Computers

Internet Safety

September 19, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Computers and the internet are great tools that give us the ability to do a multitude of tasks. However, certain risks come along with these advances in technology. Some of these risks aren’t so bad, such as the small trojans or viruses that can attack computers, but other risks such as identity theft and online predators are very serious matters and should not be taken lightly.

When an adult has a child, along with that child comes an awesome, and terrifying, responsibility to protect that child until he or she reaches adulthood. The world has always been a dangerous place for children, but the internet has opened up a whole new way for predators to reach children. Now, parents not only have to worry about protecting their children when they’re out in public, but they also have to worry about online predators getting to their children while they’re at home.

Many parents choose to fight the threat of online predators by not allowing their children to access the internet from home. While this may seem like a good idea, it really isn’t because the internet is here to stay and children need to learn how to use it. To do this, parents need to allow their children to use the internet at home while under their watchful eyes. Parents can teach their children about the dangers of the internet and protect them by setting a few ground rules. Below are several tips that will help parents keep their children safe while online.

-Talk to your children about the dangers of the internet so that they become aware of things that can happen by giving out too much information online.

-Do not allow your children to access the internet in their room. Instead, keep the computer in an area where there is high traffic, such as the family room.

-Purchase internet filtering software that will allow you to block the websites or chat rooms you don’t approve of.

-Monitor your child’s internet usage by paying attention to the websites he or she visits.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet Tagged With: Chat room, Child Safety, Identity theft, Security

How to Protect Your Computer from Internet Viruses

September 14, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Computers have been around long enough that you probably know how devastating an internet virus can be if your computer falls prey to one. While many viruses are small and don’t require much to fix, there are many more out there that can completely wipe out your computer. If this happens, it can result in you losing all of the information you have stored on your computer so hopefully you have backed them up to a File Zilla server or other storage spot. There are even some “viruses” out there that are designed to steal your personal information for the purpose of identity theft. This is why it is crucial that you take the necessary steps to protect your computer from internet viruses.

The most important thing you can do to protect your computer from an internet virus is to purchase and install an Anti-Virus tool. You will need to take the time to research the different Anti-Virus software packages in order to find the best one for you. The important thing isn’t really the brand you get, but mainly that you have some type of Anti-Virus software installed on your computer.

Once the Anti-Virus software is installed, you need to continue to download any updates it notifies you about. This will ensure that the software is running properly. Also, conduct regular sweeps of your computer to detect any possible internet threats. In addition to installing an Anti-Virus program, there are several other tips to follow to protect your computer from internet viruses.

-Be sure to always use unique passwords that contain both letters and numerals. Follow this rule no matter what you are setting up a password for. It doesn’t matter if it’s for your computer, email, online banking or your Amazon.com account, a strong password is always needed!

-Do not open up any emails sent to you from parties you don’t know. Also, don’t open up any attachments that you aren’t familiar with, even if you know the sender. Often viruses are hidden in these attachements. Even if they are files like the xvid codec from open source xvid that you use safely, people can add in viruses.

-Always be careful when downloading documents or videos from the internet by making sure they come from a trusted source.

-Perform routine computer backups.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet, Technology Tagged With: Anti-Virus, Computer virus, Identity theft, Malicious Software, Security

How to Break Internet Addiction

September 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

There are many people out there who have come to realize that they have somehow, over time, became addicted to the internet. Perhaps, you are one of these people. While the first step of recognizing the problem exists has been met, many people don’t know what to do after that. Well, just like any addiction, there are steps that you can take to help correct your internet addiction. The steps below will help you break your internet addiction. However, if you find you can’t do it on your own, then you may need to seek professional help.

Set a Timer: This may seem like too simple of a step to take, but it will work if you are consistent with it. If you are one who has a problem keeping track of time when you are online, then setting a time when you log on will solve this problem. The trick is that you make yourself log off when the timer goes off. If you can master this step, then you will be well on your way to breaking your internet addiction.

Set Rules: While it may seem juvenile to set rules for your computer use, it is a necessary step if you want to overcome internet addiction – especially if your job or housework is suffering due to the time you spend on the internet. When you set rules for yourself, make them conditional. One rule, for example, is that you can only get online after the kids have been fed, bathed and put to bed. However, always set a timer once you do log on.

Find Another Activity to Occupy your Time: Sometimes just being in the same house as the computer is too much of a temptation. This is when it is necessary to find another activity to do that will take you out of the house and take your mind off the internet. For instance, you can join a bowling league, start running or take kick-boxing classes. The point is that you do something that requires you to spend less time online.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet Tagged With: Addiction, Games, Health

Reasons to Set Up a Wireless Home Network

August 22, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Wireless networking is a relatively new concept for many homes and businesses, but it is certainly one worth exploring. With the addition of affordable wireless routers, systems that come equipped with wireless adapters, and more and more wireless devices such as printers and cellular phones coming out each day, the advantages of setting up a wireless network in your home are stacking up. However, there are still some drawbacks. Here are the ups and downs of this networking alternative.

On the “good” side of the scale . . .

The mobility of the network allows anyone to access it from anywhere inside your home, or even immediate outside of it.

You don’t have to be right next to a printer or other device to tap into it as a resource.

You can reduce the number of cords you need to purchase, set up, and have around.

Setup is relatively simple when compared to a wired home network. You can simply plug into the router or other wireless station and use the wireless installation wizard that comes with your computer in order to create a fundamentally sound network.

On the “bad” side of the scale . . .

The speed of your network will be lower when compared to a fully wired network. While wireless is getting faster, it’s not “there” yet.

Wireless networks are far less reliable than wired networks, and you can get spots, downtime, and other errors more easily in a wireless network.

Wireless networking won’t work very well for specific tasks such as gaming, where the lag that occurs can create significant problems.

The cost of a wireless network, while decreasing, is high when compared to a fully wired network. In addition to the cost of the router and adapters for computers, wireless versions of printers or other utilities are more costly.

Neither wired nor wireless home networks are a bad idea, and each provides certain opportunities and drawbacks. The best approach is to evaluate your home, your priorities for mobility, cost, and ease of setup, and make the best decision to suit your particular situation.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet, Technology, Wireless Technology Tagged With: Computer network, Home network, Wireless

Access Your Degree Through an Online School

August 14, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Educational providers have learned that catering to the schedule of the adult learner is a win-win situation. Schools want full classes and adult learners want options that mesh smoothly with their time constraints. If you still think distance learning means dry texts and boring assignments arriving by snail mail, it’s time to take a fresh look at an online school.

An Educational Delivery Package for the New Millennium
Worldwide connectivity has revolutionized education. Grade schools, junior and senior high schools, colleges, and universities have all taken advantage of the Internet to provide outstanding educational opportunities to their students. Class choice is almost limitless. Looking for a foreign language class that your high school or university doesn’t offer? Chances are your adviser can help you find an accredited online class that will fill your need. Web conferencing, class-specific chat lines, and teleconferencing are tools used in a synchronous online learning environment. Emails, blogs, threaded discussions, and forums are all part of the toolbox found in an asynchronous online education. Most schools offer a blend of both styles to best meet the educational needs of their students.

Get That Degree
Time constraints can be a major roadblock to adult learners. Knowing that a degree or professional certification greatly improves your marketability does not make it any easier to actually carve out the time to earn one. Online learning is the answer. Hundreds of accredited degree and professional certification programs are available–24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Scheduling classes to suit your schedule is a breeze. Complete classes according to your timetable. You can take a year to complete a class or accelerate your learning, completing degree requirements in a much shorter amount of time.

If acquiring additional education through online schooling is something you are considering, take some time to browse the Web. You will discover your educational goals are within your grasp.

Filed Under: Computers, General, Information Tech., Internet Tagged With: Distance education, Distance Learning, E-learning, Education, High school, Institutions, Professional certification, Student

Wireless Devices for Your Home Office

August 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

More and more home offices are turning to wireless solutions. After all, this once expensive category of devices is now becoming very affordable, and the additional mobility, the lack of clutter, and the chance to network in other devices more easily, all lead to great appeal. So, what wireless devices should you consider getting?

Wireless Mouse and Keyboard

The wireless effort can start right at your computer. A wireless keyboard and mouse are two of the most simple and affordable components, but they are highly advantageous. You will be able to remove the clutter around your desk, increase your ergonomics and general comfort, and easily move your work station. This includes moving your work station to other locations such as wireless hot spots. A portable mouse can network with whatever computer you choose to use for the day.

Headphones and Speakers

There are many business applications that require sound in order to provide their maximum benefit. These include VOIP programs and any program with audio instructions or elements, but the importance of music at work shouldn’t be discounted either. Wireless components here will allow for a full surround sound experience and the chance to walk away from your desk without disrupting your task.

Printer and Office Devices

A wireless printer is one of the best items to get in your home office, partially because it will allow anyone else who needs a printer to get their task finished without too much interference with your work flow.

Phones and Headsets

If phone calls are any major portion of your work day, then getting a wireless headset will make work a little more sanity friendly. Getting up to stretch your legs in the middle of a phone call may also give you a hidden opportunity for increase fitness!

Webcams and Microphones

Do you do video conferencing? Use a VOIP program? If so, you’ll get tons out of wireless webcams and mics, due to the simplicity of installation and how easy it makes your desk organization.

Remember, that any other devices that access the internet, including mobile phones, tablets, and other computers, can also become a part of your home office wireless network!

Filed Under: Computers, Gadgets, Technology, Wireless Technology Tagged With: Data Communications, mouse, Telecommunications, Wireless

Bluetooth: Wireless Technology for Phones, Computers, and More

August 11, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Bluetooth, first introduced by Ericcson in 1994, has seen growing popularity in recent years. The integration of computers, stand alone devices, cellular handsets, and far more, grants a greater ability to integrate than ever before. Bluetooth is one of the few technologies that successfully stands toe-to-toe with wireless internet, partially because the technology provides many personal and professional applications.

Bluetooth technology was popularized largely thanks to Bluetooth headsets. These allow for a completely hands-free connection between a cellular device and your headset. As the ideas became more popular, Bluetooth technologies were applied to computer and internet technologies. Since Bluetooth cellular phones were already equipped with the needed hardware, the first creative advances were in synchronizing phones and computers. This provided advantages in the rate of transfer, ease of setup, and took less bandwidth than a standard wireless network.

Once it was clear that computers could effectively communicate at a high rate of speed with Bluetooth devices, developers in a number of computer related fields began to take hold of the hardware, leading to a new world of possibilities. The most common seen in practical use today are direct communication devices like Bluetooth keyboards and mice. Bluetooth technologies have also seen success with printers and other office solutions, however. Computers equipped with Bluetooth can also communicate with each other, enabling Ethernet bridging, advanced wireless networking, and dial-up conenctions via data enabled handheld devices, primarily on cellular networks.

With new developers familiarizing themselves with the technology, it’s not surprising that other creative technologies have hit the market. Items that were previously based on serial or infrared communication, such as medical equipment, traffic controllers, hi-tech remotes, and more, all use Bluetooth. New video gaming is also centered around Bluetooth, at least as far as Wii, PS3, and PSP Go edition controllers are concerned.

While it may have taken Bluetooth a while to really hit the mainstream, this innovative medium has exploded in recent years. Most cellular devices currently come with Bluetooth equipped, computers frequently have it by default, and more outside devices use it. In brief: Bluetooth is here to stay.

Filed Under: Bluetooth, Computers, Gadgets, Internet, Wireless Technology Tagged With: Bluetooth, Data Communications, Handsfree, Mobile phone

Pursuing Online Undergraduate Programs on the Internet

August 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

How Computers Affect Our Daily Lives

Computers are an integral part of our daily lives on almost every level. We use them for personal reasons to email and send funny text files. We also use them for business reasons at our jobs to send business documents and communicate with customers. Our daily lives involve computers in almost every facet including the following ones:

Retail shops and grocery stores use computers to ring up purchases.
Students use them at schools and colleges and for home use in pursuing online undergraduate programs for degrees.
Entertainment sources (television, DVDs) now offer online services.

Even our communication devices (cell phones, PDAs, laptops) are computer-oriented and used for many daily routines.

The Convenience of the Internet

The Internet has evolved quickly, making computers a common item in most all homes, schools, libraries, and churches. There are even retail establishments like coffee houses and public facilities that offer wireless Internet connection for their customers to use while they enjoy their visit to the business’s establishment.

The Internet is accessible almost everywhere and makes life very convenient for many people. Now people don’t have to wait until they get home to check their emails or check the stock reports. Technology has also advanced along with the Internet developments, and software exists that can make computers and Internet connections run faster and smoother. The accessibility of the Internet has made life easier and simpler from a technological aspect.

Organizing and Goal Setting Using Computers

Using computers as a mechanism for goal-setting is ideal for individuals who want to keep their life as clutter-free as possible. Online calendars can replace little bits of paper for appointments. There is computer software that users can load onto their computers that will track their goals and generate to-do lists. This tool makes things even easier for those people who value the convenience of computers.

Filed Under: Computers, Information Tech., Internet Tagged With: Hardware, U.S.News & World Report, Undergraduate education

Precautions to Take When Shopping Online

August 6, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Online shopping provides many opportunities that would have been unthinkable a couple decades ago. The ability to buy whatever you want from wherever you are, the massive selection of products are your fingertips, and the availability of rare products, all make online purchases very attractive. However, buying online can also be frightening for those without experience. Here are a few wise precautions to take when browsing the web for lucre.

Get Virus and Spyware Protection

A lot of the problems that come in with online shopping can happen because your computer isn’t secure. Even safe sites won’t be able to protect your information if spying software has been loaded onto your computer. Being wise about your web surfing is a good start, but you will also want up-to-date, high quality virus and spyware protectors. Luckily, some of these are available for free, and most computers come with programs of this nature.

Careful of Your Network Type

It’s possible that other people will access the information on your computer through your wireless internet connection. It’s a good idea to avoid purchases if you’re using a WiFi with people you don’t know, such as at a local cafe, University, or bookstore. If you’re using a wireless enabled network at home, be sure that you secure it with a password prior to going shopping.

Use Safe Payment Methods

There are many ways to pay online, but some of them are more established and buyer-friendly than others. Services like PayPal and Google Checkout will allow you to get a refund more quickly if the seller sends you the wrong item, a broken item, or nothing at all. If you can trust the names being used, you can usually feel good checking out.

Research the Site

Whether or not the site is using a trusted payment method, it’s a good idea to look into their history. Sites that are more established, have positive user reviews, a satisfactory status with the Better Business Bureau, and so forth, are all more likely to get you what you’re looking for in a safe and timely manner.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet, Technology Tagged With: Better Business Bureau, Google Checkout, PayPal, World Wide Web

Using the Internet: Getting Great E-Mail Hosting

August 5, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Anyone who uses the Internet generally uses e-mail. It’s a really convenient way to talk to other people all around the country and the world. There’s more to the Internet than that, though. Thousands upon thousands of Websites are out there, just waiting for you to explore them. There are search engines where you can find all kinds of interesting sites, and then you can choose the ones you enjoy the most. It’s a great way to learn about everything and anything – no matter what really interests you. Keep in mind that you might want to sign up for information from some of these Websites, and to do that it’s important to have good, reliable e-mail hosting, to make sure you get your messages.

Not all Websites require you to sign up for anything. A huge number of them just offer information that you can read right there in the browser window. That’s really convenient, especially when you’re looking for something quickly and you just need an answer before you can go on with your life. It can be anything from the name of an actor you can’t remember to a recipe for your dinner that night – and everything in between. You can also use the Internet to find out about companies you’re considering doing business with.

You wouldn’t want to give your hard-earned money to a company that isn’t going to be a good one. Some of them just aren’t safe when you think of how much you’ll spend for what you’ll get. Reputable companies are vital when it comes to online purchasing and offline shopping, too. Just because you’re looking around online, that doesn’t mean you have to shop online. A lot of companies have both Websites and brick-and-mortar stores. When you have the option of either one, go for the best price. Sometimes they differ.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet, Technology Tagged With: E-Mail Hosting, Internet