't matter if you use your computer at home or at work. If anyone has access to your computer they can install one of these devices without knowing a thing about computers.

If you want to see pictures and read up on this type of product, here is the URL for probably the most well known hardware Key Logger on the Internet:

http://www.i-loc.com

Once installed, a hardware Key Logger will capture every keystroke entered into your keyboard and then store it for future retrieval on the device itself.

Some hardware Key Logger companies boast a two-million keystroke capacity!

That's about 5 years worth of typing for the average computer user.

Whether at home or in the office, you can easily fall victim to this type of spying. A hardware Key Logger is installed between your keyboard and computer.

Removal of Hardware Key Loggers:

There are no anti spyware tools available for this except you're own two eyeballs. By taking a peek behind your system and following your keyboard cable, you can find out if there is something "odd" inserted between your keyboard and computer.

To remove a hardware Key Logger, you must shut down your system! You could cause damage your system if you attempt to remove the Key Logger while your computer is running!

Once your system is powered off, carefully remove the Key Logger from in between your keyboard and computer, and then plug your keyboard directly back into the computer. Make sure that it is plugged in completely and be gentle as the connectors are somewhat fragile.

It is very important to become an anti spyware enthusiast and check any computer you sit down at for hardware key loggers

Spyware:

Most everyone has heard of the term spyware.

Unfortunately the majority of people don't really understand what spyware does and what kind of anti spyware tool is best for them.

Spyware itself is broken down into two categories.

Adware vs Spy Software

Adware:

Adware (Advertising Spyware) is the most prevalent form of spyware. It monitors Internet activity to send targeted advertising to you as a consumer, or simply monitor your surfing habits to gather intelligence for companies who want to know what your interests are.

Adware is generally not a security threat, but can really mess up your computer when you try to remove it. Adware removal could cost you hundreds of dollars in repair bills even using the best anti spyware tools available.

Adware is written by "coders" who don't care what happens to your computer should you try to uninstall their software using an anti spyware tool.

Their only concern is making money from the information they acquire from your computer use.

Adware infections often cause many to make a trip to the computer repair shop just to get their computer back into running condition.

Adware can get on your computer in a variety of ways. You may download free programs, a screensaver, or some music or video, and the adware tags right along with your download file.

File sharing on peer to peer networks has been one of the worst culprits out there causing the serious spread of spyware worldwide.

Adware Symptoms:

The symptoms of Adware are uncontrollable popups, unwanted extra toolbars, and drastically slowed down computer performance that can result in freezes or lock up. When this happens it's time to get out your favorite anti spyware tool.

Tip: Music or File Sharing Can Be Dangerous: Never download ANYTHING from a website you do not trust, or can't verify, that they are a legitimate download site. Many times spyware can be attached to the music or file sharing programs themselves!

Adware Removal Using Anti-Spyware Tools:

You don't have to purchase an anti spyware tool for adware removal. I'm going to show you how to deal with an adware problem for free.

Unfortunately there are many anti spyware companies trying to profit from the spyware problem, so some of the anti spyware tools on the market today are very inferior "slapped together" products.

Some of these anti spyware companies do as much damage to a computer as the adware does. Many times all they want you to do is give them money. After all, how can you really know if they have done the job or not?

Some sneaky adware companies have even joined up with anti-spyware software companies and created a spyware removal utility that actually puts spyware on your system!

It's unbelievable what some people will do for a buck.

The only anti spyware tool you need to use if you have adware on your system is SpyBot, which comes highly recommended by security experts.

And it won't cost you a penny!

SpyBot is FREE...

SpyBot anti spyware will do everything the paid ones do and then some.

If you like SpyBot anti spyware you can donate money to the author, but only if you want to.

Here is the website for this excellent FREE anti spyware adware removal tool.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

Spy Software...Are You Sure You're Alone?

Spy Software is designed to silently record computer activity and then archive it for later retrieval, or stealthily send everything you do on your computer back to the intruder.

In my opinion, this type of spyware does the more damage to lives WORLDWIDE than any virus or adware product ever could.

Because spy software is so easy for anyone to purchase and install, now ANYONE who wants to find out what you're doing on your computer can see everything.

The worst part is, spy software is virtually undetectable by most adware scanners.

Want to see what I'm talking about? One of the best known companies who sell this type of spy software is www.spectorsoft.com

Most Spy Software is sold to spy on other family members, leading to divorce and all kinds of grief.

The worst cases are when used by business associates or even those who are after your credit card information or passwords to your accounts.

I've got a firewall you say...

Many Spy Software products can bypass even the best firewalls.

A firewall will lock up your system and require you to give your permission for any software program to operate on your system.

Spy Software companies know this, and many have figured a way to bypass most firewalls and send your personal information right over the Internet to the perpetrators.

When your firewall is triggered to ask you for your permission to send your captured information, the spy software will actually alter the message your firewall uses to ask your permission.

Your firewall will now ask you if it's alright for "Internet Explorer" or some application you're totally familiar with to access the Internet.

Of course you will click yes, and many times you will tell your firewall not to bother you when this program accesses the Internet in the future.

By clicking yes, you've just allowed the spy software to send your private information to the perpetrator(s).

Spy Software can be slipped onto your system via e-greeting cards, emails, Trojans or just simply physical access to your PC.

Spy Software Removal:

Whatever anti spyware tool you get, don't spend your money unless you're VERY SURE the product will do the job for you.

You wouldn't get a virus scanner that only got some of the viruses would you?

You can use the anti spyware SpyBot for most adware related spyware and it will even catch some Spy Software products.

The absolute best product I've seen to detect Spy Software is SpyCop.

SpyCop does not... I repeat, DOES NOT focus on adware. Do not download SpyCop to deal with adware infections.

SpyCop is a tool that is totally dedicated to detecting Spy Software products and has the most up to date spy software database anywhere.

SpyCop will scour your system for over 500 spy software products

SpyCop has been tested and proven to work by the most ardent anti spyware experts. http://www.spycop.com/download1

The Benefits Of CD Duplication

2005-10-18T15:50:00.001-07:00

CD duplication is the means of making several duplicates of CD's of various types without doing a replication of many. It is used to describe the need and use of short run quantity copying of various types of CDs. Most duplication is done for quantities under 500. The value of these duplications is high, in that the sound quality is very good and matches its original quality.

The Benefits:

There are many benefits to CD Duplication including the following:

* It is less expensive to do CD duplication than it is to do a full replication run especially when the need is much lower.

* Often times, in a replication run there will simply be a minimum amount that is more than is needed. Using CD duplication can help to eliminate this extra replication.

* And, believe it or not, it can be much faster to use CD duplication rather than a full CD replication run.

But, there are some things that can cause a second take as well. In many cases, CD duplication can cost more per CD than that of a full run. But, in the long run, this still may be much lower. Also, not all will look like an original either. Some will have blue or black burn marks on them that make them look as if they are duplicates.

Never the less, CD duplication is a commonly used system of replicating CD's effectively. Technology is always improving so look for updates in the quality of the CD duplication systems as well.

There are also many information portals now devoted to the subject and we recommend reading about it at one of these. Try googling for "cd duplication" and you will be surprised by the abundance of information on the subject. Alternatively you may try looking on Yahoo, MSN or even a decent directory site, all are good sources of this information.

Internet Monitoring, Safety And Security

2005-10-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

Internet monitoring is a necessary part of having internet service. Whether you allow your children to surf the web or if you have the need to monitor employees, effective programs can be used to help you to do this simply. There are many aspects that can be monitored and the results can be delivered to you privately. No one needs to know that you are using internet monitoring technologies either.

There are many options when it comes to internet monitoring. No matter what your need is in these products, you can expect to use high tech gadgets and software. But, they are simplistic to use. Many software programs that monitor internet usage will tell you such things as how long the individual was online as well as what websites they visited, who they chatted with in instant messages, as well as anything that they input into the web. Emails can be tracked as well as a number of other things.

Why should you use internet monitoring? If you are not sure your employees are using their time on the job for job related tasks, this can help you know for sure. If you are unsure of who your spouse is chatting with at night, consider the use of these monitoring solutions. Do you know if someone is stalking your child as they play games on the web? If they use instant message software, find out who they are talking to and what they are saying. Internet monitoring is really a necessary part of keeping people safe and your business under control. Effective internet monitoring software products can be purchased and installed quickly and discreetly. Be in the know.

There are also many information portals now devoted to the subject and we recommend reading about it at one of these. Try googling for "internet monitoring" and you will be surprised by the abundance of information on the subject. Alternatively you may try looking on Yahoo, MSN or even a decent directory site, all are good sources of this information.

Voice Over Internet Protocol

2005-10-18T15:49:00.001-07:00

With VOIP technology, you can now place a phone call to someone on the other side of the world using your broadband internet connection rather than a telephone. VOIP technology, in essence, takes the analog signals from your voice and converts them into digital signals able to travel over the internet. Then, at the other end, VOIP converts the digital signal back to the spoken word. Types of VOIP service vary.

Some VOIP providers only allow you to call other users of the same VOIP provider; other VOIP providers allow you to call anyone with a telephone. To break it down, there are three basic types of VOIP service: With an ATA (an analog voice adaptor), which is box that connects your computer (or your internet connection) to your telephone for VOIP use. With an IP phone, a special VOIP phone that is by all appearances a regular telephone but with special Ethernet connectors allowing you to hook it up to your router. Before long, WIFI VOIP phones will be on the market, allowing you to place a VOIP call from any internet hot-spot.With just your computer, you can install VOIP software and place, for free sometimes, VOIP phone calls anywhere in the world.

Get a sound card, speakers, a microphone, and an internet connection, preferably broadband, and youÕre good to go. Probably one of the most apparent benefits of VOIP is how it relieves you of the need to pay the telephone company for phone service. That's one more bill out of your life! You only need to pay your broadband bill (plus VOIP charges) to have your telephoning needs met as well, and a VOIP bill is usually much cheaper than a phone bill. If you carry an internet-enabled laptop with you wherever you go, say, on a vacation, then all you need to do is bring your VOIP adapter and/or IP telephone and you've got service as good as, if not sometimes better than, a cell phone.You must also consider the disadvantages before diving in and going VOIP. For one, your VOIP service may not respond well during power outages and server failures. If your internet is ever out, your VOIP will be out as well, and thus your ability to place phone calls.

Additionally, not all VOIP providers offer 9-1-1 or directory assistance calls. Before purchasing VOIP hardware and service, make sure the VOIP company you choose provides the services you need. Interestingly enough, you may have been placing VOIP calls for a long time now without even knowing it. Telephone companies have been using VOIP technology to make their services more efficient. You can also expect most of the same features from your VOIP service provider as you currently get from your phone company. VOIP service often includes caller ID, call waiting, call transfer, return call, and other convenient features youÕre used to.

Additionally some VOIP providers offer call-filtering services, letting you choose how calls from a designated number are dealt with. Maybe you forward the call to a different number elsewhere, maybe the caller gets a busy signal from you, or a message saying your number is Òno longer in serviceÓ. Some even allow you to check your voicemail over VOIP and add voice messages as email attachments.VOIP is a burgeoning technology with extremely promising possibilities ahead of it. Before long, Ma Bell may become obsolete.

GPS: How Does It Work?

2005-10-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

The Global Positioning System is a satellite-based navigation system put into place by the U.S. Department of Defense and is a network made up of 24 satellites in orbit around the earth. The satellites orbit the earth at about 12,000 miles, are solar powered, they transmit a signal of only 50 watts, and travel at speeds of about 7000 miles per hour. The GPS system was originally intended for military use only, but during the 1980s the government decided to allow civilian use. The satellites make a complete orbit around the earth every 24 hours, and are spaced equal distances from each other.

Now that we have covered most of the equipment information, let's talk about what a GPS can do, and why we have such technology. The GPS system allows for satellite tracking of just about anything to which you can attach a tracker. The GPS system is accurate to within about 15 meters from anywhere on earth. This is some amazing technology, yet it is still relatively new to the average consumer.

The trick in the operation of this system is the tracking of the signal, with formulas thrown in to account for the delay in the transmission of the signal, and atmospheric changes. Since there are other satellites available to provide a sort of numbers game for the GPS, a pretty definite location can be determined using the GPS.

What other pieces of information can be gleaned from the use of the GPS? Other pieces of information like speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset. That's a pretty amazing piece of work, how did this GPS come to be in existence?

The Department of Defense originally commissioned the work for a military purpose only. But during the 1980s it was decided that the consumer and commercial industry would benefit greatly, and there was little or no security issues for the military. The military and civilians alike use two low frequency channels for signal communication. The civilian GPS transmits on L1 at a frequency of 1575 MHz. Most of the signal travel by sight, but will not transmit through solid buildings or structures.

In order to relate this to something the average consumer will understand and appreciate, OnStar, the communication system that now comes in many of the automobiles we buy, utilizes technology like this in order to determine your location in emergency situations. We don't often stop to think about the GPS system and the benefits provided to us, until our car won't start and we push the OnStar button... and this nice voice says, "This is OnStar, how can we help you?"

Convert PowerPoint to Flash - Create A Flash Presentation to Publish on Web

2005-10-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

A special occasion - family's gether-together, the first dance with Dad at the wedding, baby's first steps, every graduation ceremony... Do you want to preserve all those precious memories in a stunning Flash Slideshow which your can share and distribute?

Selling yourself is a key part of commercial life, you want to make a successful business presentation, you want to show your originality and imagination, you want to make yourself to be more convincingly and effectively... Does it ever occur to you that you can achieve these in a rich-media way by a few clicks?

With SameShow PowerPoint to Flash Converter, whether for business or entertainment, you can build a PowerPoint Flash easier than ever.

Convert PowerPoint to Flash for Quick Publishing and Easily Distribution

SameShow is a powerful utility to convert PowerPoint presentations into Flash Slideshow with audio, video, transitions and animations, while making your presentation become more accessible, ubiquitous and easily distributable. With this amazing tool, not only all the original components in PowerPoint will be kept intact, but also many features such as voiceover and flash graphics can be added to customize your PowerPoint and make it more interactive and personalized. The smaller, securer converted Flash file enables you to email it to your friends or just post it on Internet sharing with other people in a breeze.

Unlike similar products on the market, SameShow enables you to do the whole PowerPoint-to-Flash process with a choice of two conversion modes. The choice of mode totally depends on your specific needs. One is Standalone Mode, the other is PowerPoint Plug-in Mode.

With the Standalone Mode, you can convert PowerPoint to Flash directly without running Microsoft PowerPoint.

The PowerPoint Plug-in Mode is always available in the PowerPoint software menu bar, it is embedded within PowerPoint software. Play with this mode, our software have much more stronger functions to offer, including audio narration recorded, flash movies integration, attachment (Like word document, text, PDF) supported, etc.

What can SameShow do for my presentation

1. Very Easy to Use, no Flash Experience Required. 2. Custom Flash Player Meets You Practical Requirements. 3. Unique Two Conversion Modes. 4. Keep All Animations in Your Original PowerPoint Presentation. 5. Reduce the Size of PowerPoint Files Drastically and Distribute it Easily. 6. Audio Narration, Attachment Supported, Flash Integration. 7. Quick Publishing and Easily Distributing PowerPoint Presentation. 8. Secure and Firewall Friendliness.

From: http://www.sameshow.com A strong yet easy-to-use PowerPoint to Flash Converter

The Story of the First Internet Worm

2005-10-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

Robert Tappan Morris was the first person convicted by a jury under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986. The story of the worm he created and what happened to him after it was released is a tale of mistakes, infamy, and ultimately the financial and professional success of its author.

Morris was a 23-year-old graduate student at Cornell University in 1988 when he wrote the first Internet worm in 99 lines of C code. According to him, his worm was an experiment to gain access to as many machines as possible. Morris designed the worm to detect the existence of other copies of itself on infected machines and not reinfect those machines. Although he didn't appear to create the worm to be malicious by destroying files or damaging systems, according to comments in his source code he did design it to "break- in" to systems and "steal" passwords. Morris' worm worked by exploiting holes in the debug mode of the Unix sendmail program and in the finger daemon fingerd.

On November 2, 1988, Morris released his worm from MIT to disguise the fact that the author was a Cornell student. Unfortunately for Morris, his worm had a bug and the part that was supposed to not reinfect machines that already harbored the worm didn't work. So systems quickly became infested with dozens of copies of the worm, each trying to break into accounts and replicate more worms. With no free processor cycles, infected systems soon crashed or became completely unresponsive. Rebooting infected systems didn't help. Killing the worm processes by hand was futile because they just kept multiplying. The only solution was to disconnect the systems from the Internet and try to figure out how the worm worked.

Programmers at the University of Berkeley, MIT, and Purdue were actively disassembling copies of the worm. Meanwhile, once he realized the worm was out of control, Morris enlisted the help of a friend at Harvard to stop the contagion. Within a day, the Berkeley and Purdue teams had developed and distributed procedures to slow down the spread of the worm. Also, Morris and his friend sent an anonymous message from Harvard describing how to kill the worm and patch vulnerable systems. Of course, few were able to get the information from either the universities or Morris because they were disconnected from the Internet.

Eventually the word got out and the systems came back online. Within a few days things were mostly back to normal. It is estimated that the Morris worm infected more than 6,000 computers, which in 1988 represented one-tenth of the Internet. Although none of the infected systems were actually damaged and no data was lost, the costs in system downtime and man-hours were estimated at $15 million. Victims of the worm included computers at NASA, some military facilities, several major universities, and medical research facilities.

Writing a buggy worm and releasing it was Morris' second mistake. His first mistake was talking about his worm for months before he released it. The police found him without much effort, especially after he was named in the New York Times as the author.

The fact that his worm had gained unauthorized access to computers of "federal interest" sealed his fate, and in 1990 he was convicted of violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (Title 18). He was sentenced to three years probation, 400 hours of community service, a fine of $10,500, and the costs of his supervision. Ironically, Morris' father, Robert Morris Sr., was a computer security expert with the National Security Agency at the time.

As a direct result of the Morris worm, the CERT Coordination Center (CERT/CC) was established by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in November 1988 to "prevent and respond to such incidents in the future". The CERT/CC is now a major reporting center for Internet security problems.

After the incident, Morris was suspended from Cornell for acting irresponsibly according to a university board of inquiry. Later, Morris would obtain his Ph.D. from Harvard University for his work on modeling and controlling networks with large numbers of competing connections.

In 1995, Morris co-founded a startup called Viaweb with fellow Harvard Ph.D. Paul Graham. Viaweb was a web-based program that allowed users to build stores online. Interestingly, they wrote their code primarily in Lisp, an artificial intelligence language most commonly used at universities. Viaweb was a success, and in 1998, ten years after Morris released his infamous worm, Viaweb was bought by Yahoo! for $49 million. You can still see the application Morris and Graham developed in action as Yahoo! Shopping.

Robert Morris is currently an assistant professor at MIT (apparently they forgave him for launching his worm from their network) and a member of their Laboratory of Computer Science in the Parallel and Distributed Operating Systems group. He teaches a course on Operating System Engineering and has published numerous papers on advanced concepts in computer networking.

_____________________________________________________

Marc R. Menninger is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and is the founder and site administrator for the OpenCSOProject, a knowledge base for security professionals. To download security policies, articles and presentations, click here: Security Officer Forums.

Learn How to Type

2005-10-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Learn how to type and make money!
In this competitive world, the progress on technology don't let us be one day off the scene, or we'll be out of the market, and one of the simplest and most important abilities we need to develop not to get rid of our world is the typing skill.

Fast typing is a must in our societies, doesn't matter where in the globe we live or what our business is about, and for those who haven't had the opportunity to learn to type at school or by practicing before, there are great changes of improve your typing and for those how know how to type but need to do it faster, is necessary to improve your typing speed.

From several typing software that are on the market, I recommend Touch Typing Now!, which can be found at the excusive web site seller www.tutor-typing.com.
Touch Typing Now! has 3 different typing versions to learn to type. You can choose from two downloadable editions: Touch Typing Now! and Touch Typing PRO Edition, and there is the Touch Typing Deluxe Edition, which is a CD ROM version of this fast typing software.

Both typing software (downloadable and CD ROM) count with a user friendly interface and 19 consecutive lessons and multi user sessions, so more than one student can learn typing in the same PC.

Advantages of this typing software:
The Tutor Typing PRO Edition is easy to download and install, besides that there are no shipping costs and you will receive it instantly after your credit card is accepted, so you will be able to start learning to type and improve your typing skills now!
The Deluxe Edition has -besides the regular features- the option of typing courses in German and Spanish, and as you receive the CD ROM, you can install the touch typing software in more than one PC if you want to practice typing at home as well as in the office.

Besides private users who want to learn how to type, schools, professional institutes and correctional institutions are constantly interested on typing software to give their students better tools to find a job and have a better quality of life.

How to eliminate spyware, adware and pop-up ads for FREE!

2005-10-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

The following is a guide on how to remove spyware, adware, and pop-up ads using FREE tools ready to download anytime.

Don't settle for advertisements that sell $30 software programs that CLAIM to remove all these annoyances, when in reality all they do is hog system resources and slow your computer down even more.

Now, of course there are people out there who have their own little utilities they use that are just "wonderful" for this kind of operation, but the following tools I use, to this day, to completely rid my computer of anything that would cause it to slow down or rig it with pop-up ad crap all over the place. Also included is information about a free anti-virus tool that can get rid of viruses even commercial anti-virus programs can't detect!

So, onto the good stuff.

The first program is called SpyBot Search and Destroy. It can be downloaded at http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

You can also type in "SpyBot" at google.com and it'll come up as the first link.

SpyBot is a great, FREE application used to get rid of spyware and adware. When you first install it, it'll take you through a wizard that'll set you up for first time use. This includes downloading updated lists, backing up your system, and even IMMUNIZATION of future malicious Internet Explorer scripts! Oh yea, did I mention it has a tool called the "Hosts" feature? You can do a google search on "hosts file" which will give you an interesting tip on how to block ads. Not many people know about this trick, and it's a shame, because it WORKS. Anyway, SpyBot has an option that allows you to add a lists of marketing servers to your hosts lists which automatically blocks them. Go ahead and try it, the results will speak for themselves.

The next tool to download is Adaware (That's "ad-A-ware" NOT "adware"). This can be downloaded at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

Once again, just type in "adaware" in google.com and click the first link.

Adware is another program like SpyBot that gets rid of spyware, adware, viruses, and all the small little annoyances that bury themselves into your system files and cause all sorts of trouble. Sometimes Adaware will catch things that NO OTHER application will find. Just do an update and system scan as if it were an anti-virus tool. You will be suprised at how many things this tool will pick up.

After you've removed all that crap from your system, the next step is to download a FREE anti-virus tool called AVG. This can be downloaded at http://www.grisoft.com

...or type "AVG" in google.com and click the first link. (Gotta love Google).

Just install, update, and do a system scan. This nifty little anti-virus tool also can schedule updates and system scans. So, be sure to configure that when you get the chance.

Another tool (well, more like an internet browser) that eliminates viruses, adware, spyware and pop-up ads is called FireFox. This can be downloaded at http://www.mozilla.org and the link is right there on the front page. You can also find it on google ;)

Well, that's about it. These tools are all free. There are editions available that you have to pay for, but the free versions will get the job done just fine. Gotta love FREE stuff that WORKS, huh?

Matt Marose
Visit my blog for more articles and fun, interesting content!
http://marosenet.blogspot.com

Should You Build Your Own PC?

2005-10-11T04:22:00.000-07:00

Many people are intimidated by the inside of a computer case. At first glance all those wires and components look confusing and impossibly high-tech. The thought of actually putting all the parts together may seem impossible.

Not to worry! Even though they are the product of advanced technology, the various components of PCs fit together with relatively simple connections. Putting together a PC is about as complicated as repairing a toaster. If you can use a screwdriver and follow simple instructions, you can build your own PC.

Advantages

You are probably asking yourself why anyone would bother to build their own PC. After all, you can buy a cheap computer in almost any retail store. If cost is your only consideration, you are probably better off buying one of those cheap machines. But if you have special requirements for software or hardware, building your own PC gives you total control over the quality of the components.

You can save some money too. Although you probably can't match the price of the cheapest preassembled PCs, once you start asking for customized hardware installation the cost of building your own computer becomes cheaper. And don't forget -- those super cheap PCs are bare-boned systems. Unless you only need a computer for basic word processing and e-mail, you will probably have to upgrade.

Building your own PC is a great learning experience. You will gain better understanding of how the various components work together - knowledge that can be useful when troubleshooting. If your computer ever breaks down you may be able to pinpoint and fix the problem yourself, saving on those expensive service bills.

Disadvantages

The major disadvantage in building your own PC is that you don't get a system wide warranty. For example, if a malfunctioning motherboard fries your memory chips, you may be unable to get compensated for the damaged memory. If something like this happens with a store-bought system you could probably get the computer repaired under the warranty.

However, if you buy all the components at the same time and from the same retailer, they may be more likely to compensate you for this kind of situation.

Getting the Best

You are pretty well guaranteed to get the best computer when you build your own system. Big retailers often use cheaper OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) components to cut down on costs. Components like these can compromise the performance of a computer system. Although you can buy OEM components retail, the trade-off in reliability and stability is usually not worth it. Brand name components are usually just a bit more expensive and well worth the cost for the extra performance they offer.

The Bottom Line

Building your own PC has a lot to offer. You'll be assured of getting the best components available which translates as the best and most reliable computer for the money. You will learn a lot about computer components and how to choose parts that offer the best performance. When it comes to servicing your computer you may be able to pinpoint the problem yourself and replace the problem parts.

Don't be worried about the task of connecting the computer components together. Many of the internal connections are molded so that it is impossible to fit them together the wrong way. If you have ever assembled a child's toy you are more than capable of assembling a computer!

How to protect your MS Windows System from Viruses

2005-10-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

Nowadays as the Internet and other networks are greatly developed computer viruses are distributed rapidly and intensively. Everyday several new viruses capable to damage considerably your computer system arise. Anti-virus specialists work hardly to make updates their software against new viruses as soon as possible. The viruses can get inside computer in different ways. That is why there is no simple method to protect system. Only series of measures can give you reliable protection from the infection. Below are 9 steps to protect MS Windows based PC system from viruses.

1. Make regular backups. It should be said that there is no absolutely safe way of protection. Virus creators regularly find holes in new computer products to use them for infection of computer systems. Some dangerous viruses can considerably damage data files or even erase entire file system. Make regular backups of your data files to separate file storage device. It can be separate hard drive, flash card, compact disc or another file storage device which you choose. To ease the procedure you can use some automatic backup software. And be ready if the system will die because of virus infection.

2. Be ready to reinstall your system if it dies because of viruses. Get distributives of your operation system and distributives of software which you use and keep them together, for instance, on a set of CDs not far away from you. In this case if virus infection will cause unrecoverable system failure you can rapidly reinstall your working medium.

3. Protect your network connection with Firewall. Firewall is a software which blocks suspicious potentially dangerous connections to preventing viruses from network to penetrate into your system. Windows XP system has quit simple but reliable built-in firewall. You can enable it as follows. 1) in Control Panel, double-click Networking and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections. 2) Right-click the connection on which you would like to enable firewall, and then click Properties. 3) On the Advanced tab, check the option to Protect my computer and network.

If you need more flexible control of connections with network you can get and install more advanced firewall software like Norton Personal Firewall or Outpost Firewall. If you use this software you have ability to permit or to block particular connections and to monitor network activity.

4. Use antivirus software. Install antivirus software which will scan your system searching and erasing viruses on a regular basis. Leaders in antivirus software products for Windows systems are Norton Antivirus, McAfee, Kaspersky Anti-Virus and PC-cilin.

5. Regularly update operating system. Windows XP has built-in automatic update service. It regularly contacts Microsoft server to find updates and notifies you if updates are ready to be installed. Updates are important because hackers regularly find holes in operating system which are often used by virus creators.

6. Don't install and don't run suspicious software. Check new programs which you are going to install with anti-virus software. Don't download software from suspicious websites. To download software always seek website of software creator or official distributor. Do not open applications received by email from unknown persons.

7. Limit access to your computer. Protect enter to system with password.

8. If you use Internet Explorer, consider moving to another browser. As IE is the most distributed browser today virus creators actively use defects in its security system to infect computers. Infection may arise if you will visit webpage which contains invisible harmful code. You are more safe if you use less known browser only because virus creators do not pay much attention to it. Major IE competitors Firefox and Opera browsers provide now the same comfortable interface and range of services for working on the Web.

9. Use spam protection. Viruses are often distributed via email. Switch on spam filters in your email box to block spam receiving. If you need assistance with using of the filters you can ask your email service provider.

Speed Up Your Computer : Inner cleansing tips for your pc

2005-10-07T13:40:00.000-07:00

Renewed energy and vigor applies to us, surfers, as well as to our computers, too. But when web

pages seem to load forever in your personal computer, and programs take a snail's creep to

complete, then it is high time to do some inner cleansing in your computer so as to make your

computer run faster.

Here's how:

1. Deleted Unwanted Files

Culprits are your jpegs and old tunes which you no longer access. These files lie buried in your

system, take up considerable hard disk space, and bog down your PC.

2. Use the disk cleanup tools.

All windows-based operating system are equipped with disk cleanup tools. These are the devices

that sweeps your hard disk clean automatically. It gets rid of unwanted files that initiates

sluggishness in your computer's performance.

3. Uninstall Obsolete Programs.

In reality, obsolete programs, just like unwanted files, occupy hard disk space and could

contribute to the PC's sluggish performance.

But be careful, though. Do not just hit the Delete key. Instead, go to Control Panel, select

Add/Remove Programs, and then click "Remove" for the programs you no longer want.

4. Run Anti-Spyware/Malware In Your PC.

Spywares run in the background without your knowledge. It collects information about you and your

surfing habits then transmits them back to its authors. It burdens your computer with additional

task processes, not to mention the annoyances of receiving unwanted e-mails from the Spyware's

authors.

So, to protect you from these annoyances brought about by these unwanted programs, run an anti-

spyware program.

5. Utilize Removable Media.

By transferring your pictures, audio, and video clips to removable media such as CD-RW discs, you

can free your hard disk from the unnecessary burden.

The result: Your PC now runs faster.

6. Finally, Run Scandisk and Defrag.

Point to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools, and click Defrag.

Defragmenting your hard drive on a regular basis speeds up your pc.

On XP, you cannot find the venerable scandisk program. Instead, click Start > Accessories and

click Command Prompt. At the prompt, type CHKDSK /f. The program will check your hard disk the

next time it boots up. Afterwards, you can run Defrag.

How to speed up your PC

2005-10-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

Have problems using your PC? Don't want to waste time waiting anymore? Think of upgrading your PC? Try this great tools which will help you to speed up your PC and save money on upgrades.

1. WinTasks 5 Professional http://regdiscounter.com/software/1515_WinTasks_5_Professional/ WinTasks 5.0 Professional provides you with a wealth of information and a powerful set of tools that will help you enhance the protection against system security threats while dramatically increasing computer performance. The award-winning WinTasks 5.0 Professional is the most reliable and intuitive software that enables you to fully take charge of your computer.

2. Acronis Power Utilities 2005 http://regdiscounter.com/software/166_Acronis_Power_Utilities/ Acronis Power Utilities includes five of the most popular system utilities available in one suite. It comprehensively helps you to easily install a new hard disk and transfer there your data, back up or restore hard drive partitions, wipe any evidence of your work in Windows system areas or Internet, completely delete data from an old PC.

3. SpeedUpMyPC http://regdiscounter.com/software/1516_SpeedUpMyPC/ SpeedUpMyPC automatically fine-tunes all your resources including hardware, system settings and internet usage to operate at peak performance at all times. Your PC will instantly become faster, cleaner and more stable.

4. AusLogics BoostSpeed http://regdiscounter.com/software/168_AusLogics_BoostSpeed/ AusLogics BoostSpeed - the ideal solution to keep your PC running faster, cleaner and error-free. This powerful optimization suite will boost Internet connections, tweak Windows to its peak performance, clean registry, block banners and more. It's a great way to keep your computer clean and optimized. Turbo-charge your PC in minutes!

5. Smart PC http://regdiscounter.com/software/100_Smart_PC/ By a few easy steps you can make your PC run faster, cleaner and error-free with the help of a new system tool â€" Smart PC. The software fixes stubborn errors, cleans-up space-wasting junk and debris making your PC more efficient and reliable. Special features of the new software ensure your personal privacy while surfing through the Web and protect your PC from information theft.

Adware: How to Beat the Sneakiest Software

2005-10-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

Promoters of adware, software that shows advertising on a user's computer, use some cunning tricks to get you to install their software on your machine.

Here's what to look out for.

Adware is, by definition, something reasonable people don't want on their computers. That's why malware can't just come out and ask people to install it.

Often, the computer owner is completely unaware of it being installed. But not always.

When adware doesn't want to sneak in through an open window, it will try to trick you into letting it in through the front door. Don't think you could be

tricked? Don't be so sure until you've checked out these most common ways people have been tricked into allowing malware to be installed on their machines.

Adware Installation Trick 1: Piggybacking

* How it works: malware may come bundled with a legitimate piece of software the user actually wants, such as a game or emoticon. The malware is

merely labeled "companion software," without any indication of what it will do. * How to fight it: be very suspicious of any software that comes bundled with other software. Don't installed software that comes bundled with other

software unless you know everything that the bundled software does. After all, if the bundled program has anything to do with the program you actually want,

why couldn't the software developer just get both programs' functionalities into a single piece of software? Software developers are now very sensitive to

malware concerns and will provide a lengthy explanation of just why the bundled software is necessary, in the cases when they actually do need to use bundled

software.

Adware Installation Trick 2: Bait and Switch

* How it works: since people are getting more and more suspicious of bundled software, the malware's developers may simply label it as valuable

software, for instance, a browser plugin that supposedly accelerates web browsing (but in reality only shows ads). * How to fight it: again, a suspicious mind is useful in avoiding malware. Ask yourself some questions: o What will this software actually do? Malware often comes with very fuzzy claims attached. Sure, it says it will improve your browsing experience,

but how? Often, this improved browsing experience just means a browsing experience with more advertising. o If the software is so great, why is it being given away free? Most commonly, software is only given out free in two cases: if it's OpenSource

(designed by a community of developers and not proprietary--OpenSource software is always clearly labeled as such); or simply a come-on for a fuller-featured

version of the software. If neither case is true, there's a real chance the software is financed by adware.

Adware Installation Trick 3: Outright Lying

* How it works: malware may even be labeled as something else entirely, such as a well-known piece of software or a crucial component of the computer

operating system. * How to fight it: this is the trickiest malware of all, and requires extreme caution. You don't want to start deleting any of your program files,

much less your system registry entries, unless you're absolutely sure it's malware. Plenty of overzealous parasite hunters have shot their own machines to

bits this way. This is one case where you want to be using an anti-spyware program, and preferably a second anti-spyware program to provide a second

opinion.

Getting Rid of Adware

Adware is so tricky that trying to uninstall it by yourself could be like a trip into the Matrix. Luckily, there are good anti-spyware programs that tackle

adware as well--after all many adware programs are also spyware since they monitor your internet usage. True, it may feel like adding insult to injury to have to install more software to get rid of software you never meant to install in the first place. But

sometimes you just have to fight fire with fire.

Webmasters: Starting a website

2005-10-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

Why do you want to start a website? Are you in it for the money? Are you in it for the chicks (yea right)? Maybe you are in it, just to share your knowledge or talent for the greater good of mankind?

I'm in it for the title- "webmaster". It makes me feel like a big man. Anyway, those are all very legit reason for starting a website, and they all share some common ground.

The first thing you'll need for your website to work is content. Now I know it can be a scary word, but if your website is about your profession, hobby are just a subject you really know about, it won't be very hard (just mildly hard...). The only way you'll get really rewarded by the search engine, get supported by other websites and gain valuable trust from your visitors (maybe customers), is by supplying unique helpful content. If the search engines won't reward you, then you won't score high on the search results (basically, you won't exist). You have to get support by other website (through links), because search engine check your link popularity as one factor for deciding how well you score. If you won't gain your visitors trust, well I don't have to tell you, how hard it is to give your credit number on the web.

Now, content is nice and all, but another thing you really want to find out (especially if you in it for the money) is there a demand for the subject of your website? You'll be surprised how many people aren't really interested about things that really excite you {probably because there is something really wrong with you [kidding (maybe)]}. A good way to check the demand is to use the web ceo freeware (look it up). Use the research keywords option of the software. Type the most basic keywords of your website theme. For example if your planing your website about eggplant juice (mmm...yummy), you will get less then 10 visitors a day (and this is very optimistic estimation), on the other hand, if you pick orange juice as your website theme...You won't be better off. There are between 63 to 107 daily searches, and between 9,370,000 to 11,620,000 competition. It will have to be some really amazing orange juice website to get noticed.

So, there are three lesson to be learned form all this:

1. Choose your website theme about a subject you know about, so you can supllay unique content.

2. Before you start your website, research the demand and competion of the subject.

3. Don't start a website about eggplanet juice, don't even try making it, and by all means don't try drinking it. I won't be a account responsible!

Free: The smart way to get free business hosting for life.

2005-10-01T09:17:00.000-07:00

Business web sites are the real estate of the internet, as your site gains popularity and strength, your web based real estate, gains value.

To have the leading edge, even before your web site is born, you need to choose the very best location and services for your home based business.

Think in terms of a small retail outlet, to gain prominence in the marketplace, would you want your new outlet to be based in the outskirts of the city, with the poor traffic and the cheap rental deals?

Or would you prefer your new outlet to be situated in the latest Super Mall, equipped with all the latest bells and whistles that make shoppers stay longer and spend more?

You see, it is the service that the Super Mall provides, behind the scenes, that gives vendors the edge over their competition.

Notice how the Mall promotes, stunning location, relaxed surroundings, piped and live music, entertainment, competitions, state of the art elevators, air conditioning, customer services and all of the other elements, to provide that, all round shopping experience.

To gain maximum advantage, your business web site should also be equipped with all those, behind the scene goodies, that provide your business with the cutting edge in customer satisfaction.

In the case of business hosting, those goodies include, excellent bandwidth allowance, an integrated sales and follow up solution, unlimited responders, unlimited MySQL databases, custom error pages, password protected pages, unlimited sub directories, and many other advanced features that are simply, unavailable on standard hosting accounts.

The equation is simple; the more embedded tools your web site has at its disposal, the more control you have in the business. This level of control allows your customers to have a higher level of service, which is vital for your long term success.

Just like the Mall scenario, top level business hosting costs a premium, so how can you get all of the advantages without paying the extra cost?

The answer is to find a business host that runs an affiliate program.

On the footer of every page of your web site, you include your affiliate link, back to your host. You see, it doesn't matter which market you provide for, there will always be some prospects, surfing your site, with a view to starting their own web site.

As your traffic increases, so will the number of your affiliates, it is only a matter of time before you hit that magic break even point, then the hosting is not only free, but you then start making a profit.

Your affiliates will follow the same business model and, in turn, they will begin to gather affiliates behind them, this powerful technique, locks in your position and sets you up for a lifetime of free business hosting.

The end result is, your business has the very best platform to operate from, and it costs you absolutely nothing to enjoy this incredible advantage.

Blogs: Invasion of the Blogs: Is a blog right for your business?

2005-10-01T09:16:00.000-07:00

Lemmings are cute, but dumb. If you tell them to jump off a cliff, they will. Just like the people who start blogs because everyone is doing it. Guess what happens after a little while? The blogs die.

In managing a list of many Web sites, most of which are blogs, I deleted countless sites from the list because the sites and blogs no longer existed. The people ran out of steam or had no reason to start them in the first place.

How do you know when a blog is right for your business? Learn why people start blogs, how they find their niche and how blogging tools can be used for more than blogs.

Blog content is king

Some people like to read blogs, others like to read newsletters, still others like to rely on feeds and some read a few or all of them. No matter the method the information is distributed, each medium has one thing in common: content. Having a blog connects your newsletter and your business with all of these readers and delivers important content in a particular style.

I've been blogging since June 2000. If you review my early blog entries in meryl's notes, you'll notice they're more personal. When blogs first hit the scene in the late '90s, they were personal diaries and journals. Like the blog business, my blog has transformed from personal to business speak, although I still add personal notes here and there.

A few bloggers tend to talk about their work, their products and their little world. That might work for celebrities where fans want to know everything about them, but it doesn't work for the average business person. Other business people want information on how to succeed and when a blog spends time hawking products offering information of no value, few people will return. The people whose products sell well are the ones who provide valuable information. Readers already know what kind of information they're getting, so they trust that when they buy something, it will be of the same or better quality. This value must be reflected in their blog. It's much like people who only sign up for a newsletter after first seeing an example.

Who should venture where one has not blogged before?

No one wants to be a lemming (I would hope). How do you decide whether or not to set up a blog? The answer isn't black or white (what did you expect?). Ask these questions:

* Can you regularly update it -- at least five times a week?

* Do you have something to say other than just linking to others?

* Do you read other blogs or feeds?

* Can you provide information of value to others not just to yourself? * How large is your newsletter subscriber list?

* How many unique visitors do you get on an average day, week or month?

The big decider is whether or not you can write in the blog almost daily. The people behind the high traffic blogs post multiple times a day. Though resourceful, merely linking to other sites doesn't give visitors much reason to make the effort to come to yours. Reading other blogs or feeds is a great way to learn how to carry a discussion. Find other blogs covering topics similar to yours and check them out. Disagree with their opinions? Write about it and explain your reasons. Cross-blog discussions are common, and that's where trackback comes in handy.

Trackback is a blog feature. If you decide to comment on another blog posting in your blog instead of in that blog's comments page, then you link to the conversation through the trackback link. Trackback is similar to the permalink, the permanent URL for the blog entry, but it has a different URL for copying and pasting in your blog's trackback box.

Aside from the technical aspects of operating a blog on a daily basis, subscriber list size and Web site traffic are good indicators of what kind of reaction you'll get when opening a blog. Starting from scratch with little traffic means you have a long road ahead and lots of work to do. There is no magic formula anyone can sell you for $97 to make your blog an overnight success. But with some perseverance and ingenuity, your blog can engage many prospects and clients.

Pick a niche

Considering there are numerous blogs out there, pick a niche topic when starting a blog for a better shot at attracting and keeping an audience. meryl's notes focuses on three areas: webby, geeky and wordy. In reality, this is too much. What I need to do for my readers is create three separate blog entry points, so those interested in writing, newsletters and Internet marketing get nothing but the wordy entries. Those interested in Web design get the webby stuff and the technophiles receive the geeky content.

I also manage a personal blog separate from meryl's notes. It's about cochlear implants and deafness. This could fall under the geeky category, but it's a personal blog and doesn't belong in meryl's notes. This blog is written for a different audience.

The blogging tools for both of my blogs come with syndication capabilities so those using feed readers or aggregators can read the content through the software. For an explanation of syndication and feed readers, refer to What Is This RSS, XML, RDF, and Atom Business? When sending a new issue of a newsletter, comment on it or link to it in the blog, that way the blog and feed readers will get the goods, so all three bases are covered.

Blogs in disguise use the same tools

Blogging tools aren't just for, well, blogging. Such tools are an excellent way to help you update your Web site more often than you otherwise would. I use it to manage the list of tableless Web sites. Using blogging tools is much easier than the way I managed it before, updating the HTML files by hand. Though using a blog tool, it isn't a blog. In this case, the blog tool has become a content management system (CMS).

Small business owners don't have a need for the fancy and pricey CMSes out there. They find it easier to use blogging software to manage their sites or hire someone to adapt the tool for their site. Women's Spirituality is one such site. Karen Casey may not use the blog, but she does have discussions surrounding the articles she writes.

Blogs have found a place in businesses and people are finding creative ways to use them. Some companies have a blog on the intranet for communicating project status, jeopardies and metrics. They're used for knowledge management. With information pouring in, blog tools provide a way to share, organize and process the information.

Being a follower can be good or bad. No one wants to walk off a cliff with the lemmings, but everyone wants to succeed. Best practices won't help, since the decision to blog is based on the organization's mission, needs and goals along with its target market's desires and needs. A blog about lemmings? There is one, sort of. Or maybe you'd like to start your own and talk about dumb business moves.

Web hosting: An Affordable Web Hosting Primer

2005-09-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

Not all web hosting plans are created equal. How do you find an affordable web hosting plan that will meet your needs and still be economical? There are several issues that you'll want to consider.

Price is always an issue. If you're just getting your site up and running, you don't have extra capital to spend on web hosting, so you'll want the most bang for your buck. Look at several providers and compare characteristics.

What kinds of traffic allowances do the affordable web hosting plans you're considering offer? Some of the most affordable plans have more generous allowances than higher priced plans, and some have less. Make sure that you choose a plan that will allow your site's traffic to grow. Don't box yourself into an upgrade the minute your traffic starts to pick up. There are plenty of web hosting sites out there that will allow moderate traffic with no additional cost.

What kind of disk space do they have available? Don't tie yourself to a plan that won't support the volume you hope to do. Compare the statistics. Many affordable web hosting plans have plenty of capacity and don't cost too much.

What is their service record? Are they down a lot, or infrequently? This is a major consideration, because nothing discourages traffic more than "this page is currently unavailable." That message means lost traffic. Of course, every web host needs maintenance time, so expect some time offline, but compare outage records.

You'll want to be able to review your traffic statistics. Choose a web hosting provider that has a meaningful traffic statistic reporting feature. You need this information to target your advertising and analyze your traffic to keep your site growing. Many of the most affordable plans have simple to use, effective statistical programs that will provide almost every user the information they need to effectively manage their site.

There are many other features that you may be interested in. Many web hosting sites, including the affordable, low cost choices, offer domain name registration and renewal as part of their service. This eliminates one more step from your responsibilities. If they offer it, take advantage of it!

There are many outstanding affordable web hosting companies on the internet. One of the most highly rated is HostGator.com. For a modest fee of $9.95 per month, you not only receive reliable service and a 30 day money back guarantee, but you'll be able to host unlimited sites for this price. They also have a program called SiteStudio that helps you set up your website without HTML or FTP. Even more exciting, there is not setup fee.

Another popular choice is StartLogic.com. They offer several plans that vary in price depending on the length of the plan you choose. Plans start at $6.50-$12.50 per month. They include a marketing guides manual with each plan to help you get started promoting your site. Although they are one of the newer providers, they are growing rapidly on word of mouth, reliability and great customer service.

Of course, there are many other choices out there when you're looking for affordable web hosting services. Compare plans and remember to consider your site's growth when you're choosing a provider. Remember, you're only there to increase your traffic, so be sure that your affordable web hosting plan can handle it!

Domain names: How to Choose a Good Domain Name.

2005-09-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

In the E-World your domain name is your first assessment of what your site is about. It's not just your site name but it is the first criterion of your success on the Internet and when it comes to a point of success you must hold it tight. It can make your business stand out in the crowd, or just float aimlessly in space. Well many of us think that it merely plays any role but it's not the truth. Think if nobody remembers your site name or see no visual look of what your site is about.

The temptation of a good domain name is so powerful; that's why some companies even paid ridiculously high prices to get the name they want. The domains Loans.com and Wines.com were both bought for $3 million each. Telephone.com was acquired for $1.75 million, while Bingo.com sold for $1.1 million.

So the main question is, what points we should consider when we choose a domain name. For better results, your domain name should be memorable and easy to remember. Remember the following tips when creating a domain name.

* The domain name should be short. * The domain name should be simple. * It should be suggestive of your business category. * It should be unique. * It should be easy to interpret and pronounce. * It should be personalized. * It should not be difficult to spell. * It should not be difficult to remember.

Domain names can be registered through many different companies (known as "registrars"). You can register for 1 to 10 years - prices can vary anywhere from $10 to $20 per year. Most web hosting companies, will handle the registration process for you, but make sure that you are properly listed as the owner of the domain when it is registered.

If you have registered a domain name for a specific period, make sure you renew it in time. You can be surprised at the number of cases, where site owners have let a domain name slip by if they have not renewed in time.

How to use expired domains:

Did you know you can use expired domains to skyrocket your traffic? Let me tell you about expired domains first. Thousands of webmasters invest time, effort and money to promote their site and build up traffic. Many of them then lose interest and move on, leaving their site active. That means that although they still own the domain, they're not actively promoting it.

All the automatic marketing systems they've put in place are still bringing in traffic. The site runs itself. Now, at some point the ownership of those domains is going to expire. If you snap up those domains once they come back onto the market, you've got a pre-built stream of customers. You can either rebuild the site, or redirect the traffic to your domain. You could set up an affiliate program get paid for users someone else paid for.

Its that easy.

Websites such as www.expiredtraffic.com or www.deleteddomains.com are doing great job for expired domains. They actually do all the legwork and let you reap all the rewards. Even you can back-order a specific domain name also.

Do be careful when using other sites though. There are some swindlers out there that will sell you subscriptions, provide you with outdated lists, take your money and keep the good domains for themselves.

There are tons of options, and lots of easy ways to make lots of money with very little effort. Opportunities like these are everywhere. All we need a strong determination to succeed, and a good mentor.

Websites: Need A Website? You Have 3 Options

2005-09-30T15:24:00.000-07:00

When it comes to building a website, most individuals and small business owners think you either have to do it yourself or hire someone to do it. Web builder software is often the better option for this group by far.

Even if you're a seasoned web professional, you should know what web builder software can offer private individuals and small businesses. Designers regularly waste time fielding inquiries from small-time website owners who don't realize the time, effort, and therefore cost involved in making a website from scratch. Or your brain may be picked endlessly by a would-be developer. Recommending a good web builder program is a great way to help this group--you can even monetize these non-prospects by reselling web builder software or referring it as an affiliate.

The 3 Web Design Options

DIY (design it yourself), usually using software such as Dreamweaver or FrontPage. Pay someone else to design it.

Use a "website builder" that includes everything you need and builds the website based on a setup wizard that asks questions about your website goals.

Most people just stumble into one of these three options without really comparing. In fact, if someone is even considering whether to try to do it themselves, hire a pro, or use a website builder program, it's extremely likely they really do need to start with a website builder program. After all, with the small investment required by web builder software, you can easily decide to go the DIY or professional design route later. But the money and time spent on professional services or DIY cannot be un-spent.

If you don't have the web design skills that would lead you to make your own website without questioning, or the budget to hire a designer just as easily, your time, money and other resources are probably better spent on other aspects of your website--such as promoting it, planning it, or getting content for it.

Website Options Comparison: Cost

: Cost of software (Dreamweaver, the most popular, runs about $300) + many hours of your life--what is your time worth?

Web Designer: $500-$5000

Website Builder: $100-200 (if a software package); $15-40/month (if a subscription service)

Time

DIY: Depending on your skill level, a week to a few months.

Web Designer: A few weeks till completion (but little time on your part).

Website Builder: Five minutes to an hour (depending on how much you want to play with the options).

Graphic Design: Most people who build their own websites use graphic design templates, or at least ready-made graphics. But there's still the problem of how to bring the elements of the design together into an attractive whole.

Web Designer: If you want to be taken seriously, a graphic designer will go a long way. Still, many people manage to sabotage the designer's work with too many demands. Also, some designers are really programmers rather than graphic designers, and will use templates anyway. In the end, though, the biggest drawback is cost: graphic designers can do it better, but can you afford them?

Website Builder: The advantage of a website builder over DIY templates is that the builder will save you the time of coding the website to stitch all the parts together.

Protect Your Computer And Your Personal Information From Spyware

2005-09-29T18:31:00.000-07:00

Spyware is a broad term used for certain types of software that are downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge. Malware has become a phrase that is used when describing spyware and adware.

Spyware is placed on your computer in order to track your internet surfing habits. It knows every site you visit and every page on that site. Spyware also collects your personal information through software that tracks your actual keystrokes. If you fill in a form to make a purchase all your personal information, including name, address and credit card information can be tracked. The potential abuse of spyware tracking is also being discussed in some businesses that store secure information, such as credit card numbers or even medical records.

Adware is another type of spyware. It doesn't work by tracking your information as spyware does, but what it can do is actually change your browser settings without your consent. It can cause pop up ads to show on your computer. It can even place a new toolbar on your computer. Most people are unaware they even have any type of adware installed on their computer until their computer starts to slow down.

The spyware business is a billion dollar a year industry with people getting very rich selling the information they steal about you. There is a case currently in court in the State of New York against a spyware company. The outcome of this legal case will hopefully mean the end of secretly placed spyware.

In order to not fall prey to these types of malwares there are steps you can take. First, don't download freebies. A lot of services that are offered to you as "free" such as free music downloads are free per say, but the price you pay is allowing them to place spyware software or adware targeted advertisements on your computer. Read any agreements about the software very carefully before you download it.

Run an anti spyware software program often along with your virus protection software. Generally spyware and adware are designed to be difficult to remove from you computer and they leave behind "ticklers" which reinstall the software.

What Is Adware?

2005-09-29T18:10:00.000-07:00

Adware is one of many "malwares" or malicious software programs that are unknowingly installed on your computer when you visit online sites and download freebies. When you use share files or visit sites with free downloads of wallpaper, videos, or music, some of these sites will send along adware software with your download.

These malwares are a rapidly growing threat to all computer systems. It is estimated that in the first three months of 2005 over 80% of computer users had some type of malware software program running on their computer, without their knowledge.

Although it is much less a threat to your computer and information than spyware is, what adware will do is cause pop up banners and advertisements to appear on your computer. These advertisements are displayed on your computer no matter what program you might be using. What the people who place this type of nuisance software on you computer say is that adware advertising helps them to recover costs and allows them to offer you those freebies you want.

What you want to do to stop adware from appearing on your computer is to first run an anti-adware program. Run this program on demand regularly. Along with an anti-adware software program run your regular computer virus scan on demand also.

Check the security level on your computer. You security level setting should be at least medium to help protect you from unwanted downloads.

Do not download free files from the internet, period. When downloading any software read the end-user license agreement. Some of these agreements will state that when you download their software you are also agreeing to accept a downloaded spyware that may be placed on your computer at the same time.

Be aware of threats to your computer, and your personal information.

Other: Skype Lets You Make Free Phone Calls Online

2005-09-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

Everywhere you turn phone companies offer 3 or 5-cent long distance phone calls, or even unlimited long distance for a flat fee monthly.

Now you can make reliable calls using the Internet for anywhere from 0 to 2.3-cents per minute.

Welcome to Skype, the Internet telephony company that has set the traditional telephone world on its ear.

Recently purchased by Ebay for 2.6 billion dollars, Skype stands ready to revolutionize worldwide voice communication simply because they enable you to carry on crystal clear voice communication with anyone else in the world with a either a phone or Internet connection.

What's the catch you ask?

Well, to make phone calls, you need a computer, a microphone, speakers, a modem, an Internet connection and the free Skype software you can download from www.skype.com

To make a free phone call, you need someone on the receiving end with a computer, Internet connection, and the Skype software installed.

To make a call from your computer to a land-based phone virtually anywhere in the world, you must pre-pay for calling minutes in blocks of 10 Euros (approximately $12 U.S.).

One block of calling minutes gets you about 500 minutes of calling time, or a little over 8 hours of talking time.

Skype uses a technology called IP telephony.

IP telephony first appeared commercially back in the lat 1990's with services like Dialpad.com, which initially offered phone calls from computers to land-based phones in exchange for watching online advertising.

This model soon failed, but the thought of making ultra-cheap phone calls through a computer did not.

And, as the recent mega sale of Skype reveals, a market now exists that can put Internet telephony to work on a grand scale, or at least large enough to make eBay pony up with a lot of cash and stock to give it a try.

Once you install the software, you log onto the service and can make phone calls to other Skype users through their computers at no charge.

You can set up a call list, much like an instant messaging "buddy list" so with a couple clicks of the mouse you can ring your friends up for a chat.

Or, if you pre-pay for calling minutes, you can enter in the country code and phone number of your pals, click a button, and their phone or cell phone will ring.

Skype also allows you to hold conference calls with up to 4 other people at the same time, making it easy to hold group meetings.

Skype includes a group chat feature which allows you to hold a group chat session with up to 48 other people at the same time... excellent for "webinars" or even planning that next family reunion.

Skype also allows you to transfer files to and from other users, perfect for sharing photos, music and short video clips with your pals.

Tip: Get a good headset microphone.

It makes using the service more enjoyable and also eliminates the echo created by your own speakers feeding back into your PC's microphone.

Other: Ten Things I Learned the Hard Way: A Guide to Building Software

2005-09-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

Somewhere in the mid 90's, my company, Brook Group, underwent rapid growth as it converted from being an advertising and design firm to a web services firm. We were running 3 shifts at the time and we only had one manager: me. Coming from a design background, I had a lot of (sometimes very difficult) lessons to learn about technology projects and managing folks who make technology products.

I imagined a way for me to post tasks for each employee without knowing HTML, to make managing the late night folks easier. My programmer created it and the lightbulb went on. Wouldn't it be great if we could create a series of these types of widgets to allow any user to post content to the web without knowing HTML? And that is when Tacklebox, my enterprise content management system, was born.

I have survived building 4 versions of Tacklebox, the latest of which was actually launched. I learned these lessons the hard way and I want to share them with anyone tackling that sort of project. Think of this as a fundamental, practical, elementary guide to building a software product.

1. Patience is a Virtue. If you are starting from scratch and you are not well-funded, and you plan on bootstrapping the development effort, realize that patience is a virtue.

2. Know thyself. This means know your limitations. If you don't know how to do software product development and you are bootstrapping and starting from scratch, get people involved who do know how to do software development, product development, project management, product pricing, product marketing... You be the entrepreneur, idea person, but don't try to head everything up yourself; you will fail out of the gate.

3. Make Something. Don't go to Venture Capital folks or potential partners with a flip chart and a pitch that sounds something like, "This is going to be really cool"... VCs want to see a working product. And do not go to VCs too early; you might lose your chance to get funded because you haven't done your homework.

4. Plan. Plan. Plan. Start the project with a plan. It can have basic elements like what this product is going to fix, what is the business problem, who is the audience, and on several levels, why it will be better than the competition? And yes, you do have competition.

5. Get the Right People involved. Whether you're hiring or looking for a partner, two guys in a garage are not the best choice for building a software product. Sometimes those two guys in a garage dress up good. Maybe they move into an office space and start a company like real grownups. You had better make sure you can identify the difference between a real company and two guys in a garage that just graduated. Ask them if they have business insurance, errors and omissions insurance; ask them for Service Level Agreements. Talk to them about CMM levels.

6. Don't use proprietary anything to build your software. You'll be tied to that proprietary code forever, or it will cost you a small fortune to have it removed from your source code.

7. Independents are independent. They will hold you hostage one day. Don't hire independents to build your product. If you hire a team to build your product, focus on hiring "company people."

8. 95% of your success will come from hiring the right and best people, 5% by training people. Don't hire to train, unless you have the best and brightest around to do the training, and a multi-year commitment from those who are getting trained that they will stick around!

9. A caution about partnering. You don't want your intellectual capital sitting in the brain of a contractor. Make sure that whatever you do, you own your source code outright. You need to hire the right people and make sure that their knowledge -- your capital -- stays at home.

10. Always learn from your mistakes. Sometimes we joke about when we are going to stop learning lessons the hard way. Probably never, but make sure you learn each mistake, so you don't repeat it. And just when you think it's safe, new ones will be right around the corner.

Other: What Is Broadband

2005-09-28T12:26:00.000-07:00

All About Broadband

Defining broadband in simple terms

There are so many different ways to define broadband. The most obvious definition is basically a transmission medium that lets a person send and receive various types of data along multiple pathways. This is far better than voice communication devices. In the simplest terms, it is being able to access a wide range of data through a single connection at a speed that is reasonable.

The difference between traditional dial-up connections and broadband is great. A phone line limits the amount of information that can be sent and received because it only has 56kbps. In contrast, the width of a broadband connection is greater than 2 mbps. This allows a person to access many different frequencies and channels on its wide pathway. It has made life much simpler for those that like to play video games on the Internet and also for those people who do things like heavy graphics work. They can now import, send and receive large amounts of data quickly and easily.

The minimum width of a broadband pathway is still being debated. When broadband first came onto the scene, it was defined as any line that was greater than 2 mbps in width. It has been suggested by experts that the definition of a broadband pathway should be at least 3 mbps. There are others who have complained that it should be at least 20 mbps. The debate continues to rage on, and now people that wish to give a broadband connection a trial use often have service at 1 mbps. The point is that people cannot really agree what the minimum width of bandwidth should be for it to be called broadband. Even DSL service, which ranges between 256kbps of capacity on the downstream and over 1.5 mbps on the upstream capacity, is being labeled as broadband. This current definition of broadband also includes cable TV modems, which operate at similar speeds. The bottom line is that anything that is larger than the narrow line of a telephone line, which will only hold 64 kbps, falls under the technical definition of broadband.

Nowadays, nearly everyone has broadband service. When the Internet began to be more popular with the general population, most people were content with the narrow line dial-up Internet services. But we have a need for speed these days. Files and Web pages have become more complicated, and this requires more storage space and memory. The need to send and receive bulky amounts of information quickly has become the norm, so broadband service is the answer to these needs. It is hard to find anyone who uses dial-up service these days. Everyone wants to take advantage of the benefits of broadband. These benefits are now considered essential to every type of office worker that uses a computer in their daily job. The only people who probably don't consider broadband important are those that don't make a living with their computer. However, this too, is changing, as more telecommuting jobs become available..

Backing up software: Insure Your Information

2005-09-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

There are so many ways to lose precious data stored on your hard disk - power loss or power surge, overheating, electrostatic discharge, virus attack, software failure, etc. Are you still thinking your data is safe? Don't! Backup! Backup early, backup frequently.

ABF Outlook Express Backup
ABF Outlook Express Backup is a backup and synchronization tool for the popular Outlook Express mail client. It allows you to backup and restore your messages, address book, settings, mail and news accounts, message rules, blocked senders lists, signatures, and even your favorites. All backup functions can be processed either separately or together. The user can choose the identity to save or restore data. ABF OE Backup allows you to backup data on the one computer and restore to another. This feature makes ABF Outlook Express Backup not just a backup program but also an ideal and perfectly functional synchronization tool. This program is easy to use and has a simplified user interface, very useful for beginners. The user interface is multilingual.

WinBackup 2.0 Standard
Awarded Best Backup Software by Computer Shopper and termed "exceptionally simple to use" by PC World, WinBackup 2.0 Standard is now the obvious choice for home and small office users. Being one of the most efficient and reliable backup solutions available WinBackup 2.0 Standard will help you save both time and money.

WinBackup 2.0 Standard, the fastest backup and recovery software on the market, allows you to secure all your valuable data within minutes. Featuring a Windows-familiar and intuitive graphical user interface, WinBackup 2.0 Standard makes it extremely easy to set up and run regular backups in your existing environment. With shortcuts to over a 100 of the most popular applications, WinBackup 2.0 Standard makes it possible to easily and quickly backup emails, address books, bookmarks, digital images, financial documents and other records at the click of a button. Home and small office users can rely completely on WinBackup 2.0 Standard for full data consistency and integrity without compromising superior performance.

Acronis True Image 8.0
The complete disk imaging, system disk backup, and bare metal restore for workstations and home PCs

Acronis True Image allows to create an exact disk backup image for complete system backup and disk cloning providing the most comprehensive data protection.

The disk backup file contains the exact copy of a hard disk, including all the computer data, operating system, and programs.

After a system crash you can restore the entire system or simply replace lost files and folders from your disk backup.

Based on the exclusive Acronis Drive Snapshot disk imaging technology, Acronis True Image allows to create an online system disk backup without reboot to keep the system productive. The product provides the fastest bare metal restore dramatically reducing a downtime and your IT costs.

For the complete server disk imaging, system disk backup, and bare metal restore see Acronis True Image Server

Key features:

* Online system disk backup and instant bare metal system restore
* Restore individual files and folders
* Integrated compression and password protection
* Disk imaging and disk cloning
* Incremental disk backup and disk backup image verification
* Acronis Secure Zone and Acronis Startup Recovery Manager

CompuApps Renaissance 2006 SE
Renaissance is a simple yet powerful Backup application that provides user the peace of mind by its ease of use, comfort and security, with optional verification. Renaissance enables selection of data with a quick and easy to use wizards. Comprehensive scheduling options allow the user to do backups at idle time, thus making the backup a painless and interference free process.

Protects servers, business-critical applications, desktops, and notebooks
Easy to set up and manage
Fast, reliable, secure backups
Smart restores with unparalleled accuracy
Backup to hard disks and removable disks
Simplifies media management

Major Functions
Dual Backup & Protection
Zero-Touch Backup
Value Pick
Find Files

Software Oasis Backup Utility
COMPLETE PC BACKUP SOLUTION

Quickly and easily create scheduled or instant backups of your sensitive data with the Software OasisВ® Backup UtilityTM. Just set up the software, schedule your backup and the utility will automatically begin protecting your data. Ease of use is the key to the Software Oasis Backup Utility. An intuitive graphical user interface makes creating backups a breeze.

CREATE YOUR BACKUP STRATEGY

Now you can check one more item off of your list of things to remember. Just set it up once and the Software Oasis Backup Utility will automatically begin creating your daily or periodic backups. The utility provides you with the option to create an instant backup as well.

REMOVABLE MEDIA BACKUPS

Backup your files to any removable media or drive including IDE, SCSI, parallel or USB backup devices. The Software Oasis Backup Utility works with all popular devices including IomegaВ® Zip drives, DAT drives, Flash drives, Travan drives and more.

DISK TO DISK BACKUPS

With the dropping costs of hard drives, it is becoming more cost effective to backup your data direct to disk. Just choose your source and destination drive and schedule your backup with the Software Oasis Backup Utility.

COMPRESS YOUR BACKUPS

The Software Oasis Backup Utility can create a full backup as well as an optional zip backup. By compressing your data and documents, you can easily archive your data or transport it from one computer to another.

SECURE YOUR SENSITIVE BACKUP DATA

The Software Oasis Backup Utility gives you the option to include a unique password for the zip backup files that you create. Now you can easily and securely transport your sensitive data. Password protection provides advanced security for the sensitive information inside your zip file.

UNIVERSAL SUPPORT AND COMPATIBILITY

The Software Oasis Backup Utility is designed to work with MicrosoftВ® Windows XP, 2000, 98, ME and NT.

For More Information And Free Download:

ABF Outlook Express Backup

WinBackup 2.0 Standard

Acronis True Image 8.0

CompuApps Renaissance 2006 SE

Software Oasis Backup Utility

by Joe Light

Spyware: What Is Spyware?

2005-09-27T12:33:00.000-07:00

Spyware is a rapidly spreading online threat to your computer. It is estimated that in the first three months of 2005 over 80% of computer users had a computer unknowingly infected with spyware. You may have unintentionally downloaded spyware on your computer when you visited a site and downloaded software you wanted, or, when you downloaded that cute cartoon e mail program from your friend.

What spyware does is allow someone to observe your computer use and track your behavior on the computer. Some of these programs are keystroke loggers, adware and so-called system monitors. Generally those that maliciously install spyware software on your computer are being paid by a third party for the information they gain from tracking you and hundreds of thousands like you. It's said that spyware is a billion dollar industry, one that isn't going away anytime soon.

A lawsuit was recently filed in New York against a Los Angeles company called Intermix Media. The lawsuit is based upon the State of New York's General Business Law which prohibits false advertising and deceptive business practices and laws against trespass. A successful lawsuit against Intermix Media could spell doomsday to the spyware industry. Until then, you need to know what to do to protect your computer from spyware.

Once on your computer spyware can be very hard to remove. At it's best spyware will cause your computer to slow down. At its' worst spyware can change settings on your computer and display advertising you don't want.

There are many anti-spyware programs available on the market today. You should perform an on demand scan of your computer on a regular basis. It is suggested that you re-boot your computer after the initial scan and then re-scan to make sure that there are no "ticklers" left behind on your computer. These ticklers are designed to reinstall spyware. Don't forget to run your regular anti virus software on a regular basis.

Beware of free downloads of any type of files, music, video, free wall paper, etc. These can have hidden spyware.

by Mark Freeman

Web design: First things first

2005-09-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

How high is your expectation for the site you want to have? If online services is a major part of your business, then doing it properly and correctly to attain the desired result. People are given options regarding choosing a paid or free web hosting services nowadays. Taking the step towards what will make or break your company will be up to the choices that you will make regarding what to do with your web site. The important thing is for your site to be able to get your desired customers, get recognized and maintain a stable and strong status.
There are lots of providers online providing free web hosting for those who cannot afford the paid services. The only thing worth considering by using this service is if it can meet the standards you want your site to have. With life, in general, everything comes with a price. It seems that you cannot really have the best out of anything that comes for free. For the webmasters offering their free services especially for the online marketing needs of their clients, you should know that one way or another, they are getting something out out of you and that is mostly for their advantage also. If you see pop-ups and banners on your site, you should not be surprised to see that they are advertising other things not even related to what your site is about. A free web hosting basically means it is free as long as you agree to their requirements. To what they are capable of putting into your site. Besides, free also means a limited space which may not be enough for your site marketing needs.
Think of paid web hosting as your extended property that you are paying for because you own it. This ownership gives you more rights on what and what not to put into your site. Your online presence is reflected from the URL down to the contents without any irritating banners popping in every few seconds that drives your readers away. The pleasure of having more spaces to put on maximum contents and more email spaces for customers to contact you is an advantage in itself. Not to mention, all the advertisements about you.
In the end, the choice is for the site owners to make and opting for the best possible service that they think will give them more success to their businesses than failures. There are lots of thing you can do with your site to make them work to your advantage. But before you can do that, choose how you will go about your site first.
For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.webplacements.com

by Florie Lyn Masarate

Web hosting: Reasons for choosing PHP / MySQL Web Hosting

2005-09-26T04:12:00.000-07:00

So you have finally arrived at a stage where you to need to choose a web host to run your PHP & MySQL supported website. This means your website is dynamic, that is, it changes according to the feedback from your visitors or the data your MySQL database contains.
You may need PHP features in your web hosting for the following reasons:
[o] YOU NEED TO PROCESS THE WEB FORM USING php
Although there are numerous CGI scripts available (and many hosts provide these scripts for free), if you can, it is preferable to get your own script written to meet your specific requirements. The cgi scripts available at your web host are very generic in nature. If you have your own PHP script to handle your form, you can generate your own response when a visitor submits your form.
There are great many JavaScripts that can help you validate your forms, but these days many surfers prefer to disable scripts for the fearing on getting infected with worms and viruses. php script on the other hand a server-side script and nobody can stop them from running as long as the browser is loading the web page.
You can also send a customized "thank you" message to whoever submits the form. After sending the "thank you" message and emailing the form details to you, your customized php script can also save the submitted information in a php database.
[o] MANAGE PRODUCT CATALOGS WITH php & MySql DATABASE
You may like to generate your pages dynamically using data in your MySQL database. For example, if you want to maintain a catalog of 150 different wine bags, it would be arduous to maintain the details manually. Instead you can put information like price, shape, color, picture path, etc. in a database and then write a php page that, let us say, shows 10 wine bags at a time. The visitor thinks she's visited 15 pages, but there is only one dynamic page that is sequentially showing the products.
Additionally, if you want your visitors to be able to conduct searches (just red wine bags) you can upload a php script to your web host that shows only the wine bags that satisfy the search criteria.
[o] PUBLISH A BLOG
You may need a PHP/MySQL web host if you are planning to publish a regular blog.
Most blogging software these days, such as MovableType and WordPress use php and MySql to generate dynamic content. In fact, WordPress has been purely written using PHP and MySql so that people well-versed with the php programming language can make their own changes.
[o] MANAGE AN E-COMMERCE WEBSITE
Choosing a php / MySql web host is a great way to go if you want to run an e-commerce website. E-commerce websites indisputably need dynamic capabilities such as updatable shopping carts and inventory management systems that can be developed using php and MySql.
As they say, when it comes to imagination and innovation, the sky is the limited. A PHP/MySQL web host empowers you to create as many web-enabled capabilities as you can think of.
ADVANTAGES OF CHOOSING A php / MySql WEB HOST
Advantages of opting for php & MySql web hosting are: 1. php websites, since they are run on Linux and Unix, are considered more secure compared to Windows supported languages such as ASP and .NET. 2. Lots of free php source code is available on the Internet. There are hundreds of forums that readily provide you assistance while you learn and develop websites in php. 3. Both php and MySql are free from License fees. 4. php & MySql web hosting is much cheaper than Windows supported hosting 5. Applications written in php are sturdier and easily scalable to various web hosting environments. Notably, php scripts can be run on Windows hosting but ASP and .NET apps do not work on Linux and Unix.

by Rodel Garcia

Spyware: The Spy Who Robbed Me: What You Need To Know About Spyware

2005-09-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

With the exception of those who are competing in reality TV shows, who wants to be watched? Who wants to be seen in their most vulnerable and private moments? Who wants to be deprived of his privacy and his freedom to keep things for himself?

Most importantly, who wants to jeopardize his security by unwittingly exposing the things he should be keeping a secret to someone who's watching from afar?

Before you start thinking that we're referring to a psychopathic voyeur who is observing you from the building adjacent to your house, let us clarify that we're going to discuss about spyware. Yes. Spyware: a program which has been the bane to Internet users for the past three years.

Spyware is one of those things that were invented for a good purpose, but was eventually exploited in time. Spyware was originally meant as a tool that would allow you to monitor the usage of your PC terminal while you're away from the keyboard so that you can prevent illegal access to the same.

Eventually, it found other borderline uses, like catching a cheating spouse or significant other, prying on your daughter's liaisons, and watching over your children's Internet activities from a remote computer.

From pure to gray to black, spyware has now become a backdoor to high technology security protocols. It does this without hacking any system, rather, by deluding a user into unwittingly installing the spyware program on his PC.

From there, the program would work invisibly, sending key logs, or log files of the characters you have punched on your keyboard, to someone else on a remote terminal. This is why spyware is also called as a key logger program.

Eventually, spyware evolved into more damaging forms. Today, you would have invisible scripts redirecting you to certain websites which you have not chosen to view, or pop-ups that keep sprouting left and right even if you're viewing a pop-up free website.

This has led the Anti-Spyware Coalition, a group of industry giants who are adversely affected by this digital malady as well, to define spyware as something that "impairs users control over material changes that affect their user experience, privacy or system security; use of their system resources, including what programs are installed on their computers; or collection, use and distribution of their personal or otherwise sensitive information."

The security risks posed by spyware programs cannot be ignored. Imagine engaging in an online transaction wherein you send your credit card details in a secured network, only to stand losing such details once you log off as your key logs would be sent to someone else. Also, personal details can also be stolen, resulting into a greater risk for your actual safety.

But it is the violation of your rights that is the biggest issue. With spyware, your freedom of choice and to feel secure about your personal effects is deprived of you. This has no room in a civilized society.

Indeed, spyware is a modern day disease that should be curbed. It now comes in a variety of forms aside from the aforementioned key loggers:

ADWARE - is an invisible program that sends specific banners for you to see. It may sound innocent, but this program actually compels your PC to send personal details to the mother source so that the latter may know which ads to display.

HIJACKERS - these are programs that take control of your browsers, opening up pages which you do not choose to view.

MALWARE - these are programs which are not spyware per se, but operate under the same principle. They are persistent scripts that don't seem to stop until your data are destroyed. Examples of these programs are Trojans and worm viruses.

There are a lot of free tools in the World Wide Web that would allow you to rid your computer of these malicious programs. Sometimes, however, the process of cleaning up results in the loss of valuable files.

The maxim "an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure" seems to be the best policy against spyware. Always update your anti-virus system, so that spyware may not be allowed to incubate in your hard drive.

by Sean Felker

HowAdvertising: I got paid $250 for reporting an Adsense Cheater!

2005-09-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you a story about karma and how I made $250 by reporting an Adsense cheater!

It started when I came upon a web site where some kid was blatantly breaking the rules by asking his buddies to click on his Adsense ads.

This has got to be one of my biggest pet peeves! Why do people think they can break the rules at the expense of other peoples' AdWords budgets?

So I did what a lot of people do... I contacted Google!

I figured Google would shut this punk down immediately. Boy was I wrong!

Every time I went back to this kid's web site the message asking his friends to click the ads were still there! This went on for a few weeks and I really started to get ticked off at the lack of response on Google's part.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I used this software I created called "Google Sponsor Lister" (You can get it at AdsenseSchool.com) to find every sponsor who was targeting this kid's niche.

I contacted each sponsor directly and told them there was a chance their ads were being displayed on a cheater's site. I figured if THEY complained to Google, something would happen!

Well I guess I was right! One of the sponsors emailed me back two days later and said:

"I want to thank you for pointing out the kids clicking on my ads. I turned it over to my Google rep, and he called today to let me know Google is disabling their account. Also, he said Google is crediting me a decent amount for fraudulent clicks over the last quarter. What's your address? I'd like to send you a little thank you gift."

How awesome is that? I was so excited! Not because he was going to send me a "thank you gift"... but because I figured out how to get that punk's shut down!

It's funny how Google shut this kid down in TWO DAYS because a sponsor contacted them but when I had been trying for weeks, nothing happened. Makes you think...

Anyway... I told him he didn't have to thank me and he definitely didn't need to send me a gift. I was just happy to know I saved him a couple bucks and this punk got his account canceled.

He replied with the following...

"Thanks again. I actually spend several hundred thousand dollars a month on Google, so at least they responded to me quickly. Also, the rebate they gave me was fairly substantial (several thousand). I'd really like to buy you an Amazon gift certificate or an iPod or something if you'd like to tell me how to send it to you, because I don't think I would have been proactive about this if you hadn't contacted me. Either way, it's great that you're being a good samaritan."

SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS? I thought I saved him a couple bucks at most!

I was floored when I read that because I knew Adsense cheaters hurt sponsors but I never thought it was that bad!

So I told him if he REALLY wanted to send me an iPod or an Amazon gift certificate, I wouldn't stop him! ;-)

He ended up sending me an Amazon.com gift certificate worth $250!

Long story short... I am now a true believer in Karma! :-D

I think this teaches us a couple important lessons...

First, telling Google about Adsense cheaters is fruitless... but informing the sponsors, and asking them to contact Google, works immediately!

And second, ripping off AdWords sponsors is big business. Don't think for a second it's a victimless crime!

Oh and now I'm a true believer in Karma!

Maybe you won't make $250... but at the very least you'll help get rid of another Adsense thief and save a business owner some money!

by Adsense School

Domain Names: Picking A Great Domain Name

2005-09-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

Why are so many dot-com ventures guaranteed to fail or a best achieving luck luster results on the internet? Because they haven't wisely invested the time, energy and thought power into creating a memorable domain name. So before choosing a domain name, consider a few ideas.

First of all, consider the real estate term location, location, location. You need to think of your domain extension as a location, as most web surfers expect to see dot-com after a URL. Many surfers automatically type in dot-com at the end of the domain name even if you advertise your domain as dot-net or dot-org. I'm not saying you can't build something great using other extensions, its just a lot harder.

So what works?

Short, simple, real words that are easy to spell and create a lasting impression. For website on health care products, for example www.cloud9.com or www.clondnine.com would work. www.bestexperiencehealthcare.com most likely wouldn't.

Also your domain name should tell the search engines what you are all about. Since few surfers would search directly for www.clondnine.com, www.cloud-nine.com might be a better option.

Simple may be best and you want a name that is to memorable, but don't make your domain name to generic. www.money.com is simple and easy to remember, but it doesn't create a memorable association with a particular product or brand name. Think of a name to grabs to the surfers attention. Instead of www.money.com try www.moneymatters.com.

A great domain name in its self won't keep your business afloat, but if it at least creates a memorable association and draws surfers to your site you're already halfway there.

by P. Robert Roderick

Web design: Create your own Website

2005-09-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Web Coast Design, Inc launches Create Your Own Website, www.cyow.com

The most innovative site to date, using cutting edge technology.

Web Coast Design, a web development firm commenced their arrival as a powerhouse Web Development presence when they introduced C.Y.O.W; a valuable web marketing solution for small businesses to create websites. Baguio City, Philippines - May 27, 2005 - Web Coast Design, Inc today announced the creation of www.cyow.com . Create Your Own Website provides affordable solutions for any small business to have an online presence on the Internet. C.Y.O.W provides people with the means for building a webpage and the construction of websites.

Up to now, only large companies or government agencies have been able to afford to take advantage of this technology revolution by having a website. Website makers are now average people who can create personal websites with C.Y.O.W's web builders. There were an estimated 11.5 million Internet users in the Philippines alone in 2004, and is projected to increase by more than 70 percent to 20 million by 2007.

Bringing the latest in web development tools to the public, the director of Web Coast Design, Ian Agibuay , said " Where it used to be only in the hands of 'professionals,' a lot of hard work went into simplifying a very complex technology such that an average businessman or person can easily create their own website with little or no budget." The target market for CYOW is initially the Philippines and USA , but C.Y.O.W. has been designed to support other Asian languages, including Japanese, Korean and simplified Chinese. "As we continue to grow, C.Y.O.W will mature to become a gathering place where people - of all skill level - can go to easily develop their own website."

Most people ask how can I create my own website. To create a website, requires many components. For example you have to pay for Hosting, Domain Names, and Design Services. C.Y.O.W simplifies the complete process and reduces the cost by combining all these items into one low cost service. C.Y.O.W provides to both professional web designers as well as the inexperienced person a step by step approach that does not require any web development skills. With our website building software anyone can be website creators.

C.Y.O.W. sales agent and marketing representative Christine Caoile has worked with numerous clienteles from Baguio City to Manila said, "The number one concern initially for most companies is, the cost of a website, yet once they see how cost effective it is, they see the value in investing their time and money to create their own website." Having a website is not just for larger companies anymore, and it isn't a luxury. It's becoming as basic as a phone listing or a business card. A site on the World Wide Web helps put your business on the map and shows that you're serious about business.

Organizations like the Rotary Club of Baguio City have the capability of acquiring new members, while businesses like Travel Agencies can increase their clientele by making information easily available. "One website owner has said after posting his store hours, specials, and directions to his place, he has seen his sales increased," said Christine.

C.Y.O.W - Site Wizard -- uses a simple designed 3 step process. Integrated are all the design tools, free header design, email accounts, high quality designs, hundreds of templates available to each account, personalized homepages, and page wizards. We also include statistical analysis, 3 rd party programs and even site back-ups. There are a large number of templates, in a wide range of categories. The statistics page tracks the number of hits, referrals, and page access. No longer will there be the question where can I create my own website.

Web Coast Design, Inc is located in Baguio City , Philippines , 4th Floor, EDT

Building (Formerly Puso ng Baguio ) Session Road, Baguio City and is actively looking for Resellers as it expands it sales throughout the Philippines.

CYOW is owned and operated by Web Coast Designs, LLC: a better solution in Web Design and Development services. You can sign up for a free 10 day trial website in less than 15 minutes For additional information about CYOW, you can visit their website at http://www.cyow.com

CONTACT INFORMATION Ian Agibuay 4th Floor EDT BLDG Puso Ng Baguio Sessioin Rd Baguio City 2600 PI Phone: 074 446 8644 http://www.cyow.com

by Lynn Kalashian

Wireless: Wireless Home Networking - Choosing The Right One

2005-09-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

Are you suffering from home wireless networking nightmare? There are so many options. 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g - what is all that? All you want is to get online on your notebook computer in your living room without tripping over wires.

First thing you should know is, all of them will get you online or network your computers together. The difference lies in speed, connection quality and more important today, security.

802.11a offers one of the fastest wireless home networking speeds because it runs on a much higher frequency that few other home electronics like phones and microwaves can interfere with. It can also accommodate more computers connected simultaneously - which is why more businesses use it since it's unlikely a typical wireless home networking setup requires so many connections. So this sounds like the perfect solution right?

Yes and no. The high frequency apparently is its worst feature as well. Many experts will tell you higher frequencies are easily absorbed and result in shorter ranges. It also means it's less able to overcome obstructions like walls.

That's not all. 802.11a and 802.11b are two separate frequencies so if you have a notebook computer capable of connecting to only 802.11a networks, it won't work in a 802.11b setup and vice versa. But, this is probably one of your least worries because many wireless connectivity hardware today are capable of connecting to either one.

802.11b uses a lower frequency. So that expands the connection range but that also means it shares the airspace with other electronics and will likely experience much more interference. On top of that, experts advise that 802.11b networks are weaker when it comes to encryption and security. Also, as you expand your range, you're also more prone to people trying to crack into your network from further away and more concealed places. That's certainly an interesting point.

Finally, but definitely not lastly (there are many more 802.11 variations than presented here), is 802.11g. This is somewhat of a hybrid of the two earlier standards. First it uses the same frequency as 802.11b so, you get the benefit of a wider range. Secondly it's capable of much faster speeds like 802.11a. The third plus is it's also compatible with 802.11b networks. So you don't have to get new hardware to make connections with an older network or newer network (depending what you have currently). And, since it's a newer standard, encryption is also better, and that means you can better secure your home network.

However, 802.11g wireless home networking hardware still costs more to set up than 802.11a but considering the many plusses it has going for it, this is at time of writing the best choice for your wireless home networking setup. Besides, there are plenty specials going on, prices are coming down rather rapidly for both routers and network cards.

by Lynn Chan

Spam: Anti Spam at the Enterprise Level

2005-09-23T15:19:00.000-07:00

Every one of us knows how spam impacts us. Every day we either get a ton of spam - or if we're fairly well protected by spam filters - only a few pieces.

Like a large number of people, I don't use any spam filters. Ah. You think I'm insane. But wait. My problem is that I get a lot of email from marketing types which I want to receive. And the spam filtering software is not very sensitive to my needs. Even white-listing doesn't always work. So, I prefer to get all that spam and just delete it.

Now this solution can work for me despite the time it takes to delete my daily overdose of spam. However, at the enterprise level, it's a whole different story. If you have a relatively large internal network with even a modest number of email users, you're looking at a major problem. And the more users you have, the worse the problem is.

Sure, you can put up software on the mail server. Works, kind of. But pretty soon you may find you need to upgrade the mail server. And that's after you already put it on a stand-alone machine.

Rather than continuing to buy ever more expensive software to run on a machine that keeps needing to be upgraded, you might want to think about a dedicated anti spam appliance.

To give you some idea of what's possible let's take a look at Barracuda Networks dedicated anti spam appliance. All you need to do is put this baby in front of your mail server. I say baby, advisedly because this one will learn by doing and by training provided by your users.

Dean Drako, CEO of Barracuda Networks said, "Bayesian filtering is still one of the most accurate defenses against spam. The new plug-ins allow users to directly train the Bayesian filter, making the Barracuda Spam Firewall even more accurate based on the users individual email preferences. Viruses and other threats can infect the network quickly if they are not stopped at the network edge. With Intent Analysis our customers have an advantage over these threats because the Barracuda Spam Firewall is able to block them real time. Consequently we have consistently been a first responder when some of the most malicious virus attacks have hit, saving our customers from potentially devastating damage to their networks."

This is one beautiful little machine. A Barracuda Spam Firewall can support from 1,000 to 30,000 active users. It can usually be installed in less than five minutes and receives automatic hourly updates for new forms of spam and viruses. It has a 10 layer defense system beyond the use of open source anti spam and anti virus solutions: denial of service and security protection, IP block list, rate control, virus check with archive decompression, proprietary virus check, user specified rules, spam fingerprint check, Intent Analysis, spam rule-based scoring, and Bayesian analysis. Plus it also does both inbound and outbound email filtering with the inclusion of sophisticated outbound email filtering techniques (just in case you've got a spam zombie on board or somebody's got an infected PC).

However, it isn't exactly cheap. Still, when you consider the time, bandwidth, user frustration and potential hardware upgrade costs, the price may look a lot more reasonable. You can check it out at http://www.barracudanetworks.com/

If you are in the market for an anti-spam appliance, the Barracuda Spam Firewall isn't your only choice. The impact of spam on internet businesses - even those who primarily use it for just email - is so great that a simple search for "anti spam appliance" will find you a number of alternatives to examine. Even McAfee is getting into the anti spam hardware game.

I'm hoping that it won't be too long before I can pick up a Bayesian multi-level anti spam, anti virus firewall appliance for my home PC that keeps me safe and cuts my need to delete without deep-sixing the email I want or costing me more than I can afford. I suspect it's on the way.

Buying: Ebay Auction Buyer's Tips And Tricks.

2005-09-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

eBay isn't just an auction and a marketplace: often it can feel quite a lot like a game. Like any game, you can get ahead if you think strategically, using your head to outwit the other buyers and get the best price. Here are a few things you can try.

Shop in the Summer.

This is simple, but effective. Summer is the quiet season on eBay - almost everything sells for less. While everyone else is out enjoying the sun, invest a little time to find some real bargains.

Beat Them by a Few Cents.

Outbid people by a few cents instead of a few dollars - if they don't check back before the auction ends, then you will be the winner. To avoid people using this tactic on you, though, always bid strange, hard-to-guess amounts instead of round numbers.

Play Dirty.

If you know when the auction ends, you can get in there at the very last second and outbid your rivals. The chances are that they won't have the time to sit in front of the auction waiting for it to end - as a rule, he who stays wins. If someone else does retaliate at the end of the auction, though, try not to get carried away in those last few seconds and end up paying too much!

Take Risks.

This is a strategy for the braver eBay buyer. All of the advice you will see for eBay beginners tells you to buy items that have good pictures, clear descriptions, trustworthy sellers and all the rest. If you're brave, why not take a risk and do the exact opposite?

Many buyers won't want that item from the seller with a feedback rating of 5, no picture and a one-line description. If you take a calculated risk and bid anyway, you might be able to make a tiny bid and win by default. There are people on eBay who make their living from winning auctions like these, taking good pictures of the item, writing a good description and then reselling it at a huge profit. Be careful, though: do this for long enough, and you will inevitably lose your money at some point. It's especially unwise to try it with very high-value items.

Avoid Bidding Wars.

There are few things on eBay that are so rare that you'll only see them once and never again. There are usually quite a few sellers who have an item. What's more, they will generally have more than one to sell, even if they haven't listed them all at once. Always check your seller's history to see whether they sell your item all the time - and if they do, then wait for the next one instead of bidding to the skies.

Now, there may come a time in your eBay life when you realise that you've screwed up your bid, and you wish there was an 'undo' button. Here's the good news for you: there is! The next email will be all about withdrawing your eBay bids.

by Kirsten Hawkins

Security: Protect your Computer and Internet Privacy

2005-09-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

Is a known fact that every time you open a browser to view a web page, order something online, or read your email in a web based viewer that information is stored on your computer for later use. Whether you are viewing the weather online, reading sports, catching up on the latest world news or viewing something a little more private, all that information is stored in your computer. Windows operating systems store all this material in what are called Temporary Internet Files or cache. Web pages may store bits of information about who you are when you visit web sites in files called cookies on your computer. Your web browser will store a list of web sites you've visited and places you've gone in a history file in your computer. Even if you are not online, programs will store histories of the files you've opened, played, or viewed.

Generally there might not be any reason to worry about all these files in your computer, but what if you sell your computer and all that information is left for someone else to see. Maybe friends and relatives visit and use your computer and you dont want everyone to know what files you are running on your computer. Then you are going to want to know how to delete these files.

Even if you are not worried about privacy on your computer, you may be surprised to realize how much hard drive space all this information takes up. If you are running out of drive space, you may want to delete these files.

How can I delete these files?

For Internet Explorer 5 and above, you can follow these directions to clear out temporary files and delete cookies.

1) Open Internet Explorer and click on Tools 2) Click on Internet Options 3) On the General Tab, in the middle of the screen, click on Delete Files 4) You may also want to check the box "Delete all offline content" 5) Click on OK and wait for the hourglass icon to stop after it deletes the temporary internet files 6) You can now click on Delete Cookies and click OK to delete cookies that websites have placed on your hard drive.

To clear the Internet History in IE:

1) Open Internet Explorer and click on Tools 2) Click on Internet Options 3) On the General Tab, in the middle of the screen, click on Clear History 4) Click OK

To clean up other temporary files on your computer in Windows 98 or higher:

1) Click Start, Programs (or All Programs), Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup 2) Choose the correct drive usually C:\ 3) Check the boxes in the list and delete the files

This deleting method is only good if you want to free space, because normal file deletion only removes a file's directory entry, and leaves the data contained in the file on your hard drive, which can be easily recovered by any average computer user using a undelete utility. If you delete cookies or if you delete history using conventional methods anyone can recover them! Even after a hard drive format, files can be recovered using expensive hardware and software which use forensic latency track analysis algorithms.

There are several good utilities such as Privacy Guard that delete cookies and delete history beyond recovery.

by Alex Marias

Spyware: Digital Espionage : Spyware

2005-09-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

Is your computer acting strangely? Do you try to go to a web site and your browser takes you somewhere else? Do you have a toolbar on your browser that you do not want, and have no idea how to get rid of? Got pop-ups? If so your computer may be infected with spyware.
Spyware is software that installs itself to your computer (usually without permission or with its permissions buried deep in an end-user agreement). It then proceeds to track your surfing habits and transmit the information to third parties. Spyware can also cause other irritating things to happen, such as browser redirection, system slow down, and pop-ups.
Fortunately there are several handy programs to get rid of spyware. The most notable are Spybot Search and Destroy, Lavasoft Ad-aware SE, and most recently Microsoft Antispyware. These programs usually do a very good job of removing spyware from an infected computer. However, it is a good idea to run a combination of these programs as one may catch something that another has missed.
There is a small catch in the spyware information industry. Typically people who are giving you information about spyware/malware are doing so in order to get you to purchase their own company's product. Although their intentions may seem to be clear and fair, they may be misleading the consumer into a belief that their computer is more protected than it really is. As with all spyware/malware/antivirus products, the companies want you to believe that their product is the end-all, be-all solution to your problems. There are a few failures in that summation though: Not all products are created equally, not all products can catch ALL variants, and not all products are worthy of an install.
In the end, the answer is entirely in the hands of the end user to choose a product. My advice to the end-user is to not choose a product based on fear or lack of knowledge. True, the companies that are advertising to you know more about spyware/malware than you do... but they are also slanting their views to direct you towards their product over the competitor.

by Brandon Burke

How To Take Good Care Of General computer: Your Computer Even If You Are A Clueless Newbie

2005-09-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

You know you should take care of your computer, but you don't know what registry is and what's the difference between hard-drive and memory stick is. Don't worry, these tools will do it for you and you don't even have to set them up.

O&O Defrag Professional (O&O Software GmbH)

The new O&O Defrag Professional Edition for Windows-based workstations unlocks the hidden performance of your computer. This software will optimize your hard disk in Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows NT 4 Workstation, securely repacking fragmented files together for more efficiency. O&O Defrag's O&O OneButtonDefrag Technology lets you sit back and relax while the optimal defragmentation configuration is tailored directly to your system. A job is created and then executed, making performance improvements on your system noticably faster. Even in large networks, this sort of automation can lead to unbelievable savings in network administration resources.

Webroot Window Washer (Webroot Software)

Many people do not realize that Internet browsers, as well as many other software products, store information about what they have been doing on their computer systems. Anyone can simply turn on your system and see exactly what you have been doing on your computer. Also, the tracks that are left behind can take up large quantities of valuable hard drive space. Recovering this space can be very beneficial by improving the overall speed and performance of a computer.

Cleaning up the history of your activities can be a tedious chore of manually removing each history file or entry. If privacy and disk space are to be maintained, this process must be performed every time you use your computer. Window Washer can automatically clean up your browser's cache, cookies, history, recent document list, and much more! Window Washer can run in the background and clean up your tracks when you are done surfing the internet or any other time you choose.

Acronis Disk Director (Acronis)

Acronis Disk Director Suite is disk partitioning software that allows you to automatically or manually resize, copy, and move partitions without losing data. It also lets you reorganize the hard disk drive structure and optimize disk space usage. Acronis Disk Director Suite provides a powerful, reliable, and easy-to-use way to manage booting of multiple operating systems on a single PC.

Disk Director's integrated Disk Editor program is the only utility in a consumer-level package that can read and write raw data directly from NTFS disks, and only experts should touch it. The interface is packed with essential tools for jumping to special disk sectors like partition tables and boot sectors. The help system is a detailed technical reference to disk structures.

Download Links:

http://www.deprice.com/oodefragpro.htm

http://www.deprice.com/webrootwindowwasher.htm

http://www.deprice.com/acronisdiskdirectorsuite.htm

by John Deprice

Spyware: Reclaim Your PC from the Internet Spies

2005-09-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

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 %%

by Jason Frovich

Web hosting: Web Hosting Do's and Dont's

2005-09-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

The following is a simple list of the steps you should take and mistakes to avoid when searching for a web host. Follow these guidelines and your chance of finding a web host that meets your needs will increase.

Web Hosting Do's
Follow these guidelines and you will have a better chance of finding a reliable hosting solution.

Research
Spend time reading what others have to say about the hosting companies you are looking at. Read reviews and investigate into the history of the company. How long have they been in business? What data centers are they located in? How many customers do they have and do they have enough employees to support them? These are all questions you should know before choosing a web host.

Contact Support
Contact your potential hosts and ask them a few simple questions about their service. The main goal is to gauge their response time and the quality of their reply.

Know Your Requirements
You may WANT gigs of space and bandwidth, but do you really NEED them. If not, do not waste money paying for bandwidth and storage space that will not be used. On the other hand, if you use a lot of resources you should purchase hosting with a little head room just in case you have spikes in traffic. This way you can avoid any overage charges.
Have a Good Backup Plan
Do not rely on your host to keep backups of your sites. Most don't and if they do they could be weeks or even months old. If you keep good backups you will suffer little downtime and data loss if you ever do have problems with your host and need to move elsewhere.

Web Hosting Dont's
Avoid these hosting mistakes at all cost or face the consequences!

Choosing a Host On Price Alone
Do not chose a web host based only on their pricing. Their are many cheap hosting providers and with most you get what you pay for. Very little. If the price you are quoted seems to good to be true, it probably is. Expect to pay at least .50 cents for every gigabyte of bandwith for average reliability and three or four times that if you want high quality hosting.

Purchasing Hosting from an Auction Site
Not that you will not find good hosting from an auction site, but the chances aren't good. Especially if the company does not even operate a web site to market their services.

Trusting Customer Testimonials
Most testimonials simply can't be trusted. If the web host lists contact information and the web site of the testimonials listed they may be trustworthy, but the majority should not be taken at face value.

Free Domain Included with Hosting
It is always better to keep your domain seperate from your hosting company. Many hosts offer free domains with their hosting plans. This practice is fine as long as the domain is registered in your name and belongs to you. If they register it to themselves and only let you "borrow" it you face the risk of them holding your domain hostage if you ever decide to move to another hosting provider.

by Michael Shelton

Security:You Know How To Defeat The Browser Hijacke

2005-09-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

Your browser now has a new start page and a new search page. Every time your browser loads a page that doesn't exist, you end up at some strange site, probably filled with popup ads or worse - pornography. Nothing you do, from resetting the home page in your options menu to rebooting your machine gets rid of the problem.

If you're really unlucky, the first new page you try to load has called up so many pop ups that your machine will virtually lock up until professionally serviced.

Browser hijacking is a very real and annoying problem. If the hijacker program starts sending you off to pornography websites - there's a real chance it might have caused pornography to be downloaded onto your hard drive. Porn on a work computer has the potential to get your into real trouble.

Spyware, the generic term for software that installs itself and records your movements, information and other bits to send back to its source, is a general nuisance. Browser hijacking is a form of spyware that subverts your browser settings and leaves you in a bind. If you don't have something that can prevent or at least detect and reset it, you could be in for some trouble.

Many savvy users who discover the problem find it very difficult to repair. Critical files like "Internet Options" are missing from the control panel of the operating system. So, now it's time to sort through the various .dll files or .ini file extensions - looking for a configuration that was altered.

Next, the person experiencing the problem becomes so frustrated that they delete their browser and try to reinstall or the worst yet, completely reformat the hard drive - convinced that it is irreparable.

Well, reformatting will work - but only until the hijack software has been downloaded once more from wherever it was retrieved from in the first place. Most anti-spyware software contains code for detecting and removing browser hijackers; it requires activation of the software to detect it for some programs. Other pay versions include real time blockers that will actually prevent a browser hijacker from installing itself.

Unfortunately, spyware and its associated brethren are here to stay. The best defense is to employ protection that will guard against unexpected software additions and installs. Hijacking your browser may not seem as criminal as a virus that eats files, but if you've ever experienced your browser being hijacked, then you're aware with the frustration it causes. =========================================================== Discover all you ever wanted to know about spyware. Latest discovery methods, latest incoculation treatments, latest removal techniques. Click for useful info and daily updated blog of spyware news and articles. Click http://www.spyware-revealed.com/

by Tom Jenson

Buying: How To Find Products To Sell On eBay

2005-09-19T04:23:00.000-07:00

Have you wondered how to find products to sell on eBay? One key for business success in eBay is sourcing products to sell. The first questions eBay sellers ask themselves are: "What can I sell?" and "Where can I buy?"

There are two kinds of sellers on eBay, garage sellers and business sellers. Garage sellers are people who sell products they are not going to use any more and that are usually not new. Garage sellers are not profit driven, their main objective is usually to get rid of some stuff they don't need. They will be happy to make some money by selling something that is no longer useful to them. On the other hand, business sellers are people who will buy and sell products for profit, they consider eBay a business and need to earn profit on the products they sell.

The first key to success for business sellers is an old marketing rule, RESEARCH. The products to sell on eBay are products that eBay buyers will want to buy. Apart from being a massive market place, eBay offers you a cheap source of research that you can conduct without moving from your computer.

If you are a business seller, it is fundamental that you spend some time researching before you decide which products you want to sell. Follow these research guidelines:

1. Search for the categories that are most popular. The first index is the number of listings that exist under each category. In addition, you need to look at how many bids the products have.

2. Look at the ratings of the sellers who are listing products in each category and study their profiles. See how many products they are selling and how many products they have sold in the past.

3. Analyze prices. You need to become an expert in your category and you need to know at which price a product is worth buying as well as the expected final winning price of your auction.

4. Select no more than one or two categories. "Specialization" is another basic rule of marketing. It is better to become an expert on something, as this will inspire confidence and trust in your potential customers. Online marketing is all about trust.

For conducting good research, you need time and organization. There are different software programs in the market that can help you save time as well as optimize your research.

Now that you are becoming an eBay expert and have conducted a proper search, you are almost ready to start your business. Before starting to sell, you need to buy! Here are some ideas from where you can source products:

1. Write your own e-book and sell it. If you have any passion or are an expert on a subject for which you can find a niche in eBay, do not hesitate to spend some time on writing your own book. The advantage of this is that after your initial time investment, you can sell and sell copies of the book without having any additional costs. Selling information products is one of the most profitable businesses. Even if you are not an expert writer, you can find other people who can write the book for you.

2. Use drop-shipping. There are wholesalers that will sell you products and send them to the address that you tell them. The advantage of this source is that you do not need to carry inventories, so your investments are minimized. After your auction is finished, you send them your customers address and they will do all the shipping. If you decide to use this kind of source, you need to make sure that your auctions winning price can be higher than the price you will pay for the articles. At minimum you should expect to double your costs.

3. Buy from eBay. Many eBayers success comes from knowing how to buy well on eBay and sell the same products at a higher price. If you know your category very well, you can easily find opportunities that will allow you to buy and resell making profit. Again, solid research is fundamental.

4. Buy Asiatic products. If you are willing to carry some inventories, you can invest on Asiatic products and buy them for a very cheap price. You can easily start importing Asiatic products from the Internet at www.alibaba.com.

5. Sell local products. If you live in an area that produces local products which can be bought at a cheap price and shipped to other areas where people would pay more, you should take advantage of the situation.

Hopefully after reading this article you will see there are alot of ways to find products to sell on eBay! As with any business you are better off to try multiple avenues for finding products and not just limiting yourself to any one thing!

by Jeff Schuman

Traffic: Ten Steps To Grow Website Traffic

2005-09-18T05:57:00.000-07:00

If you own your own website or have a page supplied by a program, growing website traffic will be one of the keys to your success. You need a growing, self-generating stream of website traffic and plenty of it. Preferably free and preferably preconditioned to buy your product of service.

This article provides some ideas for growing website traffic.

(1) Directories Directories are website listings. The trick is to find a directory which receives huge volumes of website traffic. Start by applying for listings in Yahoo, DMOZ and Looksmart. These are huge portals with significant website traffic. Getting listed isn't easy but once achieved you will see a significant lift in your website traffic. Look at other directories but make sure they have a good traffic rating (use Alexa).

(2) Traffic Exchanges Every website you view in a traffic exchange generates credits which are exchanged for views of your site. This website traffic is free and can be generated almost instantly. The more sites you view the more people visit your website and the more your website traffic grows.

(3) Article Writing One of the most effective methods of generating website traffic. Best of all its free. Magazines, Ezines and Webmasters are always looking for fresh content. Just write an article on any topic which interests you, optimize it for keywords and be sure to include your website URL in the bio line at the bottom of the article. Then submit it to ezine directories on the web. This will generate website traffic and create backlinks to your site, which in turn helps with search engine rankings.

(4) Search Engine Optimization Making sure your website is search engine friendly will certainly help grow your website traffic. Ensure all the meta and alt tags are completed, optimize the text for your chosen keywords, ensure there is an H1 header, update your robots.txt, update your google sitemap and ensure google is alerted each time you make a change. There are a number of sites which provide a "spider simulation" which shows you what your site looks like to a spider and what you can do to improve its search engine ranking.

(4) Blogs Ensure your blog is located on your site, that it links to your key pages and that you ping each time your blog is updated. A regularly updated blog will attract readers which in turn builds website traffic.

(5) Forums Leaving your URL in forums will generate website traffic in two ways. First, people who read your post are likely to click the link to checkout your site. Secondly search engines will generally accept the link a counting towards your link popularity.

(6) Viral Advertising If you have a message and you tell 10 people and they each tell 10 people and so on, by the time the message goes through 10 levels it has been passed on to a million people.

A similar principle can be used in marketing. If you produced a free report or ebook filled with links back to your site and gave it away, the chances are those you gave it away to would do the same thing. Your links would be spread all over the Internet and your website traffic will grow.

There are also couple of viral websites which successfully use the same principle to grow website traffic. Follow the link in the resource box below to see some examples.

(7) Reciprocal Links By swapping links, webmasters hope that people will click on their link in other websites thereby generating website traffic. This strategy is one of the very best ways of generating free, targeted website traffic and should be high on your list of priorities. It also is highly rated by search engines

(8) Classifies Ads Do a search for "classified ads" and you will find many sites, which accept classified advertisements. Make sure you place your ad in a site complimentary to your product. Generally sites at the top of google/yahoo searches will perform better than those lower down. Again make sure the site you are placing your ad on has a high traffic rating or it will not assist with your website traffic.

(9) Pay Per Click Advertising Programs like Google's Adwords will deliver pre-qualified targeted website traffic to your site. I have found this to be an excellent way of delivering high converting website traffic.

(10) Expired Domain Names Some expired domain names are still receiving traffic. If you are lucky you can pick one up quite cheaply. These can provide a very cheap source of long-term website traffic.

The greater your website traffic the closer you will come to your goals. I hope this article will help you grow your website traffic and reach those goals.

To your success!

by Brian Pratt

Computers: How To Get Broadband

2005-09-17T18:54:00.000-07:00

Getting broadband services getting easy, but research still required

Broadband Internet services have become more the norm today, unlike the dial-up days of the late 1990s. With greater amounts of information needing to travel at faster and faster speeds over the Internet and the greater number of telecommuters every year, the need for broadband Internet has stretched beyond the board room and into the home office. So it is clearly more important than ever for everyone to know how to get broadband.

Getting broadband service, like, for example, DSL, is not difficult. There are many providers, and even many phone companies are getting into the game today as well. But finding a service provider, while not being very difficult, also requires a self-evaluation first. One must ask themselves before seeking out a broadband service provider, just what they'll be needing broadband service for.

For most people who work from home, they may only need reliable and speedy Internet access. They may need to transport documents, maybe some graphics to and from clients and employers. But they will likely not need to transmit video or graphics. But if they do need to transmit the latter, they may need to seek out higher bandwidth. But, again, if they are only sending documents that are not graphic intensive, a smaller bandwidth at a lower cost may be all they need, and then they can spend their savings on other aspects of their business or work.

After doing this necessary self assessment when looking at how to get broadband, it is important to check pricing on at least three broadband providers. Also, ask users of these providers about their experience. All of these broadband providers may boast the same thing, but the people who use their services are the true indicator of how they really perform.

After you match your needs with the best price and testimonial, the decision is yours whether you want to spring for a broadband provider. But chances are pretty good that even if you only spend a few dollars more a month for broadband, after awhile, you will wonder how you ever existed with dial-up service.

Another thing some people must consider when looking into how to get broadband is whether you have providers in your area. In some rare instances, certain providers do not have the infrastructure in place to give you their service yet. So while you may be hearing the raves from a friend across town about a particular provider, you may still have to wait and see if their service is present in your area. This has been the case, particularly, for cable companies getting into broadband Internet services. As they expand their infrastructure, some sections of major metropolitan areas have had to wait longer to get their broadband.

by Neil Shevlin

Software: Three Software Applications That Will Surprise You

2005-09-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

When you think software, you probably think e-mail, backup, antivirus and other technogeek stuff. Belive it or not, software can be fun. Here is the proof.

Living Cookbook (Radium Technologies)

Living Cookbook is cooking and recipe management software. You can use it to create, organize, print, and e-mail your recipes. It's packed with cool features like a meal planning calendar, cookbook publishing, nutritional analysis, menus, an ingredient database. Even kitchen novices will feel like master chefs after using the encyclopedic Living Cookbook. A battery of recipes is here, of course, offering detailed ingredients, instructions, and even images. But most notable is the comprehensive glossary offering up insight into arcane cooking terms and data. You even can edit entries if your kitchen tests reveal necessary tweaks or tips. Printing and sharing tools also are handy. Anyone looking to sharpen their culinary chops will find Living Cookbook an excellent resource.

River Past Screen Recorder (River Past)

River Past Screen Recorder lets you capture AVI video from the full screen, a window, a rectangle region, or a defined area around the cursor. You decide whether you want the cursor image to be included or not. You can even record audio into the AVI, from the microphone, line-in, or speakers. The Pro version allows you to record to WMV files using Microsoft's Windows Media Screen codec, which is specialized in producing high quality and small screen videos. You have the full control over the codec of the AVI file. You can choose the video compressor, and its compression quality. You can minimize River Past Screen Recorder, and start and stop recording by the hot keys. You can even pause the recording. What are some possible apps? You can record your PC screen to show what you did to fix a problem.

CTube! (East Bay Technologies)

CTube! is one of the largest resource available for viewing Internet Television, with over 1500 channels of TV, Live video channels and Web cams, plus an Internet Video Search, with over 2 million videos. You can watch uncensored news, music videos, education, and entertainment channels from around the world. CTube is ideal for people interested in alternative programming, learning languages, foreign cultures, entertainment, or news. CTube! gives you all the benefits of Internet Television without having to do tedious searches or view online ads. You know what kinds of programs you like - CTube! gives them to you all in one place without the stuff you don't like - hassles and online advertisements.

Download Links:

Living Cookbook: http://www.deprice.com/livingcookbook.htm

River Past Screen Recorder: http://www.deprice.com/riverpastscreenrecorder.htm

CTube! http://www.deprice.com/ctube.htm

John Deprice owns and operates http://www.deprice.com

By John Deprice

Step by Step procedure to select the Best Web Host for you

2005-09-16T22:17:00.000-07:00

Welcome, since you are here so this means that you have decided that you want to have your own web host. There are more than 5000 Web Host providers there in the world hosting 200 million sites (Paid/Free). Before Choosing your host let's Write down your requirements.

Are you going for a Paid server or Free hosting ?

If you want to build a professional business site than it is highly recommended that YOU SHOULD choose paid server. They are very cheap and this site is all about them. If you just want a personal site than you can choose either a paid or free server. So which one do you want ? In this page we will write about Paid Hosting, you are also encouraged to visit Free Web Hosting. page to get more options.

Commercial Web Hosts

now you have to write down the details of your requirements. I am assuming that we are targeting 10,000 visitors every month, which is a average number, if you think that this is too much than still you should keep in mind that we are thinking for the long term.

how much do you want to pay( monthly fees to the service provider) ?

Well it is better if you DO NOT COMPROMISE ON THE PRICE of web hosting. Don't worry, there is so much competition that price of web hosting has touched rock bottom and almost everyone charges the same. Anyway you will never have to give more than $30/month for a average 10,000 visitor/month site. So let's come to the MORE important factors.

Web Host should be reliable and Fast

Many people don't' consider this option but I think this is very crucial aspect of web hosting. Make sure that it is functional all the time. It should be up round the clock. On an average you want the host which remains up 99+% time up. Make sure to ask this via email from the host provider which you are interested in.

How much disk space you want ?

It depends on what do you want to host. If you are providing lot's of download's from your server than you need lot's of space otherwise 500 MB space will be alright. Remember that your mail account space will also come into this space and you want to keep at least 100 MB space for your mail account's.

I have seen people managing in less than 25 MB space as they hardly keeps too many images on there sites and have less than 20 HTML pages. If this is your case, than you can take 25/50 MB space. It is always better to take more space than you need as you will always be expanding in future.

How much bandwidth you want ?

BANDWIDTH is the amount of data transfer when a visitor visits your site. Say some person visits 4 pages of my site (total size 345 KB) than he used 345 KB. Now let's calculate how much Bandwidth you need.

10,000 Visitors X 1 MB per visitor = 10 GB of Bandwidth per month. again this is alot more than what you will probably need. If you are tight on budget than feel free to make it 5 GB or even less but remember if on 25th of the month your site crosses this limit than your website won't be accessible for the remaining days of the month. It is important to monitor your site Bandwidth.

What kind of scripting and database you are looking for in your web host?

Again, If you are really looking for more than a simple HTML site than you should make sure that the web host should provide FTP, PHP, Perl CGI-BIN access, SSI, .htaccess, telnet, SSH crontabs to you. This are fairly basic things.

FTP helps you in transferring files, where as PERL/PHP will help you to provide interaction to the user. SSL is for security purpose, cron is for scheduling jobs, htaccess is for customizing errors. You can know more about them in articles.

How Many POP email account you want ?

you definitely need few email acounts like contact@yourdomain.com and admin@yourdomain.com other than your personal id's. Make sure to get all the details about email account like how many accounts you are allowed to have, do the allow forwarding emails and whether you can access them from Outlook/Thunderbird.

Technical Support

After making a probable list of the hosts, feel free to ask all your queries. This will make you clearify things better and also allows you to know how fast and reliable is there technical support. If the are taking too much time in replying than may be you want to try some other provider afterall you dont' want to wait for 4 days for there reply when your site or database gets crashed !!!

Other than these you also SHOULD look for :-

Subdomains

You may want to create subdomains like usa.yourdomain.com so make sure that the host provides you this. NOrmally all of them do provide this option but still why take a risk.

which Server ?

if you are looking to run ASP scripts than you have to go for servers running WIndows otherwise it is always better to choose cheaper, more stable and feature-laden Unix systems running the Apache server. I am hosting this site on BSD, another variant of Linux OS. IT is highly advisable to choose these Unix servers as they also provide high level of customizability.

Plans ?

Web hosts provide various PAYING plans like monthly/quarterly/annually and normaly annually looks cheaper than monthly (total for 12 months) but it is advisable to choose monthly for a new web host. Let's test it first and than you can always upgrade your plan to yearly afterwards. Again make sure to ask them and clarify all your queries. Don't make your own assumptions or get satisfied early. Also some sites charge Setup fees. Make sure to verify this.

What is the reputation of host provider (to me this is very important) ?

IT is highly advisable that you should do a good research on the reputation of your web host. What others think about your host. It is better to not blindly follow what the reviews that web hosts write on there sites. Mostly they are fake. Try to get independent reivews or ask people personally like your friends. You can also check on forums as you will get independent and more correct reviews there. And of course allwebhosts is all about them only.

FINAL WORDS.

So you must have got a good view of what you want and what you can get. Now you can start your search for the best web hosts for your needs. on allwebhosts we had provide you a huge list of web hosts which are hugely popular to the hosts which are really cheap to the hosts which we think that are offering best offers. Make sure to find the best one for you and Don't forget to get all the details about them before selecting anyone. BEST OF LUCK !!!

by Arpit Sharma

Searching For The Right ISP?

2005-09-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

When searching for the right ISP there are a number of items to look at. How much is it going to cost me? What is the connection like? What are the Features? Is it available in my area? You will soon find that there are many ISP's to choose from. So, it is beneficial for you to pick the right internet service provider.

The cost is probably the most important aspect to most subscribers. Yet, many are not willing to put up with the low quality provided by free ISP's. This leaves them looking for low cost ISP's. The best way to find the lower cost ISP's is to search for them. Most of the ISP's you are going to see advertising are going to be a bit higher than those who do not have as much advertising. A search of the internet may help you find some of these ISP's.

Although the price may be right, if your connection is weak you may not to go with that ISP. This can happen because problems with the cable or phone lines are common with the ISP. It can also occur if your ISP has a large volume of users trying to access the internet at the same time. This is particularly true with dial-up ISP's that do not have enough phone numbers. Also you want to make sure that the ISP is compatible for the tasks you want to do. For instance, AOL users sometimes have problems with some aspects of the net. This is because the program that runs AOL is so dominating. If you frequent certain sites, they may list ISP's that have problems using the site. This usually applies to sites that have music, video and effects but don't really apply to straight text.

The features are also important. In fact, if you don't want to be frustrated with pop-ups you may find yourself drawn to ISP's that offer pop-up blockers and virus protection. You may be worried about your children surfing the web. A feature to block adult sites may be what you are looking for in that case. ISP's are coming up with new features all the time so you really do have some choices here.

Another important aspect is availability. Not all ISP's are widely available. This is especially true for ISP's that are free or low cost. Even if an ISP is available in your area, there may not be an available local phone number. When you use your dial-up modem with a long distance number you may incur long distance charges while you are on the net. In addition, if there are local numbers but not many of them, you may have trouble connecting to the internet.

by Neil Shevlin

The Basics of Starting Your Own Website

2005-09-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

You will note from the title that this article is for the beginners. The very first thing to consider is what kind of software you will use. I admit, my personal favorite is Microsoft FrontPage. It is what is known as a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web site editor. It enables webmasters to create websites without knowing any HTML. Those of you who write HTML code like a second language will probably not care for it very much. The latest version, FrontPage 2003, has great improvements from the older versions, like the split screen which allows you to see the HTML code as you edit. Even if you don't write your own code, the more familiar you are with HTML, the better off you will be. FrontPage 2003 also lets you do a find and replace over your entire site. So if you made a mistake or want to change a link that is on all one thousand pages of your site, all you have to do is find the code and do a mass replace. Microsoft offers a 30 day trial CD if you would like to try it for free. Another cool web page editor, Macromedia's Dreamweaver, can be downloaded and used on a trial basis at Macromedia.com.
If you are on a tight budget, which I can definitely understand, then go to Download.com and search for WYSIWYG HTML. There are a lot of free trials for easy to use HTML editors. You have to look really hard, but you may even find a couple that are completely free. Just skimming through the list I found one for around $15. Of course, you definitely want to use the free trial before you buy any of these to make sure you are comfortable using the software and that it does what you want it to do.
HTML-Kit is a must for any aspiring webmaster. You can download a completely free copy at Download.com. HTML-Kit is not WYSIWYG at all, but if you start working with more advanced options like php, cgi, .htaccess, or any of the other many file extensions, you'll need this one eventually. If you are looking to practice a little with a small website for free then try Bravenet.com. You can get 1.5 GB of bandwidth and 50 MB disk space. This isn't very much compared to a host you pay for, but it can help get you started if this is your first outing in web page development. If nothing else it's great free practice for the real thing.
The next important thing to consider is the web host. There are a number of questions to ask yourself in looking for a web host, like cost, bandwidth, disk space, type of scripts that are allowed, etc. You might want to check out this article http://webmastertips.us/articles/webhosting/good-web-host.htm for a lot of great tips before putting down any money.
by T Frady

Web design: Web Site Extreme Makeover!

2005-09-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

When I saw this I said "this needs to be on the blog" It seems so helpfull.
Comments?

Does your web site need a facelift?

Does your web site bring in new leads? Does it increase customer satisfaction or generate additional sales? If not, it may be time for a web site makeover. Below are a few key questions to consider before you redesign your web site.

Is your web site professional and appealing? Your web site is your business tool. It introduces your business to millions of potential customers all over the world. A professionally designed web site is a critical part of your online marketing strategy. It is often the first interaction many customers will have with your business. With the right design and content, your customers will perceive you to be the expert in your field, giving you the competitive advantage you need.

Does your site have ecommerce capabilities? If you are selling a product or service, make sure you have ecommerce capabilities on your site. This will give your business added professionalism by providing flexible payment options for your customers and your vendors. There are several services online that provide credit card and check payment services, making it easy for any web site to accept electronic payments online.

Do customers come first? Once current and potential customers arrive at your site, they should always find what they are looking for. From directions and manuals to products and service descriptions, make sure your site has the information your customers need. In addition, take the time to ask you customers what they would like to see on your web site. Their answers may surprise you.

What is the call-to-action? What, exactly, do you want your customers to do when they visit your site? Do you make it clear to them how to place an order, how to request additional information or how to sign up for your newsletter? Before you redesign your site, determine how you would define a successful visit for your new and existing customers.

What is your competitive advantage? Before you start your advertising campaign, research your competitor's web sites and promotions to find out what they are offering. Once you have sized up the competition, determine what your competitive advantage will be.

Do you have lower prices or better customer service? Is your location more convenient or do you have a unique niche that no one else is targeting? By understanding your competitive advantage you will be able to create marketing information and materials that have an impact on the customer's decision to conduct business with you.

If you are considering a web site redesign, send an email to april@aprilward.net. Your first consultation is always FREE!

by April Ward

Domains: Making money from expired domain registration

2005-09-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Expired domain names are those that had previously been registered to another owner. These domain name registration are available to the open market because of non-payment of the domain name renewal fees. These domain names are returned to the open market approximately forty-five days after the domain registration expiration date.

Subsequent to the dot com crash, expired domain names and expired domain name traffic have been a source of profits for many. It is critical to obtain, at a low cost, the automated tools required to track the thousands of domain registration and abandoned websites that are removed from the registry and become available for purchase.

Now, many automated tools and resources are available for identifying, appraising and even buying these domain registration on an automated basis.

Expired domain names and the expired domain name traffic associated with them have been only available to those who had an automated system and tools.

Numerous domain names are registered for website development, but do not appear online. In a number of these cases, the domain name owners do not follow through with respect to the website development and allow the domain registration to expire.

Also, many domain names even point to fully functioning websites while many are registered for speculation. Such names are registered by speculators in the hope of obtaining a profit on the resale of the domain name registration.

However, there are a number of expired domain names with fully functioning websites, receiving daily traffic from the search engines, links and banner ads. The expired domain names that get this daily traffic can earn revenues if these are redirected to another website or marketed with affiliate programs.

How To Earn Profits from Expired Domain Names & Expired Domain Name Traffic:

1. Buying for speculation - There is a large and highly profitable market for reselling domain names at present, and speculators are constantly looking out for developing technologies and trends. Evolution is constantly taking place in technology and trends. There are markets, being watched closely right now, that are expected to grow exponentially within a short span of time. It should be a good idea to locate and register expiring domain names that are related to new trends, technology and markets in order to earn substantial profits.

2. Buying expiring domain registration and redirecting the targeted traffic - Targeted keyword domain names can help to get traffic from those simply typing in keyword rich domain names into the address bar and hitting the enter key.

3. Buying expired domain name registration and putting up generic websites - Using tools like easy website building software, third party payment processors, auto responders and other applications, even a novice could put generic websites online with keyword rich domain names that should appear in the search engine rankings. These websites can be built using expired domain names to drive traffic to them and the domain name registration and the developed website could then be sold together with the domain name, as a value added commodity.

4. Buying expiring domain names of websites that are already online - A number of expiring domain names are, actually, already functioning websites. The owners of these websites either did not renew their domain registration for some reason or simply stopped operating the website. In fact, quite often, these websites already have traffic from links to other websites, search engine rankings and even directory listings.

5. Buying expired domain names and using them for marketing affiliate programs - Affiliate programs are a good way to acquire an online business without even having a product. Affiliate marketers redirect traffic from the affiliate website to the website of the actual product or service and charge a commission or a fee when any of the redirected traffic results in sales. Affiliate programs have become an automated turnkey solution for a number of entrepreneurs, especially novices.

One can locate and register expired domain name registration that closely target the market of the affiliate programs and then draw that targeted traffic into the website with expired keyword rich domain names with content that satisfies the informational needs. Then the users can be led onto the sales page of the product.

by Stanley Spencer

Tips: Keep That Hard-Drive Clean, Would You?

2005-09-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

By John Deprice

Your PC, just like your home, office or car, needs to be cleaned regularly. Find out what software solutions will do that unwanted task for you, so your computer stays fast, "healthy" and fully functional.
4DiskClean Gold (RSS Systems)
4Diskclean Gold finds and fixes PC problems fast, keeping your system running at peak performance and reliability, and properly maintains Windows to prevent problems altogether.
Here is what the software does. It deletes unnecessary files and temporary folders, fixes invalid Windows registry keys, eliminates duplicate files (like duplicate mp3 songs), erases all internet files (browser cache, history, & cookies), autocleans Internet Explorer cache on browser exit, blocks spyware, adware and bad cookies (2990 items). In addition to that, 4DiskClean Gold cleans all windows shortcuts that point to non-existing files.
AceUtilities (AceLogics Software)
Ace Utilities is a set of system-maintenance and optimization utilities for enhancing Windows performance. The program cleans unneeded junk, temp and obsolete files from your disks using disk cleaner, as well as cleans browser and application history, cache, temp files, cookies etc. Beyond that, Ace Utilities it controls the applications that start automatically with Windows, using startup organizer and fixes broken start menu and desktop shortcuts. The app can be used to remove true duplicate files or to uninstall applications correctly.
East-Tec Eraser (EAST Technologies)
East-Tec Erasers is not just a cleaner, rather it completely destroys information stored without your knowledge or approval: Internet history, Web pages and pictures from sites visited on the Internet, unwanted cookies, chatroom conversations, deleted e-mail messages, temporary files, the Windows swap file, the Recycle Bin, previously deleted files, valuable corporate trade secrets, business plans, personal files, photos or confidential letters, etc.
East-Tec Eraser 2005 offers full support for popular browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, America Online, MSN Explorer, Opera), for Peer2Peer applications (Kazaa, Kazaa Lite, iMesh, Napster, Morpheus, Direct Connect, Limewire, Shareaza, etc.), and for other popular programs such as Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, etc. Eraser has an intuitive interface and wizards that guide you through all the necessary steps needed to protect your privacy and sensitive information.
Clean Disk Security (Kevin Solway Software)
Clean Disk Security gives you secure file deletion, making sure that deleted files cannot be undeleted again. Deleting a file normally just removes the file's directory entry, but the data itself remains on the disk. This program completely eliminates the contents of deleted files. The highly acclaimed Gutmann disk cleaning method is now available as an option. This program can also clean the Window's swap file, and can optionally clean unneeded temporary files from your hard disk, such as your Internet browser cache, files in your system's Recycle Bin, and can clear the "recent files" list.
More Informatin on these applications:
http://www.deprice.com/4diskcleangold.htm
http://www.deprice.com/aceutilities.htm
http://www.deprice.com/eastteceraserbasic.htm
http://www.deprice.com/cleandisksecurity.htm

John Deprice maintains a comprehensive list of disk cleaning applications at http://www.deprice.com/utilities.htm

HTML: Should You Bother Learning HTML to build Webpages?

2005-09-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

The most popular method to build webpages today is to use WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) software. Microsoft FrontPage and Macromedia Dreamweaver are prime examples of WYSIWYG software. Both programs allow you to create webpages as though you were creating a document with your favourite word processing software like Microsoft Word or WordPerfect. Its as simple as entering paragraphs, headings and inserting clipart or images.

WYSIWYG software like those listed above are prefect for beginner webpage builders who want webpages constructed quickly without having to learn HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language).

All webpages are brought to life using HTML codes, regardless what webpage building software is used. WYSIWYG programs simply create the HTML codes as you construct a webpage (in the background, without you knowing), so you don't need to understand them.

This is without a doubt the biggest advantage over any other type of webpage building programs. It means that if you can press keys on a keyboard, you have what is required to create your very own webpage!

However, most WYSIWYG programs don't give you absolute, total control over webpage design (ie, exactly the way you want the page to look). There are design limitations.

For example, you may want to place headings, sub headings and a navigation menu in a particular arrangement on the webpage, but no matter how many times you try, the program won't permit such placement or position them correctly. This is one big disadvantage of WYSIWYG programs if you desire a custom look to all your webpages.

Knowledge of HTML, however, can assist you to overcome such design shortfalls in WYSIWYG programs. How is this possible? Let me explain.

If you understand HTML codes, then you understand why webpages appear the way they do in a web browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. This is powerful stuff because the moment you change/modify HTML codes, the webpage will take on a new design/appearance.

And don't forget that HTML codes are exact, giving you total freedom over how everything appears on the webpage. Most WYSIWYG programs allow you to view and modify the HTML codes. As you can see, knowledge of HTML is beneficial.

The downside to HTML is the learning curve. It takes time to understand how HTML works and why, but once you know, using HTML to create totally custom designed webpages is easy. For the beginner, HTML can be challenging, but don't despair because there are HTML tutorials available that teach you basic and advanced HTML in a matter of days!

So the question is - Should you bother learning HTML to build webpages? The answer - yes and no.

It is obvious that WYSIWYG software speeds up production of webpage development regardless of your knowledge on how to build webpages. However, to further refine and tune your webpages exactly to your liking, it is usually necessary to add and modify HTML codes. So yes, HTML is worthwhile learning if you are unsatisfied with the webpages produced by WYSIWYG software.

There is little point learning HTML if you are 100% satisfied with the webpages made with WYSIWYG software.

One thing is certain. Using WYSIWYG software and learning HTML codes is the answer for those of us who want webpages made exactly to our requirements. Learning HTML is not as hard as you think. To get started, simply search any major search engine like Google, Yahoo or MSN using the search phrase "html tutorials", its that easy!

By Leslie Pinczi

Viruses: The Secret Computer Virus That is Virtually Undetectable.

2005-09-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

Introduction
For the most part, computer viruses and Trojans are characterized by obvious computer malfunctions from blatant graphical on-screen representations to the computer automatically accessing the Internet, printing documents or switching on its video camera without user interaction. Most virus utility software detects and quarantines approximately 90% of those currently in distribution. As for Trojans (rogue programs that allow an unknown third party to access and control your computer), commercial virus utility software detects and quarantines approximately 60% of these, while a dedicated Trojan utility software fares better at approximately 98%.
Although these performance figures may offer a guarded level of comfort, there is a threat that even the most robust and efficient virus or Trojan utility commercially available today cannot protect you from. That threat is known as an instructive code Trojan, or as those in the cracker underworld call it, a "backstop".
The instructive code Trojan defies detection because unlike most viruses and Trojans out there, each instructive code Trojan to date has been specifically written for its victim and the targeted information it must access. While over 90% of viruses and Trojans are variations or replications of others before them, backstops are unique. Backstops or instructive code Trojans are created to obtain specific files from a targeted computer or network without detection. While it is improbable that the average computer user will encounter a backstop, the threat is very real to governments and corporate entities that routinely use or create any form of proprietary, financial or competitive data.
How it works
The instructive code searches for specific keywords or phrases.
It is delivered to its target as a hidden file attachment piggybacked to an expected attachment, embedded in the body of an e-mail, automatically loaded from a webpage the target is known to frequent, or via external media such as a floppy disk or CD. In one case, the instructive code was delivered on a music CD to an employee known to play music on her laptop. Once she connected her laptop to the network, the instructive code transferred itself to its target. Once on the target system, the code resides in a hidden file that cannot be viewed on the system under regular default settings. The code then searches all files and folders for occurrences of the specific keywords or phrases programmed into it. When matches are found, copies of the data are made, compressed, encrypted and made into a hidden archive file. After a predetermined time, the code automatically e-mails the entire file during a routine e-mail session initiated by the target user. Once sent, the code deletes the hidden archive and invokes a self-delete procedure to remove itself, leaving all other files and programs intact. Thus, there is virtually no trace that the instructive code existed on the target system.
Users
In an age where information is a prized commodity, instructive code Trojans are the new digital tool of high level corporate espionage. From R&D data, confidential financial records to other information not meant for a wide audience, the backstop offers a potential key to gain access.
Protection
While there is no direct way to thwart a backstop being placed on your computer or network, there are measures you can take to manage the risk. Your first line of defense is a robust firewall that is properly configured to your system. Proper configuration is by no means the factory or default settings of your firewall product. Nor is it configuring your firewall once on installation and forgetting about it. The configuration of your firewall has to be reviewed every time hardware and software are upgraded, replaced or added.
Another security measure is to deploy utility software that monitors and sounds an alarm when any changes to operating system registry and configuration files are executed. In addition, audit trail and network management logging utilities should be configured to track and alert system operators whenever files of a specific size are deleted. Windows users should ensure that hidden files can be viewed by enabling the "Show All Files" option in the View>Folder Options menu. Information that is of the utmost secrecy or value should never reside on a system connected permanently or even temporarily to the outside world.
Due to the very nature and purpose of instructive code Trojans, it is unlikely that accurate victim statistics will truly reflect the real financial impact the backstop will have in the corporate sector, or on national and international security. As with any act of espionage, an average of only 3% globally ever get reported for fear of repercussions of corporate non-competence and weakened government diplomatic relations.
Copyright © 2005-2006 Dr. Robert Ing, www.drroberting.com
Permission is granted to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the article appears in its entirety, full credit is given to the author and a link or reference to the author's webpage www.drroberting.com is provided.
by Robert Ing

Viruses: Does your PC Have worms?

2005-09-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

Worms aren't just for dogs anymore. Find out how to inoculate your computer against these nasty parasites.

What Are Worms?

Worms are descended from viruses and are even nastier. Just as ever stronger doses of pesticide breed ever more resilient locusts, better and better anti-spyware software bred ever more devious viruses.

Finally, some virus designers stopped having their creations infect and take over files the way real viruses infect and take over cells. Instead, they created programs that could stand on their own and cause plenty of trouble without the help of any other software applications. Just worms are independent organisms that can infect a host directly, so do computer worms infect computers directly.

What Do Worms Do?

Worm designers are often even more sinister than virus designers, since worm designers are not just vandals. Worm designers often use their creations to achieve specific goals:

• Backdoor creation. Worms often try to set up another kind of malware, a backdoor. A backdoor is a hidden opening in your network connection that lets the worm send data out and take data in. Practically speaking, the data it's sending out are often spam emails, and the data it takes in are instructions on spam emails to send.

• Denial of service attack. Some worm designers really are vandals rather than profit-hungry con artists sending spam. But their vandalism can be more targeted. They use worms to send out numerous requests to remote computers, such as web servers, in order to overwhelm them and therefore shut them down. This is called a denial of service attack.

• Spyware, Trojan, adware, and virus installation. Worms are often used simply to unleash other forms of malware on a computer that might otherwise block them.

• Information theft and fraud.Worms can multitask in order to set up spyware that gathers sensitive information--often financial information--and then set up backdoors, Trojans, viruses, or dialers to disseminate the stolen data.

How Do Worms End Up on a PC?

Worms enter PCs just as viruses, spyware and other malware do: any way they can! Some favorite points of entry for worms:

• Websites can actually download software to your computer without you realizing it. This software includes not only worms, but also spyware, adware, viruses, and other malware. These malware programs find their way into websites either by the deliberate design of the site owner or because hackers have installed the software on the website's server.

• Peer-to-peer file-sharing networkscontain many nice-enough-looking files that are really worms. One of the sneakiest disguises is a filename that indicates the spyware is really a video of a beautiful actress.

• Email, the favored route of viruses, can still be exploited by Spyware. But since new email programs usually block the automatic opening of file attachments, this is less of a problem than it used to be.

• Any internet connection inevitably lets data flow both in and out, and so is vulnerable to attacks by worms.

How Do You Get Rid of Worms?

There's really only one good way to make sure your computer is rid of worms: scan it with multiple antivirus and anti-spyware programs using a full-system scan. Worms are tricky, so anything less than a full-system scan might let them escape. Worse, with new worms coming out all the time, some antivirus and anti-spyware packages may not even know about a new worm until after its wreaking havoc on your machine. That's why you should try using more than one antivirus program and more than one anti-spyware program to increase your odds of successfully detecting the malware.

Don't have more than one anti-spyware and antivirus software? You'd better start downloading. After all, worms won't take excuses.
By: Joel Walsh

Spam: Stop spam bots from obtaining your email address from your website

2005-09-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

Stop spam bots from obtaining your email address from your website, forum, message boards, guest books, mailing list and more.

A contact page with an email address is an essential part of a website. But the email address in the website becomes the prime target of the spam bots. When a Spam bots crawl the website, it will grab the email address in the site and add it to their database. Then start sending tons of spam emails to the email addresses. So there is a need for you to prevent your email Id from these spammers. We help you to fight these spammers.

Use our utility to hide your email address from the spam bots. Enter your email address and get converted it into image. Display your email address as an image in the website. This makes hard for the stop spam to get your email id.

Benefits of spam prevention utility http://emailsignatures.info •Spam bots cannot read the text in the images. •Images look more comfortable for your visitors than putting some codes in the email address. •Free of charge. •Easy to use. •Saves your valuable time and money.

Our spam prevention tool works 99%. Start using our tool and safeguard your email addresses from these spammers.

Get rid of spam bots freely http://emailsignatures.info
by jayakumar

Viruses: You Can Stop Computer Viruses

2005-09-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

Hardly a day goes by when you don’t hear about a computer virus in the news or from someone you know. As a matter of fact, there are well over 8,000 active computer viruses in the world in any given twenty-four period and 5 new viruses are introduced daily. The majority of computers will catch a virus through an e-mail attachment or link. Most viruses will use an infected computers address book to distribute themselves, so you are much more likely to receive a virus from someone you know rather than a total stranger.

However, the best way to identify whether or not any attachment could be a potential virus hazard is by looking at the extension (suffix) of the attached file. Hazardous file attachments are .pif, .exe, .com, .vbs, .bat, .bin, .dot, .reg, .js, .scr, .xlm and .dll. While this list is by no means exhaustive these are the definite ones to be on-guard for. In case you’re wondering, catching a virus by file sharing is the second most popular way to get infected. File sharing whether you use removable disks, CDs, DVDs, memory cards/sticks or even synch cables can make your “never connected to the Internet” computer, vulnerable to catching a virus.

Protecting your computer from a computer virus infection is relatively easy if you follow these simple steps:

1. Put anti-virus software on all your computers whether they are Internet connected or not.

2. Don’t open or download file attachments (attached files) in your e-mails. Especially the ones with the extensions .pif, .exe, .com, .vbs, .bat, .bin, .dot, .reg, .js, .scr, .xlm and .dll.

3. Don’t click on links in the body of your e-mails.

4. Don’t download software from web sites that you do not know.

5. Never install software on your computer unless you know where it came from.

6. Run a manual anti-virus scan for every 24 hours you use your computer.

7. Be sure that your anti-virus software is up-to-date. All anti-virus software products usually provide updates every 2 – 4 weeks and this service is free of charge to registered users for up to a year.

8. Received an e-mail from someone you know but didn’t expect them to send you a file attachment? Call the person first, before downloading or opening the file attachment to confirm that it really came from them. Some virus programs are very good at making it look like they are just files sent to you from someone in yours or your friends e-mail address book.

9. Put firewall software on all your computers that are temporarily or permanently connected to the Internet.

If you follow these simple steps you should be able to stop a virus before it infects your computer.

Copyright © 2005-2006 Dr. Robert Ing, www.drroberting.com

Tips: Desktops buying guide

2005-09-10T20:28:00.000-07:00

Heres something I found that was usfull. This helps you find the right computer for you. This can come very handy I would save this someplace if your thinking of getting a computer.
Click here for the guide

Tips: DVD burning tips

2005-09-10T16:05:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for tips to make DVD burning a stress-free experience? Below are a few practical and sensible tips that will help you circumvent common DVD burning and playback problems. As veteran disc copiers will tell you, DVD burning isn't rocket science. There's no secret formula to success. Nor is there an IQ requirement to get the job done. There is, however, a need for a bit of common sense. Read on and discover things you probably already know but don't necessarily practice.

1. Always use reliable media. The quality of the blank DVD-R used often gets the blame for the bulk of burning errors. And while it isn't always the only culprit, neither is it merely a scapegoat. The kind of blank media you use can and does affect the integrity of your finished product. Burning starts with selecting the right blank media. Right doesn't always mean expensive though. Many reliable brands are reasonably priced. Generally, however, very cheap discs fall short of being right. So think twice before scrimping on DVD-Rs. In the long run, the little that you do save may cost you more in the form of defective copies.

2. Examine each and every disc. Occasionally, faulty discs can slip through the quality control inspection of even the most reputable manufacturers. Before burning, inspect the recordable underside of each DVD-R for cracks, scratches, spots and blotches. Physical defects, especially those on the disc's photosensitive layer, will cause recording flaws and playback distortions.

3. Keep things clean. Burning errors can arise from the use of unclean hardware or media. Dust the outside of your DVD burner regularly to prevent contaminants from reaching the laser eye. Also handle and store discs with care. Keep them free of dust, grime or grease that may result in imperfect and unplayable copies.

4. Choose your software and hardware wisely. Look for user-friendly software that you can effortlessly navigate through. If your software has a complicated interface, you can easily make mistakes that can undermine the burning process. Also make sure that both your DVD burner and software have good customer tech support. When things go wrong, it always helps to consult the experts.

5. Keep your software updated. Burning errors are sometimes due to software bugs. Once anomalies are detected, software designers devise patches to remedy them. If you register your burning application and regularly install updates, you could save yourself a lot of needless trouble.

6. Check for compatibility. The format of the disc can dictate its playability. By default, the Universal Disc Format (UDF) specifications of most burning programs are automatically set at UDF 1.5. However, UDF 1.5 cannot be read by all drives and players. By switching to UDF 1.02 you can make your discs readable across the board. Don't panic, it's not as complicated as it sounds. You can easily assign UDF values from a list or dropdown menu.

7. Don't multitask. For quicker and more efficient disc burning, turn off all other programs, including antivirus software, games and screensavers. The burning process is resource intensive. If you have other applications running in the background, the procedure may take longer than necessary. By overtaxing your system, you also leave yourself open to avoidable burning errors.

8. Don't rush things. If you have time on your hands, burn at slower speeds. Doing so will reduce the risk of errors. If you're willing to endure the wait, burning at slower speeds can yield more stable and higher quality DVDs.

9. Label with care. How you tag your DVDs can affect their performance. If you don't want to invest in a new hardware that can print directly onto blank discs, you can choose either of the following options. a. Simply write on your disc. But be sure to write lightly using a felt-tipped pen. Sharp writing instruments may scrape through the topmost stratum of the disc and damage the fragile recordable layer underneath it. b. Use adhesive labels. Opt for the full, donut-style stickers that cover the entire disc. Avoid tiny stickers (such as mailing labels) that can affect the balance and performance of your DVD as it spins in your player. Small labels can also easily come loose and damage your player during playback. DVD burning problems are often the result of a compendium of mistakes, many of which can be avoided using good old common sense.

As the above steps show, if you don't overlook the obvious, burning can be a no-brainer, really.
By Jasmine Ong