Cool Designs In Consumer Electronics

Cool Designs In Consumer Electronics by James Brown

Most consumers own several electronic devices that have features that perform the same function. This is because consumer electronics are designed to blend in with the needs that consumers have and are marketed solely on one feature and the other features tend to blend into the background. A cellular telephone will include features such as calculator and calendars, but since these consumer electronics are sold individually, there is little talk about duplicated features in any magazines.

Consumer electronics like personal digital assistants are designed to perform tasks that are identical to tasks performed by larger devices but are used more because they are portable and can be enjoyed in many settings where the larger device will seem inconvenient. Many people will own personal computers and use the connectivity devices to download music to the handheld consumer electronics such as MP3 players and PDA's, but they will enjoy the storage space found on the computer and store musical files until they are needed.

A person has the option of installing global positioning devices into the dash of their automobile or using these consumer electronics from portable devices such as PDA's. Some computer software programs will serve the same purpose and a person will find that they can use the internet search engines to find websites that will perform exact distance calculations from one place to another. All of these consumer electronics will perform the same task but consumers are given a choice in which one they want to use and most users will consider the cost of using each method.

Some people use consumer electronics to help with mathematical calculations. A handheld calculator is very useful to a budget conscious shopper, but will prove to be an invaluable tool for someone who is performing intricate equations for algebra. Some users will need consumer electronics while at work because buying materials for a job site will require a building contractor to know the square root measurements of all building surfaces.

Computer software can be used to calculate the cost of every home remodeling project and consumer electronics like flash sticks can be used to store the files safely until they are needed. Computer technicians can use these devices to store many files that are needed for completing compute repairs, and other consumer electronics can be used to verify if electrical connections are energized or not safe to work on.

Other consumer electronics will make tasks simpler and reduce the cost of building projects. Electronic devices such as stud finders allow building contractors to find objects behind drywall that are not visible with the naked eye. A contractor might need consumer electronics such as heaters to make paint dry faster. When the building is finished, the occupant will rely on other electronic devices to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the building.

While the design of consumer electronics is angled toward accomplishing a specific purpose, many devices can be used to accomplish a variety of tasks. Electronics are meant to simplify life and serve as forms of entertainment outside the home. Radios are one of the consumer electronics that can provide safety information if it is tuned to the right channel, or it can help keep drivers awake while driving for hours on a busy highway. Some consumer electronics are capable of putting drivers in contact with fire, police or ambulance companies in the event that an accident occurs on the roadways.

HP Inkjet Printer Review

HP Inkjet Printer Review - Find The Right HP Printer For Your Needs Without All Of The Marketing Hype by John Synder

HP has really become of the leaders in home based technology from their personal computers and laptops to being the folks that brought all-in-one printing into the home. Back when the internet first began gaining popularity and Microsoft Works was still the word processor of choice I owned a Hewlett Packard and swore them off ever since. However, that changes a couple of years ago when I purchased my first all-in-one printer which did photos. I fell in love with the crisp quality of the printing, the ability to use the machine without needing to hook it up to a computer but I hated the bulkiness of the required software, especially on my Macintosh. If I would have taken a minute to look at the hp inkjet printer reviews out there instead of making an impulse buy, I probably would have chosen a different model. We live and learn right?

In earlier days one would have to spend time searching Google and other sites to find reviews for hp printers, but it seems now the major manufacturers have caught on. Upon reviewing HP's website I noticed they provide their own customer review capabilities as well as giving potential buyers the ability to check out other review sites, like Cnet, and showing what rating those sites have given the product. All in all it's a pretty handy feature for the hp inkjet printer reviews to be right there on the manufacturer's page.

However, just in case there are several other sites still accessible with product reviews. Not to insinuate that HP is being Machiavellian but no company wants to display reviews and ratings that paint not so beautiful pictures of their products. So just be sure to check around and don't be suckered into buying an hp printer based solely on the reviews. Also be sure to read the hp inkjet printer reviews thoroughly and decide if the pros or cons the other consumers listed fit your specifications. While a Macintosh user may have problems with the software, like I did when I bought my HP printer, if you use Windows as an operating system then in all likelihood that won't be something that affects you. If a user gives the printer a low rating because it's slow to print black and white, but you want the printer for photos then that review isn't necessarily relevant and their recommendation shouldn't be held as highly in your mind.

While consumer ratings or hp inkjet printer reviews can be helpful to see how the population responded, it's always a good idea to get reviews from experts who have more understanding of what a printer should be capable of and what they're dealing with. Sometimes the population feels like a piece of technology should be able to perform a task much better than we are actually capable of making, or their "forever" is actually a fairly standard time period.

What is the Best Way to Remove Spyware

What is the Best Way to Remove Spyware

Trying to find a file on your computer that is invisible can be a headache in itself. Trying to find this same file that is causing you so many problems is downright aggravating. You could be spending more time enjoying your computer or even more importantly working from your computer than trying to find the culprit that keeps opening explorer every time you open outlook express.

With the time and aggravation that is taking its tole on you it is time to act on this intruder once and for all. First of all, uninstall all programs that are not essential to you. This mean that alarm software you downloaded to wake you up but could never get to work right. And yes, get rid of some of you search bars also. These are breeding grounds for spyware and the likes.

Once you uninstall the unwanted programs from you add/remove console, begin by cleaning your hard drive. Use the native one that comes with windows or download your own. I personally like system mechanic, but that is just preference. Once you know that a lot of the junk files are cleared from your computer, It is time to run an anti-virus program. Any will do that is up to date. Key being up to date. After this is done it is time to attack the menace from within. Your adware, spyware, malware or whatever you want to call that gremlin.

Start by downloading an anti-spyware program. Here is some reviews on a couple of good ones, http://mertod.bezoogle.com/pp/adware/ , Then once you have the right one for you download it and get the latest update. ALWAYS ALWAYS updater your spyware software. Updating gives new definitions and uses the old ones as well. So what might work today might not work tomorrow unless you update.

After you update it is time to run your spyware to find that nasty adware. Exit all of your windows programs first. Get down to the bare desktop. If you have to go to task manager do cnt + alt + del. Close any know programs that are open. The reason you close all the programs is some spyware removers cannot clean a file that has adware on it if it is open. It will not scan it. So be safe and close every thing you can. It is also good to exit from the internet. This keeps the spyware from opening browsers and the likes.

After scanning the drive for spyware I like to rescan. If time permits do so. Also immunize your computer after the scan. This helps the spyware protection software to keep tract of what it found to be suspicious. After you have run the scan, restart your computer and repeat the scan again. Let the spyware remover rescan your computer until all accounts of the adware are gone.

If the problem is so bad that you cannot get rid of the spyware or even worse your computer begins to act strange or be unresponsive it is probably time to take it to a local technician. Hopefully we can take preventative measure before we reach that step in getting some spyware protection and prevention on your machine as soon as possible. Once you are infested with spyware, your computer and your life become a pain when it comes to getting the most out of your computing.

Hopefully you will take the steps to protect and prevent unwanted spyware from taking over your computer and causing you a massive headache in the process. Adware and spyware are major enemies to your computer and should be removed immediately. The more time without a spyware remover on your computer the more time the spyware can hide and eventually ruin your computer from inside. Take the steps to remove these unwanted visitors from your computer.

by Thadius Kramer
keyword : What is the Best Way to Remove Spyware

Spyware - Don't Fight It By Yourself

Spyware - Don't Fight It By Yourself

There are many reasons why spyware could be very annoying if it went onto our computers. Spyware gets on your computer and acts as a spy for marketing and advertising companies. They will go into your private life and find out where you go to surf and what sites you like to visit. As soon as the spyware gets on your computer it will start sending information back to the site it came from. It acts like a parasite as it sits on your computer and works in the background reporting everything you are doing.

Spyware can creep into your computer and record your web browsing history and even scan documents on your hard drive. This is all done quietly in the background without your consent. It can often be used as information for advertisers who will then simply annoy you with ads. This type of spyware though it not directly harmful can clog up your computer�s resources and slow the programs down. Though it does not perform any illegal act it does affect your life and causes and great deal of annoyance.

They are powerful and so can they hack the entire memory of your computer by scanning history and also by scanning the documents present in the hard drive. These works are done behind the curtain and you are not to get alerted for all the spying done by it. Later you will be annoyed with several ads by the advertisers who aimed at collecting information regarding your browsing pattern. They could have an adverse effect on your computer by clogging up the resources and thus slowing down the programs as such. They do not prove to be illegal but it does affect the over all performance of the system.

Spyware is considered to be the perfect way in sending promotions and products to the appropriate people by the advertisers. This would help the advertisers understand about the products you are in search of, so that they can send related product information to your system. You can categorize these promotions to be in the junk items if you are not interested. Some of the Spyware can also change the settings of the computer linked with the homepage. It can automatically change the homepage of the system to the website that you would like to search for. You can also see pop up adds on your system which is stated as another Spyware attack.

Some spyware is even dangerous. Not only will it collect information on your web surfing habits but it can steal passwords or financial details! This is especially dangerous for businesses. They can make attempts to intercept when sending passwords or credit card numbers and steal the information and perform some illegal act.

Spyware are removable and by using the right spyware removing soft ware you can remove most of the spyware programs form your computer. Some of this spyware are however difficult to remove. You can directly down load spyware programs using internet and some of these programs have the capacity not only to remove spyware from your computer but also to prevent spyware from entering from your computer.

Windows Task Manager is not enough for complete protection of your system as Spyware remains to be hidden from them. The Spyware detection software�s can really help you in detecting the Spyware running in your computer. Several anti-virus programs also detect spywares and protect from further Spyware attacks as they come along with antispyware programs.

by Isaiah Henry
Keyword : Spyware - Don't Fight It By Yourself

CNC Control Computer

CNC Control Computer

The Control Computer generally resides in the shop somewhere near the CNC machine it is controlling. Control Computers don't have to be the top of the line, every bell and whistle type of computer. These are the workhorses. Save your money for a good design computer. You will save much more time having a fast computer for your designing.

A control computer doesn't have to be that powerful for a few good reasons. It doesn't have the workload. It takes G-Code and turns it into signals that it transmits to the Machine Controller. Turning G-Code into signals is not that labor intensive for a computer.

I have used multiple types of control computers. Everything from a 486 DOS running "$30 special" to a modern Dell with Windows XP. I have yet to try one with Vista. I will keep you posted. Generally I like to find a good used computer for a couple hundred bucks, wipe the hard drive and only load the control software onto the machine. That way you know what you have.

There is another good reason you don't want to spend a lot of money here. This computer will usually be located in the shop. Dirt will be located in your shop. Using logic here, dirt will be located in your computer. If the computer does go belly up, you aren't out your children's college tuition.

Here is my strategy in a nutshell for Control Computers. The dirtier the job, the less money I spend on the computer. My plasma cutting computers are bought in the $40 range. They eat a lot of dust and dirt. I blow them out frequently. My wood routing computers are in the $100 dollar range. My milling machine computers usually are in the $200 range. Truth be told, they all last a very long time if you keep dirt, dust and plasma smoke out of them.

How is the CNC Control Computer used?

The control computer has the control software loaded on it. You start up the control software then load up the CNC Program you created. When you do this, the G-Code will be visible and ready to go. Once you prep your CNC Machine and zero it out, you can begin your "cycle." A cycle is usually completing one CNC Program, which is a machining sequence. You will also hear the term "Cycle Time" on the professional side of CNC a lot more. The quicker you can get the cycle time, the more parts you can make. And yes, that translates to more money.

Back in the good old days of Home CNC, everything was transferred on a disk. Now I have seen people include their Control Computers on their home computer network and transfer the files needed wirelessly. At a very minimum, get a good jump drive and transfer things back and forth that way.

CNC has become a very popular hobby and more and more people are starting to hop on the band wagon of CNC. Its a fun hobby and easy to do from your very own home with just a little elbow grease and creative mind.

by Ivan Irons
keyword : CNC Control Computer

CNC Process Overview

CNC Process Overview

Quick Explanation of the Process

This is how I view CNC. I break it down into simple steps that I can remember. Now, they all interact, but it is good to keep them in boxes for simplicity sake. I also like to keep them in a logical, progression type order. Here they are: Design, CAD, CAM, Control and Machine.

Today you are going on a journey. You are going to learn about the basics of CNC. I hope you are as excited as I am about this topic.

I have been using CNC equipment in my home shop for six years now. The technology gets better and better every year.

The software gets better every year. At one time large companies could only afford this technology. Now there are hundreds of thousands of these machines working in garages like yours and mine.

There are basically five elements to a CNC Project that you need to know:

Design - thinking and planning what you want to build CAD - translating it into the computer CAM - converting it into machine language Controlling - directing your machine's motion Machining - building the part to specifications

These five elements are really the building blocks to a CNC project. As you see them above, that is generally the order people associate them in. For example, you can't control until you have a design. You can't use your CAM software before your CAD software. One of the main things you need to address is how these elements interact with each other.

Right now this may seem confusing. Over time, it will seem very basic. The more you use these elements with one another, the more their order will become second nature.

Note: The A-axis is the rotational axis. Why is it called that? I don't know. It is also sometimes called the B-axis. I have even heard it called the W-axis. A-axis is the rotational axis around the X-axis. B-axis is the rotational axis around the Y-axis.

Buying a completed CNC Machine

If you purchase a CNC machine outright, it will have a machine controller as part of the package. Everyone does it a bit different though. Some try to make it a black box that only they can fix. Other use commonly used components so you could repair it if need be. You will just have to ask the manufacturer and see what they say. My experience says they usually tell you that it uses common components that you can get anywhere if needed. If something goes wrong, it seems you can only get the part from them. You will have to decide.

Internal Machine Controller Parts

There are many different electrical components that go into a machine controller. I won't pretend that I am an expert on this. Actually, this is one of the components I buy pre-made so I don't have to do it. If you are an electronics junkie you could build your own. I know where my skills are at and it isn't in assembling and understanding electronics.

by Ivan Irons
keyword : CNC Process Overview

How To Go Safe While Buying A Used Laptop

How To Go Safe While Buying A Used Laptop

Most of us must have bought some second hand device in our life. But if, on returning to home, we find out that the product we purchased at second hand rate inot functioning properly, then? Even if we get a warranty card with the product, still it causes unnecessarily headache to us. So, one should always be at safeguard while purchasing a used product and if the purchasing is of used laptop, then being mentally active is a first and the most important task.

In the present scenario, buying a laptop is not a big deal but if they are easily available in the minimized prices, no one wants to miss the opportunity. Companies go for used laptop because they need to satisfy the requirement of several laptops for their employees whereas students go for them because they are affordable to their financial status. But as a customer, you must be concerned about some intense inspection of the used laptop so that you can minimize the chances of its improper functioning in the near future.

One of the most important steps to be taken into account while going for used laptop is to buy it from company showroom only. Because on doing purchasing from showroom, at least you get the avail the return guarantee in case of failure of laptop. Sometimes, you also get some limited period warranty on the used laptops.

Second step that should be included in the inspection before buying a used laptop is the condition of the presentation of data. Do not inspect the monitor when it is displaying something. Turn it off and then check the screen from the sides. This way, you can detect whether there are any scratches on the screen or not. After the complete satisfaction from the turned off screen condition, switch it on and check out the displaying modes. Check it again and again, because it is quite possible that you get the shortfall after second or third attempt.

Now, after inspecting the monitor, check out all the connectors and plugs of the used laptop. Confirm that all the additional parts like mouse, USB, Ethernet and other parts are connected to the laptop at the right place. Make an intensified inspection while checking out the plugs and power connections. Generally, laptops are specifically for satisfying portable purposes. So, it will be wise on the customers part if he checks all entire hardware of the used laptop.

These are some tips for you that help you when you are in market for buying a used laptop. If you are alone unable for the inspection of a used laptop, you can take help either from some known laptop specialist or from internet. There are countless websites that are available to you through internet and could help you in being a safe purchaser if you are buying a used laptop.

by Victor Epand
keyword : How To Go Safe While Buying A Used Laptop

How To Prevent Your Computer From Being Slow

How To Prevent Your Computer From Being Slow

One of the most common complaints that we hear from PC users is the slowness of their PCs. You must have had the same problem with your computer some time or the other. And generally the answer we get to this problem is that perhaps you have stored way too many files and documents on your personal computer, which makes it slow down gradually. This is indeed a valid explanation for a slow computer; however it is not the only reason for a slow computer. Other than this something very vital which you need to look into is the registry of the computer.

The registry or the registry files in the computer keeps stock of everything-information and settings of all the software, operating system software, hardware and every single file and functions running on the computer system. The registry files have to be maintained in proper order; otherwise once any of the files go awry, the computer faces problems in functioning smoothly and might even hang up. The computer requires starting up any particular software by looking into the registry files. In case the registry file is absent or not in its proper shape, the computer is liable to stop running the given software. This in turn slows down the computer generally. The slow computer is unable to do anything with the software. In such a situation there is the possibility of the computer hanging or getting locked up. This is where you need to take care that the registry files are in working order, or fixed properly when the need be.

The basic thing you need to have in order to fix your registry files is registry repair software. You can get the very best standardized registry repair software and use it on your personal computer. The registry repair software is imperative for such a situation; you cannot repair the damaged registry files otherwise. Using the registry repair software helps because it points out the number of files that are corrupted and need to be repaired. Then you can give command to the registry repair software to fix each and every registry file and restore them to their original configuration. The entire process is surprisingly simple, and can be done in only a matter of minutes. And because it is a relatively simple process you can check your registry files from time to time. For instance if you use the registry repair software once a week it is enough to ensure that the registry files are in proper shape.

A slow computer is a very common malaise in computer systems. As mentioned earlier, storing an excessive amount of files and folders may also cause your computer to operate slowly. In such cases we find that the speed of the computer decreases; a file or folder might take more time in opening than it earlier used to or your CD writer might take an unusually long time in writing material to a blank CD. But you should not forget the importance of registry files and how you can keep them in perfect order with the help of the registry files repair software.

by Victor Epand
keyword : How To Prevent Your Computer From Being Slow

Learn To Keep Your Computer Sparkling

Learn To Keep Your Computer Sparkling

Has the snoring granny of your neighborhood broken through your living room without any notice? It is her habit to disturb you in the wee hours of night by echoing a series of unpleasant music. But for your knowledge, the granny is on her trip to somewhere else. So what is sounding so dubious? You may be frightened. Kindly pay a vigil attention to your computer. You may find the alter ego of the snoring granny. The cause of snoring is the dust that has built its permanent hill station in your system. Dust chokes the vents behind your computer and forces it to give you the glimpses of the snoring granny. Do you know the fact that dust not only makes your computer to behave dubiously but also makes the CPU to heat up? Heat is the most potent enemy of your computer which causes component failure. So clean computer regularly and minimize the threats which affects the performance and efficiency of your computer.

Tools required for cleaning computer

You need simple tools to clean computer and you can do the cleaning at home with the help of these tools. The tools required are a screw driver, can of compressed air, cotton swabs, rubbing alcohol, anti static cloths and water. You can find the compressed air can at computer dealers. Never use cotton ball in place of cotton swabs when you clean computer. It may not provide the desired result.

Turn off the computer and disconnect the power supply when you start to clean computer. With the help of the screw driver open the case opposite to your mother board. Do not touch the inside parts of computer frequently. Keep your fingers away from the cards and cords when you clean computer.

Then blow air from the compressed air can around all the components of your computer. The nozzle of the can should be four inches away from the machine. The inside cover should be wiped with a light moistened cotton cloth.

After you clean the inside of the case, start to clean the outside. Dip the cotton swab in rubbing alcohol. Then give a gentle wipe to the outer side with this cotton swab. After the outside is cleaned properly, clean the keyboard. Keyboard has the maximum chance to gather dust as they have the maximum exposure to the outside. Clean the keyboard with the help of the cotton swab. While cleaning make sure the cotton swab is damp not wet. If it will be wet, further problems can occur.

Clean the monitor with the help of the moist paper towel softly. While cleaning, do not spray liquid directly on the screen. Spray the liquid on the cotton cloth and clean the monitor with that cloth.

After cleaning all the equipments, connect the power supply only when they are dry. Perform this cleaning once in every three months to make the life span and performance of your computer satisfactory.

by Victor Epand
keyword : Learn To Keep Your Computer Sparkling

Medical Document Imaging Transforms Medical Practice

Medical Document Imaging Transforms Medical Practice

Medical document imaging can transform medical practice by capturing patient charts in an electronic form. Unlike paper charts, practitioners can access electronic charts with utmost ease, by clicking a mouse (or touching their PDA). Whereas they had to wait for the paper chart earlier, now the chart is available to them instantly.

The patient chart is the key document in healthcare. It communicates the specific information that doctors need. Even if the patient moves to another city the patient chart can be accessible by doctors there over the Internet.

Lab results can also be scanned immediately into an electronic document, and made available within hours to doctors. Even if the results are stored in another hospital, doctors can access it by dialing to the hospital.

This kind of scenario is very different from a paper-based one. Paper charts and lab results have to be physically moved around. Doctors have to make a request for the documents and then wait while it's being located and transported.

Lost charts are a frequent problem when large numbers of paper-based charts have to be managed. Frequent retrievals and transportation could not only increase the risks of loss but also damage the records. Even otherwise, legibility is typically a problem.

E-Prescibing, where a doctor uses a PDA to check drug databases and make an electronic prescription can solve the legibility problem. Medical document imaging solutions often come with e-prescribing solutions also.

How Medical Document Imaging Reduces Costs

Paper-based charts require storage equipment and space. Dedicated staff are needed to attend to the paper-handling, filing, maintenance, and retrieval tasks. The problem is compounded because charts can be misplaced or lost and time might be spent on fruitless search.

Where the chart has to be sent to another location, courier charges are incurred, as against the Internet access possible to electronic records from anywhere.

Even within the same practice, the records can be accessed from any of the networked hospitals, clinics, or even from the homes of practitioners.

In a computer-based system, the paper charts and reports can be shredded once they've been captured by the medical document imaging system.

Other benefits of Medical Document Imaging System

Where doctors have to consult one another, the same patient record can be simultaneously accessed and studied by the doctors involved from their workstations.

Security and confidentiality can be improved if paper records are destroyed once they are done with. Access to the electronic records can be strictly controlled.

Medical document imaging is easy to install. It is easy to use, users can be trained in little time and regular imaging operations can start within a month or so.

Conclusion

Medical document imaging clearly brings out many of the advantages of document imaging systems. Patient charts and lab reports are scanned into the system, which can then be accessed by doctors from their workstations, or transmitted to distant hospitals if needed. Costs are reduced because paper handling and storage requirements are eliminated or minimized. Security and confidentiality are improved through more effective access control.

by Manuel J. Montesino
keyword : Medical Document Imaging Transforms Medical Practice

Free Mp3 Download Provider

Free Mp3 Download Provider

Almost everything is available in the Internet nowadays, articles, news, books, softwares, applications and the most downloaded MP3 song provider. Downloading free MP3 in the internet requires you to install a file-sharing software. One of the infamous MP3 file sharing software is LimeWire. LimeWire is a peer-to-peer file-sharing client for the Java Platform, which uses the Gnutella network to locate and share files. Released under the GNU General Public License, Limewire is free software. It also encourages the user to pay a fee, which will then give the user access to LimeWire Pro.

Here's a quick reference to its features and system requirements:

Written in the Java programming language, LimeWire is able to run on any computer with Java Virtual Machine installed. Installers are provided for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Support for Mac OS 9 and other previous version was dropped with the release of LimeWire 4.0.10. It offers the sharing of its library through Digital Audio Access Protocol. As such, when LimeWire is running, any files shared will be detectable on the local network by DAAP-enabled devices (eg. iTunes).

* Ease of use - just install, run, and search.

* Ability to search by artist, title, genre, or other meta-information.

* Elegant multiple search tabbed interface.

* "Swarm" downloads from multiple hosts help you get files faster.

* iTunes integration for Mac and Windows users.

* Unique "ultrapeer" technology reduces bandwidth requirements for most users.

* Integrated chat.

* Directly connect to a computer.

* Browse host feature--even works through firewalls.

* International versions: Now available in many new languages.

* Automatic local network searches for lightning-fast download.

System Requirements: Must have the Java2TM Runtime Environment, v.1.3.1 (JRE), 64 MB RAM

LimeWire is must-have software of MP3 enthusiast. It provides unlimited downloads and most specially, it is for free. Another way to download free MP3 is the use of µTorrent software. µTorrent is BitTorrent software that allows you to download from torrent files. It is Micro-Sized Yet Feature Filled. Most of the features present in other BitTorrent clients are present in µTorrent, including bandwidth prioritization, scheduling, RSS auto-downloading and Mainline DHT (compatible with BitComet). Additionally, µTorrent supports the Protocol Encryption joint specification (compatible with Azureus 2.4.0.0 and above, BitComet 0.63 and above) and peer exchange. Resource-Friendly, µTorrent was written with efficiency in mind. Unlike many torrent clients, it does not hog valuable system resources - typically using less than 6MB of memory, allowing you to use the computer as if it weren't there at all. Additionally, the program itself is contained within a single executable less than 220 KB in size. µTorrent also has support for localization, and with a language file present, will automatically switch to your system language. If your language isn't available, you can easily add your own, or edit other existing translations to improve them. Actively Developed and Improved, the developer puts in a lot of time working on features and making things user-friendlier.

It can be used to download single mp3 files but it can also be used to download albums or song collection of artists. µTorrent is for free and you can download it at its official website. A detailed guide on how to use µTorrent is also available at their website.

by Marcus Rolland
keyword : Free Mp3 Download Provider

Breaking Away From The Standard Computer Mouse

Breaking Away From The Standard Computer Mouse

The one thing that the 21st century has brought to the computer consumer is choices. The choices and selection of the Computer mouse today can fill an entire catalog. From a Touch pad ergonomic mouse to a Character recognition touch screen panel, it's hard to know which one you will need to buy.

Depending on your line of work, a certain computer mouse style over another will be better than others. For example, a Touch pad keyboard, where the touchpad on the keyboard is the mouse may be very useful in a travel type of setting, eliminating the cord as well as an external object taking up space. If your job demands more of your design skills, something like a Touch screen panel or Finger mouse an Ergonomic mouse pad that allows for comfort as well as control is probably more the type of mouse you are looking for. For more modern applications that pertain to more commercial uses, the touch screen panel has only yet presented itself with a hint of what is to come.

The beauty of touch screen panel technology is the versatility that comes with it. Touch screen panels are everywhere. If you have been living and breathing in the past 10 years, you have seen touch screen panels work their magic. At the grocery store, the bank and even the postage delivery driver who has you sign for the delivered package that it was indeed received.

Mobile phone, digital hand held devices and more are leaning towards touch screen technology. We will soon see and use new touch screen technology that was once an incredible sci-fi movie idea that has come to life.

Instead of reaching for the same computer mouse that everyone has used before, new technologies should have you thinking differently about new uses. There are relatively new Capacitive sensor technology designs that allow for flexible shapes, so that capacitive sensors can be placed in a variety of objects used for several different purposes. This leads to even more designs that can be used for hand held devices and custom computer mouse technologies. When you are ready to buy an upgrade to your dinosaur computer system- pause a moment before you place that new basic computer mouse into your shopping cart. A whole new world of technology tools have been created and custom built for you and your specific job in mind.

by Melissa Peterman
keyword : Breaking Away From The Standard Computer Mouse

What Is The Difference Between A Worm, Virus And Trojan Horse?

What Is The Difference Between A Worm, Virus And Trojan Horse?

Tips and recommendations for protecting your PC...

Most of us don't make a real difference between worm, virus and Trajan Horse or refer to a worm or Trajan Horse as a virus.

All of us know all are malicious programs that can cause very serious damage to PC. Exist differences among the three, and knowing those differences can help you to better protect your computer from their often damaging effects.

A computer virus is a program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. Some viruses cause only mildly annoying effects while others can damage your hardware, software or files. Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, which means the virus may exist on your computer but it cannot infect your computer unless you run or open the malicious program. A virus cannot be spread without a human action, (such as running an infected program) to keep it going. People continue the spread of a computer virus, mostly unknowingly, by sharing infecting files or sending e-mails with viruses as attachments in the e-mail.

A worm is a program or algorithm that replicates itself. A worm has the capability to travel without any help from a person from PC to PC and have ability to replicate itself on your system, so rather than your computer sending out a single worm, it could send out hundreds or thousands of copies of itself, creating a huge devastating effect.

A Trojan Horse is a destructive program that "working" as a benign application ( (like changing your desktop, adding silly active desktop icons) or can cause serious damage by deleting files and destroying information on your system. Trojans are also known to create a back door on your computer that gives malicious users access to your system, possibly allowing confidential or personal information to be compromised. Trojans do not reproduce by infecting other files nor do they self-replicate.

Added into the mix, we also have what is called a blended threat. Blended threats combine the characteristics of viruses, worms, Trojan Horses, and malicious code with server and Internet vulnerabilities. By using multiple methods and techniques, blended threats can rapidly spread and cause widespread damage. Characteristics of blended threats include: causes harm, propagates by multiple methods, attacks from multiple points, and exploits vulnerabilities. This combination of method and techniques means blended threats can spread quickly and cause widespread damage. Characteristics of blended threats include: causes harm, propagates by multiple methods, attacks from multiple points and exploits vulnerabilities. They are considered to be the worst risk to security since the inception of viruses, as most blended threats require no human intervention to propagate.

Therefore is very important to protect your PC with a good anti-virus software installed on your system with the latest fixes for new viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.

Additionally, you want to make sure your anti-virus program has the ability to scan e-mail and files as they are downloaded from the Internet. This will help prevent malicious programs from even reaching your computer. You should also install a a system that prevents unauthorized use and access to your computer (firewall as well). A good software firewall will protect your computer from outside attempts to control or gain access your computer, and usually provides additional protection against the most common Trojan programs or e-mail worms.

by Anne-Marie Ronsen
keyword : A Worm, Virus And Trojan Horse

What do you do when your hard drive crashes

What do you do when your hard drive crashes

If you have lost some data due to either hardware failure or physical damage it is very likely that you will not be able to recover the data yourself. In such a situation you will need to look elsewhere to get your data recovered.

Data recovery is big business and because of that there are many companies offering service. With so many options out there it is important to choose the right data recovery business for your needs. In addition, your data is important so it is also important for you to move quickly.

When trying to choose a service provider, look for one that can recover data due to multiple reasons as well as one with a good track record. An example: They should be able to assist with physical damage as well as general hardware failure. And always check references.

Contact the manufacturer of your hard drive for a list of service providers they recommend. Some data recovery businesses specialize in specific brand of hard drives.

After selecting a service, read the service agreement very carefully. You will need to understand your financial obligations. Some services will only charge full price upon the successful recovery of your data while other services base their fees on the time and attention your situation called for.

Ask for an estimate of the final cost. This will give you the best ballpark figure of your final expense. Although data recovery services can often be expensive, the value of the information you recovered can be priceless.

It is sad, but stories of laptop computers being dropped into water are all too common. Sometimes its a different story, like lightning striking a phone line and causing damage through your computer's modem. In the end it doesn't matter what causes the damage but it does cost businesses thousands thousands of dollars every year.

The price can seam very high when personal finical documents and family photos are at stake. So if your hard drive is ever damaged and you fear you have lost important information then the best thing you can do is to pay the price and contact a professional.

by David Wegener
keyword : hard drive

External Drives Data Recovery

External Drives Data Recovery

A wide variety of failures can propel severe external or physical damage to drives and storage media. When the drive is physically damaged, a greater level of precaution needs to be exercised in order to ensure that the data is still recoverable. To clarify your understanding, external hard drive data recovery means the process of recovering data from external hard drives like USB or Fire wire when the data is neither lost nor inaccessible because of some reason or the other. External hard drive data recovery process comprises the same process followed while trying to recover some lost files. Let's take the example of the ICD-ROMs which may get damaged because their metallic substrate is scratched. Keep in mind that hard disks can suffer any of several mechanical failures, such as head crashes. There can be a case of failed motors so physical damage always causes at least some minimal case of data loss. Most physical damaged drives cannot be repaired by the end users. For example, opening a hard disk in a normal environment is a complete no-no because the dust would obviously settle on the surface. If that happens, that could worsen the damage caused to the platters and complicate the external drive data recovery process even further. The difficulty is that most users aren't experts nor do they have the hardware or technical expertise required to make these repairs. So it is best to opt for data recovery companies to do the job rather than make costlier mistakes that complicate data recovery processes further. Most professionals use Class 100 clean room facilities to protect the media while repairs are being made. How this is done is discussed herein.

The extracted raw image is used to reconstruct data that can be used after any repair of the logical damage is carried out. Once the repair is complete, the files may be in usable form although its actual recovery may turn out to be very incomplete. Some helpful examples of physical recovery procedures include removing a damaged PCB (printed circuit board) and replacing it with a matching PCB from a healthy drive. Other good examples comprise changing the original damaged read/write head assembly with matching parts from a healthy drive, removing the hard disk platters from the original damaged drive and installing them into a drive that works fine. As these procedures are technical in nature, it is best that these are taken care of by professionals and not by untrained persons. When the hard drive is physically damaged, remember that any additional access to the same drive would definitely corrupt data. This would make it much more difficult to get information back. Note that if the damaged drive happens to be the drive containing the operating system, don't consider trying to boot the drive. But for a desktop, there is less cause for worry as all you must do is disconnect the boot drive and replace it with a new drive. A tip for you is that do ensure the drive can accommodate the image of the current drive.

Next, an operating system can be easily installed on the new drive. You just need to reconnect the old drive or put it in an external case and connect via USB or FireWire. In creating a new primary drive, you would be able to run the disk imaging software from the new drive. This way, you would be able to prevent the need for any writing to the old drive. If your hard drive works in a RAID system, you need a service that specializes in RAID data recovery as it wont be a good idea to do it on your own. When a hard drive is prepared for its initial use, the drive is magnetized. This is done with a number of self-synchronizing magnetic bits. The purpose of this self-synchronizing structure is that, no matter where the hard disk is in its rotation cycle, the hard drive controller would be able to speedily touch down as to which of these bits represent no-man's land, which of these actually represent the drive's formatting, and which represent critical data. Various situation based examples were discussed to clarify your queries on external data drive recovery. So do utilize this informative discussion sometime when you come across data problems on your external hard drive.

by nahar Dijla
keyword : External Drives Data Recovery

Data recovery services and professionals

Data recovery services and professionals

The world of data recovery is somewhat a big mystery for most consumers and even for some IT professionals. This is largely because hard drives are complex devices and their technological specifics are not generally well known. No wonder, the market for data recovery services and professionals spanned a stunning, astounding figure of over US$100 million. This reflects how rapidly the industry for data recovery services and professionals has grown by leaps and bounds. Let's first understand what brings about data loss. Data loss can be caused by a combination of factors which often requires professional assistance. The current finding of cloning the damaged, malfunctioning drive and using the cloned version on a new drive as a means to recover data may be helpful but it is best to engage professionals to help you. Coming back to our discussion on causes of data loss, this may also occur if your OS fails to boot or if you get a blue screen error, but this should not give an impression to you that all is lost. These data losses can be caused by bad sectors which stall the drive head every time it tries to read them. If your drive is detected by another computer, there is hope of copying your data prior to total failure. There can be situations where you have a brand new hard drive but you still suffered data loss. Sometimes a faulty component or a faulty installation can also lead to data loss. Sometimes it can be due to sudden electric failure to which the brand new hard drive may not be immune. So there are countless causes that can lead to data loss. One of the most often asked questions that you would naturally want to ask if you have suffered a loss of data is, "how can you help me to retrieve or recover my lost data?" Do not worry. With the right blend of knowledge, experience and tools, it is possible for a competent data recovery professional to carry out a recovery 'surgery' for your data loss problem. The data recovery services and professionals are extremely well equipped with an amazing array of software, hardware and other technologically advanced tools to help recovery data. Most of the data recovery labs utilize a combination of the best and most high quality proprietary software, specialized hardware, and years of valuable experience to recover data after a major crash, or even acts of sabotage. There are also highly trained computer forensic specialists who are competent to handle each recovery to ensure your data will not be compromised during the process of the recovery. Most data recovery professionals are extremely conscious of the fact that your data is sacred and irreplaceable to you, so they handle the issue with great care. The first thing that a data recovery firm would do on receiving a hard drive is evaluate it. They would try to see whether logical recovery is required or not. Most firms of repute do not charge evaluation fees but some firms do so and there are other firms that levy an additional charge of on site support. Perhaps these contradictions simply mirror the highly saturated nature of the booming data recovery industry where it seems to be a dog-eat-dog world. The time frame for data recovery comprises about 5-10 business days for physical issues and 2-4 days for logical issues. In situations where the components are not available, this may extend to several weeks to complete the recovery. The costs associated with data recovery services and professionals vary to a great extent. There would be quotes that range from $300 to $5,000 for standard hard drive recoveries. So before you send your drive for data recovery to any professional or firm, make sure that you locate a company that will give you an up front cost, be it for either a logical or physical recovery. In most cases, you will be able to recover your data through data recovery services and professionals. Go ahead and show your confidence and engage data recovery services and professionals to do their job and ease your tensions!

by nahar Dijla
keyword : Data recovery services and professionals

iPod Data Recovery

iPod Data Recovery

There is a lot of bad news nowadays because data is getting lost faster than eve before. This has now become a matter of grave concern because large companies are fighting each other to make profits yet their functioning is getting their profit lines into deep trouble. A large part of our work depends on data stored in computers, laptops and even iPods. The iPod is a great device that revolutionized the music industry. Apple's sleek digital audio device is one of the world's most successful tech gadgets that crossed whopping sales of more than 3 million units since the year 2001. By making the iPod so tremendously user-friendly, this device has more a customer base of millions and millions of consumers from all over the world. The iPod makes it legal for consumers to access legal music on demand for just a dollar for every song. This means you don't have to go to the store to buy a CD for $15. You can listen to it on your iPod. This is how the iPod became a household name. But from a security perspective, the iPod hasn't created a good impression at all. Thus, the future of iPods doesn't look too bright. Most gadgets like the iPod, when used by professionals, pose serious and severe risks in the context of organizational security and data loss. Thus, it is now an established fact that when gadgets such as iPods are connected to a work PC, this can be extremely risky. A malicious code can easily enter the corporate network and remain undetected by the intrusion detection software or the corporate network's firewall system. Another danger is that the iPod can work as a USB mass storage device and can serve the same role as a USB pen drive so it does have an impact on computer security though Apple never had that in mind. Controlling the access to iPod data and resources is thus essential. There are methods and mechanisms can be used to accomplish this type of access control, but historically they're generally software-only solutions. But most of these are trapped in evolving phases which makes it difficult to attempt iPod data recovery without the help of professionals. Further, most access control mechanisms relating to iPod data recovery seems vulnerable to software bugs and implementation errors. As this may result in data compromise, it is not worth pursuing. In 1971, a paper titled 'Protection' was presented by Butler Lampson where he explained the concept of data protection through the concept of multiple domains of information running on a single host. This idea is mainly that each domain would execute independently and with differing rights that exist for the programs in each of the domains. This great theory was a huge and tremendous inspiration for countless computer scientists who were researching on the subject. This becomes even more significant in the light of the fact that for content providers such as record companies, this idea from Lampson will allow them to ensure that their content is accessed only in a manner of which they approve. For instance, when we refer to a system like the iPod that has these domains implemented, then the files can be read only by trusted and authorized programs. The problem with this protection theory is that it is not always possible to achieve complete control of data with software-only solutions. Most access control mechanisms fall prey to loopholes that severely damage data later on. Another reason is that access control mechanisms can't be manipulated beyond a point as these are so complicated that they require interaction with the user very frequently. No doubt, the iPod is not an entertainment device any longer. In fact, it is a device that can leak information and store information so handle iPod with care and in case of data loss, get help from the experts. RAID recovery Data Recovery Recupero Dati da server

by nahar Dijla
keyword : iPod Data Recovery

IT Support Services

IT Support Services

Whenever a company faces problems with its information technology systems it needs to have had an arrangement with an IT support service company that will provide them with professional solutions that will help in reducing the costs of supporting various hardware as well as software environments across the enterprise. Most IT support service companies have a comprehensive portfolio of services that they provide to the customer no matter what size and type.

Using the services of an IT support service company will help in greatly simplifying the support accountability of your hardware and software platforms as well as providing you with rapid response to your problems around the clock, as well as throughout the United Kingdom. There should also be flexibility in the type of service provided so that it meets all of the customer's needs. Furthermore, the better IT support services that are available in the United Kingdom should provide a range of services that go beyond your standard product support and should incorporate deployment services that will help reduce risks for installation as well as startups, and should provide for implementation as well as integration of the IT systems as well.

The advantage of using an IT support service is that it provides the customer with availability services that will help the client proactively lessen the downtime as well as adequately address service-level commitments. It should also mean getting performance services that means getting objective technical assistance that will safeguard the investment you have made with regard to your information technology systems.

Information technology support services may be defined as the service that permits a representative to assist a computer as well as network services even when they are not available at the client's location because the client may not be having a full time person to install as well as maintain the information technology systems on site. In today's fast- paced information technology world, the need to have computers running without a break in service is crucial and the need to have a contract with an information technology support service company is very high as well as recommended.

It is essential for a client to meet his/her specific support and maintenance requirements throughout the life of the information technology systems and thus must enter into a contract with a reliable IT support services company. On the other hand, the information technology support service companies must have suitable IT support service plans to meet the varying needs of their clients. The IT support service plans must also be cost-effective and provide timely access to online support services as well as to other software maintenance support services, if required.

It is not unusual for IT support service companies to offer different support plans which target the varying needs of its different customers and whose business operations as well as applications are totally dependent on proper working of the IT systems installed therein. A fast response time is of the essence as well.

by Lee Smith
keyword : IT Support Services

Adware and Spyware Blockers

Adware and Spyware Blockers

The most important things you can do for your computer right now is to install adware and spyware blockers. Everyone is aware of computer viruses and run an anti-virus program to guard your computer against them.

But only a fraction of computer users are running any kind of adware and spyware blockers software. It is believed that 90% of today's PCs are infected with some form of adware and spyware. Most of the time you are not aware that your computer is even infected.

Adware and Spyware are less noticeable than computer viruses but can be much greater danger to your computer. So what is the danger posed without removing spyware from computers and how do you block spyware and adware on your PC?

If your computer becomes infected, the results range from minor nuisances such as pop up ads to more serious threats including identity theft. Even your passwords and credit card numbers could end up in hacker's hands and you wouldn't know it happened until the damage was done.

Spyware and adware files hide in your computer and are loaded down as you browse the Internet. Common culprits include pop up ads, shareware, freeware and instant messaging. However, there are less common ways to become infected.

Some computers contain adware and shareware files even before you purchase them. Because of this fighting spyware and adware and removing spyware from computers is becoming even harder today.

Spyware and Adware has become such an epidemic that it is the latest target of NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. "Spyware and adware are more than an annoyance," Spitzer said in the statement. "These fraudulent programs foul machines, undermine productivity and in many cases frustrate consumers' efforts to remove them from their computers. These issues can serve to be a hindrance to the growth of e-commerce."

There are many programs that you can download to block adware and spyware from infecting your computer. Protect your privacy, and get the right Internet privacy tools installed on your computer immediately. You need to install adware and spyware blockers now so you can enjoy the Internet without the hidden dangers.

By : Gary Gresham
Adware and Spyware Blockers

Shut down computers automatically at schedule time and save electricity

Shut down computers automatically at schedule time and save electricity

GoldSolution Software announces the release of PC Auto Shutdown 3.68, a handy utility for the Windows operating system that helps users shut down computers automatically at schedule time and save precious electricity.

A typical PC left on for 24 hours each day can use $70 or more of energy per year. If a computer is turned off at every night and weekends, it will only use around $20 of energy per year. Power outages have happened in the world , from United States to Europe, therefore power saving is important for every computer user.

PC Auto Shutdown can shut down, hibernate, suspend, log off and reboot computers automatically at schedule time and save power. It is easy to use, just set up the timer you want to shut down, and it will work silently at background until the timer comes. If a user doesn't want to do shutdown events at specified time, it is easy to abort it.

PC Auto Shutdown can activate computers from hibernation mode at schedule time and shut it down. What's more, it can shut down computers automatically when no user is logged in. During shutdown, it can clean up Recycle Bin, temporary files and Internet Explorer cache to improve system performance and protect privacy.

PC Auto Shutdown is the right choice for computers auto-shutdown and power conservation. It is both affordable to every computer user and a real value. System Requirements PC Auto Shutdown will run under Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, 2003 and Vista on an Intel-based 586 PC or greater. It supports 32-bit and 64-bit operating system. The program requires 16 MB of RAM and 2 MB disk space to install. Price and Availability PC Auto Shutdown is available now. The price for single user license is $19.95 USD. There are volume licenses with some discount for multi users. A trial version is available from the GoldSolution Software web site at: http://www.drivermagician.com/autoshutdown/

by Michael Lee
keyword : Shut down computers

Delete spyware - an introduction to spyware and adware

Delete spyware - an introduction to spyware and adware

If you have been around on the internet for a while, you have probably heard about spyware and adware before. These are two different types of programs, but they definitely have one thing in common - they can both end up wasting your time and making it hard to use your computer. In addition, both programs are made by unethical companies with the main purpose of making profit, at the expense of your being an annoyance and taking up your computers processing power.

That said, there are a few fundamental differences between spyware and adware. In order to prevent your machine from getting infected, it is worth having a basic understanding of what these programs can do.

Definition of spyware:

Spyware is a malicious program that is almost always installed without you knowing about it. It runs in the background, silently taking up your computers processing power and hiding in places like the registry. Software like this is designed to "spy" on you, mostly by collecting personal information (often through keyloggers which record your passwords for bank accounts and send them back to another person) and tinkering with personal settings.

Definition of adware:

Adware is a similar kind of program, but with an important distinction: rather than collection personal information, it has the intent to display advertisements more than anything else (this is where the name comes from). Software like this will still try to remain undetected, but it will be more obvious that you have it, because you'll tend to be bombarded with things like pop-up ads once you have it. Companies who make software like this have one main goal, and that is to make money off each computer they infect and display advertisements ti.

If you suspect you are infected with malicious software, you are definitely not alone. Sources vary, but with the rise of programs like this since 1998, it is estimated that a whopping 90% of computers connected to the internet are infected with some kind of spyware. What's also interesting is that many people infected do not even realize that they have damaging software like this on their machine, because it runs in the background and try's to avoid detection.

What should you do if you suspect you are infected? Well, the first thing you should do is get a good spyware cleaner software. There are a number of good programs that you can download free, that can run an extensive scan to see if you are infected. Then, the anti-virus software will try to delete spyware found. No matter what you are doing on the internet, it is important to get protection like this.

by Brad Edwards
keyword : spyware

Spyware Cleaners and what spyware does to your machine

Spyware Cleaners and what spyware does to your machine

Spyware and adware can prove to be extremely annoying in a number of ways. Programs vary greatly in terms of damage, and there are is a wide range of malicious software that might just slow your computer down, all the way up to programs that render your computer completely unusable. In order to protect ourselves from harmful programs it is important to know exactly what they can do.

The first thing spyware does is slow down your computer. Why? Well, malicious programs typically have to perform a function like tinkering with your settings, displaying pop-up advertisements or recording your information, and in order to do this they need to use your computers RAM and CPU. Therefore, software may run slower due to adware and other programs taking up your computers resources.

When this happens, you'll often find that your computer takes a much longer time to start up, and it takes a much longer time to open software. It can also cause your computer to completely lock up and have trouble running complex programs that it could otherwise normally handle. The problem increases with the more spyware you get. If you have noticed your computer seems to have become slower and slower for no apparent reason, then there is a good chance your machine is infected.

Other than slowing your computer down, a second thing programs like this do is relay information (this is the definition of spyware, which aims to "spy" on you). This is much more damaging than programs that simply slow your computer down, because it puts all your information at risk. You have probably heard of things like identity theft before. Well, guess what, a very large amount of this arises from cyber-criminals who infect numerous machines.

If you use the internet to order online, then malicious programs running in the background can easily record sensitive information such as bank account numbers and passwords, as well as access details to paypal and other online processing systems. People who make malicious programs and record information like this often sell it to other criminals, who use it mostly for identity theft (and occasionally for money laundering). As you can imaging, this is the most damaging kind of spyware.

How can you protect yourself from things like this? The first thing is to get some kind of spyware cleaner software. This will scan your PC from a database of thousands of known threats, and then try to delete any spyware found.

by Brad Edwards
keyword : spyware

Adware and how to tell if you're infected

Adware and how to tell if you're infected

When it comes to malicious programs, one of the most annoying is so called adware. Adware is software that, once installed on your machine, will begin to serve advertisements mostly in the form of pop-ups. Companies who make adware make money off advertisers who pay them each time their ad is served on an infected machine.

Here's some of the things you can do to tell if you have adware:

1)You keep getting pop-up advertisements.

Pop-up ads come in two forms. Either the website you're visiting is serving them, or you have adware on your machine that spawns pop-ups each time you surf the internet. If you go to a website like Google or Microsoft, and you see a pop-up ad, then this is an almost sure sign that you're infected with adware. Pop-up ads can also be served when you just start up your computer, or when you run an application.

2)Your computer is running slowly

Adware will often take up your computers processing power in order to serve pop-up advertisements. Therefore, if you're computer seems to take a long time to do simple tasks or it just seems to be running slow in general, then the odds are pretty good that you have some form of spyware or adware. Many people see their computer running extremely fast when it has nothing on it or when they reinstall windows. The reason is because their machine is no longer infected with spyware.

3)Your settings are being tinkered with

One thing adware often does is change personal settings, in order to display even more ads. Symptoms include changing your homepage to something else, adding websites into your favorites menu, installing new toolbars or adding icons to your desktop. The technology exists now to do this just from someone visiting your website, but quite often, adware companies will install new toolbars and change your homepage once your computer is infected.

Once you suspect you have adware on your machine, it is very important to do something about it before it gets any worse (adware companies will often install more adware on infected machines). To do this, you need to get a spyware or adware removal software. What this does is scan your machine for known adware, and then take measures to delete it. In some cases, your computer may be infected so badly that the only solution is to reinstall windows.

The best protection against adware, of course, is to not download it in the first place. Remember to never click on a link in an email from a sender you are unfamiliar with (adware often infects people who download it from spam emails) and always take caution when downloading .exe files. Don't run a .exe file unless you trust the source or you downloaded it from a trusted software directory. By following these simple guidelines, you can greatly reduce the risk that your computer will get infected with adware.

by Dave Edwards
Keyword : Adware

Better Computer Performance - 9 Free Or Inexpensive Fixes

Better Computer Performance - 9 Free Or Inexpensive Fixes

Poor computer performance by your Windows-based machine can sneak up on you gradually. You may find its performance deteriorating increasingly until one day you realize you must fix it or buy a new one. Signs of poor performance can include applications running very slowly, programs closing or freezing up suddenly, and a generally slower response time to OS (operating system)-related commands. I have compiled 9 fixes for you here that you can leverage right now to greatly improve your computer's performance.

Fix #1: Download and run MS Service Pack 2:

Every operating system requires patches and upgrades by its maker from time-to-time, with Microsoft XP being no exception. While Service Pack 2 was released in 2002, some people with older systems are still not running it: make sure your computer is. You can download it FREE from Microsoft's Web site.

Fix #2: Run the Disk Cleanup utility:

Your computer likely has a number of unused and unneeded files that take up valuable space on your hard drive and slow performance. Run your FREE, built-in Disk Cleanup utility to automatically remove these files. Find it by going to: Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Cleanup and following the prompts.

Fix #3: Defragment your hard drive:

Over time, your computer will store files in an increasingly inefficient manner on your hard drive, affecting file retrieval times and other performance factors. To fix this, you need to defragment your hard disk drive. To do this for FREE, just go to: Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Defragmenter. First, highlight the drive you want to clean up (e.g., C drive) and choose Analyze. Once complete, choose Defragment. Note that the defragmentation process could take up to an hour or more, so do this during a time when you can step away from your computer.

Fix #4: Run an anti-virus tool:

Computer viruses are malicious programs that drastically affect your computer's performance, either all at once or insidiously over time. You can stop a virus attack by installing and running anti-virus software which performs regular scans, locates the offending viruses and quarantines them.

Fix #5: Clean your registry:

Your computer's registry is a tool that most non-computer specialists never see but which is vitally important to computer operations. Your registry stores settings and options for your hardware, operating system, and other software. Unfortunately, given its fundamental role in the performance of your system, your registry is often the target of attack or infection. To thoroughly and automatically clean your registry, run a regular registry scan using a registry cleaning tool. I recommend RegCure, which recently found 1,626 problems with my registry (ugh!), is cheap and easy to use.

Fix #6: Run anti-spyware software:

Spyware is computer software that installs itself in your computer and performs a number of unwanted functions, including monitoring your computer usage and interfere with your control.

It represents a real threat and has become a significant problem in recent years. Fortunately, fixes are easy to find and include a number of free and inexpensive anti-spyware programs. Try SpyBot Search & Destroy. Get it FREE online.

Fix #7: Increase your computer's memory:

Today's applications require more and more memory (RAM) to run. If your computer is more than two years old or if you selected the minimal memory option upon purchase, you might benefit from adding another 1 GB or more to your computer. Check online or at your local computer dealer for pricing.

Fix #8: Clean your hard drive:

More comprehensive than the Disk Utility tool introduced above, cleaning your hard drive with professional cleaning software is a great way to improve performance. Try CCleaner for FREE by doing an online search.

Fix #9: As a last resort, re-format your hard drive:

If after trying all of the above items and your computer still performs poorly, a last resort is to completely reformat your hard drive. Warning: proceed with caution since this action will erase your entire hard drive, including your operating system (OS)! If you decide to take this route, consult an online tutorial for how-to steps. At minimum, remember two things: be sure to back up all of your files and applications and retain a copy of your OS on CD so that you can re-install it later.

by Jed Jones
Keyword : Better Computer Performance

The Number One Way to Kick Spyware!

The Number One Way to Kick Spyware!

Tired of spyware slowing down your computer?

If you answered yes, then I am going to help you. If you are tired of random web pages popping up when you're not even surfing the web, then I am going to help you. If you're tired of having tons of toolbars in your browser than you never installed, then I can help!

Adware Alert is a great program to keep spyware off of your computer, and to remove existing problems. It's user friendly, and offers a totally free scan with no strings attached.

If you have tried everything else, and nothing seems to work. Then Adware Alert is perfect for you!

I'm not some paid marketer, I'm a real person just like you. I've been searching for months for a program to help me remove the spyware\adware that plagues my computer. Now I've finally found it.

by Curtis Ryan
Keyword : Kick Spyware!

Anti Virus Software - It's NOT 100%

Anti Virus Software - It's NOT 100%

Ever get a virus? And no, we're not talking about the kind you get from the kid down the street sneezing all over you. We're talking about the kind you get when your computer runs into some nasty vindictive hackers. These are people who have nothing better to do with their time but make other people's lives miserable. If you've ever been attacked by one of these things you know what I mean.

Enter the anti virus software. In short what this software does is detect a virus either on your computer or one that is threatening to slice your PC into little bits and bytes.

The most popular anti virus software companies are McAfee and Norton Anti Virus, the latter actually owned by Symantec. There are other companies and now even some ISPs like AOL are providing anti virus software. But McAfee and Norton are still the kings of the industry.

Before you can understand how anti virus works you have to understand how the virus itself works and how it infects your computer.

Contrary to what people believe there are other ways to get a computer virus other than to open an attachment in an email, though that is the most common way. Email virus infections occur when the user opens up an email with an attachment and downloads the attachment to the hard drive of the PC. What happens from there can vary greatly but in general what happens is the attachment, which is usually an EXE file, when saved, releases some code that performs an action on your computer. This can be anything from getting private information such as passwords and credit card numbers and transmitting it to the sender of the email to simply wiping out your hard drive to the point where it is beyond repair. There are debates as to which is worse.

Another way to get a virus, and this is the scarier one, is to go to a web site who's server has been infected with a virus. This virus can be passed along through the Internet connection and place a dangerous file on your hard drive. Again, the actions taken afterward by the virus can be just about anything.

So what exactly does anti virus software do about this? In simple layman's terms the anti virus software detects the intruding file and tries to do several things in this order.

First it tries to delete the file before it can ever even get saved to your hard drive. If it is successful, it is as if the file never existed and no harm is done.

Second, if it can't delete the file it tries to repair it, if it is a file that is actually yours to begin with and has been modified by the virus itself. If it can repair the file again it is as if nothing happened.

Third, if it can't repair the file then as a last resort it places the file in quarantine so that it can't infect any other files. Yes, viruses can spread. In this case some harm may have been done and you may have to replace the file that has been infected with a new copy. Sometimes this requires reinstalling the software the file came from. Other times the file is simply lost, especially if it is a user created file, though it may be possible to recreate the file depending on what kind of data it contained.

So how does anti virus software detect viruses? To put it simply, your anti virus software has a list of known viruses. It scans every file that you download to your PC and checks it against this list. If it finds a match it warns you of the virus giving you the name of it and then attempts to go through the steps I've outlined above.

So where does this list come from? Well, that's the hard part and the reason that anti virus software can never be 100%. The list comes from known viruses that the software company has either come in contact with itself or viruses sent to them from users who have been attacked. Therein lies the less than 100% effectiveness of anti virus software. There is always a chance that you will be the first one attacked by a new virus. You won't know it until something goes wrong with your computer and then after you report the problem to Norton or McAfee they will have you send them the file you think caused the problem and run tests on it. No, it's not an exact science but it's the best we have.

So since anti virus is not a sure fire prevention the best prevention is not to download attachments when you have no idea who sent them to you, make sure your OS has the latest patches and be very careful about what web sites you go to.

At least you don't have to drink your mother's chicken soup.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Anti Virus

By : Michael Russell
Keyword : anti virus,software

UnHack Your Computer

UnHack Your Computer

There's nothing new under the sun, and rootkits are no exception. In the early days of personal computers, in the age of the DOS command-line operating system, there were viruses that hid their presence from the users and anti-virus programs. They did it by intercepting some system calls that were responsible for reading the files, and lied to the system by filling these calls with fake information. You could view an infected file right in front of your eyes and see nothing but legit code! These viruses were called 'stealth' in those days.

When computers evolved, Windows replaced the DOS. Old viruses did not run under the new operating system, and it wasn't easy to develop simple hacks to intercept system calls in Windows. But time has passed, and now there's a new wave of viruses that can work on Windows and hide their presence even more efficiently than the stealth viruses of the old days. These new viruses are called rootkits.

Today, using an antivirus does not guarantee complete safety. A rootkit could install into your system and fool the antivirus system by hiding itself. The problem is that modern antivirus programs try to detect rootkits at the time when they are already active. Antivirus programs use the very functions that are intercepted by the rootkits specifically for the purpose of deceiving antivirus. It's a gun vs. armor race and your PC is the firing range.

Microsoft tried to address the problem by releasing their own Rootkit Revealer. While being a correct concept, this tool fails on too many levels. Microsoft Rootkit Revealer is intended for use by system administrators and software developers. The results of its work are not detections but rather hint that there's something in the system that's hidden. And of course, Rootkit Revealer does not remove rootkits, making its benefits questionable at best for a regular computer user.

Complement your antivirus with a rootkit detection and removal system and liberate your PC from rootkits! UnHackMe with Partizan technology is highly compatible and designed to complement other antivirus solutions instead of conflicting with them.

The Partizan technology is unique to UnHackMe. Microsoft states that there exists no sure way to know of a rootkit's presence from within a running system. Instead of trying to combat rootkits on their own ground, Partizan fools them by booting with the operating system and taking control before any rootkits can load. Being the first to load, UnHackMe can safely watch all stages of the Windows boot process, effectively detecting and terminating any activities attempted by the rootkits.

Once there's no rootkit in the computer's memory, detecting and removing one is a matter of routine. UnHackMe can remove known rootkits by itself or simply block the rootkit from loading into memory and pass control to your regular anti-virus.

Scanning your entire PC for the presence of a rootkit with a regular antivirus can take hours of time depending on the number of files and programs you have. UnHackMe takes scanning speed to another level by taking only a few seconds every time your computer loads.

by Dmitry Sokolov
keyword : UnHack Your Computer

An overview of spyware and adware - what it is, and how to avoid it

An overview of spyware and adware - what it is, and how to avoid it

Adware and spyware are two different kinds of malicious programs, and each have the ability to make your computer a mess. If you end up using the Internet for anything in your life, or if you rely on your personal computer for anything, it is a very important that you completely understand what these things are and how they work.

The first thing you need to know about protecting yourself from these things is to totally understand what they do. Once you know what spyware and adware is, you'll be able to take measures against it infecting your machine.

What Is Spyware?

According to Microsoft, "spyware" is a malicious type of program with the aim of collecting personal information or changing the configuration of your computer. Spyware is often unethical, in that it is often downloaded without your permission. Usually, you won't know it's even there when it enters your system, and you'll need to have anti-spyware software installed in order to remove it.

What Is Adware?

The difference between spyware and adware is not large, and they are essentially the same kind of thing. With spyware, it is possible that your personal information could be given to another source. In other words, someone is "spying" on you, hence the name spyware. With adware, however, the software is designed primarily to display advertisements on the user's PC.

Is It All Bad?

It is unfortunate, but several people tend to believe that all types of this software are harmful and definitely should be avoided. That's not always the case. Of course, in most cases spyware and adware are harmful and are not the kind of thing you want on your PC, but there are exceptions where you may actually want software like this on your PC.

Remember, to make it spyware it has to be downloaded to your computer without your consent. Spyware can sometimes be downloaded through such things as "driveby" downloads or through other exploits, so that the user never even knows it is on their machine. Any program that is downloaded with the users permission is technically not spyware.

Why would you want to have spyware that tracks your personal information and surfing habits running on your computer? And more importantly, why would you want those advertisements? Well, there may be some exceptional cases it may be useful. For example, you may actually sign up for a service online and when you do you may also agree to receive targeted ads.

Companies like this find it useful to track where you go online (monitoring your surfing habits) and looking at what you do, in order to provide you with ads that are highly targeted to your interests. For example, if you were to search for dog food, the spyware company may give you advertising from dog food companies. So, rather than seeing annoying ads that have no interest to you, you may instead see things that are targeted and useful to what you are searching for.

In most cases, though, spyware is damaging. Many programs such as keyloggers will steal your personal information, and adware is often an inconvenience that most people could do without.

by Dave Edwards
Keyword : spyware and adware

How to detect if you have spyware - symptoms and causes

How to detect if you have spyware - symptoms and causes

Spyware and adware are a malicious programs that may have a number of undesirable effects on your computer. Symptoms include changing search results when you do a search on Google, or changing your homepage. Other forms of spyware and adware will even change the configuration of your PC.

The main problem of spyware and adware is that they are very difficult to remove. Often, it will be impossible to manually remove spyware, and you'll need an anti-spyware program to remove it. Here are a few symptoms of a spyware infected machine:

Slowing Your Computer Down

A major annoyance of having spyware and adware on your machine is that they will significantly slow your computer down. Most of all, it can hurt you by being annoying. Pop up ads may happen when your surf the internet, as a result of having adware installed on your machine.

Often, your computer will begin to get slower and slower the longer you have adware on your machine. Moreover, if you don't realize that you have spyware when you first get it, you'll usually end up getting more spyware and this makes it even more difficult to remove.

Why does spyware make your computer slower? Well, your computer is basically made to do more, thus slowing it does. Not only does it need to perform the tasks that you want it to do, but (with spyware installed) it now needs to do a number of other things such as monitoring your surfing behavior or displaying annoying pop-up ads.

Things such as tracking what you're doing, recording information, displaying advertisements and running malicious programs all take up your computers processing power. Thus, your computer will run slower.

In rare cases, spyware can even cause your computer to completely crash.

Relaying Information

Some types of spyware go beyond just displaying advertisements. There are a number of worse types that are also common. Like adware, spyware can track what you're doing and where you're going on the internet.

In some cases, spyware can record the websites you have visited and the keystrokes you have entered. It may take this information and report it back to the company who makes the spyware.

Once your personal information is relayed back to the company or individual running the spyware, your personal information, such as your credit card information, your addresses, paypal account and other sensitive information will be in the hands of the spyware owner. They will then have your username and password for all accounts you have logged into online.

If you have heard about identity theft before, this is where it comes from - malicious spyware programs who record what you do and where you go. Unfortunately, this is alarmingly common and many people do not recognize how serious the problem actually is.

by Dave Edwards
Keyword : detect if you have spyware

How to remove spyware from your computer

How to remove spyware from your computer

Once you know you have spyware infecting your PC, it is crucial that you remove it before it does more damage. There are a number of ways to remove spyware infecting your machine. Fortunately, if you have a knowledge of spyware and adware, then it is not that difficult to remove once you have the right tools.

Spyware and adware can be found in the same way as a virus is detected. This is done through a spyware and adware scan, from a piece of software with that scans your hard drive for known traces of spyware and adware. This is the same way as viruses are found. The software will then delete the spyware from your machine once it is detected.

If you suspect you have very large amounts of spyware or adware on your machine, then it may not be so easy to clean your PC. Many spyware programs are very sophisticated and are difficult to delete. In this case, you may need to reformat your entire computer, and reinstall windows. This will involve backing up your entire hard drive and installing windows from scratch as if it was a new computer.

Fortunately, you won't always have to reinstall windows and start from scratch unless your spyware infection is exceptionally bad. There are a number of other things that you can do first.

It's Gotten Bad

It is important to understand that spyware is extremely common, and not just something that happens in rare circumstances. In fact, it is estimates that over 90% of computers connected to the internet are infected with spyware.

You have to consider this a strong risk as you would a virus. Thanks to the sophistication of many spyware programs, you may not even need to download it to get infected. Spyware can get on your computer through "drive by" downloads and other exploits, and chances are you have spyware already on your computer right now.

There are a number of programs around that claim to remove spyware. Some of these programs are spyware programs themselves, and so you need to be careful when downloading software that promises to scan your computer. Make sure you check to see awards, reviews or testimonials for an anti-spyware program before installing it.

In order to remove spyware, you will definitely need an anti-spyware program. Professionally made spyware programs are often very difficult to find and delete, and it is often difficult to get rid of spyware infecting your machine unless you have a program that can recognize it. Good anti-spyware programs will not just scan for spyware, but will also give you instructions for deleting it.

Anti-spyware software can cost you. Also, if you currently have no anti-spyware software on your computer now, then you will need to invest in it, because the odds are overwhelming that your computer will get infected.

by Dave Edwards
Keyword : remove spyware

What is Data Recovery?

What is Data Recovery?

Data Recovery is the process of retrieval of inaccessible or corrupt data from digital media that has become damaged or has been corrupted in some way. Data Recovery can be used to recover data from devices as varied as Hard Disk Drives, Memory Cards, Tapes, Mobile Phones, Personal Digital Assistants, Floppy Disks, CDs, DVDs, Data Cartridges, Xboxes and many more items.

If knowledge is power, then after you have finished this article, you will be feeling like Mighty Man when this subject is brought up in casual conversation.

facts Recovery may be wanted for reasons which could embrace issues as diverse as hardware fiasco, (the fasten has been 'chain' up, the hard disk constrain has botched, it could have suffered fire or flood harm, or sensible fiasco, there can be corruptions in firmware, semiconductor fiasco, or accidental fiasco/deletion, a storeroom symbol could have been dropped, a hard disk constrain may have been 'accidentally' formatted). All of these instances will imply the military of a professional data recovery band if the data was of such estimate (be it sentimental or fiscal) that the expense of the military are excluding than the perceived estimate of the data which is no longer accessible.

It is not just businesses who are at expose from data injury. Clients requiring data recovery come from all walks of life, plus governments, large corporate, minor businesses, and the person employed to "Joe open" who, with the introduction and subsequent boom in the use of PC's and digital cameras etc to fastest unusual occasions, feast videos and photos etc may have gone something from sentimental data to risky emails, and personal account facts. Students are regularly grouped under this course too.

There are copious customs that data can be improved from digital media which can disagree soberly; the simplest mode can imply the operation of vital software on the storeroom avenue in quiz. This is accustoms a risky idea, because the recovery data could overwrite the very data that is being improved. More compound commercial software tools are presented which will do this job more professionally. No software fix should be stabled earlier to the earliest media being viewed, enabling the recovering band to work on a 'back-up' of the earliest software. The most professional companies will also take a support view should there be a conundrum with the first view that is being worked on for recovery.

As we continue, we will take a look at how this new information can be implemented in very special ways.

The next conundrum is what happens when the hard disk or storeroom symbol doesn't work. For the minor 'facts Recovery Companies', this is a conundrum, and it is when the more sober facts Recovery Companies get implied. It is accustoms recommended that the most risky work should be sent to a real data recovery specialist, (sound guard out the accreditations - guarantee the specialist has ISO9001-2000 attribute poise type, and is expert to ISO BE EN 14644 to guarantee that their fresh feature is at the mark amount for forward data recovery work, find out how long that band has been trading, and sound guard their testimonials).

Once you have found the band that you are joyful with, if the data storeroom symbol doesn't work, there is a high likelihood that the digital media will imply standby parts. There are specialist organizations which promote standby parts for old and hard to get grasp of disk constrains to facts Recovery Companies enabling them to get the earliest data accessible for long enough to view the data against a committed storeroom symbol, enabling that data to be duplicated again which in transform allows a sound recovery stab to be achieved.

The data recovery job is usually perfect when a tilt of all the improved documents is sent to the client. Once the client approves this sleeve tilting, they are then shipped the data on an appropriate media. This can be a hard disk constrain, floppy disk, CD or DVD. Alternatively, if a sleeve is considered risky, it can be encrypted and then emailed to the client.

It should be renowned that in excessive luggage it may be impossible to recover any data.

The best guidance I can deal the client is this:

"As shortly as you have gone data you should poor off your symbol and propel it to a professional facts Recovery party to optimize your odds of a successful recovery".

What you have learned while reading this informative article is knowledge that you can keep with you for a lifetime.

By : Heero Yu
Keyword : What is Data Recovery?