This guide gives a brief overview of Network Configuration Management, otherwise known as Network Change and Configuration Management, or NCCM.

Why does it matter?

In a large corporate network it is not uncommon to have hundreds or thousands of network devices. If you add up all your switches, routers, firewalls and other network appliances, and then you consider how many lines of configuration settings apply to each one, you can see there is a significant investment in your networks’ configuration which needs to be protected.

Contemporary network devices will not only switch and route data, but will vlan, prioritize and shape multi-media traffic in converged networks. The settings and parameters that determine how traffic is handled all forms part of the configuration of the device, and of course, it is vital that all interoperating devices are configured consistently in order to deliver a healthy and reliable network infrastructure.

Of course, the security of your network is dependent on the way your devices are configured. Corporate Governance policies all include Data Security considerations, such as Sarbanes Oxley (SOX), GLBA, NERC, PCI DSS, HIPAA, MiFID, SAS 70, ISO 27000, CoCo/GCSx Code of Connection and Basel II. These security standards have all been introduced to ensure certain minimum levels of security and integrity are maintained for company financial information and any stored personal details of customers. Your network is inherently vulnerable while default settings are used and it is vital that all known vulnerabilities are eliminated through

Therefore configuration settings for your network need to be backed up, verified for compliance with any corporate governance policy or security standard, and consistency of configs maintained across the estate.

Unapproved changes are the biggest threat to IT Service Delivery and the single most likely cause of failures in IT infrastructures. Any changes that occur outside of established tracking and approval processes are classed as Unapproved Changes and, by definition, are undocumented. No audit trail of a change being made means there is no foothold to start from when troubleshooting a problem. In fact EMA primary research has indicated that greater than 60% of all environment failures would be eliminated if unapproved changes were identified before affecting IT performance.

Unapproved changes are introduced from a variety of sources including security violations, inappropriate user activity, and administrator errors. Even a seemingly benign alteration can have far-reaching unintended consequences to IT security, performance and reliability. Over time, system configurations deviate further and further away from established standards. This is referred to as “configuration drift”, and the greater the drift, the greater the risk posed to the reliability of an IT support stack.

The Network Change and Configuration Management Solution

A practical solution to address these requirements is to automate config backups and change tracking, which has given rise to the Network Change and Configuration Management, or NCCM, market.

Change and Configuration Management (CCM) is the process for minimizing configuration drift by ensuring all environment settings are approved and consistent with established standards. CCM is composed of three distinct practices: configuration management which is the creation, documentation and updating of standard settings for all supported IT components; change management which is the process for identifying and approving new configuration settings and updates; and change detection which is an ongoing process of monitoring for inappropriate changes. Achieving compliance objectives for ensuring IT infrastructure reliability requires automated solutions that address all three CCM disciplines.

How does it work?

To date, the development of network device hardware has taken place at a much faster rate than the equivalent development of network management or network configuration management software. In some respects it is understandable – Network Devices didn’t need managing or configuring originally as they were black boxes that either passed data or not. It was only with the advent of shared network infrastructures such as Ethernet that the configuration of addresses and protocols became necessary and some consideration made of the network topology to cater for traffic flows and volumes.

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) came to the fore as a technology to address the need for performance, security and accounting statistics from the network, and at the same time, provide a means of changing the configuration of a network too.

As a standard however, anyone who has used SNMP will know that it is anything but consistent in all but the most basic statistics. It is common to find that the manufacturers’ ‘Management Information Database’ or MIB will purport to support certain performance metrics, only to find that different devices from the same manufacturer do not consistently report information via the MIB.

It is a similar story when using SNMP to gather or update configuration data – your version of Cisco Works may work well at backing up your 2950 switch configs but when you next upgrade to 3750 switches, you may quickly find out that Cisco Works suddenly needs an upgrade (at your expense, of course – ‘What do you mean, you pay annual maintenance? That is only to maintain your software, not to actually make it keep pace with product range developments!’)

Fortunately there are other, more ‘open’ ways to gather configuration settings from network devices – using TFTP in conjunction with scripted Telnet or SSH Telnet interactions is a consistent and more easily maintained approach that can be applied to all manufacturers and all devices.

All the above change and configuration management tasks can be automated using network change and configuration management (NCCM) software solutions, the best of which will cover desktop PCs together with change and configuration management of your servers and all network devices such as firewalls, switches and routers.

All NewNetTechnologies software solutions are built using the latest technology, which means they can be fully adapted to suit all business environments. For more information on Network Configuration Management view our software solutions on http://www.newnettechnologies.com which provide 100% of the features you need but at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions.

Author: Mark Kedgley
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Cool mobile gadgets

Computers are widely used by people nowadays. With everyone being hooked up with Internet, computers are of big help for having fun, gaining knowledge and earning a living. Everyone is just eager to have their own computers and enjoy the benefits of these high tech equipments. Having a computer is not that easy especially when it comes to maintenance. Computer owners have to deal with malware. Do you know what a malware is?

Not techie people are not familiar with this malware thing. Some people are just concerned in how and where they’re going to use their computers. For a start, a Malware is software made for penetrating a computer without the informed consent of the owner. It is also called malicious software. It is one of the causes of annoyance of computer professionals. In other words, Malware is a program or file that is harmful to the user.

Ever heard of “computer” viruses? They are also types of malware. Also include worms, Trojan horses, rootkits, spyware, dishonest adware, crimeware and other malicious and unwanted software. Viruses and worms are the best-known types of malware. Any computer is always at risk of becoming infected with them. Some malware are made to do serious damage to the computer causing harm or data loss. Some are not harmless but annoying.

Malware is not faulty software. The difference lies in the intent. Malware is written with an illegitimate purpose. They can be accessed through the Internet, by World Wide Web or be sent in e-mail or instant messages. As a computer user, you must follow the below steps to reduce the risk of getting infected:

1. Be careful in opening e-mail messages or IM attachments. Make sure that they come from a trusted source.

2. Scan e-mail attachments before opening them.

3. Don’t read unwanted messages.

4. Don’t click links given by strange people.

5. Terminate your IM session if someone is sending you suspicious files, links or messages.

6. Scan all your files before transferring it to your computer.

7. Use a updated malware software removal for your computer security.

How will you know if your computer is infected with a malware?

Most times you can tell that a computer is infected with a Malware as it malfunctions and slows down. It also displays repeated error messages. You always experience having problems in shutting down and restarting the computer. A lot of pop-up ads always appear when you are and not surfing the web. However, sometimes you may not notice anything as the malware cleverly hides itself while it performs illegitimate actions as such steal or spy on your information.

As soon as you know that your computer has acquired a malware, you must not do shopping, banking and other online activities that required getting personal information from you because you might be victimized by thieves online. It is advisable that you have active and current security software – anti-virus, firewall or spyware software – installed to protect your computer.

Always monitor your computer. Take immediate action if you find something unusual happening in your computer. Malware can be a big problem but it can be prevented if you want to. Prevention is still better than cure. Don’t let Malware be a threat to your system. Protect your computer now!

Your computer is not safe from being infected with the increasing malware over the Internet. They are everywhere! So you better protect your PC now with a good antivirus. If you need help choosing antivirus or if you think your antivirus is not effective then come to Techie Now, the PC support provider you can trust in for your computer security. We can assist you in any PC support services that you need. With us, you can be sure that your PC is protected 24/7.

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
eCommerce solution, service provider

PC viruses are the pieces of computer code, made to implant itself within files or programs with the intention of changing or destroying the transmitted data. Viruses can easily spread via interchanging the programs or files, loaded on a computer. Various kinds of viruses that commonly attack your computer are:

- Viruses: The tinny program, which attaches itself with other documents or programs.

- E-mail viruses: Such viruses run around via email and generally replicate themselves through automatically mailing to the addresses in the address book of the victim.

- Worms: It is the program, which search a tiny hole in PC network security, replicate themselves on other systems on that network

- Trojan horses: It is a PC program, which pledge to perform some other task but instead performs other like delete your hard drive

How does virus get in your PC and multiplies

The very first and one of the most common methods of making your PC virus infected is through downloading a program from some unknown source and use it. Second method of inviting virus on your system is by opening some unidentified file attachment from e-mail. Sharing infectious files from someone else’s PC to yours may also make your PC infected. Even opening, video and audio files or an electronic greeting card might also attack your PC with virus.

Signs of virus attack

When virus infects your PC, the most general symptom you may notice is the slow performance of your PC than usual or the system lock up or stop. Few other noticeable signs indicating your PC being attacked by virus are:

- Your PC crashes or restarts again and again
- The system does not run adequately
- Applications of your PC functions improperly
- Hard disk or drives are inaccessible
- Strange error messages pops up

What types of damages can happen to your PC

The destruction a computer virus does, depend upon its type. Some common damages that a PC may experience are the alteration or deletion of files. Several viruses will delete all the files and even without notifying, reformat your system’s hard drive. While some viruses might steal private information such as account numbers, credit card numbers or passwords. Additionally, other viruses might change the security settings enabling the hackers to access your PC and take information. Viruses like worms greatly infect the networking of your computer.

Methods to keep your PC away from viruses

The first thing you can do is, not open the files in attachments that you receive in your e-mail by some unknown address. Prior to copying any sort of file onto your system, make sure to scan it with the anti virus program. In case if, you are downloading some file from Internet, first copy it on your hard drive, properly scan it before running or opening it. The finest defense against the harmful computer viruses is to install a anti virus program, which will automatically scan all of your emails and act like a firewall plus will keep you up to date with the recent viruses.

Copious of software programs are accessible to detect, prevent and kill the computer viruses on Internet. But, before selecting any one make sure, it performs its task properly and is reliable.

Mehmet has over 10 years experience in repairing computer. Get everything you can from him. Download a free trial of registry cleaner today! visit: http://www.registryheal.com

Author: Mehmet Onatli
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
portmeirion porcelain dinnerware, bakeware & accessories

To get rid of spyware, PC owners not only spend money on something that can be avoided, they also become stressed and inconvenienced. Because having spyware infection installed can be a hassle, experts recommend that PC owners take necessary steps to avoid them. After all, prevention will always be better than cure.

There are common ways to avoid spyware infection. One of which is to avoid Peer to Peer (P2P) file sharing. This technology allows you to exchange files with somebody else using the Internet. Though this might allow you to grab the latest chart-topping song for free, you might get more than what you bargain for.

Spyware infection may also occur due to unpatched security holes in Windows and other browser vulnerabilities. In particular, many hackers attack the Internet Explorer browser because of the fact that it is the most widely used browser. To avoid this, those in the know recommend that people use the Mozilla Firefox browser instead, because it is reputed to be much better than the former in terms of security. With an unsecured browser, it would be so easy for spyware programs to infect one’s computer system, even without downloading anything from a particular website. To up your Windows security, it is a good idea to install updates as soon as they are available.

Spyware, viruses, and other Internet threats could also be transferred to your computer system through emails. So, be careful about opening emails or spam messages coming from unfamiliar senders. Spyware programs are designed to access address books of PC owners and send emails to all the people listed in the same source. Therefore, even if you receive an email from someone that you know, verify first if your contacts did send you an email. Be wary about opening email attachments or clicking on links contained in emails, as these may make your PC vulnerable to spyware programs and other Internet threats.

These simple tips will make your PC less vulnerable to spyware programs. However, to get rid of spyware that has already infected your PC, you should use reliable anti-spyware software.

PC infested with stubborn spyware and adware? Read this detailed anti-spyware software review and discover which is the most highly-rated spyware remover in the market.

Author: Mike Darwin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Get my ex back

If your work involves computers and particularly the use of the internet, computer viruses are part of your life unfortunately. They come unannounced and you or your software busy from time to time. The nuisance value and at times even the financial losses it causes are only well known by many people. There are several anti virus programs available from the internet. Most users who need to access the internet on continuous basis would have installed some decent anti virus programs which run automated scanning at periodic intervals. The scanning process may take a few minutes but it is well worth the trouble. Every person who uses a computer on continuous basis will need short breaks. The ideal thing to do would be to schedule the scanning during these breaks so that you do not have to spend idle minutes before the monitor. Check the scan results and look at the prompts for action if needed. This measure when properly implemented will normally help you to maintain your computer in good health for a long time. Even when you are able to go through several weeks without any virus problems and your computer is doing exactly what it is supposed to, it would be worth while to conduct a scan as many viruses and other forms of malware work quietly in the background collecting data. and corrupting files you may not use often.

Some measures for a healthy computer

A reliable anti-virus must be installed and kept running at all times. If your license code need validation, do not delay the process and get it on the day you are notified. An active firewall should be in position every time you open the internet. Most of the reputed vendors of anti virus programs provide regular updates, but you should allow installation by clicking the relevant button. The browser security should be maintained at maximum levels at all times. If you are asked by the browser to permit installation or opening some content unfamiliar to you, deny permission.

1.To enhance protection levels choose an anti spyware program (either as a bundle with your anti-virus software or as separate piece of software).

2. Be very careful about e-mail attachments, they are the major source of viruses.

3. Also be wary of search bars and browser helps are offered to you by several scam artists – not that reputed vendors don’t do it. Look for the authenticity of the offer and check back with your provider if need be.

4. Use a different credit card for your online transactions to ensure financial security as well as computer security. Credit card details are one of the main targets for the creators of computer viruses.

5. Run a virus scan at least once every week.

Carl Robinson is a software reviewer from the UK. He recommends some free virus scans at Best Antivirus Downloads [http://www.bestantivirusdownload.com]

Author: Carl Robinson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Unix inter-process communication (IPC)

The Internet is a wonderful source of information and entertainment and millions of people access it each day. However, these millions of people create millions of opportunities for others with malicious intent to create havoc. And if you are not protecting yourself while you are online, you may find that your computer falls victim to spyware.

Spyware is a very lucrative industry and in almost all cases, the end goal is profit whether or not the companies or individuals deploying the spyware have any malicious intent in mind. Sometimes, you agree to allow spyware to access to your computer (whether knowingly or not) and other times you have no clue that your security has been breached. For this reason, it is imperative that you monitor your surfing habits to ensure that you are being as careful as possible.

Just in case you may not have any clue what spyware is, it can be generally defined as threatening software that is deployed by some unscrupulous individuals and companies to secure access to information you may rather keep private. In most instances, you are unaware that spyware has even made its way to your computer.

Do you access your banking online? Have you ever entered your social security number on any site? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, then you are especially vulnerable to spyware attacks. Spyware software enables its users to retrieve any information that resides on your machine – this could be anything from sensitive personal data to information about your surfing habits.

If the threat of a spyware infestation has you a bit nervous, you should be. The first thing that you should be concerned with is keeping it off of your computer in the first place, since some types of spyware can be virtually impossible to remove. And protecting yourself from the threat of spyware requires an understanding of how it gets on your computer.

There are endless ways for spyware to find its way onto your computer. One of the easiest ways for spyware to infest your machine is by piggybacking on other software applications – mainly those that are freely downloaded. So beware of that supposedly free software – it may be more expensive than you thought. Once you installed the infected software, you have just opened your hard drive up to spyware.

You should be extremely careful when you are reading disclosures are terms of use agreements whenever you are installing any type of free software on your computer. In most cases, your failure to read these agreements is your undoing since you are plainly agreeing to install other unwanted software in addition to the free software you downloaded. While many times you are warned via these agreements, sometimes you are not. So you download and install at your own risk.

Another popular way for spyware to find its way on your machine is to trick you into thinking that it is actually some type of anti-spyware or computer security program. Often this occurs when you visit a malicious website where known security issues in the browser you are using have been exploited. And suddenly you are receiving fake massages warning that your computer has been infected by spyware that direct you to download a program to rid yourself of the issue. By doing so, you further compromise the security of your computer. For this reason, it is imperative to make sure that your browser is updated with the latest security patches.

Visit Hybrid Computers at: IT Services Buckinghamshire, PC Upgrades Bucks or Laptop Services Bucks.

Author: Dave Page
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital economy, mobile technology

Recently, many people are complaining about the violation of their privacy, and their complains grow by the day, as spyware programs keep infecting more and more computers every minute. The sad thing is that most of them, do not know how to protect against such threats. They do not know what this is, even with all of the buzz going around lately, showcasing both spyware programs and anti-spyware programs such as the spyware nuker.

To settle these questions once and for all, you can have a look at this list of frequently asked question regarding spyware programs and nukers.

Q: What is spyware?

A: Spyware programs, like normal application files run on your computer. But unlike normal software, they bury themselves into your system, and operate in a deceitful manner. With their use, hackers and advertising companies are able to snoop your online computer activity, and sometimes even offline. The original spyware design purpose was to introduce tracking software on unsuspecting terrorists and government enemies, helping increase national security. However, some individuals decided to take this concept and put it to a less worthy ideal, working against personal security. What was designed as a counter-terrorist program, is now a general public annoyance.

Q: What is spyware able to do?

A: There are many activities performed and information sources tapped, but here are a few:

- tracking and recording website history

- tracking and recording online purchases

- intercepting, reading and recording email you may send or receive

- record your complete Instant Messenger chats or archived chats

- search through your personal files and documents

- decode and record all your passwords

- record sensitive financial information such as credit cards, bank accounts, social security
numbers and other private data

Q: How can you defend against spyware programs?

A: Eve when the problem seems hopeless, an easy solution is available to combat spyware programs, the spyware nuker. As the name suggests, spyware nukers basically clean out your hard drives. Computer applications, designed to detect any infestations on your computer, spyware nukers will drive it into extinction and deploy preventive measures to block future programs from ever infecting your computer (by monitoring your Internet connection).

Q: Are spyware nukers really effective?

A: Yes, they are the best protection against spyware invasions. When constantly updated, they will challenge over 50,000 known spyware programs and can defend against them on a daily basis. Having a spyware nuker active is the best way to constantly protect your information and files from threats.

Q: What will happen if I’m not using any spyware nukers?

A: This is basically the equivalent of leaving your front door open. You need to arm yourself against spyware and protect your computer against spyware nukers. An unprotected computer can be an open invitation for hackers and advertisers to steal your personal files, documents, pictures and Internet activity information. Not using any nukers, basically allows any stranger to access your life. You may be the victim of identity theft, or undesired credit card charges for items you did not personally purchase. Yes, you are vulnerable for not using a spyware nuker.

Q: What will spyware cleaners do?

A: Spyware nukers will use an array of actions to eradicate spyware, such as:

- remove access traces for the documents and pictures you use,

- detect and remove any spyware that logs your computer’s activity,

- erase files permanently through industrial-grade data shredders,

- detect if someone is recording your keystrokes or spying on you,

- protect your favorite homepage from hijacking,

- integrated database for spyware information details,

- Layered Service Provider analysis and repair function,

- immunization function for possible vulnerabilities,

- Active-X controls management and analysis,

- automated service and database updates for the spyware signatures,

- detect common adware, dialers, keyloggers and other malware.

This is my #1 Recommended site, which provides a Free Spyware Scan [http://www.pctrouble-shooters.com] and more, as it offers outstanding quality and utility and should satisfy all of your needs!

In addition, you can find a number of other useful spyware tools [http://www.pctrouble-shooters.com] that will solve your blue screen, slow computer and freezing problems!

Author: Zip Robertson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Awe Inspiring Pictures

What is FileZilla? FileZilla is a File Transfer Program (=FTP). It’s a free, open source program, easy to install and easy to use. Just type “FileZilla” into Google and you will find it.

A word of warning: please make sure you type the name correct. There are websites using spelling errors to attract people who are looking for the FileZilla download page. After this fraudulent pages show up, people are asked for their name and other information in order to be able to download the software. Unfortunately you don’t only get the software but also a bill for some kind of membership. Free, open source programs are always free! If you need to enter your name in order to get the free software, leave the site and start a new search.

Now: why would you need a File Transfer Program? It’s a handy tool to upload files to your web hosting server or download them from the server on your computer hard disc.

Once you installed FileZilla on your computer and opened it, you will see a page, vertically divided in two parts. On the left side you find an overview of the folders and files on your hard disc. The right side is empty. The upper part of the page is also empty, showing four empty fields and the lower part of the page informs you if you copy files from your computer to the web hosting server or if it’s the other way round.

To start using FileZilla, you need to go to the upper part of the page. Set the cursor in the first empty field on the left and enter the name of your server. You need to enter the name without the http:// or the www. if the name of my webpage is http://www.nameofthewebsite.com, I would enter nameofthewebsite.com. In the next field (right beside the first one), enter the username you got from your web host and in the next field your password (you got that also from your web host). This leaves you with one empty field, but you don’t need to worry about that. Click on ‘connect’, the last field in the row. You will see, that many answers and requests are send to and forth. If the answers are green, you are on the right way. If you see only red answers, somewhere along the way you entered wrong information or you don’t have internet access.

If everything went fine and you got all answers in green, you are connected to your web host. Let’s say you want to upload the file abc on your computer to the public_html folder on your web host server. At the right side of the FileZilla page, you see two windows. Look at the upper window, where you will see a + followed by a folder icon and a /. Click on the + and your tree on the server becomes visible. Scroll down to the ‘public_html’ folder and click on it. The content of the public_html folder becomes visible in the lower window.

Now look at the left side of the FileZilla page and select the file you want to upload. Once you found the file, you can either double click on the file or right click and select upload. In the field at the bottom you will now see how FileZill uploads abc to the public_html folder and at the bottom you are informed if the file transfer was successful or not.

If you suddenly have no connection to your web host, don’t worry. If you don’t use FileZilla, it will cut the connection automatically due to security reasons. In case you want to reconnect, select connect. If you already closed FileZilla and want to connect to the same address again, you don’t need to enter all the data again. Above the four empty fields you find a row with icons. Hover the cursor over them and right click to see what you can do with them. One of them (it should be the 10th from the left) reconnects to the server you used last time.

If you are done with your file transfers, simply close FileZilla – that’s all. Have a great time exploring FileZilla!

Angelika Juritsch is a network marketer, happy housewife, the proud mother of an almost three year old boy and the owner of her own website.

If you want to know more about her, click on http://www.angelikajuritsch.com and check out her site.

Author: Angelika Juritsch
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Credit card currency-exchange fees

This article reviews why I use the Mozilla Firefox Browser instead of Internet Explorer. I think if you are going to become a serious internet user then you should consider Firefox as you main browser.

The first reason I switched to Firefox is it is free and Open Source. It was developed by a community of developers looking to break free of the monopoly Microsoft was clearly aiming to achieve in Internet Browser technology. A Federal Court agreed with my view and has forced Microsoft from making Internet Explorer a part of their Windows operating system. However you still have to be quite ‘savvy’ to know how to stop it becoming the ‘default’ browser. You also have to know about the alternatives and how easy they are to install.

I personally think all new PC’s should be shipped with Internet Explorer (IE), Firefox, Opera and Chrome as a minimum with instructions on how to install/use any of them.

The first advantage of Firefox is it is far less prone to viral attacks and spyware. This is evident from the sheer number of almost daily updates Microsoft (MS) issues for Windows and IE to deal with security issues. Alternatively Firefox may get a new release once a month at most. The new release is usually improved functionality not to fix security problems.

Firefox invented ‘tabbed’ browsing and MS happily copied the concept and trumpeted it as a ‘new’ feature for IE7. I had been using tabbed browsing for about 3 years before MS realized it would be useful.

Because Firefox is open it supports add-on applications that actually change the nature of the browsing experience. Scribefire is just one example. This simple to install add-on enables you to surf the web, come across an interesting story press F8 and up pops a text editor. This editor can be linked to your Blog and you can write the post in the browser and publish it to your Blog without ever logging into your Blog.

There are many other applications you can set up that will make serious use much easier TBUZZ is another example. Using this application you can simply highlight an interesting story on a web page and click on TBUZZ. It will then open a little window with the highlighted text and a shortened link to the story. You click on submit and it updates your Twitter account without you even going to Twitter.

Firefox has been proved to be 3.5 times faster than the competition. The extra time saved is a significant plus if you are use a browser as much as I do.

So my recommendation would be if you are a serious internet user the Firefox trumps Internet Explorer on so many levels you really should make it your browser of choice.

Andrew Peel is the owner of APeel Solutions an Internet Direct Marketing Consultancy specializing in providing premium solutions for clients that allow them to achieve financial freedom.

Andrew Peel
APeel Solutions

‘creating entrepreneurs daily’

Follow Me: http://twitter.com/Andrew_Peel
Blog: http://www.apeel-solutionsblog.info

Author: Andrew Peel
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Duty on LCD/Plasma TV

Welcome to the world of freedom and the blessings of an open source browser. Unlike Microsoft’s heavily integrated Internet Explorer, Mozilla’s Firefox has the advantage that it is under continuous development and therefore is a lot less likely to have security loop holes, such as the ones so commonly exploited in Internet Explorer which scour its already blemished reputation.

The layout of Firefox is remarkably similar to that of Microsoft’s, as any web-browser should look, with the standard address bar and other features in the expected places. However, apart from the exterior looking similar, there are some major differences and significant improvements included in Firefox. The first of which is tabbed browsing. This makes a massive difference for frequent internet users, and means that only one window can be open, but many websites available at the switch of a tab. This means that the task-bar need no longer be cluttered with many different windows.

The “Download Manager” of Firefox is also a great improvement on Internet Explorer’s effort. As well as allowing you to create a common folder to download all files and folders to, it also lets you pause and resume downloads at any point, meaning those longer downloads can be saved in chunks and means that you don’t have to leave your computer running until the download is completed.

The “Favourites” menu has also improved on Microsoft’s system, with pages being tracked, and then notifying you if their location changes at any point. In practice, many sites are loaded identically to what they would look like in Internet Explorer, and the major increases security means that Mozilla’s Firefox web-browser, will be a safe, secure, and speedy application for all internet users.

Read more and get other News at: http://www.nuclearsoftware.webs.com

Author: David Wilcock
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Canada duty rates

Increasingly, the need for a written, highly structured document and data management policy is becoming vital to any private company. While the recently enacted Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission require such a written policy for public companies, there are ample reasons for private companies to also adopt a written document and data management policy.

Various statutes now require most companies, whether public, non-profit or private, to securely maintain written records in regard to certain aspects of their personnel information and business operations. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), for example, companies may be sued if a security breach or other mishap results in the unauthorized disclosure of medical records. The controversial Patriot Act requires disclosure to the federal government of certain customer data and can subject the disclosing company to a lawsuit if the customer was not sufficiently advised of the possibility of such disclosure. A proposed amendment to the federal Rules of Civil Procedure would require lawyers representing parties in litigation to discuss document management systems of their clients prior to any legal proceedings. Another proposed amendment to the federal Rules of Civil Procedure would provide a safe harbor for companies that lose information but have otherwise acted in good faith, precluding any sanctions for such information loss. Certain state laws, such as the California Online Privacy Protection Act of 2003, require website disclosure of privacy policies in regard to personally identifiable information (such as name, address, credit card number, social security number, email address, etc.), which should include a statement about the security procedures in place to protect such information.

Prudence also dictates that written records be maintained in the event of employee claims or litigation involving the company. Companies should also be vigilant in documenting incidents involving any inappropriate or improper behavior by an employee. Emails and instant messages are now often crucial in determining court cases. Employee emails are generally considered to be the property of the employer, and the company’s HR policy and employee manual must clearly state so. Accordingly, employers should ensure that copies of all employee emails and instant messages are retained in the event of any employee-related litigation. For the same reason, in addition to maintaining copies of executed contracts and written correspondence, companies should retain copies of all emails and electronic document interchange (EDI) transactions with vendors and customers in the event of any litigation with such third parties. Companies should develop disaster recovery plans and test the recovery of all important data and information. Electronic imaging of physical documents should become standard.

In order to ensure that such procedures are in place and followed, company management must create an infrastructure that will be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of such procedures. This must come from the top down in the organization. The Board of Directors or a committee of the Board should review internal controls and written processes designed to ensure the retention and security of all company records and information and avoid misuse or unauthorized disclosure of such records and information. The Board or such committee should consult closely with members of the company’s information technology (IT) or finance department and others responsible for company files and records in order to ensure compliance with a clearly defined operations policy for the storage, maintenance, protection and destruction of company records and information. There are numerous sources of guidance for company management and IT or finance departments in this regard. These include the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO), an independent auditing industry group that has received implicit endorsement from the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the Sedona Principles is a set of best practices for e-discovery and the Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (COBIT) detailing the IT or finance department’s role in information and security controls is recommended reading for private companies, even though it is directed at public companies in the post-SOX era.

Company management must also ensure that the IT or finance department has the necessary resources to properly maintain and safeguard electronic records. Extensive storage capabilities and related software are required for document management, data backup, and email and instant message archiving, as such records must be maintained for an extended period of time. Under SOX, for example, records are required to be stored for seven years and must be non-erasable and non-rewritable. Hundreds of outsource storage companies have emerged to assist companies with their e-document management and data storage needs. It is vital that such software and services include fast and reliable document and data search capabilities as well.

Paper records should be organized logically to facilitate their retrieval at a later date. Ideally, the contents of the files should be logged electronically using database software specifically designed for this purpose (the XML standard has gone a long way in standardizing how to identify data). Companies should also ensure that off-site records can be remotely searched.

Access to company records should be closely controlled and restricted to a limited number of individuals. Just as electronic records have audit trails of who has access and when the data was accessed, paper records should not be open and available for anyone to simply walk in and review them, or alter them.

Finally, a document destruction policy should be included as part of the written document and data management policy. Time periods for purges of electronic data and paper records should be established and followed explicitly. As a general rule, it is not recommended that data or records be destroyed until at least seven years has elapsed since the initial archive or storage of such data or records. However, the appropriate time limit depends on many factors, including the nature of the data or records, relevant statutes of limitation and governmental requirements. Company management should therefore consult with legal counsel and a document management professional before establishing a document destruction policy.

Kent Clayton is a partner and co-chair of the Business Practice Group at Berger Kahn, a full service business law firm with offices in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay area. Michael Siersema is Managing Partner and CEO of Phoenix2000 Group LLC, a technology leadership and advisory services company with offices in Huntington Beach, California, West Lake Village, California and Washington, D.C.

Author: Michael Siersema
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Import duty tariff

As you know that the main goal of the Trojan horse virus is to break the security of your system, and when this happened, your sensitive information such as your credit card number, passwords, will be allowed to be viewed by the others. Of course, the existence of these horrible viruses is the main method for this attack on your computer, and it can be happened simply, when downloading a video or a music file from the internet, so your priority is to know how to get rid of these harmful viruses.

The Trojan horse virus name derives from the well known Greek legend of the Trojan horse, and that’s because it works in the same way, just opening the gates to others to attack your computer.

some of computer users may not be careful about what they download to their computers, because all the files transferred, may be only from their friends or trusted sources, and from their point of view, why they should care about the Trojan attack while it comes from trusted sources, and this of course, one of the biggest mistakes that beginners may fall in, because even they get their files from trusted people, this doesn’t guarantee that these files aren’t infected with Trojan.

Another reason to be worry about your computer security even your files comes from trusted sources, it’s possible that it may be infected with a Trojan virus without even you notice that and thinking that every thing is alright, and this is normally, because the designers of this malicious software (hackers), want to keep it unnoticed, and accordingly don’t have to do anything to remove it.

The first option to get rid of the Trojan horse virus is through a complete re-installation and through cleaning of your hard drive, but surly this can be tedious and dull, but I’m pleased to tell you that this isn’t the only option.

If you are interesting to get ride of the Trojan horse virus, you have to find an antivirus software that can attack this virus, also there are some software that are knowing with “anti-Trojan” software, that its mission not only to attack and remove these viruses, but also will keep and examine the received files from internet, or other disks.

You can Learn more about a trojan horse virus and also getting a free scan for your system files and at getting rid of Trojan

Author: Mark Jason
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Benefits of electric pressure cooker

Introduction

Mention crime and we think of robberies, murders and detectives examining the crime scene, interrogating witnesses and finally nailing the guilty.

But there is, however, another kind of crime, where traditional methods of criminal investigation fall flat on its face. Instances like hacking, cyber fraud, phishing, identity and data theft, all account as cyber crime. Cyber crime can be defined as an illegal electronic operation that target the security of computer systems and data processed by them. Even though it may appear that the effects of cyber crime are not life threatening, they have the potential to disrupt life. A survey in UK inferred that people were more scared of their bank accounts being hacked or credit card details stolen over the internet, than they were of robberies. There have been numerous cases, wherein people have been vulnerable to cyber crime in one way or the other. Crime can never be eradicated, but it can be prevented with the help of effective security to information. Whenever cyber crimes are committed, cyber forensic experts enter the scene and try to sniff out the clues and help in catching the culprits.

Skills and Tools

A cyber forensic expert is supposed to be adept in network security because most cyber crimes take place over networks. They should be competent in data recovery and encryption, because data and passwords are the targets of information theft. The experts should also be aware of cyber laws as most of the cases can got to court, where the forensic expert would be calles either as a witness or an examiner. A cyber forensics expert need not necessarily have to deal with computers all the time. Depending on the nature of cases and crime committed, the experts have to work on mobile phones, PDA’s, USB drives, media players, etc.

When it comes to corporate houses, they don’t really tend to trust the cops. They guard their systems and data by hiring the services of experts in information securities, such as Agape Inc. Also the process of collecting evidence after a cyber crime has been committed is not a cakewalk. Lot of care needs to be taken while collecting the evidence and processing them, as the loss of even an electron of information could mean that the data would not stand up to legal scrutiny. Of course, the job of forensic experts is very difficult, but they are assisted by some tools which help in processing the data quickly. The cyber forensic tools are software packages that can be used to preserve the state of storage devices or extract data from them. These softwares fall in 3 categories:

1. Open source software

2. Proprietary software

3. Tailor-made software for specific needs, designed by companies.

Courses and Career Path

The field of cyber forensics is still evolving and there is a lot of confusion on the part of students who are interested in pursuing this as a career option. To be good in this field, one needs to master various disciplines.Not only should they be experts in examining an evidence, they should also know the legal procedures of presenting the evidence in the court. For example, a cyber forensic expert would work on computer networks as well as network security. This means that network security certifications from renowned institutes/companies are essential for the candidate, to provide a good starting point.

A career in cyber forensics can be sought both in public and private sector. In the public sector, people are mostly absorbed into law enforcement agencies, state forensic departments and central agencies. In private sector, the scope for cyber forensic experts is immense as many experts would be required to detect and solve the increasing cyber crimes. Also, after sufficient experience, professionals can divert into freelancing and become independent security consultants.

Thus the job of a cyber forensic expert is a mixture of a cop and a geek, which is challenging and interesting, for committed professionals.

The author is a technology trainer and consultant who helps businesses build their online brand. His key passion apart from writing articles is Web 2.0 technologies and re-creating value for living. If you feel Sameer can be of any help to you, please send an email

Author: Sameer Fadnavis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Pressure cooker

Recently Mozilla released new Firefox version, 3.0. Many people are unaware of this, but Danish muzaffar is going to provide you some quick over views about this version. Obviously my dear readers wondered if they are using internet explorer then why they are in need of Mozilla Firefox?

In order to satisfy my readers ill discuss some useful points regarding the offerings of Mozilla Firefox: The first impression is the last impression; Mozilla Firefox is free to use. It is in the psycho of a common internet user to use those products which have quality as well as they are available for free. Based on Mozilla code foundation, it is a web browser with an open source. Working for window, it is based on Mozilla coding.

It also works for Linux and macos x operating system. It is very fast, very secure and easy to navigate. You will uncomplicated and straightforward user interface One of the best ability of Mozilla Firefox is to block the pop ups. This protects your computer for irrelevant viruses. Enjoy journey on internet without being bothered by pop up windows. No alternate pop up browser is needed. You can use tabs to open new pages, in this way you can get rid of opening a new window. It seems bit similar to Netscape, but works as an open page in background. A file can automatically be downloaded and saved to your desktop, if you download it through Mozilla Firefox.

You can also get the facility of Google tool bar if you are taking any help from Google search engine. Book marks are also added in it. History and text size is also part of it. You can also customize it and also include several things in it like tools and features. You can access your client, so download Mozilla Firefox (Mozilla thunder bird). A common person can install it easily without being a computer professional.

Very simple installation, it is designed in such a way that most of the work is done by it. So no burden on user. You can import your settings in Firefox. You can find Firefox in many languages, so you can install in Firefox. You can get high level of security by using this version. Spyware and viruses can not be installed or attack Mozilla Firefox. I hope you will be satisfied by the above points. I wish that you will use this version and feel the difference and speed. Enjoy computing.

Author: Danish Muzaffar
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

Do you regularly need to correct the time on your PC? The answer is probably “Yes!”. This is because computers have very poor time-keeping hardware. Often, the system clock in a regular PC can drift by minutes each day. However, help is at hand. It is very easy to synchronise the time on your Microsoft Windows computer with one of the most accurate clocks in the world. This article describes how to configure your Windows system to synchronise it’s internal system time with an Internet based ‘atomic time’ reference.

PC’s utilise an internal hardware real-time clock to maintain time. Generally, this hardware clock circuit utilises very low-cost components. This results in poor time-keeping performance. It is not unusual for a computer to loose minutes each day. There are hardware solutions available, which can improve timekeeping, such as more precision crystal oscillators. However, modifying PC’s at board level is not an option for most users. Additionally, accurate time-keeping hardware can be prohibitively expensive. Ideally, a software solution to maintain accurate time is required. This is where the Network Time Protocol (NTP) comes in.

NTP is one of the oldest Internet protocols still in regular use today. Dr David Mills of the University of Dellaware invented it over 25 years ago. He recognised the need to synchronise time critical processes across the Internet. The Network Time Protocol allows client computers to synchronise to an accurate time reference over the Internet. NTP uses the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) over IP (Internet Protocol) to request time from an accurate time reference. It then waits for and accepts a response from the server before updating it’s internal system time with the supplied reference time.

There are many NTP Servers residing on the Internet. Government or educational institutions generally maintain them. A NTP server obtains highly accurate time from an external time reference such as GPS or Radio and maintains this time internally. It then distributes the precise time to network time clients.

The latest Microsoft Windows operating systems, such as XP and Vista, incorporate a SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol) client. This client can easily be used to synchronise to an Internet or locally based NTP server. The client is configured from the time and date properties applet in the control panel, or by double clicking on the time in the system tray. One of the time properties tabs is labelled ‘Internet time’. On this tab is a field called “Server” which accepts either the IP address or domain name of a NTP time server. Click the “Update Now” button and Windows will attempt to synchronise with the selected time reference. Ensure that the “Automatically Synchronise with an Internet Time Source” option is ticked and Windows will periodically update time from the reference automatically, thus keeping your system clock accurate.

If synchronisation fails then ensure that the supplied IP address or domain name of the NTP server is correct. Alternatively, it may be your firewall that is preventing communication with the time server. NTP operates on UDP port 123, so you must ensure that this port is left open on your firewall. The Windows firewall can be accessed from the Control Panel. To open NTP port 123, open the Windows Security Centre and select ‘Manage Security Settings for Windows Firewall’. From the Windows Firewall applet select the ‘Exceptions’ tab. Click ‘Add Port’ to add an exception to the firewall. Enter a name for the exception, such as ‘NTP port’, and port number ’123′ and check UDP. Click OK to accept the settings. If you have a separate combined firewall and ADSL router, you may need to refer to your manufacturers documentation to find out how to open a port on the firewall.

To conclude, most computers keep extremely poor time. For many applications that rely on accurate time stamps, this can be entirely unacceptable. However, by utilising the Network Time Protocol, everyone can ensure that their computers system time is kept in sync with the most accurate clock in the world!

Please visit TimeTools website for more information and articles on NTP servers, network time synchronisation and time server solutions.

Author: Dave Evans
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Programmable Multi-cooker