As we have already seen in previous articles, the many flavors of Microsoft Windows store and keep system configurations in a database known as “registry”. The registry is basically the centralized control and storage of all the configuration data for the local computer. Windows continually uses and references the information contained in the registry while the computer is in operation.

Here, Windows system configuration, all hardware configurations, pointers to installed programs and references to the type of documents that these applications can create and read, not to mention users’ profiles and users’ preferences, are stored under predefined keys. Basically the registry is a hierarchical structure made of keys, sub-keys and named values. The Microsoft famous disclaimer not to edit the registry if inexperienced and to back it up if going down that path is universally known and it is the very reason why the registry has historically been considered “danger zone” by most Microsoft Windows users.

The registry, a part from being ubiquitous, even though it appears as a unique file, it is in fact, depending on your system configuration, stored in the systems under several different locations:

System Drive – Documents and Settings – User Name on Windows 2000 and XP
System Drive – Windows – System32 – Config. on Windows 2000 and XP
System Drive – Windows on Windows 95, 98, ME.
System Drive – Windows – Profiles on Windows 95, 98, ME.

The data is kept in system files generally known as “registry hives”. A registry hive is a logical group of keys, sub-keys, and values that has a set of supporting files containing backups of its data. Here is a list of the registry hives and respective supporting files.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG: System, System.alt, system.log, system.sav
HKEY_CURRENT_USER: NTuser.dat, NTuser.dat.log
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESAM: Sam, Sam.log, Sam.sav
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESecurity: Security, Security.log, Security.sav
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftware: Software, Software.log, Software.sav
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystem: System, System.alt, System.log, System.sav
HKEY_USERS.DEFAULT: Default, Default.log, Default.sav

One detail worth highlighting is that the Windows registry files cannot be manually backed up while the system is running. As per standard relational database operations, the registry files are blocked while the system is operational. This is to reinforce referential integrity and not allow data to be updated while other components of the system are using the same data. This is to avoid duplicate records and data corruption. The alternative offered by the operating system manufacturer is the use of the so called “System Restore” feature for registry back up. We will be talking about this feature specifically in a future article.

The other alternative is to use the registry editors we mentioned in previous articles: regedit.exe or regdt32.exe. By using the registry editor you will have the ability to export either full or partial copies of the registry while the system is running. The exported files can be then backed up by using any standard backup utility application. If a registry issue eventuates, the exported copies can be easily re-imported to restore the whole or just parts of the registry itself. Moreover, the exported files are actually simple text files that can be opened and manipulated.

Here are the simple steps you can use to put the above to the test:
1. On your desktop, select Start and then Run
2. In the Open box type in: regedit and then select OK
3. Use the registry editor to navigate to the key and sub-keys that contain the values you would like to backup
4. Open the File menu and select export
5. In the Save As box select the location on your system where you would like to place the exported registry files (.reg extension), type a meaningful file name in the file name box and select save.

Generally registry files can vary from a few kilobytes up to 100 megabytes depending on system configuration. The exported files are well compressed already as use a compression ratio up to 75% is used by default. And it is easy to restore the registry sub-keys saved in the exported registration files. All you have to do is double-click them, exactly like any executable and accept the system generated prompt asking you if you really want to proceed with the overwriting operation.

Of course, if you find all of the above a bit too geeky for your taste, you can always go down the easier path of sourcing and acquiring a backup utility that can backup and restore the registry at a touch of a button and a registry cleaner and optimizer which will perform all that ‘too hard to do” system maintenance on your beloved Windows PC.

To find out more about the Windows registry and how to maintain it by using a free registry cleaner and optimizer utility, visit

Author: Cosmo Starr
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Cellphone news

The use of tape for data storage and data recovery in the computer industry goes back many decades. Tape provided a solid and robust means of storing code and data, along with a far lower cost-of-ownership than the available hard disk options.

Today the cost of hard disk has plummeted, but tape storage is still considered to be the best available form of long-term archival storage in terms of price and resilience.

Those of us who were born long enough ago can remember treading gingerly, and speaking in low-tones when passing the floor of the computer building where the hard disks were housed. Disks were unreliable, low volume, and expensive to run whereas to recover data from tapes was fast enough and likely to work.

The concept of “near-line” storage developed, and still exists in the world of mainframe, AS/400 and large scale UNIX computing. Years ago a request to recover a file would result in a message popping up on the computer operator’s screen to fetch the open reel tape labelled KV19473D and load it on drive 15. The data was recovered from the tape after only a short delay to the user.

These days the operator has been replaced by some form of robotic tape library, and the open reel tape by a tape cartridge that can be handled mechanically (for example IBM 3590 and TS1120, STK 9840, 9940 and T10000, and of course LTO Ultrium and DLT). This process developed into Hierarchical Storage Management, also named HSM, and allows for “infinite” storage (as infinite as you can afford space, tape drives and media).

With smaller systems, this includes some systems that would look pretty large today such as MicroVax, there was a more procedural use of tape data storage. Partly this was due to the cost of robotic equipment, but mostly as the rise of the mini and micro computer coincided with the start of the rise in lower cost more reliable hard disks and the concept of client/server and the daily tape backup as a source or data only required when a failure occurred and so to avoid requiring hard drive data recovery work.

Attempts at introducing HSM into this market, using intermediate storage such as Optical Disk and using tape for longer term archive, came and went throughout the 90′s but largely tape was used as a backup and retrieval medium.

How Tape Storage differs from Disk

Setting aside the material differences and the low-level recording technologies used the general concepts are no different between magnetic tape and hard disk. Each uses magnetism to encode data on a suitably receptive recording medium.

The real differences are in implementation and usage, and reflect the major physical differences between the two.

The short answer to “what is the difference” is that disk is a random access medium and tape is a sequential one. To go into greater depth, disks are generally pre-formatted with a known number of recordable “sectors” whereas tape is written on-the-fly.

The sequential access nature of tape reflects its physical character, it is long and narrow and to get to some data at the far end the drive has to traverse the length of the tape. With disk recording to recover any recorded sector all the drive must to is position the read head to the right track and wait for the data to spin past. So an access time of small fractions of seconds versus anything up to a couple of minutes, you wouldn’t get far implementing random access on tape.

The issue of formatting though is far from clear. Early open reel tapes, Exabytes and quarter-inch cartridges (the older version of SLR often known as streamers) had erase mechanisms that cleaned the tape ahead of the write head so recording was always to blank tape.

The smaller quarter-inch cartridges, DC2000 and more recently Travan, ADR and Ditto, were formatted with sectors (usually during manufacture). The very first DC2000 drives ran from the diskette controller in a PC and operated like diskettes. So in theory they were random access, but the practical access time would few people would live long enough to use them in that manner for a significant volume of data.

Newer tape formats (SDLT, LTO Ultirum, 3590, 3570 and many others), whilst not being pre-formatted with data sectors do have a lot of servo data written to them during manufacture and if they are erased become useless. This includes servo tracking data that is used to assist in the data alignment process now that the recording densities have increased and there is little or no space left unused.

One, often unwelcome, feature of tape storage is the concept of “the last thing you wrote is the last thing you can recover”. With a hard disk each sector is uniquely addressable. If data is written to sector 79 it has no impact upon sectors 78 and 80. With tape, as soon as recording finishes the drive determines that the last thing written is the new end-of-data. So if you have a tape containing 400GB and write 2MB to the start of it, there is just under 400GB sitting on the tape that cannot be accessed without recourse to a tape data recovery service.

In Data Recovery parlance this is over-writing or re-initialisation. Don’t be fooled into thinking that there is any chance of getting the data back that has actually been over-written, that is the stuff of science fiction, but the remaining but inaccessible data can often be recovered from the tape

The advantage that tape gives is that each file is usually stored contiguously and there are none of the frailties of file allocation tables involved when accessing the data.

This is all generally true, but there are no rules. Some tape recording formats (Legato Networker, NetBackup and ARCserve amongst them) take data from multiple sources and intertwine it on the tape (sometimes known as multiplexing or multi-streaming). As said earlier there is nothing to stop the development of random-access tape, but the shape is wrong and it would never catch on.

There are, however, compromises. IBM 3570 and STK 9840 attempt to split the difference between the two styles of recording. They use a tape cassette, so the tape is on two reels within the case rather then like DLT and Ultrium where there is a single spool and the tape is transferred to a take-up reel within the drive. The “start” of tape is actually in the middle, so at load time the tape is half way from either end, and the data is stored on multiple tracks so that the drive can position across and along the tape to locate data. So a nod towards random-access and faster access time than your average tape though the time to recover data from any single file is still generally considerably longer that with disk.

Tape Storage Concepts

We can set aside the actual recording technique and put the clock back to the 9-track ½-inch open reel tape for the concepts involved in tape data storage and tape data recovery. This type of tape was predominant during the 1980′s and to an extent the drives that followed had to imitate the methodology followed in order to replace it. This means that an Ultrium drive, a DLT drive and a DAT drive all take data and give it back exactly as the open reel drive did, even though they use radically different recording formats.

With the open reel tape data was transferred to the drive as a sequence of data buffer loads named blocks. The drive would encode each of these with its own identification and error correction data, and with a gap in between each one. This inter-block gap is why you might sometimes hear people saying that they “used a larger block size to increase capacity”. On open reel tapes the gap was of a fixed size so the smaller the block size the greater the number of blocks required to store an amount of data. The greater the number of blocks, the greater the number of gaps and so capacity was lost. Then again, with older tapes the larger the block size the more chance of hitting an unusable area of tape so the whole thing was a bit hit-and-miss.

With modern drives the data block is merely what you send to the drive, and what you get back. Internally it is a matter of encoding and has little to do with how data is actually stored.

The above had a couple of exceptions, notably the earlier Exabyte 8mm helical scan drives. These split data into 1024 byte sections when writing to tape and would not share a 1024 byte storage unit between user data blocks. The consequence of this was that if you write 1025 byte blocks to a tape then each was written as 2048 bytes and the capacity of a tape was halved. There are exceptions to all rules.

Tape concepts

So, tape drives record to theoretically blank tape, have no pre-formatting, and if you record data at the start you have lost everything that you have overwritten and anything after the point at which you stop writing.

There is nothing either right or wrong with any of this, it is just they way they are. What tape gives you is high volume, low cost per gigabyte storage that you can drop on the floor, pick up and read afterwards. Don’t try that with a hard disk and then expect to be able to easily recover your data.

File Marks aka Tape Marks

These are a sub-divider that you won’t find on a disk. A file mark is a data pattern encoded by the drive and used to allow spacing to a particular position on a tape. You want to recover data from backup set 3, well the backup software doesn’t read through backup sets 1 and 2 first, it skips file marks and then starts to read and recover data once it has found set 3.

With 4mm DAT there is an additional type of file mark named as the set mark. This allows there to be two distinct types of data marker, though only Sytos Plus, SBACKUP and a few proprietary formats ever made use of this feature.

Helical Scan drives, AIT, Exabyte and DAT, encode file marks so that they can be found during high speed search operations. Normally, as with a video recorder, the tape moves slowly during reading. It would take 2 to 3 hours to position down the tape at reading speed so they kick the drive into fast seek and can then get to the next file mark in a fraction of the time. In video terms this is a “fast-forward” and enable fast access when recovering data from the tape.

Don’t be fooled by the name though. They sound like small little markers when actually they can be several megabytes in size on some types of tape.

End of Recorded Media

When reading from a tape you might encounter a condition named “End of Recorded Media”, sometimes reported as “Blank Check”. On older drives when recording completed the drive would erase a length of tape afterwards. Subsequent reading attempts would run into this length of blank tape and know they had reached the end. Modern drives encode a data pattern, similar in size to a file mark, that denotes the end of recording. Data recovery via normal means stops at this point, there is no way past and specialist recovery methods and technology need to be employed to gain access to this lost data.

Mainframe, and some midrange, systems did not rely upon the drive reporting that the end of data had been reached but relied upon their own devices. IBM systems would encode a double file mark, HP systems used a triple file mark. These patterns denoted logical end of data.

These systems will still rely on their logical mechanism for saying “that’s it”, but the drive will still do its own thing. The moment recording stops the EOD is written and that is that without professional data recovery assistance.

Block Modes

Variable Block Mode

Disks are typically formatted with recordable sectors each of 512 bytes. IBM for the AS/400 use 520 or 522 bytes. Tapes, of course, have to be different.

Modern tape drives can record in either fixed block of variable block mode. This is to enable them to plug into systems that have differing pedigrees.

Mainframe systems, for example IBM 380/390 and AS/400 (OK it is not a mainframe but it behaves like one), write data in chunks that were the correct size for their purpose. The label block at the start of an IBM Labelled tape was defined as being 80 bytes long, so an 80 byte block was written to the tape. Since 80 byte blocks were not a practical proposition when dealing with open real tapes the actual data was written in larger chunks limited in size only by available memory in either the system of the tape drive formatter.

Fixed Mode Recording

Smaller systems and cheaper drives tended to deal with data pretty much as they did with disk. It did not matter how big the data was it would be written out in equal sized chunks and the drives available in this market segment obliged. The early quarter inch cartridge drives would only record data in 512 byte sections. Smaller UNIX systems and PC systems have a tradition of recording in this manner still do. The only real difference between disk and tape here is that the tape block sizes for fixed mode recording have typically extended to 64KB or higher.

Later drives have been designed to be backwards compatible with this more primitive format and with the more expensive drives that operate in variable mode, or to be plugged in as direct replacement for these drives and so can operate as either Fixed or Variable Block recording devices.

Block Numbering

Early drives relied on skipping file marks to position along tape, but later tape devices introduced the concept of block numbering. So each tape block has a unique number starting at 0.

This partly explains why the tape block sizes used have increased over time. The SCSI specification describes the block number using 3 bytes, a maximum of 16,777,215 blocks. With 512 byte blocks this would mean that the maximum capacity of tape would be in the region of 9GB, not very helpful if writing to an 800GB Ultrium 3 data cartridge.

Recording Techniques

Three fundamental tape storage formats have developed since the late 1980s.

Multi-track parallel
Helical Scan
Serpentine

Although the ground between parallel and serpentine formats has closed more recently with drives having elements of both formats.

½” open reel – AKA known as 9-track parallel

The drive records 9 tracks of data at once to the tape surface. Recording begins at the physical start of the tape (PBOT) and ends at the physical end of the tape (PEOT). This format developed from the punch card idea with the eight bit byte and a parity bit. So this is one byte at a time recording.

The capacity of these tapes is tiny by today’s standards. NRZI recording format managed a staggering 23MB at 800bpi on a 2400 foot tape. In its heyday, with a massive 6250 bits-per-inch the capacity rose to an impressive 180MB.

Helical Scan

We are all more familiar with helical scan than we might realise. It is a technology that was developed for video recording (VHS and Video8) and sound recording (DAT).

The tape is wrapped around a cylinder that contains the read and write heads. The tape moves slowly whilst the cylinder spins quickly with each rotation allowing data to be written and then read back to check (Read-after-write).

The name Helical scan springs from the patter described by the head passing along a slowly moving tape as “describing a portion of a helix”. (it is probably a more marketable name than “diagonal data”)

Exabyte Corporation took the Sony Video8 8mm recorder, added a SCSI interface and some additional checking and came up with a 2GB data storage format which was way ahead of its rivals, albeit briefly.

HP and Sony adapted developments in the audio market with 4mm media named Digital Audio Tape, added additional error correction and came up with DDS DAT. Sony later created AIT based, an 8mm helical scan format and even one of the STK mainframe drives used this technique.

Serpentine

The name arises from the pattern of the recording being forward and backwards for a number of tracks, apparently a bit snake-like in character (according to some imaginative marketing person).

Early drives had a pair of recording heads, one for forwards recording and one for reverse. The drive would record forwards until Physical end-od-tape (PEOT), reverse until physical beginning-of-tape (PBOT), then re-position the heads and repeat the process. Early drives recorded 4 tracks, the latest record hundreds and overlap with the parallel formats by recording several tracks simultaneously.

Equally parallel format recording drives now records along the tape forwards and then reverse so they have become almost serpentine.

In the data recovery context there is the issue that physical damage impacts multiple places in the recording since the drive passes across each area of tape. Of course this is only an issue if the tape snaps or becomes crumpled, and there is an argument as to how likely this is compared with helical scan devices which have a much more complex tape path. We have no intention of entering the affray between exponents of each style of recording.

Conclusion

Tape still has a major part to play in data security and the long term archival of important information. As a data recovery specialist I see both failed hard disk drives and damaged tapes, and whilst tape recovery comes with its own set of challenges that can make it a tortuous process, seldom is a tape a complete failure and the data recovery success rate is well over 95%.

Mark Sear has been involved in data recovery, data conversion, data migration and computer forensics since the early 1980s working as a data recovery engineer, software developer and up until 2006 as the Technical Director of one of the word’s leading data recovery companies with offices in the UK, Germany, US and Norway. Along with other long standing technical specialists from the industry Mark founded Altirium Ltd in 2006 to provide technically led specialist data services with the emphasis on providing the right advice and services for the customer in an industry that has become increasingly sales led.

Data Recovery services include:
Hard drive data recovery
Tape data recovery
RAID data recovery
NAS data recovery
Exchange data recovery
Data recovery services and advice can also be given for any other type of storage media.

Other specialist data services include Data Migration, Data Conversion, Computer Forensics and E-discovery.

Author: Mark R Sear
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Latest trends in mobile phone

It’s common sense that the personal or business data found on computers and networks everywhere, which cost its owners precious time and money to acquire, is very valuable and unquestionably should be protected from loss. It should also be common sense that the data designated for storage and protection should be encrypted to secure it from being misused if stolen by unauthorized users. Unfortunately, many companies that use, for example, tapes for data backup, do not encrypt their stored data. This practice is akin to placing valuables in a safe, but leaving the door unlocked. Data backup encryption is a must for full data protection.

The two most common acronyms you should understand in relation to the function of data backup encryption are AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and SSL (Secure Socket Layer). Secure Socket Layer encryption refers to the encryption of data as it is transferred over the Internet. The Advanced Encryption Standard applies to data in storage. SSL and AES encryption are used in tandem for online backup, in which data is copied and transmitted from its original server to a secure server in a remote location.

AES encryption is also used for tape backup. For example, LTO-4 tape (fourth-generation Linear Tape-Open, the open alternative to DLT, Digital Linear Tape) supports AES 256-bit encryption on tape drives. Another acronym associated with tape backup encryption is IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). The IEEE issues standards expressly for tape technology. Its latest tape technology standard, IEEE 1619.1, is adhered to by the LTO-4 technology.

In-depth understanding of backup encryption requires knowledge of complex technological jargon and processes. In layman’s terms, backup encryption uses a code to convert data into a format that is unreadable without a key. For example, if I were to write a message and convert each letter to the number of its place in the alphabet, I am creating a code (The correct technical term is cipher or algorithm). The key would be the piece of paper or other medium stating 1=a, 2=b, 3=c, etc. Of course, with computer data backup encryption, ciphers and keys are digital and far more complex. For example, even a supercomputer would take 149 trillion years to decipher an AES 128-bit encryption.

Backup encryption of data serves as a safeguard in the rare but serious event that anterior levels of building or Internet security are breached and data stored on tapes or the Web falls into the wrong hands. To ensure maximum protection of data, it should be encrypted and stored either online in a secure server in a remote location, or on tape. (Data already recorded on tapes can still be encrypted after the fact.) Too many companies have learned the hard way for anyone not to know now that backup encryption is a necessity.

Source: Onlinedatabackupinc dot com, Louis Zhang

Read our reviews of online secure backup [http://www.onlinedatabackupinc.com] services and solutions at [http://www.onlinedatabackupinc.com]

Author: Louis Zhang
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital Camera Information

This tutorial is aimed at helping you to build your own computer. There are many different combinations of hardware you can have. we will deal with the basics to enable you to get a computer up and running.

Tools Required

Philips Crosshead Screwdriver, Overhead light source, Tweezers, Wrist strap to attach you to case

Hardware Required

PC Case, Floppy Disk Drive, CD Rom Drive, Hard Drive, Motherboard, Processor, Processor Heat Sink(fan), RAM, Power Supply, Video Card, Keyboard and Mouse

Software Required

Operating System, Drivers (come with hardware), motherboard CD

Cables and Extras

Drive Cables, Screws (usually with PC Case), CPU Cooling Compound, Power Cords for computer and monitor

Step 1…Install Power Supply Unit (PSU), CPU and Heat Sink on the motherboard

Remove the case cover by unscrewing the four to six screws and taking the cover off. Lay the case on it side with the metal back plate facing up to you. Some cases come with a preinstalled PSU others do not. To install a PSU slide the PSU into place with the wires facing forward into the case and the fan blowing out the back. Secure it in place with some screws so that it does not move. Set the voltage to 220 in the UK, 120 USA. The back plate may need changing to match your motherboard. To do this break off the old plate and take the new plate (packed with motherboard) and install it in place of the old one.

The motherboard should be sat on a secure surface in/on the antistatic bag it came in. To install the CPU make sure the lever on the motherboard is up (refer to the manual supplied with you motherboard to see how this is done) take the processor out of the box it came in by only touching the edges of the chip. Place this into the socket by matching pin 1 to the correct place on motherboard. Usually a gold arrow lines up with another mark on the socket. Once in place Push the lever arm down to lock the processor in place.

To install the Heat Sink/fan onto the processor, clean the processor with a lint free cloth to remove dust and finger oil. Take the cooling compound and squirt a small amount onto the processor directly taking care not to use too much as it may go over the edges. Spread this evenly over the surface of the processor. Take the Heat Sink and place it directly on top of the processor pushing down slightly to ensure good connection between the processor/compound and Heat Sink. Using the clips on either side of the Heat Sink secure this in place on top of the processor. Check that no cooling compound has leaked from the sides otherwise you have to start again and clean both the Processor and Heat Sink. Once the Heat Sink is in place plug in the power cord attached to it into the motherboard see manual suplpied with your motherboard to determine which one. This is step 1 complete.

Step 2…Install memory modules (RAM) and Motherboard into the case

To install the memory modules attach the antistatic wrist strap to an unpainted metal surface to earth yourself and discharge and static built up. On the motherboard you should see the slot for the memory module. Make sure the clips at either end are open i.e. tilted backwards. Pick up the memory module by the edges and place it into the slot by lining up the notches and making sure the both ends are in the clips. Push down firmly and the clips should pop shut. This is the memory Installed.

The motherboard should now have the processor, Heat Sink and memory installed. The motherboard can now be placed into the case. To install the motherboard into the case look at the holes on the motherboard and the holes on the motherboard plate in the case. Take the motherboard standoff screws and screw them into the motherboard plate in line with the holes on the motherboard. Once this is done take the motherboard and place it into the case with the inputs and outputs facing toward the back of the case. These should fit into the back plate of the case. Take some screws and screw the motherboard into the stand offs. Do not screw too tightly otherwise the circuits on the motherboard may break but enough so there is no movement. Step 2 is complete.

Step 3…Connect the Motherboard to the Case Wires and PSU

Now the motherboard is in place take the 20 or 24 Pin connector from the power supply and connect it to the motherboard. The board may also require a 4 Pin connector to power the CPU. Plug this in too. The case should also have a set of wires which will plug into the motherboard. refer to the manual supplied with your motherboard to install these correctly. Usually the connector labelled PWR_SW is the power switch and RST is the RESET button. The Power LED and Hard Drive LED must also be attached. Once all the connectors are connected move to Step 4.

Step 4…Install the Floppy Drive, Hard Drive and CD ROM Drive

To install the floppy drive choose which drive bay you want the floppy drive in and remove the face plate on the case. Slide the drive in from the front and make sure it lines up with the face plate as well as the screw holes on the mounting rack. Screw the drive into place. Connect the power supply to the floppy drive this is the smallest connector coming out of the PSU. Take the ribbon cable and attach it to the back of the floppy drive, this cable has a twist in it. Attach this to the motherboard lining up the red edge. If you do not line this up the drive simply wont work. When attached to the port on the motherboard the floppy drive is installed.

To install the Hard Drive determine which bay you are going to put it in. Slide it in from the back and match up the screw holes to the mounting plate. When this is done secure it in place. Attach the 4 pin Molex connector from the PSU to the back of the drive, it will only fit one way. If the drive is IDE it will have a big connector on the back, if this is the case take the ribbon cable and attach this to IDE 1 on the motherboard. If the drive is SATA the connector will be much smaller and the cable a lot thinner. If this is the case take the cable and attach it to the back of the drive then to SATA_1 on the motherboard. This is the hard drive installed.

To install the CD ROM drive this is very similar to the floppy drive. Choose which bay you want it in and take the face plate off. Slide the drive in from the front and screw it into place. Attach the 4 pin Molex connector as you did with the hard drive and then take the ribbon cable and attach this to IDE_2 on the motherboard. This is Step 4 complete.

Step 5… Install the Video Card

A video card is required so that you can see the output from your PC there are two types used older AGP cards or newer PCI Express Cards. To install a Video Card you should see a brown slot known as an AGP slot if you card is AGP then it goes here. Open the slot at the back of the AGP slot there may be a clip like with the memory modules, this is to support the card as they are now quite big. Break off the metal covering the hole at the back of the case. Take the video card by holding the edges only and slot it into this port and press down firmly, you should feel it click into place. Do not over force it as this may damage the circuits and your motherboard. Once in place secure the card by screwing it to the back of the Case you should see this on the metal plate at the back. Some Video Cards require additional power now so attach the 4 pin Molex connector to the video card. This is the Video Card Installed.

For PCI express follow above but use the PCI express slot instead.

Step 6…Initial boot up and configuring the bios

Well done you have now completed building you computer. It is now time to see if the thing works!!!

Plug in the computer and attach the mouse and keyboard. Before you hit the power button here is what to look for: The PSU and Processor fans Start spinning, The power LED comes on, The Hard Drive boots up. You may hear a bleep from the PC speaker. If you hear multiple beeps this means there is an error somewhere. If there are strange grinding sounds then turn off the computer immediately.

Turn on the computer, if you see the bios screen hit the appropriate key to enter the bios and check if everything is working properly. If this is the case then set the boot device to CD. Congratulations you have now completed building you computer.

Author: Dominic Adams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital Camera News

The internet has been a marvellous resource for business over the last decade. High speed access and the proliferation of computers in homes and offices alike have turned the World Wide Web into the main business arena for many companies.

With more and more transactions being conducted from opposite ends of the world across the internet, the need for an accurate and precise clock to keep computer networks synchronised has never been greater.

Most of the world’s computer networks, synchronise to a source of UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) which is the worldwide standard and is controlled by atomic clocks. A worldwide standard for synchronising the clocks has been developed also. NTP (Network Time Protocol) is a software algorithm that distributes UTC amongst a network’s clocks and adjusts the time accordingly.

Many computer network administrators turn to the internet as a source of NTP server time as there are a multitude of sources of UTC time. However, many internet sources of NTP time cannot be relied upon to provide accurate time. Surveys have discovered more than half of all internet time servers were inaccurate by over a second and even those that are not, they could be too far away to provide any useful precision.

More importantly, however, is that internet based NTP servers are external to a network’s firewall so any regular communication with a NTP server will require the firewall port to be left open allowing easy access for malicious users to take advantage of.

The only solution for getting a source of NTP server time, whilst keeping a network secure, is to use an external stratum 1 NTP time server. These devices communicate directly with an atomic clock either via the GPS satellite network or long wave radio signals. Because these devices operate from with the firewall the entire network is kept secure whilst the NTP server distributes an accurate, precise and source of UTC time.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and specialist in atomic clocks, telecommunications, NTP and network time synchronisation helping to develop dedicated NTP clocks. Please visit us for more information about a Galleon ntp server or other ntp server solutions.

Author: Richard Hawkesford
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital Camera Times

A virus is a piece of code that gets loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. The first known occurrence of viruses goes back to 1987 when the ARPANET was infected by one.

One common misnomer among people is that you can infect your computer just by opening an email and reading its text. That is not possible; it is usually the files attached to the email that contain the virus. The most common file types are “.SCR” “.VBS” “, “.PIF”

Prevention is better than a cure: Here are some tips to make sure that your computer does not get infected.

* Get a good Anti-Virus software like Norton Anti-Virus, MacAfee, PC Cillin etc.

* Keep your anti virus software updated by downloading new virus definitions regularly. Most Anti-Virus software comes with the feature of updating virus definitions.

* Keep your windows operating system updated by regularly downloading new updates from the Internet. Windows O/S’s have a lot of security loopholes and bugs that can be easily exploited by worms and viruses.

* Make sure the anti virus scans the file each time before its opened.

* Floppy disks and removable media are a good source of viruses; always scan them before accessing files on them.

* Never open email attachments from sources that are unknown or suspicious.

* Do not open emails that have questionable subject lines.

* When in doubt about a file, don’t open it.

* Even with the best of precautions bad things can still happen. Backup all your data and important files.

Even after taking all these precautions if your computer does get infected, then here are a few things that you can do:

Online clearing tools – are a good source of trying to clean out the virus, there are many Anti-Virus websites that offer free online virus detection and removal services.

Removal tools – If you have an Anti-Virus software then you can go to the website of that software and download removal tools designed specifically for the virus. However, you must find out the name of the virus that infects your PC beforehand.

If you have a backup of all your important files, you can also consider formatting your hard disk.

Ashish Jain
http://www.m6.net
Ashish is an integral member of the M6.Net Web Helpers team

Author: Ashish Jain
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The Internet is very useful to our everyday lives. However, we must know how to protect our PC from any online attacks. Viruses are one of the threats for PC users nowadays. Some send worms in chat message displaying a link to a web site which is also infected with a Trojan horse. Worms spread through programs exposing new vulnerabilities, then report them back to the hackers. The hackers will create the malware that will exploit the vulnerability before the people can download a fix.

Do you know what malware can do to your PC? Malware exposes your PC to online attacks. It also gives hackers direct access to your PC. It enables the hacker to get your personal information or control your PC remotely and be used in a criminal activity. Viruses are commonly found through peer-to-peer (P2P) networking. Spyware, Trojan horses, viruses and worms are being integrated into free downloads. Many users don’t know the danger of using the “browse host” feature of the P2P applications. It is very risky to use because it allows others to directly connect to your computer and browse through file shares.

Through using P2P, hackers can access your logins, user IDs and passwords, personal information such as letters, chat logs, cookies, and emails and other private and accessible folders on your PC. When it comes to email and instant messages, viruses in P2P files can steal your information, give it to cybercriminals to forge your identities and commit fraud.

You must protect your PC, follow these rules:

1. Protect your computer with updated security software. You need a security software that will protect your PC from hackers. Your computer should have an anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, anti-spam and firewall to fight online attacks. It should scan any files including disks, email attachments, files downloaded from the web, and documents generated by word processing and spreadsheet programs.

2. Use a secure Internet service provider (ISP). It should have anti-spam and anti-phishing procedures.

3. Always update your Windows automatically or to prevent your PC from any known vulnerabilities. You can install patches from other software manufacturers. A fully patched computer behind a firewall can prevent lessen the risk of being infected with a Trojan and spyware installation.

4. Be careful when opening attachments. Set your anti-virus software to scan all your email and instant message attachments automatically. Don’t open unwanted emails, or attachments even from people you know.

5. Be cautious when using P2P file sharing. Some Trojans are just hiding within the programs and waiting for users to be downloaded. Also be careful in downloading files through email and instant messaging like files with the extensions.bat,.bin,.dll,.cmd,.exe,.lnk,.scr,.com and.vbs.

6. Use security protections for your cell phone, PDA, and Wi-Fi devices. Viruses and Trojans can be attached through email/IM, downloaded from the Internet, or are uploaded along with other data from a desktop. In time, cell phone viruses and mobile phishing attacks will be popular especially now that more people are accessing multimedia services and Internet content using their phones. It is advisable if you always use a PIN code on your cell phone. Don’t ever install or download mobile software from unknown source.

7. Set your instant messaging application correctly. Don’t set your instant messaging to open automatically as your computer opens.

8. Watch out for spam-based phishing schemes. Never click on links in emails or IM.

9. Always back up your files. So if ever you become a victim of a virus attack, you can recover all your important files.

Virus and worms are easily spread over the Internet. With all these threats, you have to protect your PC to prevent online attacks. As soon you become their victim, it will risk your personal and business life. If you need help with anti-virus software installation or virus removal, Techie Now is the best PC support provider that can help you. We do it fast, safe, better and with lower prices than others do. Contact Techie Now and get your PC protected.

If you want your PC to be protected, Techie Now is ready to provide you flexible, quick and safe services when it comes to virus and spyware removal, performance optimization, software installation and configuration, and other general repair. Feel free to visit us, http://www.techienow.com

Author: Angeline Mabute
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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It seems like its been forever since wardriving was used to map out the neighborhood wifi scene. I remember when statistics about mass wireless networks first started to emerge. I remember building antennas out of soup cans and a wire coat hanger. I remember having to build GPS drivers from source so Kismet could include coordinates in its output. I even remember cracking my first WEP network – it took me the better part of a week. It all seems like ancient history now.

If that was forever ago, we must have come up with some new way to secure wireless networks. We must all be running high-end encryption and have everything locked down right from the factory. After all, wireless vendors know what can be done with a laptop and some free wireless utilities. Even non-techies can tell you the dangers of WEP and running default networks. If that’s true – wardriving would probably be a waste of time these days. That’s what I thought about one weekend, so I set out to get a glimpse on the current state of wireless security.

I grabbed my Eee PC, fired up Kismet, hopped in the Jeep, and tore off across the countryside. After an hour of driving through the little beach town I live in, I had collected information on about 900 unique networks. Once I got back to the house, I fired up a shell and got to work analyzing the data. The spread of open, WEP, and WPA encrypted networks surprised me. I didn’t think I would find almost 300 open networks in this little town. Add in the 345 WEP protected networks, and that’s about 70% of total networks either completely open or protected with exceedingly crackable encryption.

Next, I did analysis on the SSID’s (the name of the network). This was also pretty interesting. Almost 10% of all networks had ‘linksys’ as their SSID. If they didn’t change the default SSID, I can imagine they changed little else. A number of the networks had personal names as their SSID’s (identity theft waiting to happen?). A few more had their street addresses as the network name. Some of the apartments and condos even had their apartment number worked in somehow.

Another interesting thing I noticed was wireless used by businesses. Digging through the raw output – I came across a lot of networks with familiar names because they belonged to businesses in town. A large CNC and prototyping shop in town had an open wifi network. A few other smaller businesses had wireless networks with their name on it. I also came across a large amount of hidden networks when I drove through industrial areas – I can only assume that some more prodding would produce more business networks. The biggest shock to me was the local police station running WEP! At least if I ever got arrested I could email someone for bail money.

It appears it’s the same old sad state of wireless security out there. I don’t expect general consumers to fret over the differences between WPA1 and WPA2, or how much overhead AES encryption has – but I expect businesses to know their risk. They should invest in a wireless penetration test or wireless security audit if they intend on rolling out wireless. Hire a professional to assess your physical surroundings for existing wireless networks you may not know about, and then have them help plan out implementation strategies with you. Wireless can be a great way to get some freedom from traditional networks, but all that freedom can come at paralyzing costs. A little planning and research can help slim down attack surfaces, and can help make casual wardriving a thing of the past.

Redspin’s cost effective penetration testing services utilize the latest technology. http://www.redspin.com

Author: D Grady
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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A time server is a crucial piece of kit for any network. Time synchronisation is imperative in keeping a network secure and reliable. Time synchronisation, however, need not be the headache many administrators assume it is going to be.

Most of the difficulties of time synchronisation have been taken care of thanks to the protocol NTP (Network Time Protocol). Whilst NTP is not the only time synchronisation software available it is by far the most widely used (due mainly to the fact that it has been around since the 1980′s and is sill being developed today).

NTP uses a single time source and distributes it from machine-to-machine checking each PC or device for drift then adjusting for it. NTP is normally installed on Windows and Linux systems (or at least a simplified version called SNTP) although it is freely downloadable from the NTP homepage. While NTP can quite easily receive any time source from the Internet this can cause major security issues no to mention a lack of accuracy that many online NTP servers suffer from.

The most accurate and secure method is to use an external network time server as these sit within the firewall. They are also receive a UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) reference direct from an atomic clock which makes them stratum 1 devices. Most internet time servers are stratum 2 servers. NTP uses strata to define how far away a server is from the source so an atomic clock is a stratum 0 device while a computer that receives time direct from a NTP server becomes a stratum 2 device and so on.

The only decision that really needs to be made when installing a dedicated NTP time server is which time reference is best. There are two main methods of receiving a secure, accurate and authenticated UTC time reference; the GPS network (Global Positioning System) or national physics laboratories long wave radio transmissions.

The latter system is not available in every country although the USA, UK and Germany have strong signals known as WWVB, MSF and DCF respectively. These can often be picked up outside the borders of these countries although the signals are vulnerable to interference, outages and local topography.

A GPS NTP server system is less vulnerable to these things and as long as there is a clear view of the sky (such as a rooftop or open window) the GPS time signal can be picked up anywhere on the globe.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and specialist in atomic clocks, telecommunications, NTP and network time synchronisation helping to develop dedicated NTP clocks. Please visit us for more information about a Galleon NTP server or other NTP server solutions.

Author: Richard N Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Time synchronisation is often described as a ‘headache’ by network administrators. Keeping computers on a network all running the same time is increasingly important in modern network communications particularly if a network has to communicate with another network running independently.

For this reason UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) has been developed to ensure all networks are running the same accurate timescale. UTC is based on the time told by atomic clocks so it is highly precise, never losing even a second. Network time synchronisation is however, relatively straight forward thanks to the protocol NTP (Network Time Protocol).

UTC time sources are widely available with over a thousand online stratum 1 servers available on the Internet. The stratum level describes how far away a time server is to an atomic clock (an atomic clock that generates UTC is known as a stratum 0 device). Most time servers available on the Internet are in fact not stratum 1 devices but stratum in that they get their time from a device that in turn receives the UTC time signal.

For many applications this can be accurate enough but as these timing sources are on the Internet there is very little you can do to ensure both their accuracy and their precision. In fact even if an Internet source is highly accurate the distance away form it can cause delays int eh time signal.

Internet time sources are also unsecure as they are situated outside of the firewall forcing the network to be left open for the time requests. For this reason network administrators serious about time synchronisation opt to use their own external stratum 1 server.

These devices, often called a NTP server, receive a UTC time source from a trusted and secure source such as a GPS satellite then distribute it amongst the network. The NTP server is far more secure than an Internet based time source and are relatively inexpensive and highly accurate.

Richard N Williams is a technical author and specialist in atomic clocks, telecommunications, NTP and network time synchronisation helping to develop dedicated NTP clocks. Please visit us for more information about an NTP server or other network time server solutions.

Author: Richard N Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Time synchronization is vital in modern computer networks. Having one machine running a slower clock than another can cause a myriad of all sorts of problems. From the benign, such as emails arriving before they were sent, to the more serious such as being unable to debug a system or have it vulnerable to malicious hackers.

Computers have two clocks, a software clock that runs in the background while the computer is running and a system clock that is battery backed and provides a reference for the software clock when the machine is switched on.

Unfortunately neither is very accurate which is why most administrators opt to synchronize their networks to an atomic clock source that relays the global Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). This has an advantage of not just providing the most accurate synchronization but also ensuring that the network is synchronized, not just with itself, but also with networks all around the world.

Like other operating systems, Windows uses a version of NTP (Network Time protocol) to deal with time synchronization. NTP is a protocol that transfers time information over the Internet or Local Area Network (LAN) by ‘packets’, allowing other computers to synchronize the time on their clocks to it.

By using NTP one server or work station can be used to synchronize dozens of other computers and devices. As NTP is also hierarchical, meaning servers that get their time from one machine can also use it to synchronize the time on other computers, in theory thousands of machines can be synchronized with just one NTP server receiving a UTC source. However, although the lower down the hierarchy or strata a machine is, the less accurate it will be.

Configuring a Windows to act as a client server is relatively straightforward. Simply create a new DWORD value, or modify the existing “LocalNTP” and set it to:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesW32TimeParameters]
Value Name: LocalNTP
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = disabled, 1 = enabled)
Selecting a UTC source is another consideration when running a NTP server. There are several methods of doing this.

The first is to use one of the myriad of Internet time references available. However, some are more accurate that others and distance from a host can play a factor too. Another consideration to take into account in using an Internet timing reference is that of security. To use an Internet source a hole must be kept open in a firewall and NTP’s inbuilt security system called authentication isn’t possible over the Internet.

A far better solution is to use the national time and frequency signals broadcast by several countries’ large physics laboratories. Alternatively the timing signal broadcast by the onboard atomic clocks of the GPS (Global Positioning System) network can be used. Both these methods are far more secure than receiving a timing signal over the Internet and dedicated NTP servers are available that can receive

Richard N Williams is a technical author and specialist in atomic clocks, telecommunications, NTP and network time synchronisation helping to develop dedicated NTP clocks. Please visit us for more information about a network time server or other ntp server solutions.

Author: Richard N Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Technology has always been a necessary evil. The more the technology develops, the greater are the chances of its being abused. Pen drive, the small storage device used to store and transfer data to and from computers, has gained popularity due to its functionality. It has got thousands of uses. Ease of use and convenience is the prime reason of its popularity.

However, like many other equipments, pen drives are also a necessary evil and pose a potential security threat to the technology world. When placed in wrong hands, the portability and high storage capacity of the pen drive can be hazardous. The device has evolved as a threat to the corporate and other organizations where security of data is given utmost importance.

The threats that are associated with pen drives are serious. Some of them are listed below.

Stealing of data:

Apart from the defense department, the corporate sectors all over the world are under the threat of data theft for espionage. There is no dearth of incidents where spies, hackers and other source are employed to steal data. A pen drive gives ample of opportunity for the theft from an unattached or unlocked PC with a USB port. It is easy to access data and steal information like client list, research data or any other information. The hackers can even bring the software with a pen drive allowing the user to hack password or other confidential information.

Spreading virus:

Earlier, floppy drives and emails were considered as main source of virus to computers. However, there has been anti-virus software developed to counter virus and protect the PC. But with pen drive it is difficult to check the virus with the safeguard as the device can bypass the protection. It is almost impossible to defend against the viruses unless and until you have strong anti-virus policies or you are not scanning all files in your network. It is easy for a virus writer to corrupt the entire network of a corporate environment with a pen drive.

Plant malicious software:

Virus apart, it is not difficult for anyone to take any spamware and plant it in the PC. In corporate sectors the threat multiplies when employees use pen drives to bring unauthorized software or any other data such as software pranks, sharewares, mp3 files, pornography pictures, video clips and other inappropriate data that is against the corporate ethics. As pen drives allow more space, it is easy to bring bulky software which impossible with a floppy. Situation worsens when the software is used to crack password.

Causing data loss:

Pen drives barely allow any security system in terms of password or any other built in security feature. So it is more likely that if a person loses a pen drive, the data inside it can be accessed by anyone. If it falls in wrong hands he or she can misuse it. a pen drive can be easily stolen or misplaced and the data stored inside it can be easily manipulated. There have large demand for pen drives with some security systems such as finger-print reader or protective software.

There has been a conscious protest against pen drives in many private and government organization. Though it is a convenient device for the productive brains, it has proved to be beneficial for the thieves as well. Pen drives are small in size and have greater capacity to store information. Hence the thieves can carry the device stealthily in pockets and take information.

Unless and until any drastic step has been takes against it, the security of any organization can be in stake. Even a visitor can retrieve data easily from an open computer. Considering these threats, some companies have taken some protective measures for their security by banning pen drive inside company premises. It can reduce the threat to some extent.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil

Author: Roberto Sedycias
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Rumors that Samsung S-pad tablet will run Google Android has gone (In fact, we’d take this with a grain of salt, since there wasn’t anything official reported). However, it seems that it’s should take a period of time before the so-called Samsung S-pad comes into the market. While Google has confirmed rumors that it will develop an Android-based tablet computer months ago, there is still no sign. However the Chinese manufactures are always full of courage and creativity that they develop the first Google Android tablet PC in the world. And then many android-based tablet PCs are born. Here goes the one.

This 7 inch tablet PC is among the first serials that has adopted Google Android operation system. Compare with those notebooks that have adopted Windows XP or Window 7, this tablet PC will save you trouble and money since Google Android is open source, which means this OS is almost totally free for user and the community will always be updating and programming for this platform. Then this will keep Google Android OS always up-to-date. This is not like that of Microsoft OS, pack too much, more than we desire and cost much, more than we can offer. Mini in size and light in weight, this tablet is really ultra-portable, the right one of so-called UMPC (ultra-mobile PC). Apart from the Google Android OS, this device boasts VIA MW8505 533MHz CPU, supporting WiFi 802.11 b/g. This processor will ensure a smooth operation. With Google Android OS, users can enjoy lots of applications provided by Google, like Google chrome, Google Maps, Google earth, Gmail, Google Talk and others including You Tube. And all these can be conveniently found and download freely in Android Market. You can get what you really need and get rid of the redundant. Be powerful and efficient, but do be simple! This is what “Google” implies!

In a word, adaptive and expandable, this 7 inch high-brightness touch screen pad is fully upgradable! It desires you consideration!

To learn more details and buying ideas on this tablet PC now!

Vera, Still trying to figure out what the hottest tablet PC are going to be this year. Then check out this great notebook store or this cool place to find Cheap notebooks.

Author: Vera Van
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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As we browse around the Internet, we are bound to come across a site we want to mark for later use. Marking a site in this way is known as “bookmarking”. While each browser usually has an easy way for you to bookmark and organize your favorite sites, this has some severe limitations. Perhaps you have more than one browser that you like to use. Maybe you like Google Chrome for its speed, but sometimes you switch to Firefox or Internet Explorer for more functionality. It can be frustrating when you want to access your bookmarks on one browser, only to realize that it is only accessible on another. Or you might be over at your friend’s house and want to show him a site that you bookmarked. Unfortunately, you can only access the bookmark from your own computer.

If you would like a better way to keep your bookmarks organized and accessible, you might consider storing them in “the cloud” – that is, online. Here are a couple different methods you might try.

1. Bookmark with Google

If you have a Google account, then you have two great options for organizing your bookmarks. If you don’t, then it is free to sign up for one. The first option is to install the Google Toolbar on the different browsers that you use. The Google Toolbar can be useful in many ways, such as providing an ever-present Google search text-box, but one particular feature which is useful is that it lets you bookmark pages. This way, if you bookmark a page while you are using Firefox, you can still access that bookmark when you are using Internet Explorer. Head to http://toolbar.google.com to check it out.

The other option Google offers is its Google Bookmarks service. This lets you bookmark pages from any browser as long as you are signed in to your Google account. You can organize your bookmarks into groups, and you can even share your list with a friend if you wish. Best of all, you can access it from anywhere in the world simply by signing into your Google account. You can get started with this service by heading to http://www.google.com/bookmarks/

2. Social Bookmarking

The above options are great if you’d like to keep your bookmarks private, but increasingly, people have been favoring social bookmarking. Digg.com and Delicious.com are two of the most popular social bookmarking sites. With these sites, you can bookmark and tag your sites, and also allow other people to find them. It also provides you with a new way to browse the internet, as you discover bookmarks from your friends or other users. However, not everyone wants to share their bookmarks with the world, so these services aren’t for everyone.

Bookmarking websites is something we should all do in order to maximize our productivity on the web. However, there are definitely methods you can use to overcome the inherent limitations that we are all used to. Storing your bookmarks on the web – whether you share them or not – is a great way to organize your bookmarks. Check out Kitchen Trash Can and Stainless Steel Trash Cans.

Author: Chris Pine
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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What is a Hacker?

A Hacker is a computer expert who spends their time trying to find ways to break
into other computer systems and/or computer software. They also try to find ways
to make software act in ways it was not meant to do. The Hackers motives are
usually to see if they can get into the system or not. For the most part, these
Hackers are only a minor nuisance and don’t cause too much trouble.

What is a Cracker?

A Cracker or Criminal Hacker is the same thing as a Hacker except that their
motives are different than a Hackers motives. A Cracker breaks into a system or
software for Criminal purposes. They may wish to steal something and / or they
may wish to disrupt the system that they are in. Crackers are far worse than the
regular Hacker.

Hackers and Crackers are a real problem in today’s high tech society. If you
don’t take some steps to protect yourself from them, it will only be a matter of
time until they cause you some trouble. Here are a few steps you can take to
help protect you from Hackers and Crackers.

1. Firewall:

   If you are using DSL or Cable then a firewall is a must. With DSL and Cable, your internet is on all the time. The Hackers run programs looking for computers connected to the internet by their IP address. Once found the evil hackers then try to find a way to break into your system. One of the things that the Firewall does is to mask your computer so that the Hacker’s probe comes up negative. If you have Windows XP then you should activate the already included Firewall Program. If you don’t have Windows XP then you can use a program similar to Zone Alarm.

2. Anti Virus Software:
   1. Regular Anti Virus –

      Make sure you get yourself a good general purpose anti virus software and set it to automatically run every week. Keep your virus definitions up to date so it can always catch the newest viruses.

   2. Trojans:

      A Trojan virus is a program that installs other software on your system. They can also give the hacker other means to enter your system and do just about anything. Your general purpose anti virus software will get some of these and some of them will need special anti Trojan software to get rid of them.

   3. Spyware:

      This little buggers are really common and easy to get infected with. Spyware is software that gets installed onto your computer without your knowledge or consent. Some are used for tracking and some are used to influence search results or cause all sorts of popups. If you have a lot of spyware on your system, it will start to slow down. The thing about spyware is that your regular anti virus software will NOT get them. I use FOUR different spyware programs to get rid of them all. It seems that NO one spyware removal software can get them all.

By following some or all of the above steps, you can better protect yourself from Hackers and Crackers.

About the Author:
Author is an author for CSSZafco.com, and the Computer Geek Web Design. A distributor of computers and accessories. Evan has been diagnosing and fixing computer for over 25 years. Please visit the site to view a huge assortment of Computer Technology.

Author: Evan Freedman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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