How to Save a Wet Cell Phone?

Chances are, you or someone you know has dropped their cell phone in water. It’s that moment when everything turns into slow motion, as your lifeline to social media, friends and family slowly succumbs to a watery death. But is there a way to rescue your cell phone once it’s taken the plunge? Keep reading and check out this infographic ,"How to Save a Wet Cell Phone".

With over 80% of the population using cell phones in the United States, it’s no surprise that many have lost a phone to water. Over 116,000 cell phones end up in the laundry each year, and over 850,000 end up in a toilet! There’s even a Facebook group dedicated to those poor souls that have lost a cell phone during a trip to the bathroom. 29% of cellphone users admit that their damage was caused by spilling a drink on them, and it’s no surprise that men are three times as likely to damage their phone via water!

Have a Look At: Saving Your Smart Phone When It Falls In The Toilet!

Once you’ve rescued your phone from the H2O, it’s time to act-and act quickly. First, turn off the device-if it’s off already, don’t turn it on! Dry it off, and take it apart-including sim cards and the battery. Don’t shake or jostle the phone too much, as this can force water into delicate parts of the device. If spray alcohol is available, spraying the inside may help disperse the water. Use a small vacuum to help suck out any water, and then immediately put the phone into a bag of rice. You can also purchase a first-aid kit from Dry-All to help save your cell phone. Whatever you do, do not put your phone in the microwave, take a hair dryer to it, or place the device on a heater.


Feel free to like, comment, and share this, “How to Save a Wet Cell Phone” infographic from Partselect.com!

Source: Partselect.

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Tips For Protecting Your Online Intellectual Property

What online intellectual property do I have?

Whether you have a web-based business, like an e-commerce site, or a simpler online presence such as a Facebook or Twitter profile, you are likely to be creating intellectual property online.

Intellectual property means “creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce” (according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)).

Online intellectual property may include:

• Names and logos.
• Software code.
• Artwork.
• Photographs.
• Content, for example, website copy, Facebook posts, and potentially, tweets.

Protecting your name and logos:

The best way to protect your name and logo against copycats is to apply for relevant trade marks.

Unlike the internet, trade marks are country specific. To protect your name in Brazil you will need to register a Brazilian trade mark.

Here are some tips for protecting your name and logo,

• Know your name: Check if other people are using your name for the same or a similar thing. If so, consider if you must use this mark, or if you can find something else.
• Know your countries: It is expensive and time consuming to apply for and maintain trade marks worldwide. Focus on your key countries.
• Know your product or service: Trade marks are registered in relation to specific goods and services. The better you know your product the easier it will be to produce an accurate, focussed trade mark.
• Know your lawyer: Working with a trusted lawyer or trade mark attorney will help you to get the most out of your trade mark.

Protecting your content, artwork,and photos:

Content, artwork and photographs are primarily protected by copyright. Protecting content, artwork and photographs online can be difficult. You may remember the outcry over Instagram’s change to their terms and conditions which gave them much wider rights over user photographs than many thought appropriate. If not, check it out here. Copying is often key to infringing copyright. It is impossible to stop someone from copying your work, but you can take some practical steps to reduce the risk. Here are some,

• Know when you created the work and be able to prove it, for example by emailing it to yourself.
• Use a © notice to warn other people that something is your work, for example, “© 2013, Waterfront Solicitors LLP. All rights reserved”.
• Watermark any images, or use other methods to make it harder for people to copy the image, such as blocking right-clicking.
• The length of copyright and any registration processes will vary from place to place, so check with a local lawyer if you are unsure.

Protecting your software code, personal or open source:

Under some limited circumstances, you can get patent protection for software. This is something that you may want to look into if you are doing something new and inventive. However, generally, copyright will protect software. There are three main types of software,

1. Software you own: you have done the physical coding.
2. Commissioned: you have commissioned a developer to do the coding.
3. Free or open source (FOSS): you have neither developed it nor commissioned it, but it is available for you to use without charge.

You need to know the licence terms to make the most of your software. What can the user do with the software?

• If you are licensing software to users: clarity matters. If there are restrictions on use, for example, if only registered users are allowed to use the software you should make this clear.
• If you are using third party code: what are you able to do with it? For example are you able to use it for commercial purposes?

For absolute certainty and peace of mind, it’s best to talk to a local lawyer, who can help draft terms and conditions tailored to your needs.

Author Bio:

Chloe Taylor is a solicitor specialising in intellectual property at Waterfront Solicitors LLP in London, UK.

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Pros And Cons Of Spybot Search And Destroy Anti-Spyware Program

It wasn’t that long ago when the term spyware was an ambiguous term. This meant that the original anti-spyware companies such as Spybot and Ad-Aware had to educate the public on the subject. It is not clear which of the two companies designed the first complete anti-spyware program, but Spybot was definitely one of the first companies to do so. Since Spybot initially hit the scene they have spent a great deal of time in a dormant state. Until recently there was not a great deal of evolution associated with the Spybot program.

Now, Spybot has introduced Search and Destroy which claims to detect and destroy malware, spyware, adware and rootkits. Unfortunately, this new version does very little to live up to the hype.

Benefits:

Honestly, the benefits are minimal. One benefit is that private users can download the program and use it for free. The thing is that there are some exceptional free protection programs on the market that simply blow the doors off of this program. There is a version that costs $13.99, but it is basic and only removes tag screens. The professional version is $24.99. The professional version does get you access to the protective repair environment which also allows you to generate rescue disks. The core protection format is basically the same as the base program.

The installation process is hassle free, in fact in comparison to many similar programs, Spybot fared well in this category.

The Down Side:

For a company that played a role in revolutionizing the way computers are protecting from dangerous programs such as malware and spyware, Spybot fails miserably in its claim to deliver a simple product that will search out, detect and destroy destructive programs.

First of all, simple is not necessarly a word that could be used to describe the user interface used for this program. One of the problems is that the same interface is used for all versions of the program, so when the basic program is in use the buttons and functions associated with the advanced program are shown, but they are not functional. This can be frustrating for a basic or inexperienced user.

Another problem with this program is that once a scan has been completed the program will delete system files that are not contaminated.

As far as actual malware removal, the program performed miserably. The system lacks precision in the criteria that is used to detect malware and spyware. In tests ran on the program it only detected an average of 32 percent of malware samples that were present on the test computer. To exacerbate the matter, the program had an extremely difficult time removing them.

The Bottom Line:

The program does very little to follow through on its promise or live up to its name. For the purpose that it was designed for the program is basically useless. Even as a freeware in the personal version, it bears no value because there are numerous free programs that are much more effective.

Author Bio:

Louis Rossmann is a straight shooting tech guy who specializes in repair and LCD replacement. Contact him through his Rossmann Group website.

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Need A Hand With Cyber Security?

Story So Far:

Cyber space, it’s growing year on year. There appears to be a never-ending rush to commit more and more of our lives to this online reality we know as the web. Never before have the hackers and cyber criminals had such an extensive playground to launch their threats and exploits against. How pathetic now does the release of Brain (the first known computer virus that spread in the real world) look? Since 1986 we have been under constant attack.

Our response in developing anti-virus software was flawed. Why did we need to identify and name viruses? What we should have done was to block them. It would have been so easy back then. In those early days viruses were “boot viruses” they infected both floppy disk and hard disk boot sectors. We could have blocked them generically without the need to identify them. In fact one product I know of Disknet actually did just that! It’s a pity more people didn’t get to learn of that product quick enough. Who knows the problem of viruses may not have proliferated. Unfortunately the route we took pandered to the virus writer’s ego. “Just look how far and wide my latest virus has spread. Think you can catch this one? Well maybe not the next one.”

Hacking and cyber criminal activity took on a new life. Organised gangs got to work in the field, much safer than breaking into a bank with shotguns, just steal your fortune online.As you would expect our response was to slam the network door firmly closed.“Lock” down the user, limiting their ability to work effectively and thus making so many computer users lives a misery.

An Enlightened Approach:

As we move further into the second millennium we are beginning to fight back in a more enlightened intelligent way. We now understand that to make our responses effective to the myriad of threats posed we have to deploy more intelligent systems and approaches that do not force the user to change the way they work or to impose too onerous steps to steer the user from insecure to secure.

Who’s Advising You?

How can we tap into this new-enlightened way of responding to the threat? So often new trends and ways of doing things are untested and postulated by people and companies with very short track records. We must make sure we are talking to the experts when advice is sort out. Who advises your company on IT security? What qualifications do they have? This can be a minefield! Where should we turn to get sound advice without the techno baffle and BS? I’m going to let you into a secret… One that’s been kept very well over the years, but it’s a resource we can all use and trust.

Best Kept Secret:

Ever herd of CESG? No… Well let me enlighten you. CESG is the UK’s national technical authority for information assurance. If you hadn’t herd of them it’s not surprising since there business is keeping information secure. As part of GCHQ, which you probably have herd of, they can trace their lineage back to the code breakers of World War II and beyond. Now how does that help us with our cyber security issues? Well from their website www.cesg.gov.uk you can gain a wealth of information that will be useful to you, everything from tested and certified security products to policy documents and security consultants.

Next Step:

If you require a hand with the next step, since digesting all of this information can be very time consuming, you may consider using an accredited consultancy and supplier of IT security products.

Author Bio:

Visit http://www.softbox.co.uk/cybersecurity for more cyber security news, information and products.

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How Does A Computer System Generate So Much Heat?

It is arguably the most commonly known law of physics, that heat is produced by motion. The motion of atoms and molecules constantly moving together creates heat and this takes place in absolutely everything in this world. One of the most apparent examples of motion creating heat in the modern age is when we look at computer systems.

Internal fans:

For those who do not know a lot about electronic goods the constant humming noise of a desktop computer of a Playstation games console is an annoyance that will never be fully understood. The simple explanation is that these types of electrical devices rely on internal fans in order to prevent their internal moving parts from creating too much heat for the device to carry on work or much much worse to create so much heat it starts a fire.

Problems with large systems:

The small scale example of a laptop or of a domestic computer is one that can be related to by most people and gives a good indication of the problem and how manufacturers go about combating the problem. However, the real problems lie when you take into consideration a large commercial sized computer system that is required to power the database for an entire office block or to provide the internet for a business of endless size, of which there are thousands around the world.

The problem with these computer systems is that they incorporate hundreds of different devices that are required to be kept close together in order to do the job that they are designed to do. In fact, in the majority of data centres these individual devices are stacked on top of each other, both to save space in the building and also to save costs and resources spent on wires and extensions.

How to reduce excessive heat:

The big problem with this is that it is not only a large collection of devices all producing their own heat in an enclosed space, which creates a lot of heat, but having them all together in such a tight space means there is nowhere for the heat to go. The key to reducing the heat produced by a device is to ensure that it has enough space in which to disperse. A good example of this is next time that you use your Playstation cover up the fan and you will soon see that it will quickly begin to make a louder and louder sound. This is an indication of the fan trying harder to disperse the heat by increasing the RPM of the blades as it has nowhere to move the heat to.

In data centres there is a solution to the problem that in its own confusing and incoherent way adds heat to the system. Data centre cooling systems are in the own way devices that produce heat which is added to the mix; however they are designed to displace the heat of the other devices using fans. This works well enough at the moment to keep these kinds of systems working but soon it will be time for a new development to come into play. All indications so far point towards water aided cooling to be the future of the technology.

Image Credit: Flickr.

Author Bio:

Guest post contributed by Jay Simmons, a technology geek working as a computer engineer involved in UK data centre building for dedicated server storage for businesses & clients. A regular blogger around computer education, from simple things you might not have known, to more complex computer based education.

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Reviews Of New Internet Security Tools

Author Bio: This review of new Internet security tools is brought to you by Helen Wallis on behalf of London based IT Support firm Cheeky Munkey, who provide IT services including IT outsourcing, hosting, cloud services, VoIP or Web filtering.

It is beneficial to have an internet security tool that prevents keyloggers from being able to see what you are typing.

If it is coming up to the expiry date of your current internet security tool(s), then you have one of two choices, renew or replace. If you are not satisfied with your current internet security tool(s), then you may want to consider trying out one of the three security suites we have reviewed below.

Panda Internet Security 2013:

Panda Internet Security 2013 claims to offer protection against internet threats, giving you and your family peace of mind when using the internet to browse, shop and interact. The security suite provides protection against viruses, online fraud, identify theft and spam.

Pros:
The best feature of the 2013 security package is its private data protection browser. You can use it with either Internet Explorer or Firefox. This browser tool runs on a separate network to your PC and is free from website history so that you can enjoy private browsing. This is particularly useful for those who regularly use their credit or debit cards to shop online.

Panda Internet Security 2013 is also fantastic for cleaning up malware, blocking unsafe URLS and preventing USB-based spyware attacks.

Cons:
This internet security tool is let down by the fact it fails to offer encryption and shredding features. In order to obtain these features you have to upgrade to the global package. The software is also missing a tool for vetting social media websites, which is something expected from most modern day internet security tools.

Final thoughts…
Panda Internet Security 2013 offers a light, fast and complete security solution, however it is still considered to be fairly basic. Although it offers a wide range of features and uses modern cloud based technology to offer extensive protection, there are still necessary features missing which prevent it from being a high ranking security package.

Kaspersky Internet Security 2013:

Kaspersky have been producing security software since the nineties. Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 is a mid-level product that covers all of the key bases well. It has a wide range of features including anti-virus, anti-spam and anti-phishing tools as well as extensive parental control and an intelligent firewall.



Pros:
This internet security tool has the added benefit of the ‘Safe Money’ feature. This enforces a secure browser when you are online banking or using your card details to make a purchase. It uses a virtual keyboard to encrypt the keys you press so that people trying to keyLog cannot record your actions.

Kaspersky 2013 also provides better parental control than most other suites on the market today. Parents can easily set up restrictions and block websites giving them the peace of mind that their children are safe whilst browsing the internet.

Cons:
Although Kaspersky’s malware clean-up is very effective, the process does take a long time. Many people have also found that the tool slightly slows down the overall performance of their computer systems.

Final thoughts…
Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 is a brilliant package to own. It has everything you need and is competent across all areas including phishing and spam protection. The new ‘Safe Money’ feature is a fantastic addition and perfect for protecting your details whilst you complete online financial transactions.

AVG Internet Security 2013:

The AVG Internet Security suite for 2013 provides all of the features you would expect from an average security package. From the looks of things it has had a makeover and is now adorned with pretty colourful tiles which have been optimised for touch screen operation. The question is whether or not the company has channelled all of their efforts into the security tool’s aesthetics, rather than its features?

Pros:
AVG Internet Security is a fantastic anti-virus tool and has the added benefit of a do not track feature, which is great for private browsing. The spam filter is exceptionally effective and the online shield is competent at blocking dangerous websites. Overall it is a great all-rounder.

Cons:
If you are looking to install security software on a device that is already affected by malware, then the AVG Internet Security 2013 tool probably isn’t your best choice. Many people have found installation to be tricky on infected devices.

Another issue is the software’s firewall. Although it is competent at doing its job, it can be easily disabled. This is a re-occurring mistake of many internet security tools.

Final thoughts:

The AVG Internet Security suite provides a fantastic antivirus tool, but you could also argue that the free version of the software does too. The standout feature is definitely the spam filter, which out performs many other versions.

Conclusion:

The three internet security tools we have reviewed are great all-rounders, each with strengths in different areas. If you have had a good experience using one brand over another, then it is likely you will stick to what you know. However if you are looking to try one of these three internet security packages for the first time then we would recommend Kaspersky Internet Security 2013 over the other two tools. It benefits from having the stand out ‘virtual keyboard’ feature which is very beneficial to those who shop or bank online. 


Image credits: Robbert van der Steeg&david.orban.

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Why Recycling Your Old Laptop Is Important?

In a fast-moving world such as technology, computers become outdated quickly and the need to dispose of them properly becomes more and more important. Figures from United Nations show that around 50 million metric tonnes of electrical waste is accumulated around the world every year.

Regardless of how much landfill space they can take up, computers contain hazardous chemicals such as lead oxide, mercury, nickel, zinc and cadmium. If these toxins and other heavy metals end up in landfill rather than a recycling centre, they can cause soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife. For example, cadmium can damage organisms in the soil which then affects the breakdown of organic matter. The substance has also been known to kill fish, which reduces their numbers.

At the same time as being a reason to produce laptops using less hazardous materials, it is a big reason to make sure your laptop is disposed of correctly when no longer needed.

What is computer recycling?

Laptop recycling is the process of either refurbishing a unwanted device or harvesting it for parts that can be of use elsewhere. Unwanted items can either be sent to a refurbishing business, a specialist recycling service or, if still in good working order, donated to schools and clubs in your area. Recycling can be as simple as donating to friends and family.

If the laptop is nearing the end of its life, be careful when donating to charity – it can prove a headache if they are left with, and have to dispose of, a non-functioning laptop.

At a recycling facility, the computer will be taken apart and its metals and plastics recycled where possible. Harmful materials will then be disposed of in the correct manner.

Recommended for you: Why Computers Recycling In Areas Should Be Done?

What are the benefits of recycling?

As mentioned earlier, proper disposal of unwanted electrical items avoids them unnecessarily clogging up landfill space and protects the environment. If you are donating you can also allow other people to buy laptops at an affordable price.

Many refurbishing companies give their revamped computers to school systems, correctional facilities and charity programs which allows the less fortunate to learn how to use them to prepare for their future.

What’s in my laptop?

There are some very valuable things that go into making a laptop; engineered plastics, steel, copper, aluminium and precious metals like gold, platinum and palladium. The recycling process attempts to recover these for use elsewhere once the device has reached the end of its life. In 2009, only an estimated 38 per cent of computers thrown away were recycled properly. The remainder end up in landfills where these materials are no longer available for reuse in the manufacturing of new products.

Often, the company you buy your laptop from will offer a free return service – ask before you buy. If this is not an option, your local council may run a scheme. For more details, go to the Environment Agency Website or contact your local authority. Whichever method you choose, make sure all of your personal data has been wiped from the machine before you give it away.

Image Credit: Flickr.

Author Bio:

Guest post contributed by Simon Jones. A technology geek who loves to give hints & tips when it comes to technology, not just using it, but also how to dispose of it correctly when the time comes, to help the environment. Simon also has a large knowledge of Business Software - BT Business Direct and helps people in business find the right software for their needs.

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Do Password Strength Meters Actually Work?

Password strength meters are helpful in some cases, but are not always used effectively.

Consumers who frequently access websites are sometimes prompted by strength meters to improve their password security. A new study conducted by the University of California at Berkeley, Microsoft and the University of British Columbia indicated that these systems can be effective if they are established properly.

Serge Egelman, a research scientist at UC Berkeley, told ArsTechnica that people are more likely to enter passwords they have previously used when asked by strength meters to change their credentials. This is often the case for new accounts or ones that are not of great importance to consumers.

"Whereas we show that in a different context - when changing passwords for high-value accounts - then the meters actually do have an observable effect on behavior in that people do choose stronger passwords," Egelman told the news source. "And ironically that's the context where we're least likely to see real meters in real life."

Password strength meters are a good reminder that online security is necessary for anyone accessing important accounts through the Internet. Consumers who neglect such protection may experience major problems such as identity theft if hackers obtain this valuable information.

Rather than only generating strong passwords when reminded, people can use effective tools like a password manager to keep all of their accounts protected with complex and hard-to-crack passwords. These solutions constantly generate new credentials so users always have the latest safeguards for their websites.

Another great aspect of password managers is that they remove the burden from consumers who are constantly tasked with remembering a dozen or more unique credentials. Sometimes people decide to use the same passwords for all of their accounts because it is easy to do so, but this approach invites trouble if hackers know this particular phrase.

Password strength meters are helpful in some cases, but are not always used effectively.

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Factors That Affect Your Broadband Speed

The speed of broadband delivered to us is measured in megabytes per second (Mbps). Various websites offer free speed checks for your system. The Mbps you receive depends on the area where you live, and on what your internet service provider (isp) can deliver.

Broadband Types:

If your broadband signal is carried over a standard telephone line using copper wire – ADSL broadband – its speed depends on the distance you are from the nearest telephone exchange. The shorter the distance, the faster the Mbps you can receive. If your isp delivers broadband carried over high quality fibre wires – Fibre broadband – it will not be affected by the distance from the telephone exchange.

Fibre broadband therefore offers higher speeds, so of course, it costs more than ADSL broadband. In the UK is offered by several isps, such as Virgin Media, Everything Everywhere, and BT, although the latter still uses copper wire locally, which can reduce the Mbps.

Satellite broadband is only normally used where the other options are not available, such as some areas Wales. This is complicated and expensive to set up: you need to buy a satellite dish and a satmodem to receive the signal. Monthly costs are also relatively high.

Recommended: Free Softwares To Increase Your Internet Speed!

The UK’s Code of Practice:

Most isps in the UK follow a voluntary Code of Practice, under which they give you an estimate of the maximum broadband speed they can offer for the package you are thinking of buying. If they have another package that should help, they should offer it to you if you find that the Mbps you actually get is much slower than their original estimate. The code also stipulates that they must explain the factors that affect speed and give advice where needed.

What Makes a Difference:

Apart from the distance from the exchange, for ADSL broadband, most will mention the complexity of your telephone wiring system and whether you have installed your broadband microfilters correctly.

For all types of broadband, the Mbps you experience can be reduced by:

1. Using it in peak time when there is more traffic on it.
2. The speed of the websites you visit.
3. Running spyware, anti malware or some virus protection systems.
4. The processing speed of your computer and router, and their connection.
5. Running more than one computer or mobile devices that must share the connection.

ADSL broadband is likely to be slower in rural areas which are probably further from telephone exchanges than towns. Because they are more sparsely populated though, they might have the advantage of coping with less broadband traffic.

Broadband speed is never consistent. The factors mentioned above will affect it at different times of the day, so if you check the Mbps first thing or mid-morning, it’s not likely to be the same in the evening when many home users are going online after work.

If you are not happy with your broadband speed you may be able to change to a faster supplier. Just time it right so that you don’t incur penalties for leaving your current isp before the end of a contract.

Author Bio:

The author of this article Jane Richards believes that broadband speed issues can best be solved by approaching the broadband providers.

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Protecting Your Data Before It’s Too Late

Some data is particularly sensitive and if it gets into the wrong hands, the consequences can be dire. However, even if data doesn’t fall under prying eyes, the results can be troubling nonetheless if you need to keep hold of the data for any reason. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to ensure that your data doesn’t get lost forever and to prevent it being accessed by the wrong people.

Back Up Repeatedly:

One of the best ways to ensure that you don’t lose your data forever is to Back It up. Backing up your data is now arguably easier than ever, and today’s external hard drives can enable you to send vast swathes of content from your computer to another device in no time at all. Backing up your data regularly is a must – especially if you are constantly creating new content.

It’s also wise to store your backed-up data on another site if possible, should an event such as a fire or a break-in occur at your property. Today, the easiest way to do this is through Cloud Computing. There are many services offering you the chance to save your data to the cloud – though it’s a good idea to ensure that you choose a well-known service that you feel you can trust.

If your backed-up data is kept on the same site as your main computer, that could disappear too. Cloud computing services are now allowing you to store more in the cloud for less money, meaning that you can protect vast amounts of data for a modest fee.

Fight Off Viruses:

Data security can be compromised by viruses, which makes it extremely important to be vigilant when opening e-mail attachments. You should therefore ensure that all e-mail attachments are scanned by anti-virus services before you open them.

Meanwhile, if you do decide to back up your data to an external physical hard drive for document storage, whetheras well as or instead of using cloud computing, you should always look for a much bigger capacity than you currently need. For instance, if you have 500GB of data to back up, it’s a wise move to invest in a 1TB drive – or an even bigger external option – to cater for any more data that you may need to store in the future. If your computer supports USB 3.0 transfers, you should be able to send a huge amount of data to a USB 3.0 hard drive in no time.

A Tougher Document Management Service:

As many security breaches can occur when security levels are not tight enough, it’s essential that you take advantage of any anti-virus software updates that may be available. If possible, you should ensure that these are downloaded automatically as soon as they are offered to you. Meanwhile, you should also change your passwords regularly and partake in document shredding from your local document management service in order to stay one step ahead of the data thieves.

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10 Easy Steps To Configuring An Internet Answering Machine

An online answering machine works just like a regular answering device. The only divergence is that you have to connect your phone to the computer instead of a traditional answering device. The online answering works on both dial-up and broadband connections and ensures that you do not miss any call. The answering software allows you to listen to messages as and when they are being recorded, and also download other messages and listen to them much later.

Here are step-by-step instructions that will help you install and setup online answering software:

1. Before downloading and installing the software, do check if your computer has the necessary space and memory, and the appropriate modem. You will need a voice modem – space and memory should not be a constraint.
2. Before buying any software, download the trial version and test it. It must be easy to use and you should take a liking to it before buying it. Most answering software companies offer a free trial, and you should try 3-4 different software before zeroing on to one.
3. After choosing convenient answering software, you should buy and download it. Save the exe file in a folder of your choice.
4. Remove the line cord from your telephone and connect it to the modem port in your computer. The other end should be plugged into the wall jack. Connect the telephone line to your modem. If you need clarity on this step, talk to customer support of the online answering software vendor.
5. Now, install the answering software. Install it as recommended in its manual or as per directions printed on the installation screens.
6. You have to now configure the software based on your preferences – For example: set the number of rings that should be allowed before the software answers the phone, set the silence detector and the toll saver features. You also should configure the recording time limit for messages. Check all the other features in the software and set them up as per your requirements.
7. Next, set up one or many mailboxes to record a greeting message. You can record multiple messages – one each for every mailbox. Many software tools have a feature that allows you to record a special greeting for a few phone numbers of your choice.
8. To stop unauthorized people from accessing your messages, you must setup a password. Note down the password in your diary. Remember, you can even access your messages remotely.
9. If you are the type of guy who gets very important messages all the time, then you should enable email forwarding of messages. That way every message will be forwarded to your email inbox.
10. If you want to be alerted every time a new message rolls in, then you have to configure the appropriate alert option.

Finally, do not install an Internet answering machine without equipping your computer with a robust firewall and antivirus programs. You don’t want people hacking into your computer and stealing your precious data, including the important messages in your mailboxes.

Author Bio:

Roger A. Delatorre is a blogger from Minneapolis, MN who recommends checking out MaxEmail for a simple solution for an internet answering machine.

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Are You Using The Internet Efficiently Time-Wise?

Creative Commons image source.

If you’re reading this, you’re most likely sitting on your computer and looking for things to do. A few years ago, Nielsen and the Pew Center released a graphic to show how people use the internet and for the most part, internet users spent their time viewing content. Fourty-Two percent of their time was spent viewing text, images and video. In second, came email and commerce with 36%. Finally, in third place was social networking at 22%. Now if we were talking about today, with the emergence of social media as a must-stop for most internet users, the percentage of time spent using social media has most likely gone up.

Given these numbers, some may question whether or not we’re using our time as wisely as we should be. The Internet offers people a number of things to do, and sometimes those things can actually be useful. While social media can certainly provide quality information, many of us sometimes go through a social media rabbit hole. You go on to Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest and seemingly lose track of time as you go through all of your friends’ profiles. Then you look up at the clock and realize you’ve spent hours on your computer. Wouldn’t you like to use the internet to learn a skill you’ve always wanted? Here are some of the many options out there:

Teach yourself code in 8 weeks:

While you might not be able to work for Facebook as a senior programmer, Lifehacker does show you that it’s possible to learn basic coding in as little as 8 weeks. In this particular post, the author gives the reader a step by step guide for what he did to learn Python. Google offers a free class with detailed instructions and video as well as exercises to get the basics down. From there, there are a variety of courses and guides you can use to build your very own prototype.

Teach yourself guitar without ever leaving the house:

If you have a fear of meeting with an instructor in person, but you still want to learn the guitar for your own personal endeavors, it’s possible to learn to play the guitar online. Look into live music tutors who guide you through the basics and will be there each step of the way as you improve on your instrument of choice. Even if you’re a beginner who just wants a working knowledge of playing the guitar or you’re an experienced guitarist who just wants to learn a new song, a live music tutor can help. And the best part is: all you need is a webcam and WIFI connection.

Go to Yale without paying the tuition:

If you love to learn for learning’s sake to expand your mind, Yale University offers a few free courses as part of its Open Yale Courses program. You can access these courses online through iTunes, YouTube or Yale’s website; and there are a variety of courses to choose from, including Milton, the American Novel-Post 1945, and a philosophical look on Death.

Author Bio:

Kay Kissinger is a writer who stronger believes we can benefit from the interenet.

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Hacking And Cracking: What's The Difference?

In the field of cyber security, there are two distinct groups of individuals, hackers and crackers. A person will ultimately be classified as either one or the other depending on their particular intentions; however there are different skill sets and subgroups typically associated with each title. To help differentiate, below is a breakdown of hackers, crackers and everything in between so you can gain a better idea of who is responsible when a cyber security breach occurs.

Hackers:

The term “hacker” typically refers to individuals who seek to fully understand how computers and network systems function in order to gain in-depth knowledge and perform a precise exploit of vulnerabilities.

These experts in computer security tend to have non-malicious intentions and thus have become colloquially known as “white hat” hackers. White hat hackers engage in ethical hacking, which consists of lawfully breaking into systems for the purpose of exposing security flaws. They either seek to improve the protection of their own security systems or they are hired by organizations to perform this service. In order to do this, the hackers will initiate assessments of the company’s security system by attempting to penetrate it. If the hacker is successful during penetration tests, they are generally responsible for reporting the issue and developing a solution to prevent the same kind of security breach from occurring maliciously in the future. Companies often hire individuals to test for these vulnerabilities instead of leaving possible holes in their security systems open to attack by malicious hackers, commonly referred to as “crackers.”

Crackers:

The title of a “cracker” has gained much controversy over the past few years in regards to its malicious connotation and the reputation these individuals have gained throughout the cyber security community.

Hackers often make the argument that crackers are less knowledgeable of computer systems and lack originality in their work, which is true to an extent. Crackers are motivated solely by personal gain and are not concerned with learning the ins and outs of computer systems as much as their counterparts. Additionally, the fact of the matter is that crackers do not need to follow ethical guidelines; they simply need to exploit the system. The primary goal of a cracker is either to obtain valuable information that will lead to personal gain or to cause mischief for organizations simply because they are capable of it. Regardless of their motives, the malicious intention of these crackers has led to them being labeled as computer criminals, or “black hat” hackers. They may choose their victims randomly or target specific organizations based on profitability and other interests, but the end goal is always for their personal gain never as an ethical profession. These crackers are often caught for their malicious acts because they are not cautious or mindful of the protections that have been put in place by a business’ white hat hackers. Businesses with secure networks will hire ethical hackers to establish a honeypot, which is essentially a trap used to detect and counteract unauthorized breaches by the black hat community.

Grey Hat Hacking:

The term “grey hat” is used as a combination of white hat and black hat because it refers to hackers that engage in both hacking and cracking. While they may break into computer systems for the purpose of making a profit, their intentions are not entirely malicious. The grey hat hacker may have to perform illegal actions in order to test a system for vulnerabilities and make the necessary improvements. A possible scenario for a grey hat hacker could be breaching the security system of a company and then notifying them of the vulnerability in hopes of receiving a payment to improve the system. These tactics are seen as questionable in the hacking community, but in the end they result in a positive outcome for the hacker and improved security measures for the involved organization.

Author Bio:

Andrew works for a cyber security training company named Phoenix TS based in Columbia, MD.

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5 Strategies To Fight Anonymous DDoS Attacks

Img.Credit:chanpipat

There are lots of ways to protect your site against spammers and other folks who generally do not do nice things online. You are not safe online, and you should remember it all the time. However, if you can protect yourself against spammers, often you’re helpless when your site is under DDoS attack. By the way, do not feel guilty for not being able to protect it. Such companies as eBay or the US government sites used to be victims of hackers and they were also helpless for some time, although they had enough money and resources to hire the best engineers to deal with the attacks.

Of course, you have to bear in mind that DDoS attacks can be so big and intense that you will need much resources to stop them. If 200k computers are trying to connect to your site all at once, there is no hardware and software that can handle it. Yet, there are a few little secrets that will help you fight anonymous DDoS attacks.

1.) There are no invulnerable sites:

In fact, if you think that only government sites are hit by Anonymous group, you are mistaken. Sure, they target mostly government sites of countries they don’t like. However, recently sites of New Zealand government were hit. Can you say anything controversial about New Zealand? So, your site might well be a target for such attacks. Be prepared for the worst.

2.) DDoS attacks are better to stop at the initial stages:

As a rule, site owners do not do much at first. They just wait for the site to go down and then start complaining. What you should do is to implement the best practices in the industry to protect your site, network, any additional services, such as DNS. Don’t wait until hackers destroy your site.

3.) Identify the bottleneck of the attack:

There should be a part of your network which is most vulnerable. Hackers use it to assault your site. These weak areas may include a firewall, a server, an Internet pipeline, a security system, a load balancer or a SQL server. Any of these elements of your network can be vulnerable to attacks. So, identification of where the attack comes from will certainly help you ‘stand and fight’. Some experts recommend slowhttptest tool to stop DDoS attacks. You can also configure your server to allow only 1k requests at once.

4.) Monitor your network:

Yes, you have to see what’s happening in your network, especially if your site is a part of a large corporate network. Sometimes, you may just block your network to be access from the Internet and analyze the attack. Sure, this is not the best solution, but this will give you a few extra hours to handle the attack.

5.) Cooperate with your ISP and a hosting company:

Yes, this is the best decision to make. Call your ISP, and make sure they are aware of the problem. Reliable ISPs and hosting providers have enough resources to deal with DDoS attacks, of course, if they are not too big. It is fair to say that if your site has become a target for Anonymous you will have problems.

Author Bio:

Aleksey is an independent consultant in matters of the Internet security and data protection. He personally oversees a dozen of sites for small and mid sized companies, as well as cooperates with such services as http://www.vistnet.com.

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6 Online Tools To Enhance Your Jobsearch

With the proliferation of computing and internet technology, searching for a job has changed quite a bit. With all the new technology software coming out, and mobile devices and apps becoming more popular, it is hard to keep up with the latest tools, techniques and best practices for finding a job. Knowing and having the right tools for the job can make all the difference, and the saying also applies to job searching. Below are the 6 online resources you can use to enhance your job search.

1.) Google Docs:

Nowadays, it is important to utilize technology to enhance your opportunities and acquire any advantage possible. Collaboration is an important part of this process. Using document collaboration software, like Google Docs, can help you work with others on creating and editing your resume. With Google Docs, you can easily give access to your resume to other users you have invited to edit your document. This is much easier than emailing a bunch of files to different people.

2.) Indeed:

Once your resume is done, you can begin your job search, but instead of searching several different job sites all day long, you can use Indeed.com to make searching easier. Indeed aggregates job openings from a myriad of websites, employer sites, newspapers, social networks and more. They have a very large following and have even surpassed Monster.com in terms of unique visitors. Their site also allows you to post your resume for employers to find on Indeed.

3.) Simply Hired:

SimplyHired is another great job aggregation platform.With SimplyHired, you can create job searches and have a list of openings sent to your inbox. The list will consist of job openings from several major job boards, and will link directly to the job posting. This saves you time and energy, and the site allows you to create multiple searches.

4.) Facebook:

A great way to network and find out about open positions is by using Facebook. Facebook not only lets you stay in contact with friends and family, but it is a great way to network with people in your industry. In addition, you can also stay in contact with businesses that have pages on Facebook. This will allow you to keep tabs on whether they may be hiring, expanding or developing new products that may require more staff.

5.) LinkedIn:

LinkedIn is designed for professional networking and advancement. It is crucial to have a profile on LinkedIn and utilize it to search for people, companies and jobs. In addition, you can write articles and posts to allow other to see your expertise in a particular area. There are also many discussion and forums where you can continue to network and grow, many of these are moderated by recruiters and businesses.

6.) Job Boards:

Although Simply Hired aggregates job openings from several job boards and sends them to your inbox, it does not help employers find you. Therefore, it is important to post your more relevant and up to date resume on these job boards so employers and recruiters who are looking for candidates can find you.

Author Bio:

This article was written by Dominic Slaters, a tech oriented talent manager. He recommends that you visit Joblist South Africa, an online resource for jobs search in South Africa

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Attributes Of A Great Web Browser For Students

Img.Credit:freedigitalphotos

Getting work done as a student involves constant research and a reliable web browser. Let's go over the attributes of a great web browser for students.

While many students first work with Internet Explorer when they are younger, other choices may prove more appealing. Recently, web browsers such as Chrome , TorchBrowser, and Firefox have gained broad audiences. Additional choices for mobile use mean students can continue working away from laptops and desktop computers.

A great web browser should make the basic functions easy to handle. Downloads should be a snap to start and they should be quick to locate once completed. Ideally, a user should be able to enable a master password to protect user names and passwords for websites. Keyboard shortcuts that aren't complicated make work flow faster for research throughout the day.

Tab Management:

The ability to manage tabs is another important factor for students. Researching a paper can involve the use of multiple tabs during a browsing session. Firefox's ability to make tab groups as separate sections is a plus.

Speed is an essential attribute as well. A student can't waste time waiting for a browser to load forever. Loading pages, even with multiple tabs open, shouldn't take longer than a few seconds. Gregg Keizer of Computerworld notes that Google recently added a speed boost to the latest version of Chrome. Another useful tool is a speed dial feature like the one in Opera. The speed dial displays a user's favorite sites on opening the browser.

Synchronization:

Synchronizing browsers between different computers is a must-have feature for students. This is useful if commuting between school and home or working on a lab partner's computer. It's also handy if one switches between operating systems like a Mac at school and a Windows PC at home. Firefox Sync allows a student to share passwords, tabs, history and bookmarks between various computers. A user signing into a Google account on Chrome can opt for synchronizing too.

Mobile browsers allow students to learn in the library, to learn right outside of class or to learn on the go. A mobile browser should be robust and able to open a student's essential websites properly. It should also let a user switch between an iPad, a smartphone and a laptop seamlessly. Mobile versions of Chrome and Firefox are available. Opera is installed on many mobile devices. Dolphin is another useful mobile browser for tablets and smartphones.

Customization:

Extensions and add-ons bring useful features to a web browser. A great web browser should have a broad range of extensions and add-ons with helpful user reviews. Look for extensions and add-ons that enhance research and improve social networking. Others can block websites when students don't want to be distracted or check for grammar errors.

Students should also check into a web browser's privacy features,

• If sharing a computer, it should be easy to sign out of a web browser.
• Erasing cookies and browsing history should be fast.
• Anonymous tabs and windows should be quick to implement.

Everyone loves to personalize their computers and mobile devices. A web browser can be just as eye-catching with customized themes featuring colorful graphics and art. The web browser should allow users to easily customize fonts and background colors as well.

Selecting the right web browser can contribute to a student's productivity. Look over the attributes of a great web browser for students to find a good fit.

Author Bio:

Sarah Anderson is guiding users of all ages how to use TorchBrowser.com to download torrent files. A youthful face for web browsing and downloading in the hi-tech world.

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Reasons You Would Need To Convert Wma To Mp3

WMA and MP3 files are very similar because they sound nearly the same in terms of quality, are both relatively small files and they only support audio information. At the same time, there are many reasons why you should convert a WMA into an MP3. This is especially true if you aren’t running the Windows OS or if you enjoy using mobile technology.

Apple Computers:

The Apple OS has exponentially increased in popularity due to the iPhone, iPod and iPad. While WMAs can be used on an Apple computer, it can be fairly difficult. This is because this OS is not natively meant to use these files since they were made for a Windows environment. You can get around this by using a special Mac WMA player, but the player just temporarily converts the WMA into a suitable format for the Mac. This means that you often need to wait a few seconds for this temporary conversion to finish before the file will play.

It’s much easier to play MP3 files within an Apple environment. QuickTime easily supports these files and you don’t need any special software.

Mobile Devices:

While there are some mobile devices that can play WMA files, mostly Windows devices, the vast majority of tablets and smartphones are meant to work with MP3s. This is often because MP3 files are somewhat easier to play and they have become very popular due to overwhelming support from many Apple mobile devices. MP3s also don’t have a security protocol, which means that the programs needed to play them are much easier to build when compared to making a WMA player.

If you have an Apple, Android or BlackBerry device, then it’s a good idea to convert your WMAs into MP3s. It’s a good idea to convert the files into MP3s anyway because every mobile device, even Windows ones, support MP3 files due to their popularity.

Smaller Footprint:

Though they are both relatively small formats that don’t require much memory, MP3s are often smaller than WMAs. Not only that, but their quality is similar in most situations. There’s no reason to use WMAs if space is an issue. You can often reduce your media library by about 50MB to 100MB by converting your files, depending on how large your media library is.

The reason why MP3s are smaller is because they disregard inaudible noise. WMAs will keep this information in the file, but MP3s will erase it so that the file has to support less overall data.

Somewhat Better Quality:

While both of these formats are similar when it comes to quality, many people consider MP3s slightly better. This is usually the case if the file is set to a moderate or high bit rate. Some people can’t tell the difference, but many audiophiles agree that MP3s are superior to WMAs.

The only time when this is different is if the bit rate is set very low. WMAs tend to be better in this scenario, but the difference is slight.

iTunes Support:

Many people love using iTunes even if they don’t have an Apple device because this makes it very easy to manage your media library. While there are other interfaces that offer similar functions and capabilities, few programs have been able to rival iTunes in terms of popularity and overall support. The problem is that iTunes is fairly exclusive when it comes to file support.

iTunes will not accept WMA files. You must convert the audio files into MP3s if you want to add them to iTunes.

Versatility:

WMA files are not as versatile as MP3s. This isn’t because WMAs are inferior. It’s because MP3s have much more support. MP3 files can be used with many media library interfaces, mobile devices, editing programs and so on. WMAs are sometimes supported by these programs, but not as often as MP3s. If you want a file that is very versatile, then you need to convert your files into MP3s.

Conclusion:

While both formats are great and have their own advantages, many people consider the MP3 a superior format. This is because the files are usually smaller, sound better, work with most mobile devices and have more support. If you want all of these advantages, then just convert your WMA files. The entire process shouldn’t take long since most audio files are relatively small.

Author Bio:

Katelyn Roberts is a video and music blogger who use KoyoteSoft when creating videos and sharing them online. KoyoteSoft.com can convert wma to mp3 with ease.

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5 Data Backup & Disaster Recovery Tips

Backup your files on discs and be sure to store them in a secure location off-site.

Whether you own a large corporation or run a small business from home, it is essential that you are aware of the Importance of data backup and disaster recovery. Unfortunately you can never predict when disaster is going to strike in the work place. A disaster can be anything from system failure, to damage caused by a flood, fire or earthquake. Many businesses that experience a disaster never fully recover. Follow our simple tips below to ensure that your business does not become one of them.

1.) Primary back-up solutions:

Your customer database is one of your most valuable assets. Without it your business may not be able to function. This is why it is essential to make back-up copies of your database as well as other important files and information. Back-up copies can be made on disks, USB sticks and external hard drives. Understandably many business owners are wary of copies being made, especially of confidential data, so it is important that these copies are stored in a secure location off-site.

2.) Secondary back-up solutions:

Larger businesses will be able to store back-up copies of their files in an off-site data centre, but this is not an affordable option for many small to medium sized businesses. Instead why not Store your files on the cloud? This virtual form of storage, known as cloud computing, enables businesses to upload their files to a safe place on the internet. These files can be accessed remotely using a username and password.

Cloud computing is an affordable solution for small to medium sized businesses. Shop around to find the host offering the best price and be sure to check their terms and conditions. Using cloud storage will give you the peace of mind knowing that your files are safe, even if your physical IT infrastructure has been damaged.

3.) Use a virtual server:

A virtual server is capable of hosting a replica of your physical environment. It can be accessed remotely and often works out much cheaper than having a physical back-up server. If something unfortunate has happened to your workplace, you can simply access the virtual server within minutes from an off-site location.

4.) Create a data retention policy:

All businesses should have a data retention policy in place. This policy should inform your employees of the importance of backing up their data. It should tell them what data they need to back up, when they should do it and how it needs to be done. Business owners should schedule regular back-up sessions and appoint a member of their team to oversee it. If you fail to teach your staff the importance of backing up data, you may find that you are left with out of date copies of your files, which will not be of any worth to your business in the event of a disaster.

External hard drives are great for backing-up data but it is essential that they are kept in a secure location, especially if they contain confidential data.

5.) Test your plan:

It is important to create a disaster and recovery plan that is clear, concise and easy for your staff to follow. A step-by-step guide is always useful. Appoint a leader to oversee the whole procedure as you may be busy doing other things like contacting your insurance company.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to regularly test your plan. It would be no good to find out that your back-up copies do not work, or that you cannot gain access to your virtual server in the middle of a disaster. The more you test your plan, the less likely you are to face problems recovering your data, should disaster strike your workplace.

The key to successful data back-up and disaster recovery planning is to always plan for the worst. It is much better to spend time and money preparing for a disaster than to find that you are left with no resources to run your business if something unfortunate happens.

Author Bio:

Written by SAS London, digital agency based in the United Kingdom.

Image credits: bobbigmac&miss karen

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