Computers

Encryption and cryptographic software has been used in many different ways to make systems more secure. This article will discuss only a few ways that such software can make your system more secure, including:

Encrypting your email

Encrypting your files

Two programs are talked about that will help encrypt information. There are a lot of programs out there that will help, but these programs are good and a good place to start. They have the added benefit of both being free with source code available.

Will accessing my information be stopped with encryption?

Encryption simply makes it difficult for people to gain access to important information, like passwords or sensitive information in a file. The first thing you should know about encryption is that the algorithm that is used to encrypt can be simple or more complex and that affects how securely what you have encrypted is protected. Encryption systems have been broken when the method of encryption is understood by hackers and is easy to break.

Why should I encrypt my email?

It should be noted that email is far less secure than paper mail for two very good reasons: first, electronic data can be accessed easily over an Internet and secondly, electronic data is really simple to copy. There is a very good chance that someone has snooped around in your email despite your best intentions to stop it.

How do I encrypt my email?

There are many programs out there that can help you encrypt your email. A very popular one is PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) or its Gnu offshoot GPG.

PGP self-describes itself this way: This “is a program that gives your electronic mail something that it otherwise doesn’t have: Privacy. It does this by encrypting your mail so that nobody but the intended person can read it. When encrypted, the message looks like a meaningless jumble of random characters. PGP has proven itself quite capable of resisting even the most sophisticated forms of analysis aimed at reading the encrypted text.”

Why should I encrypt my files?

The answer to this boils down to what you store on your computer. If you have financial data with important information like social security numbers, email addresses, account numbers and passwords, then you open yourself up to losing very valuable information. Most corporate Internet security employees will attest to the widespread theft of very valuable information. As long as you are connected to the Internet you are vulnerable.

How do I encrypt my files?

AxCrypt File Encryption Software (axcrypt.sourceforge.net) Self-described as “Free Personal Privacy and Security for Windows 98/ME/NT/2K/XP with AES-128 File Encryption, Compression and transparent Decrypt and Open in the original application.”

Mehmet Onatli shares a ton more tips and insider secret on optimizing your computer on the
RegCure Blog. Visit the blog at: http://www.registryheal.com/blog

I recently hit, by mistake, what I thought was an Explorer upgrade option. It turned out to be a pop-up appearing legitimate but really was not. It uploaded a product called Intelligent Explorer on my machine. What a nightmare!

I did some research on the web and found messages like this one from a BullGuard Antivirus Forum,

“Please help!!! I have a spyware, Trojan and Hijacker on my computer. I have run bukkguard, cwshredder and ad-aware. All have picked up the viruses and said that they have been moved/removed but when I log on the internet that damn intelligent explorer toolbar is showing”

Another message from spywareinfo Forum goes something like this:

“Hey I’m having issues with something called Internet explorer toolbar - Intelligent explorer. I can’t find a way to remove it from my comp and I really don’t want to reinstall windows. I’ve used spybot, ad-ware, and cw shredder but nothing seems to work.”

It appears that Intelligent Explorer allows other software to be downloaded to your machine and this is where the problem occurs. What is even more remarkable is that by downloading Intelligent Explorer, their license grants them the right to install software add-ins on your computer at their will. Take a look at what the software license for Intelligent Explore says (go to: ieplugins homepage to read it all):

“You grant to us the right, exercisable by us until you uninstall the Software or this agreement is otherwise terminated, to provide to you the Service of downloading and causing to be displayed advertising material on your computer, through “pop-up” or other display while you use your browser. You acknowledge and agree that installation of the Software may automatically modify toolbars and other settings of your browser. By installing the Software you agree to such modifications.”

The company, IBC incorporated, is incorporated in Belize. I really can’t believe this license!

One end user found highly objectionable pop-up advertisements generated by this software bundled with Intelligent Explorer in the form of extreme pornography.

I have yet to break this.

Intelligent Explorer is a plug-in, which can create a new home page, as well as start up and endless loop of pop-ups. You can remove the view bar, but then starting up Internet Explorer will cause it to reappear. I asked some friends to help, and no one could tell me what to do.

What I did about it:

I bought a copy of a program called XoftSpy and it removed the software. It took two scans and a reboot to do it. This is not an advertisement for this product. They advertised it was free, which it was to run, but then I had to buy it to actually fix anything. It cost me $40 and I am sure that there are freeware products out there as well, but that is what ended the nightmare for me. Other spyware products I have seen out there include spybot, NoAdware, Spyware Eliminator, Pal Spyware Remover, and Spyware C.O.P.

Let the buyer beware!

Mehmet Onatli shares a ton more tips and insider secret on optimizing your computer on the
RegCure Blog.Visit the website at: http://www.registryheal.com/blog

The Windows registry is a directory which stores settings and options for the operating system for Microsoft Windows 32-bit versions, 64-bit versions and Windows Mobile. It contains information and settings for all the hardware, operating system software, most non-operating system software, users, preferences of
the PC, etc.
Whenever a user makes changes to Control Panel settings, […]

There are various products available on the market that allows you to surf anonymously online. When you look around for a product, make sure that it is reliable and does its job properly before parting with any cash. Check on forums and newsgroups to get opinions from other people about how effective the product is. By doing some research you should be able to get a good idea of whether or not a product is worth buying. Secondly, always make sure that the product offers encryption. This will give you bullet proof protection against snoops and sill safe guard all the data being transmitted to and from your computer.

Many products that offer anonymous surfing work by allowing you to hide your IP. This happens by shielding you from the outside world and letting you surf anonymous via their server. This means that all data requested and sent to your computer travels via their server, allowing you to retain total anonymity. Websites routinely log various pieces of information about you like your MAC address, ISP, geographical location, and more. Using a product that lets you surf anonymously eliminates this problem.

There are lots of products that provide this so choosing one can be confusing and tough. The best ones to look for are those that are affordable, have lots of features, and those that meet your individual needs. Once you have found a decent product you just have to take a bit of time to ascertain that the product is reliable and does what it claims it does.

If money is an issue, and you cannot afford to part with any cash, you could use a free proxy service. They are available all over the Internet and you can find one easily just by going t o Google and doing a search. A proxy works by routing all data sent and received to your via its own server allowing you to stay invisible to any websites you visit. They do not work as well as products that offer this and encryption services though. Sometimes it can also be difficult to establish whether the proxy is safe to use. There have been cases where proxy site owners have abused their position and have installed scripts on their site to record activities and were able to capture sensitive information like credit card details. There are many trustworthy and reliable proxies out there but I you must apply caution before using them and do your homework first.

By the way, if you want to check that a product works well before having to buy it then you could try products that offer free trials. This will give you some time to get used to the product and determine whether it is right for you and that it does its job properly. Trial periods vary and some companies and individuals allow up to 60 days or even more to test their products. Use the points in this article and you are one step closer to find a worthwhile and trustworthy product to use.

The author frequently writes about existing products online. He has his own portfolio of websites on the Internet. One of which provides you with reviews of some existing products that you can use. You can take a look at the site and gain access to products to help hide your IP to remain private online. I hope you like the website.

According to a recent study, employee Internet usage is costing British companies over 45 billion pounds a year in lost productivity and a startling 80 percent of all Uk companies have reported employee Internet abuse at work. To say that the problem of employee Internet abuse has become epidemic would be an understatement. No employer expects their workforce to have their shoulder to the grindstone every second of every minute during the work day, but when hours upon hours are being wasted, an employer needs to step in and solve the problem.

Getting a handle on employee Internet usage can be done in two steps. First, you need to come up with a comprehensive usage policy that clearly states what your workforce is allowed to do, and should not do, and what the penalties will be if they are caught. This usage policy works hand in hand with a computer monitoring software suite that you will have installed on your network. This program will give you or a supervisor a complete list of all websites visited on each one of your work stations every day. This kind of software is absolutely vital in fighting excessive web browsing at work, as well as helping to keep your network free of viruses and other malicious software bugs. Although laws vary by state, in most cases, you are legally obligated to tell your staff that you are monitoring their online usage, which is why drafting a usage policy is so important.

If you are not completely sold as to why you and your company must have an Internet usage policy and comprehensive monitoring software, you may want to consider exactly the kind of content your workforce may be accessing on company time. This epidemic might not be so bad if people were simply checking news headlines, sports scores and gardening tips, but the reality is a bit more sinister. Studies have shown that employees engage in hacking activities simply out of boredom or because they aren`t happy with their current employer. Instant messaging has also become a huge problem, with employees spending hours chatting with their family and friends when they should be working. The right monitoring software can tell if any such programs are downloaded and installed on any of your computers.

There is also overwhelming evidence that people install peer-2-peer file sharing programs on their work computers so that they can download everything from music to television shows to movies when they should be working. Worst of all, the virus infection rate on these programs is extremely high, and it wouldn`t just be that one computer that would be affected with a virus, it would be every computer in your network.

Surprisingly, a huge percentage of work computers contain pornography that is downloaded during work hours. Employee monitoring software can alert you when someone is accessing a forbidden site that may contain adult images. Finally, a number of people will listen or watch streaming media at work, which can not only eat up your bandwidth, it can also kill productivity, as well.

The only way you can fight back against internet abuse is with a comprehensive Internet usage policy and the right software to monitor the goings-on during your work day. You simply have too much to lose by not taking action.

Nosagie Esere writes extensively on various computer security related issues, visit www.desk-top-spy.co.uk.

Until the last few years, people who wanted or needed to find free security downloads to help protect their computers from various threats found that they had very few options. Many times the free internet security software programs that were being offered came from software publishers that were new and had not built a reputation or they were even from anonymous programmers. This left the door open for introducing new online threats to a computer in the form of these downloads from unknown and unproven companies.

Because of this, people needed to spend a great deal of time researching their different options in downloadable internet security systems. The research often entailed reading reviews and pouring through forums that discussed the latest online threats and the software programs that were available to combat these threats. The biggest problem was that most people who were looking to protect their home computer systems quickly ran out of patience or were overwhelmed with the vast amounts of information, much of which often conflicted, making matters even worse.

Fortunately, when Google came along and introduced a set of software called the “Google Pack,” many of these issues were resolved, and quite well. The Google Pack consists of about a dozen applications that are all free and this collection includes two internet security downloads for PCs, helping people better protect their computers from the ongoing internet threats.

The two internet safety programs that are now included in the Google Pack are two of the best downloads on the market for protecting personal computers from internet threats; the Spyware Doctor Starter Edition and the Norton Anti-virus software. These are both high quality products from well-known and trusted names in the internet security protection industry. The only thing that is missing from these free downloads from Google, which would make this a very complete and comprehensive solution, is a firewall.

It is somewhat of a mystery as to why Google chose not to include a firewall application with their Google Pack, but there seems to be a variety of possible reasons why. One factor is that in most cases, the broadband routers that are increasingly being used already include a good quality firewall built right into the hardware, making firewall software unnecessary. In addition, Microsoft began including a firewall application as part of Windows XP SP2.

However, it needs to be noted that the firewall that comes installed with Windows is not considered to be the best solution, as it does not have any monitoring function to oversee the outgoing traffic from a computer to the internet. One of the most highly recommended firewall applications is the Zonealarm Internet Security Software package, which is free and is robust enough for home computer systems.

Combined with the Google Pack, this gives computer users the full security suite that they should have on their computers today to safeguard them from the many threats and risks that are commonplace. The fact that these programs are free and from reliable software publishers means that you can choose PC security downloads to use, with confidence.

Mike Selvon has some informative articles for the creative mind. Find out more about free security downloads at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our internet safety rules blog.

People are more dependent that ever on their computers these days. Not only do most people have a computer at work, but they also have at least one compute at home. In fact, an increasing number of families have computers that are truly personal; meaning each person in the family has their own. Norton Internet Security is a program that helps computer users to safeguard against internet security breaches.

The fact is that as computers have become more omnipresent in businesses and homes, the thieves, con men and criminals have become better and better at finding ways to circumvent internet safety protocols so that they can invade your computer and access your personal files and your personal data. Because of this, there is a flourishing computer internet security software industry that is designed to help computer users stay one step ahead of the bad guys who would like to take advantage of people who are not as internet savvy and who are not aware of the internet threats out there.

The Norton Internet Security brand of software has long been rated as one of the best programs for internet security protection. Norton has been in business for over 20 years and has been providing some of the best quality and most innovative software packages to help computer users keep their machines running in tip-top condition.

As the internet came along, along with the many internet threats, such as computer viruses and spyware, Norton kept up with internet security trends and as a result, the company developed their security package. Because of their long history in making excellent software utility programs, Norton has quickly become one of the most trusted names in the software publishing industry and is considered a leader in protection internet security these days.

The most popular version of the Norton software for internet safety is the package that retails for about $60 and that will protect up to three computers in a household. This package includes both antivirus functions, as well as spyware detection. These are two of the most basic and most important functions that should be included in internet security systems.

In addition, this reasonably priced Norton internet safety utility package also included a two-way firewall. This firewall software can boost and enhance any other firewall software that might be on your system and it is important because it can detect and prevent any kind of unauthorized access to your computer from potentially harmful websites.

The Norton security package also includes an antispam module, as well as parental controls that give the parents the ability to lock access to certain internet sites so that youngsters do not have access to inappropriate material or content online. This feature can also be used to protect specific files or folders on the computer so that they are not inadvertently deleted or changed by a curious child.

Similar to most of the other internet security software packages on the market today, the Norton Internet Security program is constantly being updated, improved and updated to keep up with new internet threats and to improve performance. Regularly using Norton’s internet safety program will allow monitoring of email and instant messaging, assuring that viruses don’t sneak into your system through these functions, thus providing an even better degree of security for your computers.

Mike Selvon has some informative articles for the creative mind. Find out more about norton internet security at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our internet safety rules blog.

.How prevalent is Spam? According to Scott McAdams, OMA Public Affairs and Communications Department:

Studies show unsolicited or “junk” e-mail, known as spam, accounts for roughly half of all e-mail messages received. Although once regarded as little more than a nuisance, the prevalence of spam has increased to the point where many users have begun to express a general lack of confidence in the effectiveness of e-mail transmissions, and increased concern over the spread of computer viruses via unsolicited messages.

President Bush signed the “Can Spam” bill in December of 2003 which is the first national standard around bulk unsolicited commercial e-mail. The bill, approved by the Senate by a vote of 97 to 0, prohibits senders of unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE) from using false return addresses to disguise their identity (spoofing) and the use of dictionaries to generate such mailers. In addition, it prohibits the use of misleading subject lines and requires that emails include and opt-out mechanism. The legislation also prohibits senders from harvesting addresses off Web sites. Violations constitute a misdemeanor crime subject to up to one year in jail.

One major point that needs to be discussed about this: spam is now coming from other countries in ever-greater numbers. These emails are harder to fight, because they come from outside our country’s laws and regulations. Because the Internet opens borders and thinks globally, these laws are fine and good, but do not stop the problem.

So what do you do about this? Her are the top 5 Rules to do to protect from spam.

Number 1: Do what you can to avoid having your email address out on the net.

There are products called “spam spiders” that search the Internet for email addresses to send email to. If you are interested, do a search on “spam spider” and you will be amazed at what you get back. WebPoison is an open source project geared to fight Internet “spambots” and “spam spiders”, by giving them bogus HTML web pages, which contain bogus email addresses

A couple suggestions for you: a) use form emails, which can hide addresses or also b) use department addresses like sales instead of your full address to help battle the problem. c) There are also programs that encode your email, like jsGuard, which encodes your email address on web pages so that while spam spiders find it difficult or impossible to read your email address.

Number 2: Get spam blocking software.

There are many programs out there for this, such as CloudMark or MailWasher. You may also buy a professional version. Whatever you do, get the software. It will save you time. The software is not foolproof, but they really do help. You usually have to do some manual set up to block certain types of email.

Number 3: Use the multiple email address approach.

There are a lot of free email addresses to be had. If you must subscribe to newsletters, then have a “back-up” email address. It would be like giving your cell phone number to your best friends and the business number to everyone else.

Number 4: Attachments from people you don’t know are BAD, BAD, BAD.

A common problem with spam is that they have attachments and attachments can have viruses. Corporations often have filters that don’t let such things pass to you. Personal email is far more “open country” for spammers. General rule of thumb: If you do not know who is sending you something, DO NOT OPEN THE ATTACHMENT. Secondly, look for services that offer filtering. Firewall vendors offer this type of service as well.

Number 5: Email services now have “bulk-mail” baskets.

If what you use currently does not support this, think about moving to a new vendor. The concept is simple. If you know someone, they can send you emails. If you don’t know them, put them in the bulk email pile and then choose to allow them into your circle. Spam blocking software has this concept as well, but having extra layers seems critical these days, so it is worth looking into.

Brian Jones writes about spam, the outlook spam filter, and adware for The Tech FAQ.

There is a lot going on in the information security space. 2009 looks to be an interesting year in these regards. Below are some things to watch for in 2009, some of them are good and, unfortunately, some are not.

First the good news:

- We are getting a lot more serious about our security. This has a lot of reasons behind it. For example, new privacy laws are mandating organizations to tighten their security. Look to see more consumer privacy laws passed by the new Congress and more tightening of security systems by both large and small businesses.

- Authentication requirements are increasing. This is closing in large security holes. Corporations are requiring a great deal more of authentication to get into secure systems. This provides additional protection for customer data stored by these companies.

- There are a plethora of sophisticated programs to help us be more secure and they will continue to get better. Competition right now is strong in the security industry, sparking a lot of innovation. This can only benefit customers.

- ISPs are now taking on the responsibility to help us with our security. Take AOL’s recent commercials as a good sign that others will follow this trend.

Now the bad news:

- Securing our networks is costing us. Most companies are globalizing their operations. Making global organizations secure costs a lot of money. It will get worse before it gets better.

- Authentication requirements are increasing. This is getting claustrophobic. Corporations are requiring a great deal more authentication to get into secure systems. Unfortunately, for the end user, it is one more thing to be unhappy about, not unlike airport security lines.

- Hackers are getting more sophisticated. For example, bot nets are becoming more complex and harder and harder to catch and stop. Do a search on bot nets on the Internet. They really are causing a whole lot of problems, but it does not stop there. The amount of viruses and malware out there are staggering.

- Spammers keep finding more creative ways to fill our email boxes. Don’t look for this trend to stop anytime soon.

Summary:

Security is going to be even more important in 2009 than it was in 2008, and it is going to require more investments of time and money than ever before. Coordinated efforts by end users, security vendors, and elected legislators will be required to provide solutions to the security problems of 2009.

Brian Jones writes about
malware, botnets, and
two factor authentication for The Tech FAQ.

Making sure that you have installed the best internet security suite that is available today is one of the unwritten, and very important, rules that every PC user should follow. Just about everyone has heard the chilling stories about how computer viruses have caused havoc for a person’s computer, often causing them to lose valuable data. Even worse are the stories of the internet threats to computer security that have led to someone having their identity stolen.

As technology advances at a rapid pace to bring the market greater functionality and usability, there are more and more people who are constantly trying to take advantage of technology to infect and intrude on the personal computers of individuals and companies alike. Because of this ongoing battle between the advances in technology and the bad guys trying to make the most of technology for their benefit, there is a constant need for internet security protection software.

An internet security suite of software is able to provide this precise kind of protection through a set of programs that are designed to work together to foil the numerous internet security threats that are constantly cropping up. The most effective types of such computer internet security programs are able to keep abreast of all the current threats, such as spyware, adware, and viruses by automatically downloading updates and patches on a weekly or daily basis.

Making sure that any security software is properly updating should be high on the list of anyone who wants to make the most of their internet security protection. This means that even though the security suite may be programmed to automatically download and install updates, the computer user should still manually check to be sure these updates have occurred.

This double check should be done on a regular basis, weekly at least and preferably each day. While software programs can help to protect your computer, it is ultimately the responsibility of the user to make sure the software is running properly.

When choosing the best antivirus and security software to protect your computer system, and ultimately to protect yourself and your family, you should consider several factors. While many of the internet safety software products claim that they have a complete package to protect your system against internet threats, you still need to check to be sure that some specific components are included in the package you choose.

There are many programs to choose from, such as AVG Internet Security, McAfee Internet Security, Panda Internet Security, PC Cillin Internet Security, Norton Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security, Zonealarm Internet Security and Microsoft Internet Security, to name a few.

First, and foremost, the software security suite you choose must have the capacity to scan for viruses, to block viruses with an anti-virus protection routine, and be able to execute removal of any viruses that have invaded your system. Viruses can range from simple programs that are designed to annoy all the way to programs that can completely wipe out a hard drive, causing the user to lose everything on the drive.

A good internet security suite should also provide effective protection against spyware and adware. In addition, it should offer protection against spam, should have a robust firewall, and provide an array of parental control options.

Eventually, computer users running internet security software will run into questions or problems with their software and because of this you should be sure to purchase software from a company that has a good reputation for quality customer service and one that gives their customers the option of receiving support via phone, live chat and email.

Mike Selvon has some informative articles for the creative mind. Find out more about internet security suite at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our internet safety rules blog.

You search about your problem, and you learn about spyware applications and how they do this to your computer. You also learn that to deal with these, you need an anti spyware application.

So you download the first free anti-spyware file you see and you install it to your PC. Wrong move.

If you are searching for a free anti spyware software to protect your PC from malware and spyware applications, then you have to know that there are free anti spyware software that cause more damage than help are rogue anti spyware programs.

But what do these rogue anti spyware programs do?

They create False Positive detection. Ever been to a webpage where suddenly, a pop up says that you have over a million spyware bogging your computer down? Then when you check your own spyware blocker that is up and running on the background, your application says you have no spyware whatsoever. #1 Spyware Killer is actually an application that does this, which makes it a rogue anti spyware. The marketers of these types of programs do this so you will be convinced to download their anti spyware, as it seems that a spyware that can detect a million malware files is better than one that detects none.

Other rogue spyware files automatically load themselves to your PC, even if you click the X button to close the installation invitation. If you do encounter pop-ups like this, press Alt + F4 to circumvent this auto-install action. An example of this is Ad-Eliminator.

Some rogue anti spyware parading as free anti spyware software initially would allow you to download their application. Then, it will intall a malicious file that only their paid version (usually called a deluxe version) can remove. If you do not buy the deluxe version, you would have to deal with pop-ups constantly saying your PC is at risk and you have to buy the upgrade. Adware Sherriff is an example of this.

If you want to protect your PC from spyware, malware, malicious files, key loggers, Trojan horses and RAP, then you would have to make sure that your free anti spyware software is the real deal.

The best way to check if a program that protects you from malicious files is legitimate, then you need to visit the Spyware Warrior website. It has a comprehensive list of all the rogue software out there and at the same time, it has links that you can read about educating you about spyware apps.

Then, lastly, if you find that your chosen free anti spyware is okay with Spyware Warrior, then read about the product from other users who have tried the application. This will give you an overview of how the product will perform on your own PC.

If you are looking for a really good anti spyware program, please read our NoAdware 5.0 review.

There is no doubt that technology affects most people who live anywhere other than third-world countries. It is difficult to go through a day without the need to put some type of technology to work. The most common and powerful piece of technology for most people is the personal computer that they use at home and at work. Because people and businesses are now so dependent on their computers, it is essential that they make sure to have effective antispyware software installed and running on their systems.

Like just every type of advancement made throughout time, there are associated positives and negatives. When it comes to the technological advancements that surround us today and which are so much a part of our lives, there is no difference. In many ways, technology is a two edged sword, bringing about conveniences and expanding capabilities in ways many people had never dreamed of, yet at the same time bringing with it some alarming and numerous internet threats to every person who uses a computer to access the internet.

One thing that is quite effective at combating those insidious internet threat security trends that are so prevalent today is to use a robust and reliable antispyware software application. Of course, it is not enough just to install this kind of internet security software on your computer; it is also imperative that it is always updated and constantly scanning your system.

Any internet threat that is instigated by cyber criminals of the world is constantly changing in an effort to stay one step ahead of even the best antivirus and antispyware programs on the market. Because of this, it is imperative that you update your antispyware and other computer internet security software frequently.

These days, many of the top-of-the-line internet security suite software packages are designed to automatically check for updates and download them without any intervention from the computer user. This can all happen seamlessly in the background so that other work and important tasks are not interrupted, yet the internet safety software is always functioning at the best possible level. The only requirement for these automated software updates to happen is for the computer to be running with the application running in the background or on a system level, and making sure that the computer is connected to the internet.

Most antispyware software packages will check for updates at least once a day. If an update is found, then the patch will be downloaded and the program will restart to make the new changes effective.

Yet there is a program that offers the highest level of updates available today. The Kaspersky internet security program will update itself on an hourly basis, making it the program that is best able to respond to new threats more quickly, over any other safety application.

Mike Selvon has some informative articles for the creative mind. Find out more about antispyware software at his resourceful site. We appreciate your feedback at our internet safety rules blog.

Simply put nothing is fool proof when it comes to computer data. From hard drive crashes to virus attacks computer data needs to be protected at all times. On top of the usual data loss hazards that come with Personal Computers, laptops are more at risk due their vulnerability to theft.

If you were to look at the statistics regarding the information that has been lost in regards to laptop computers, you would be amazed. It is a fact that over a million laptops have been stolen over the years in the United States alone. Chances are when a laptop is stolen it will never be recovered. If the data was not backed up, then the owner is not only left without a laptop but without any of the files that were stored on it.

Even with this astounding information, many people still do not take the time to backup the data information on their laptops. Same as with desktop computers, you can create a data backup for your laptops as well. Preserving your data is something you should really look into, whether you have business or personal data, losing that information can be devastating.

Since laptop computers are mobile and primarily for on the go use, many do not really think about backing up their data. Usually this important task is overlooked until it is too late.

Two Methods to Backup Data on Your Laptop

1. One of the simplest ways to back up your data is to burn it to a data CD. A data CD can hold up to 700 MB (Mega Bytes) of data, which means a lot of files. To use this method you need a CD/RW burner in your laptop, which most of the newer ones come with.

Since many laptops do not offer as much storage or security measures as a desktop PC. Another benefit of data backup and burning your archives onto CD is that it frees up lots of storage space on your laptops.

2. Online Data Backup Service

A method of saving data that is becoming more and more popular these days is using an online data backup service. Depending on your Internet connection, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.

Online data backup is a great option to saving your files. Many such services are very affordable and easy to use. Often they provide user friendly options such as reminders and auto settings so that data is backed up automatically and you do not need to worry about remembering to do it. Some of these companies even offer limited storage space for free for personal users.

Data backup is something that should be taken seriously. Whether you are using your laptop for business or personal use consider what would it cost you to lose it?

Learn more about protecting you laptop data and the best online back up service at: Laptop Data Backup
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With the last few years the internet has became not so safe to use because of facing the problems such as virus, worms, and Trojan horse. But by taking certain right security tools and a little knowledge about the problems we can tackle the problems and enjoy the internet as we can enjoyed. So, let s learn that how we can tackle the dangerous problems coming to the internet and we can enjoy the internet safely

Virus: Virus is the most dangerous as it spread through computer to the other computer and attaching to the host program of computer by affecting the computer hardware, software or other information. This can be tackle by installing a good Anti-virus before connecting to the internet. An anti-virus detect the virus and remove it from our computer. Always the anti-virus should be kept updated. You should be installed a good Anti-virus before connecting to the internet is the most safely thing to do to protect our computer and enjoy safe internet. You can double check your computer for virus infection by online virus scan, A AVG Anti-virus is also a better and free Anti-virus program. Another Avast Anti-virus is also a free good anti-virus program to protect our computer.

Worms: It is the subcategory of virus which affects the computer by spreading without the user action distributes itself to all over the network. Because of this the computer stop responding and allows somebody else to take control of your computer remotely. Eg: Sasser worm and Blaster worm. This types of worms generally spreads through email so never open a attachment directly from the unless it is scan by a good anti-virus program. By this only you can prevent from spreading the worms in your computer. It can scan by all the good Anti-virus program. But it is the better way that doesn t open the attachment from your email unless you are expecting it. Always keep the Windows updated by updating frequently or by turning on the Automatic update from the control panel.

Trojan Horse: Trojan Horses is spreads through generally when the people are opening a program by not knowing the coming source of program and also when downloading a software which is free. So, never download software from the source you don t know and not trust on it. Trojan Horses can make other to take control of your computer, steal your personal information such as passwords, and also make your computer to stop from working. Thus the Trojan Horses is different from the virus and worms because some Anti-virus cannot detect it. So, use a good Anti-virus program and keep it updated. Also, install the Internet Firewall to protect your computer.

Besides this, main threat to our computer is from Spyware. Spyware basically gathers the personal information from your computer unless you don t know. Spyware may cause to your computer to slow down. You can make away from your computer by buying a Anti-spyware program but it should also be free from Spyware. So the best way to keep our computer safe from the damages and secure our internet you should first prevent it by installing a good Anti-virus program and other suitable measures.

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When you have a computer and you work on a network one of the most important things you can provide for you business is good network security. This term describes the things that make up the underlying network infrastructure, plus policies that have been set up by the administrator of the network system. The security is in place to protect the network against people receiving unauthorized access to databases, communication and other valuable information on your network.

Unfortunately, trying to make your network more secure can be somewhat difficult because there are numerous points that a person can attack in their attempt to get access. This act of getting onto a network your not allowed is called hacking. In trying to setup network security the administrator is taking measures that will prevent any attempts or success in gaining network access, even from one of your own computers.

In that case, if access cannot be gained to one computer the network is safe. It is possible to stop a hacker during the beginning of the attack, but some may get in further than you would like. Some of these attacks are, of course, a virus that can be set lose in your computer and thus corrupting the network and possibly create a problem with all the computers on the network if it’s not caught in a timely manner.

Most security precautions for networks require that any users with access to the network need to be authenticated. This means that you will probably have not only a username but a distinct password to use to access the network as well. Once the computer verifies that this information is correct it will allow you access to the network. This is a great way to prevent someone who isn’t allowed access from getting onto the system, but it will not block worms that can be transmitted via the network. In order to fight this you should get what is called an intrusion prevention system, it will help to identify worms and anything that may be malicious in nature and stop it from accessing your network.

The network administrator may also use a decoy such as a Honey pot that will hopefully act as a warning tool and prevent further access to those unauthorized users. For a home network it is fairly easy to set up security, but with bigger companies it becomes a bit harder.

Ways to protect your home are firewalls, and software programs that watch for viruses like Norton. With a medium sized business you will need a firewall that is more advanced with a much stronger Antivirus, in addition to changing of passwords on a monthly basis.

Larger businesses will want a very strong firewall, a strong Antivirus, change of passwords bi-weekly, network analyzer. Even schools need to protect their networks with an adjustable firewall, strong Antivirus, and many other things. As you can tell as you go up in size of company the security measures to take to protect your network become more in depth.

For some of the best Dallas network security available, turn to Network Elites (http://www.networkelites.com/networksecurity.html). Their services can safeguard your company and keep your computers on track. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.