Home Computer Security

Home computers are a favorite target for intruders. This is because home computers are normally not very secure and are easy to attack. With high speed Internet connection, intruders can quickly find and then attack computers. Home computer security takes top priority in this context. There are several methods to secure your home computer.

Installing and using anti-virus programs is a means to protect home computers. The anti-virus program normally provides several options on how to respond, such as removing the offending patterns or destroying the file. It is advisable to keep your system patched.

Email viruses and worms are common problems. Therefore, users should be careful when reading email. A firewall program can secure your home computer. On a computer, the firewall acts as a guard, keeps the unwanted out and permits only the appropriate to enter. Backups of important files and folders must be maintained. Strong passwords must be used not only on a home computer, but also for services utilized elsewhere on the Internet. Each password should be unique and dissimilar to all other passwords. A file encryption program to access controls for very sensitive files is ideal. Those working on laptop computers should consider purchasing a commercial file encryption program.

A number of devices are used in home computer security. Computer security cables are very effective in preventing computer losses. Secure casing options are less attractive but more secure than steel cables. Audible alarms can be affixed either inside your computer or outside, and when disturbed they produce a loud siren. Disk drive locks protect drives from misuse. There are marking systems in which the computer equipment is marked with an identity mark, such as a postcode. The marking can be in different ways, in the form of tabs that are fixed with a strong epoxy adhesive or by an etching compound.

Computer Security provides detailed information on Computer Security, Computer Security Systems, Computer Network Securities, Computer Security Software and more. Computer Security is affiliated with Information Security Systems.


Source: EzineArticles

How to Use the Home Computer to Earn Money

Today's home computers are generally powerful and inexpensive, especially compared to the costs of a home computer 10 or 15 years ago. Most families also already have a computer or two. People can use their computer to make money and in a myriad of different ways. You must however, understand that you still have to invest time and money into making money with your computer.

Instructions

1. Determine your strengths. You can make money on your computer by writing, reselling items, or creating or editing documents, web pages, audio or video. Don't just go for what you think will make the most money because you will do better at what you are already skilled at and passionate about.

2. Purchase any additional software or hardware for your computer that will help you do your job better. Don't skimp thinking that your computer is enough and you can just make the money roll in. If you plan on writing get the newest word processing software and consider buying a system with two monitors so you can view your work and your source at the same time. If you plan on selling items online, buy all the packing material you will need.

3. Find a need and fill it. There are many sites online where you can write to earn money. Websites such as FreelanceWritingGigs.com list these type of opportunities. Look at websites such as Craigslist.com for what kinds of services people are searching for. Look at what others are doing at different websites to make money and study why their choice works or doesn't.

Source : eHow

Protecting Your Home Computer From Power Outages

The PC or Mac is becoming an ever more important piece of equipment in the home. Used from everything from internet access, storing your digital photographs, games and office work, the computer is now an everyday part of our lives. One thing the computer needs to function is electrical power which is often taken for granted that it will always be there.

Many people think that power cuts are rare. This may be true where you live, however breaks in power can occur for a multitude of reasons and some occur more often than others. Long term power failures are generally quite rare, but do happen. More often than not, small breaks in power occur due to faults (and clearance) on the electricity grid, lightning strikes etc. Often power outages are localised as a result of a tripped breaker, blown fuse or even somebody tripping over the power cable and pulling it from the wall. When events like this occur, your computer will of course come grinding to a halt.

Now this may not be too much of an issue to you. Usually, when the powers back on you can just switch it on and things are back to normal. You will of course have lost everything you did after your last save, or not been able to finish that online chat, Facebook post or send that email. Sometimes, however, things aren't so smooth. Your hard drive can become corrupt or damaged, your operating system may not boot up correctly, data could be lost. The consequences of sudden power failure can be more than just a nuisance.

In order to protect your computer it is wise to invest in an Uninterruptible Power Supply or UPS. The UPS contains internal batteries that provide power in the event of a power cut allowing you to continue to operate your computer. You can also install software that communicates with the UPS and will save your work and shut down your computer gracefully if the power doesn't return.

UPS Systems come in a variety of types and technologies. Many experts agree that online double conversion technology provides the highest degrees of protection, as the system is always "on" and constantly provides constant unchanging power, however it has it's drawbacks. Firstly it is less efficient than other technologies and probably most importantly, nearly all online UPS use a high speed fan to keep them cool resulting in excessive noise making them unsuitable for home use.

The other technologies are Stand-by, or line-interactive. For the layman, these are practically the same. They both work by being passive and when mains is normal this is passed straight through to the computer. If the power fails, they switch over to battery power and start up their inverter. There is a momentary break when this happens however since your computer power supply contains capacitors that hold charge your computer can survive very short interruptions without any problem. The inverter is a circuit that produces electrical power and this can either be sine-wave or not. A non-sinewave inverter is called a square wave, and also modified-sine, quasi-sine, stepped wave and a variety of other names. The important point to note is that whereas a sine-wave inverter is good for everything that is plugged into the mains supply a square wave inverter is not and can only be used on computer type power supplies.

UPS Systems have ratings that are usually measured in VA which stands for Volt-Amps and Watts. Usually the Watts rating is a lot lower than the VA rating and it is important that neither of these ratings are exceeded. Higher specification UPS will have Watts ratings that are 70% of the VA rating or higher. Low spec UPS may have Watts ratings that are about 50% of the VA rating. This means that a 600VA UPS may have a Watts rating of 300W for a low spec system, or 600W for a high spec system - double the actual capacity. Note that Watts is the true capability of the UPS. VA is a misleading specification and should be abolished, especially since modern power supplies have power factor correction meaning that Watts and VA are almost identical. Your PC may contain a power supply rated at 600W or 1000W but this does not mean this is how much power your computer is using. It's a measure of the capacity of the power supply, not the constant use. Typically computers consume around 150-200W of power. Perhaps more if you have a lot of peripherals, a very high powered machine or large displays. It may be a good idea to put on one of the power meters that are readily available these days to help you reduce electricity consumption. This will give you a reading in VA and or Watts and you need to select a UPS that is rated above this level.

The next decision to make is about runtime - how long you can expect the UPS to maintain power for. Beware of misleading statements from manufacturers about runtime. Runtime is affected by two factors - the amount of power that the UPS is providing and the capacity of the battery. It is common to see hyped up runtimes of 60 minutes or more from a UPS that contains a single standard battery. Often you will find that such runtimes are classed as "typical". You need to ask what sort of batteries the UPS contains. Most small UPS contain the industry standard 7Ah 12V battery. Some will contain two. In order for a UPS containing a single 7Ah battery to provide an hours runtime, the load must be in the region of 50W. A "typical" computer of about 150W will obtain around 10 minutes of runtime from a UPS with the single 7Ah battery. A dual 7Ah UPS will give about 30 minutes for a typical 150W computer. Note that this is manufacturer independent. The inverter circuits are generally equivalent and unless one system is using higher capacity or more batteries then the runtimes will always be similar.

One of the most important features to protect your computer is to allow the UPS to tell your computer that the power has failed and allow it to save all your work and shut down in a proper manner. Communication is usually via USB or RS232 in some older systems. Some of the very cheapest UPS systems do not have this capability, or do not supply software as part of the package, so make sure that software is available and provided with your UPS at the time of purchase. In addition, if the UPS is RS232, confirm that your computer has the corresponding RS232 output in order to communicate with it. If you're in doubt, your computer probably does not have an RS232 as this has largely been superceded by USB. USB to RS232 serial adapters can be used if this is the case, but at added cost.

It is not good practice but unfortunately many manufacturers do not include a mains lead with the UPS. The rationale given, is that the mains lead that powers your PC is used to power the UPS, and a lead is provided from the UPS to connect to your PC. If you have ancillary devices such as your broadband router then you will need to ensure that you can connect this to the UPS also if you don't want to lose internet capability even momentarily. UPS Output Adapters are available for this very purpose, although some UPS have UK Socket Outlets built in to enable easy connections.

Undoubtedly, the decision you make with regard to your UPS purchase will be down to cost. A simple UPS with 5-10 minutes runtime and software is available delivered to your door for under £50. Higher powered versions for around £30 extra. Changing to sine wave versions for added peace of mind will double these figures. Expect to pay more for well known brands and from high street shops. Specialist online stores are around as well as specialist sellers on eBay and Amazon.

Source: EzineArticles

PC Support Technician

General Duties
The PC support technician also has to operate the help desk phone service, which employees call when they have computer difficulties. The technician also fixes and maintains the local network, which connects the PCs of the company to each other, as well the connection to the Internet. In addition, the technician is responsible for some aspects of new software applications, anything from their creation and design to implementation and testing. However, these duties vary by company: Sterling requires it of the support technician, but GURU, a consulting firm, does not.

Maintaining Computers
The PC support technician is responsible for maintaining the hardware and software on employees' computers. A help desk job from Sterling, a large insurance company, says that the support technician's duties include "install[ing], maintain[ing], and configur[ing] PC computers. This process includes helping employees set up their passwords, rest their passwords, and any other troubleshooting help they may need."

Security
The PC technician helps ensure the security of the computers and file systems. The technician fulfills this duty by setting up the security access for each computer, which relates to different levels of permissions and control over the computer a user may have. The technician also maintains the security standards of the PCs through updates to the security software, and keeps a record of user account information as well as the company's PC hardware, hardware accessories, and software inventory.

PC support technicians often work at the help desk or information technology support department of a company. These employees are skilled in the ways computers work. PC support techs know the software the company uses, which can be highly specialized, as well as more general software needs. The technicians work exclusively with personal computers (PCs), which are general-use desktop or laptop computers.

Source : eHow

Home Computer Desk to Fit Your Lifestyle

The kind of computer desk you choose is determined by space, cost and style. There are so many choices on the market today that you should have no trouble finding the perfect home computer desk for home or home office. No matter what you use your computer for, there is a computer workstation solution to fit your personal style and pocket book. The following is a basic short guide to help you determine your computer workstation needs for your home or home office.

It is usually best to measure the area you plan on putting a workstation or computer desk so you know how much space you have for this type of furniture. If you are limited in space, a corner unit or at least a small unit will be your best solution. If you have a larger area to work with, the L shaped workstations are great. You will also want to make sure you are getting a home computer desk that can accommodate whatever you need to keep handy to your workspace. This is especially true when you are looking for a workstation for a home office. It makes your work easier to perform so you can do better work.

Once you know what size and type of computer desk you need, you can start looking at the price you want to pay. You can choose from any of the above styles (small, large, corner or L shaped) as long as you have the space for it. You will find plenty of cost effective solutions for your home computer desk solutions that will suit your personal taste. If you prefer something besides wood or wood grain look, you can get other materials and colors including black and white as well as choosing glass or acrylic computer desks. It really depends on your taste and the price you want to pay.

You want your home computer desk and space to be as comfortable as possible so that you can do your best work. This comfort includes the ability to have quick and close access to any other equipment you may have such as a printer, calculator, phone, pens and paper. You also want to make sure you have the right kind of office chair especially if you sit at the computer for hours. The sky is the limit when it comes to computer desks, so choose what works for you.

Source: EzineArticles

Home Computer Repair Tips

If you are experiencing computer troubles, contacting a local repair service isn't always necessary since many problems aren't severe and can be fixed rather easily. Having a solid understanding about the common problems that can occur with your home computer and the ways it can be fixed is imperative before deciding whether or not to hire a technician.

Common Problems and Resolutions

Before starting the home computer repair on your own, perform a data back up. This can be done with an external hard drive or USB so you can recover all your data in case something goes awry.

Infections

The possible causes of home computer problems are multiple. Infections of viruses, malware, and spyware are common issues that are experienced by home computers. These infections are characterized by a loss of files unexpectedly, programs that are acting erratically, and the computer responding slowly to commands. If these are some of the symptoms that you have found on your computer, then the repair shouldn't be too difficult as you can probably fix it in about an hour or so.

Check to make sure that all your OS automatic updates are turned on. Then, install an anti-virus program that can effectively protect your computer. Run a scan to remove all the infections on your computer. You can install windows defender or freeware such as spybot. Once all the infections are removed, then your computer should operate at a much faster pace.

Hardware Failure

A more serious problem that happens to home computers is a hardware failure. This requires home computer repair immediately. Depending on how heavily a computer is used, typically computer parts last for about 5-7 years. The more often it's used, the sooner the parts will need to be replaced.

The hardware that is most likely to fail includes the hard drive, RAM, and SPMS. When a computer is used heavily, the SPMS is more likely to go out. Constant heating and cooling is what results in damaged RAMs, though this is tough to prevent. Hard drives for the most part last for some time, but they can malfunction nonetheless.

If your computer begins to randomly restart or freeze, then this is indicative of the hardware being the problem. You will be given plenty of warning signs before it fails for good. So once you start to see the symptoms associated with hardware failure, then take action and address it as soon as possible.

Booting Issues

While booting, home computers sometimes encounter failures as a result of registry corruption. The best way to solve it is through recovery console. You can also do home computer repair for in these situations by using a recovery CD.

Source: EzineArticles

Home computer - Imortant Question answers

Question: I defaulted on a credit card purchase a few years ago. A court session settled the matter. Now, however, I'm seeing information about it when searching my name on Google. What is going on? How can I get this off Google?

Answer: I get questions about removing information from Google a lot. Unfortunately, Google has very little to do with it. All Google does is find information on the Internet to display. To remove the information, you have to go to the source website. Once you get the information removed there, it will gradually leave Google's databases. In this case, I'm betting the information isn't removable. A lot of courts are digitizing case records and posting them online. That's probably where Google found the information. These court documents are a matter of public record. You can contact the court. It's a bummer when there's information you can't control. However, there's a lot of information that you can control.

Q: I have some sensitive files on my home computer. My friend is telling me I should encrypt them. Is this a good idea?

A: This is a tricky question. Encryption scrambles digital information so unauthorized people can't read it. You need the password for access. That makes it good for security. Unfortunately, if you lose the password you can't get the files anymore either. So it is a bit risky. For a home computer, I would recommend strengthening your security in other ways. Set up a Windows password to keep snoops away. Make sure you have up-to-date security software installed. This will keep viruses from compromising your system. Encrypt any Wi-Fi network you're using. If you do use encryption, keep unencrypted versions of the files as well. Put them on a flash drive and store the drive in a safe.

Q: My mother broke both her arms. She's an avid reader, but she can't hold a book. Do any e-book readers have voice control?

A: I'm sorry to hear about your mother. I hope she makes a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, e-readers don't have voice commands. Most don't even have microphones. The Kindle, however, does have the Read-to-Me feature. This can read any compatible e-book out loud. Once it's started a book, you don't even have to turn pages. The Kindle can also play audio books from Audible.com. You might consider the Nook Simple Touch or Kobo eReader Touch Edition. Both have touch screens. You can turn pages with just a tap.

Q: I love that my Mac can sleep to save power. However, it goes to sleep too quickly. I'm always spending time waking it up again. Is there a way to delay the sleep mode a bit?

A: Sleep mode is a great energy saver. It only uses a little more energy than the computer does when it's off. However, you can start using the computer again much faster. Still, you don't want the computer sleeping every time you turn around. To increase the sleep delay, go to System Preferences and click the Energy Saver icon. Then adjust the sliders to your ideal sleep time. Note that one slider controls the entire computer. The other only controls the monitor. I usually set the computer to 30 minutes and the monitor to 10 minutes. It's a good compromise between power saving and convenience.

Q: My wife wants to start taking more pictures of our family. I'm going to buy her a camera for her birthday. What would be the best one to get?

A: Everyone has different needs. The camera's price, size, complexity and extra features are all things to weigh as you make that decision. If your wife wants to get into serious photography, a digital SLR is your best choice. It gives you the most control for getting the best shots. Of course, it's also a bit harder to use than a point-and-shoot camera.

Use Your Home Computer to Find a Better Semiconductor

If you want to be a part of discovering the future of solar power, you can be. You don't need any special knowledge or equipment, just let Alán Aspuru-Guzik borrow your computer when you're not using it.

Aspuru-Guzik and the rest of the Clean Energy Project are using distributed computing to search for an organic molecule that will make a more efficient solar cell. More efficient than silicon solar cells, anyway, which are ten times more expensive than other energy sources. Distributed computing uses multiple PCs around the web and harnesses them to get the equivalent processing power of a supercomputer. Many other projects are using this method to work on cures for Alzheimer's, cancer and other diseases, to detect earthquakes early, and to search for extraterrestrial life.

The Clean Energy Project has been searching for more than two years, inspecting more than two million molecules to find the one that will put solar power on level ground with other energy sources. Recently, they found a molecule that is one of the best organic semiconductors discovered to date. Synthetic chemist Zhenan Bao made and tested the chemical, finding it to work between three and four times better than the team predicted.

By 2012, the project is expected to have examined 3.5 million molecules. If you want to contribute to the effort, download the Clean Energy Project's screensaver, which will allow the project to borrow your computer power whenever you're idle.

source : popsci.com

New Sneaky Trojan Makes its Home in PC Motherboard

Security researchers have found a nasty new virus that borrows in to a computer's motherboard, infects PCs as soon as they boot up, and is particularly difficult to detect and dispose of.

The security firm Symantec identified the threat as Trojan.Mebromi, a piece of rootkit malware — malicious software that hides its presence on infected systems — that worms its way onto the basic input-output system (BIOS) built into a computer's motherboard.

Once it's gotten into the BIOS via an attached corrupt file, Mebromi then loads itself onto the PC's master boot record (MBR), another component that gets executed prior to the loading of a computer's operating system.
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Think of it in terms of the human body: Mebromi doesn't infect the bloodstream on the way to the heart; it gets into the heart first and then takes control from there.

And as a doctor might toil to treat such a case, anti-virus companies could face a similar struggle.

Because Mebromi stores itself inside the BIOS, anti-virus software would need to effectively remove the Trojan without damaging the motherboard it's hiding under.

Added to that problem is Mebromi's persistence: it could potentially keep executing itself every time a user turns on his computer.

"Even if an anti-virus detects and cleans the MBR infection, it will be restored at the next system startup when the malicious BIOS payload would overwrite the MBR code again," Marco Giuliani from the security company Webroot wrote.

To lower your risk of falling prey to this or any other computer viruses, make sure your computers and all other Internet-connected devices are equipped with anti-virus software.

* The 10 Worst Computer Viruses in History
* Cybercrime Ring Led by Russian 'Soldier' Steals $3.2 Million
* Anti-Malware Software Review


Source : securitynewsdaily

Home Computer - Buy your own

It seems impossible, but just two decades ago, most homes did not have personal computers. Now, most homes have one or more, and they are usually replaced every 3 to 5 years with a newer model. Unfortunately, deciding which computer you want to buy can be a confusing and difficult process. Not only that, but a computer is a big investment--you certainly don't want to make the wrong choice! Follow the steps below to learn more about choosing the right computer for your home.

Instructions

1. Choose your hardware. Decide on what features you would like to have before setting out to buy your computer. One such feature is RAM. You will need a large amount of RAM if you are going to store a lot of photos or play a lot of video games. If you are going to be doing a lot of different tasks on the computer, you will probably want a good processor as well.

2. Choose your software. Think about what you are going to be doing on your computer. If you will just be doing basic word processing, you will only need the minimum Word programs. If you want to do a lot of computations, spreadsheets and the like, you might want to upgrade to an office or professional software package. If you like to edit and play with your digital photos, you will probably want some kind of photo editing software pre-installed as well, although you can always buy software after you buy the computer.

3. Think about extras. Do you want more than one CD/DVD drive? What about speakers, a microphone or Web cam? Now is the time to decide if you want a large monitor, a good, expensive video and/or sound card, and wireless Internet capabilities. Don't forget that you may need to purchase some cords as well.

4. Choose your brand. Different brands have different reputations. If brand name does not matter to you, then simply choose the price you want to spend. Otherwise, choose your brand and then see what price options that brand has available to you (see Resources below).

5. Shop around. Many stores offer very different computer prices and packages. Some online stores will have one-day-only sales, while some big box stores will have a sale on one particular brand, but not others.

Article Source: Ehow

How to Install a Network Printer?

A network printer is a term given to a printer that is shared by several computers across a common internet connection. Every computer that is connected to the network can access the printer and give the command to print. Network printing saves money and space. If you are on a shared internet connection and want to add a network printer to your computer, you can do so easily with a few



* 1: Select the "Start" menu from the lower-left corner of your computer's desktop.

* 2: Select "Control Panel" from the menu.

* 3: Double-click on the "Printers and Faxes" folder in the "Control Panel" window.

* 4: Choose "Add a Printer" from the left side of the open window and then select "Create a New Port."

* 5: Select "Standard TCP/IP Port" from the drop-down menu and enter the IP address for the network printer. If you have already installed the network printer, this is the address assigned to the printer during the first installation. If you are connecting to a network printer in a business, ask the IT department for the IP address.

* 6: Click "Next" and select the make and model of the printer.

* 7: Select "Finish" to complete the installation process.


Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_6085411_install-network-printer-laptop.html#ixzz1XATpmFnP