TED Talk : Privacy Issues - Your Phone Company is Watching

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

A lot of people these days don't really understand importance of the terms "privacy", "self-determination", "individual freedom". Private information has become the newest commodity; privacy as we know it is a thing understood by past generations and obscured by new generations. Any activity that touches a form of computer technology gives this information away, either openly (Facebook, for example) or privately or covertly. Wonder where we are headed? 

What kind of data is your cell phone company collecting? German Green politician Malte Spitz wasn't too worried when he asked his cell phone operator in Germany (Deutsche Telekom) to share information gathered (and kept) about him and his activity. Multiple unanswered requests and a lawsuit later, Spitz received 35,830 lines of code -- a detailed, nearly minute-by-minute account of half a year of his life. The results astonished him. His personal story highlights an issue that affects everyone who uses electronic devices.

Over the course of six months, they had tracked his geographical location and what he was doing with his phone more than 35,000 times. Working with the German newspaper Die Zeit, an infographic was created that shows Spitz's activity across an interactive timeline, combined DT's geolocation data with information relating to his life as a politician, such as Twitter feeds, blog entries and website. By pushing the play button, viewers can set off on a detail-rich trip through six months of his life. And more, because he keeps asking the telecom company for his most recent data. 

I like how he mentions that this is a tool for oppressive goverments to control the mass movements of consciousness within its borders...but where did this tool of oppression originate? and how did these goverments get this stuff in the first place? Oh yes..from us!

I'll confess I'm really not very well informed on this topic. I think the real issue here is not the phone companies keeping this information, it's the possibility of them passing/selling it on to other parties. Lots of companies/institutions/individuals have access to our sensitive and private data (banks, hospitals, schools etc) but i guess there are strict legal structures in place to control the ways in which this data can be distributed or passed on. The problem is that most people, myself included, don't really know to what extent this is true for the telecom companies or internet providers we use every day.

As great as it is to know about this, let's admit, how many of us are truly prepared to give up their mobile phone? Should tech companies really have the right to collect, store and sell such detailed and personal information about their users and customers? And if companies do have the right to do these things, then what's left that remains private? Can we really be sure that the power that comes with having such information will never be abused, as Mr. Spitz suggests it could be in countries like China and Iran?

It is amassing how many people are ready to give up their private information thinking that it is not important and forgetting that THE CONTROL begins with the knowledge. THE BIG BROTHER needs you to think that IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH (George Orwell, 1984), but let’s not forget that: “Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither and will lose both.” Benjamin Franklin.

For what purpose is this data being collected? Well, data retention has two sides, might be used to spy on people but it can also be used as evidence in serious crimes. If it were there for something like police investigation i would be ok with it (anyways its being deleted after 6 months) but it is being collected by someone like the government to be kept for an unlimited time that would be quite disturbing. I think this needs to be investigated further before real judgement should be made.

His indignation is quaint - but I am proud of him for pointing this out. If the general public really knew what the NSA - MOSSAD - KGB - and all the other superpower intelligence and national security services are ALREADY doing in terms of compiling and sifting data about the citizenry - they would be shocked and there would be a national outrage. But alas - people don't realize what is going on - and/or don't care all that much - as they don't know what is really happening behind the scenes.

I find it amusing that (a) people don't know and (b) people think their government stops monitoring them whenever the law is altered to make it illegal. Information is power, there are too many people who'd like to keep that power to themselves, and many of them are good enough at it that even the official law is meaningless to them. Fortunately in the western world, most governments don't utilize surveillance data individually, that would just give the trick away. But they are listening.

The scariest thing is that 99.9% percent of the people I know - and this includes lawyers, police officers, politicians, civil servants in the telecom area - either do not care or even know about the MASSIVE data collection & storage that has being going on. The security infrastructure that is being built and run by PRIVATE companies, under the guise of "providing public services" is far more disturbing than anything past dictators dreamed of. We're living the dreams of intelligence officers :)

I read an article about a year ago in a Wired magazine describing how a professor and his students used a similar network mapping program to narrow down the location of Bin Laden using contact and importance to a group of people. The network "hubs" are those strategic people that disseminate and receive information to and from others. You could clearly see this in the speakers presentation. The implications are staggeringly scaring. It take "Big Picture" thinkers to see all of the potential.

I think that last question may be the great mystery of our time -- do we have it? Do we want it? Do we need it? And i think we also need to wonder whether those worst-case sci-fi visions have an active role in shaping how the technology eventually evolves.

Let's not believe that anything is impossible anymore. There is a huge need for everybody to realize that the weaponry and surveillance method of the 21st century have reached levels way beyond our imagination. It's always the same pattern : First, people call you paranoid, then theres a disclosure 10-40 years later but the crimes can't be punished anymore...Or can they? 

*by andreascy* 

Inner Workings of High Speed Internet

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

The term "Internet" has many meanings depending on what network a person uses. No one person, no one government, no one entity owns or controls the Internet. Instead, it consists of many networks cooperating and making alliances all over the world. 

Each organization monitors and maintains its own network. A group known as the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) sets standards, oversees research, and gives guidance for many areas of the network. Best of all Tim Lee Burns who oversaw the majority of work on the early Internet is part of that group.

Managing Traffic

High speed on the Internet happens from local, regional, and international networks communicating on needs and hardware. Each group contributes to the internal structure of the Internet in a variety of ways. Companies lay down the infrastructure that carries the bits and bytes cable, satellite, fiber optics, and wireless. Organizations and governments create guidelines on use, bandwidth, and standards. Of course, most of the work is finding ways to make the bits and bytes flow as quickly as possible between home and the site a person is accessing. As a human enterprise, it ranks as the first global cooperation created solely for offering a means of communication for anyone anywhere.

Internet 2

A living breathing ecosystem comes as one of the best ways to describe the Net. It has an overarching framework that everything else connects on. It has niches for specialized needs in the ecosystem. What affects one part or section of the Net has effects on the rest of the Net. It changes daily and reacts differently every day. It is all determined by human interaction and communications with others either directly or indirectly.

Not for profit research since 1996 in 200 universities and 115 companies across the globe have been testing advanced network technology daily. All require high speed networks. Many of the wonders of technology a person experiences today came out of these universities and companies. Other entities pick the technology up, adapt it, and make money with it. Online books, music, movies, and magazines started out as ideas and seeds for use at the not for profit research facilities. Presently, these places are working on high definition video, quicker ways to resolve network problems, and enhanced detection of any problems.

Connection

What high speed Internet providers give to a consumer is an access point, not the Internet itself. A provider may have their niche and personal network where they give their brand of news, weather, financial data, games and storage. It pays to determine your needs and shop around. These providers come at different levels. An ISP (internet service provider) may cover a specific geographical area and offer the initial connection to that area. National ISP exists and serves cities and towns in a nationwide network.

Another access point is OSP (online service providers). OSP is like a club where one must become a member. It functions more as a large gateway to the Internet. These entities regulate what services members have access to. It customizes a version of the web to its companies vision and needs.

More and more wireless Internet service providers are becoming the norm. Smart phones, laptops, desktops or any device with wireless capability can access a hotspot. Some wireless access points are free, and others take a monthly fee for access. In urban areas, restaurants, colleges, community areas such as airports offer free wi-fi for the public use.

Join

Internet has become one of the major means of communicating in business, in the news, in media and among many individuals. Every day across the globe it becomes a culture of its own and part of people’s lives. The astronomical amount of data streaming through it in its many forms ensures something is available for anyone in any format if they have a need.

SEE ALSO: Online Security Education Program for Your Employees

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*by andreascy*

What's Ahead in Consumer Electronics

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

It's become almost a cliché to look around at our gadgets and declare ourselves "living in the future," but it does seem now that technology is moving so quickly and exciting innovations come along so frequently that we can barely keep up. Televisions, cars, phones, cameras and more keep improving at such a rapid rate that even the devices we used just a couple of years ago seem nearly obsolete now.

Just what is ahead for us? What are the most thrilling trends in consumer electronics for 2013? We still may not have flying cars or personal jet packs, but constant improvement in memory, speed and overall quality of the electronics we do have means our entertainment and communications just keep getting better. And where one leading brand goes the others follow, so we can be sure that the top-of-the-line features we see in the best products will soon be standard in others as well.

If you like this post, then we suggest to check this link for a full collection of other interesting and insightful infographics.

*by andreascy*

Making The Switch To High Speed Internet

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

These days, it seems everyone wants high speed internet. Fortunately, the infrastructure for cable and DSL internet is widespread enough for almost anyone to have access to these services, but failing that satellite internet is available essentially everywhere. 

10 years ago, dial-up internet was enough for most people's internet surfing needs, but with online video and music streaming gaining in popularity, as well as wanting to stay constantly connected, high speed internet, also called broadband has become the standard for getting online.

What are My Broadband Options?

The three major types of broadband available are cable, DSL and satellite. Cable and DSL both rely on existing infrastructure in your home to bring you internet service, while satellite relies on a receiver provided by your ISP. If you live in an area with 4G mobile data coverage, 4G mobile broadband should also be available to you.

Of the major broadband types, satellite is the slowest but most widely available. If you live far from a city, coverage for broadband internet is often rather spotty, but satellite is available almost everywhere. Satellite service will give you internet that is always on and available, but during peak usage hours the service slows down.

DSL internet service is the most like dial-up internet service of all the broadband options since it uses your existing phone line to bring you fast internet service. It is one of the simplest to switch to from dial-up internet service, since you already have a land-line phone and a phone company, which also will offer DSL service. DSL is always on like all broadband internet, and provides a good price to speed ratio. 

Cable internet is the fastest and most expensive broadband option. Provided by the same company that offers your cable TV service, it is the most feature-rich broadband option, but with this comes a high price. Cable is the best choice for home-based businesses and other heavy use consumers.

Finally, mobile broadband is gaining in popularity, especially in major metropolitan areas. Utilizing the mobile data network that powers your smartphone, this technology lets you use either a dedicated device or your phone linked to your computer to provide broadband internet access. While this service is often expensive for heavy users because of data limits, it is a good option for anyone who wants broadband available to them when they travel as well as at home.

Why Switch?

The world is becoming increasingly connected daily, and having access to the internet when you need it without having to wait is invaluable. While dial-up internet is still cheap and reasonably reliable, fewer and fewer ISPs are offering this option. Finally, with some broadband plans only costing a few dollars more per month than dial-up, there are very few reasons not to make the switch. When you can have access to any of your file sharing, music and video streaming, email, social networks and more when you want it, you will never want to switch back.

It really is a simple matter to transition to high speed internet regardless of if you use dial-up now or have no internet service at home. All the major service providers offer tools online to let you see what coverage is available in your area, and if you don't have internet at home, their customer service centers will help you over the phone. Choose a service that will let you see what options are available for TV, phone and internet at your address. Once you have decided on a plan, there is little else you have to do besides be home for a technician to come by and hook up your new service. When everything is ready to go, you will be connected and able to access the internet whenever you want. 

*by andreascy*

Importance of Search Engine Optimization Training

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Several firms nowadays are discovering the benefits of owning a website for their business. However, competition can be tough among businesses, and it is important for you to maximize online exposure with the right techniques. 

Licence: Creative Commons

For instance, you need to maintain the top ranks in search engine results pages, which can help more people learn more about your business. With Search Engine Optimization training, you can achieve this goal and ensure greater success in your endeavors.

Why SEO Training is Essential

Before you decide to own a website, you might want to consider taking some training courses for SEO that will provide you with necessary knowledge in this field. With an expertise in SEO techniques, you can increase your site's online visibility. Since most individuals use search engines for relevant information, you can boost your chances of gaining new customers when they come across your site.

As internet users look for relevant information from search engines, they are presented with numerous related websites. These people are also likely to check the pages that appear first, and these are usually the most viewed ones, as compared to sites in the next pages. With SEO training, you can apply strategies that can make your site land on the first page or top spot of search engine lists. Moreover, you can maximize your chances of selling your products or services than the other sites in the results pages. 

How to Obtain SEO Training

Training courses for SEO may be obtained in various ways. For instance, you may attend webinars or workshops that are provided by SEO experts. There are online trainings that may be acquired online, and they come with printable or downloadable training materials. Whichever type of training you prefer, you can gain a deeper understanding on SEO basics such as the proper use of link popularity, keyword selection, and internet marketing techniques that go well with SEO.

What to Expect from SEO Training Courses

Training courses differ in the prices and features, so it is important that you choose the best option that meets your needs. The typical price may range between $400 and $2000 per training course, and the amount depends on the credentials of the expert that conducts the seminar. If you wish to be a part of traditional SEO seminars, you should register promptly since some courses have limited seating availability.

While most courses come with a certain fee, you may find seminars that are completely free of charge. A free training course is the ideal option for those who are just starting in their business. Basic information can help you learn how to budget proficiently for your SEO, and you will obtain a strategic plan in managing your business and tracking SEO success.

Bottom Line

Whether you prefer a seminar-type or online training for SEO, you will gain benefits for your business with greater online visibility. SEO skills can help increase traffic towards your site, and this translates to maximum profits for you. With this in mind, you should check out various sources, and find the best provider that will enable you to meet your business goals.

SEE ALSO: The Future Of Link Building Strategies

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*by andreascy*

Office Webinar - How to Track Changes and Copyediting in Word

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Have you ever received a Word document with editing lines? Many publishing houses still edit material in hard copy (as opposed to on screen), which involves using the traditional proofreading and copy-editing symbols. These symbols are obviously not easily understood by the average person, and hard-copy editing also has the disadvantage that it involves the posting "to and fro" of the manuscript/copy through the postal service. 

Considering the speed at which the world operates nowadays, hard-copy editing is quickly becoming redundant. The majority of editing and proofreading is now done on screen. While collaborating with others or making many revisions to your paper, one of the most convenient features in Word is the ability to track changes using Track Changes tool. Documents are sent and received by email and edited on screen, with all amendments highlighted thanks to this wonderful invention.

If you have no idea what Track Changes is, do not worry, it’s actually quite simple to use. The Track Changes feature allows you to keep track of your additions, deletions, and notes while editing a paper. In this webinar, we'll show you how to use the Review tab, learn how to edit, track changes, and work with comments in Word 2010 and Word 2013. 

In short you'll learn: Turning changes on and off, Changes versus comments, Collaborating on a document and Changes for Word 2013.

So How Does That Work?

The Track Changes tool lets you see exactly what alterations someone has made to your work. They appear in a different color to your main text and are underlined.

Right click on any change you want to review. Then choose either 'accept' or 'reject' depending on whether you agree with the change or not.

If you want to approve all the changes without going through them one by one, click the arrow next to the 'approve' button then press 'approve all'. It is as easy as that. Check out the video below for the details.

As an editor, my primary electronic editing tool has always been Microsoft Word’s Track Changes feature. I’d say it works well for the most part but I’d be curious to hear what other editors have to say. Drop me a comment below and let me know what you think. 

Get on the list for free email updates and make sure to subscribe on our RSS feed to receive the latest Office News straight to your feed reader or inbox. The references and links for this Office 15-Minute Webinar are available here. 

*by andreascy* 

Office Webinar - How To Present And Share Docs On The Go

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Hello fellow Office user! Remember the good old days of Windows XP and Microsoft Office 2003? Back then, the usual routine of handling word documents, PowerPoint presentations, and CSV reports was very inefficient and hard to track. 

Collaboration and real time document management was considered theoretically impossible and enterprises had to spend a lot of time, effort, and man hours in creating and managing office documents.

Software improvement and technology has completely changed all this. Businesses or enterprises these days are more dependent on cloud office suites for managing document or spreadsheets, largely because of two reasons:

1. A cloud based office suite is completely flexible in terms of sharing and management: You don’t have to worry about storage and neither you have to worry about loss of data. All the documents are stored in your web account and can be accessed from any computer or mobile device, as long as it is connected to the Internet. 

2. The communication barrier is largely reduced, thanks to the built in sharing and collaborative features: No back and forth emailing, no attachment handling, just a few clicks and your document can be shared with a group of people or collaborators. 

What else? Of course...Emergencies happen too! For example you have a meeting and you can't get in person, but you have some internet access. Well, you can still use Office to be an active part of it.

Today we'll show you on this webinar - broadcast how to present and share your docs from a coffee shop when you can't make that meeting. We'll show you tools in Office for remotely presenting a PowerPoint deck, sharing documents, and connecting with others while you're on the go.

So, what's your experience with Office? What did you find out that you like? A new tool? A shortcut? Leave a comment in the comments below. We’ll tell you our favorites too. 

Don't forget to tweet this post if you like it, or follow us on twitter if you find us interesting. Also, if you need some advice we'd love to help.

Until next time peace and blessings! Thank you for your support! 😊

*by andreascy*

Colocation Hosting for Improved Connectivity

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Connectivity is an important issue for many businesses (e.g in the UK), because the country is still in the process of undergoing a major overhaul to its telecoms infrastructure in order to enable the adoption of next-generation broadband services that will seriously bolster the economy. Super-fast connectivity is necessary to ensure that the nation is competitive on a global stage, but there are many critics who point out that the digital divide remains, with some areas receiving much better levels of service than others.

For a business that requires hosted services in order to operate effectively, connectivity will be a key concern. Without adequate bandwidth on tap to satisfy the needs of both staff members and customers, you could find that productivity levels are hampered and user experiences may be off-putting, resulting in lost sales.

One way to avoid these connectivity-related pitfalls is to switch to a colocation hosting service, which melds the managerial autonomy of in-house set-ups with the bandwidth-oriented benefits of a dedicated, remote solution. So, what are the main reasons why colocation hosting should be chosen by companies looking for improved connectivity?

Speed

By placing your server hardware in a colocation hosting provider's data center, you will be putting it in the best possible place to ensure that it has unfettered connectivity at its beck and call.

Data centers should be specifically designed and located to ensure that they can deliver adequate bandwidth to service all of their customers, which means that you will never feel like you are swimming through treacle in order to access hosted services. You should also expect that the internal networking infrastructure of a data center will perform to the best of its abilities at all times.

Moreover, it is important to remember that you will be harnessing part of a system that is far more capable than anything you might be able to install on site, unless of course you are part of a multinational corporation with burgeoning coffers ready to dedicate to IT spending.

Resilience

Even if your business is able to access an adequate level of connectivity on premises, hosting services locally will require that you are sensitive to the responsibilities which this entails. Downtime is costly and often catastrophic, particularly for smaller firms, so if an outage renders your servers inaccessible you will have to get things up and running as quickly as possible, or face the consequences.

Again, the advantage of colocation hosting in this scenario comes from the use of specialist data centers with durable and often redundant components, which make sure that the chances of connectivity being compromised are as low as possible. Colocation hosting also means that you will not have to deal with telecoms providers, since the data center operator will address any problems at their end.

Scalability

As with other advantages of colocation hosting, the ability to scale the available connectivity to suit the current needs of your business is worth noting. You can expand your bandwidth requirements as and when appropriate, which means things like temporary spikes in usage will not hit a bottleneck that cannot be removed.

Scalability of connectivity allows colocation hosting to suit businesses of all shapes and sizes without giving big companies an advantage or leaving smaller firms with unsustainable costs to bear.

The need for super-fast connectivity will only increase as more and more data and apps need to be hosted, so it makes sense to pick a colocation solution that will provide speed, resilience and scalability in the long term and give your firm the ability to grow at a rate that is not limited by technical annoyances.

RELATED: Dedicated Office Space in Colocation Centers

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*by andreascy*

The Ultimate Electricity & Money Saving Technology - Electromagnetic Motor

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

The tsunami of new "green" energy technologies has come ashore and so have the scams. People all over the world are struggling with the high costs of energy and are looking for new methods for solutions. The well informed and diligent homeowner can find many ways to slash their utility bills by improving efficiency of existing systems.

All too often, the contractor has been nothing more than a con - artist. One such technology packed with incredible promises and unheard of savings, is the Electromagnet Motor. Remember, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

From the replacement of old boilers and furnaces, to the addition of solar voltaic panels and solar hot water units, there are many options when it comes to improving your home performance, prioritizing your utility bills to achieve the highest savings while spending the least is crucial in choosing a home project.

The primary areas of consideration when looking to lower your utilities are:

- Insulation is probably the most overlooked aspect in construction today. Outdated technologies remain the norm in many locations where new innovative products struggle to market their product against the might of the fiberglass industry.

- Often times they will do a free detailed analysis to determine if your home is suffering from a poorly sealed building envelope. Money spent here will have the greatest payoff.

- Heating/cooling Replacing an aging furnace or air conditioner will NOT save you money if insulation hasn’t been optimized. That said, the newer boilers, air conditioners and forced air furnaces run more efficiently than older units. 

- It may be time to look for new technologies for savings. Solar hot water panels use evacuated solar collectors to charge glycol/water mix up to 180 degrees F in the winter. This water can be circulated to use in many types of boiler fed heating systems including radiant floor and baseboard heat.

- If your location and climate permit, landscaping trees for shade in the summer or using wood burning stoves can offset costs some. Lighting this can be as simple as turning them off. It is estimated that over a quarter of home electrical use is due to leaving lights on when not needed.

- If you can’t bear to turn out the lights, buy some new super efficient LED lights or compact fluorescents. These can save huge amounts over the course of a year, but the initial cost can be substantially more than incandescent bulbs. Even with the large investment, the savings of an LED will pay for them over and over as many last over 10,000 hours! So it would be reasonable to assume that to reduce our energy bills one could simply purchase solar panels or a wind turbine to capture the free energy all around us.

- This is a good assumption and with a large savings pay off this can be a good investment. Once again, if the above listed remedies aren’t in order, it will not save much if anything as it can take up to 20 years to pay off. Recently new advances in solar panel efficiency have put them back into the spotlight for viable alternative energy sources. The troubling new trend is the emergence of fly by night scam artists looking to sell unbelievable technology.

- There are many scams out there, but the one receiving the spotlight today is the electric magnet motor. It is claimed that by using rare earth magnets or electromagnets it is possible to make an infinite supply of energy for the home.

- Supposedly the magnets would begin to spin spontaneously and without any outside input, increase the velocity at which the motor spins. This is simply impossible. It violates the basic laws of physics and principles that govern the real world.

- Newton and Leibniz would be rolling in their graves to see some of the claims made on the internet. The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed in an isolated system. Energy can only change state. 

Theoretically, the magnetic motor could work if it gave up mass to the surroundings, but eventually the motor would dwindle down to nothing and would no longer power anything. New technologies are emerging every year to enhance our lives at lower costs. There are many well founded and proven methods that can be used. “Free energy” machines are far from actual cutting edge products and the sellers prey on the desperation of struggling consumers.

*by andreascy*

Essential Dos and Don'ts If Your Computer Has A Virus

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Sometimes computers get viruses. You can be the most vigilant user, but somehow, that one sneaky little piece of code got through, and now your computer is behaving very oddly indeed. 

A lot of people assume that picking up a virus automatically writes off your computer, calling for a complete reinstall, and starting again from scratch. But it isn't always that bad. Below are some crucial things to do (and not do) if you think your computer has picked up a virus.

1. Don't panic

It might not be that bad. Prepare to sit down and spend some time working out how to get the virus out. 

2. Don't email your friends and tell them all about it 

You should definitely not be emailing attachments while your computer is infected, but it's safer to simply not email at all. For one, you don't want to go sharing your virus with your nearest and dearest, and for two, do you really want to be typing in all your log-in details while you have a virus potentially monitoring every key stroke?

3. Don't log in to personal accounts, shop online, or share any personal information 

You might not think it matters if your virus can get into your Facebook account or email, but that might offer it an easy way to spread to others. Shopping online or logging into online banking will offer the virus (or its creator) everything it needs to carry out identity fraud.

4. Don't plug in external media

Most viruses seize every chance to replicate themselves. By plugging in an external hard drive, you might just be offering your virus the opportunity it needs to hide elsewhere. Then, once you've cleaned your computer up, in goes the external hard drive and you’re back to square one. Worse, if you need your backups from it after you've been forced to re-install, you run the risk of losing access to most of your files. 

Of course, you can't go on like this forever, with no email, no banking, no access to files. But this is only a temporary state of affairs while you get to work cleaning the little so-and-so out. 

5. Do isolate yourself on your home or work network 

The last thing you want is to allow the virus to spread to other computers or equipment on the network. But don't simply unplug your computer from the wall - you'll probably need Internet access to remedy the problem. Switch off file sharing and turn off the network discovery function, which should isolate you but still leave you connected. 

6. Do make sure you have all the updates for your OS 

You may find that the gap in your security that allowed the virus in has already been patched, so making sure you have all the relevant updates will a) remove your vulnerability and b) potentially restrict the virus’s impact and ability to spread. 

7. Do update and run your anti-virus

Once you know your anti-virus is up to date, run a full PC scan to make sure it's clean. If you have had any external media plugged in, keep it plugged in and scan that at the same time, to ensure that the virus has nowhere to hide. To be really vigilant, wait a day or so and re-scan, before you plug anything in. 

If all else fails, there is of course the fail-safe - reinstalling your OS. If you need to do that, remember to be careful with your backups. If you keep your files backed up on an external hard drive that's been attached to the infected computer, chances are you will be re-infecting your computer as soon as you try to access them, so it pays to try and keep your external media out of the virus’s way. Just remember - don't panic, and do try to make sure the virus doesn't get a chance to spread. Computer viruses don’t have to destroy everything, so be sensible and follow the advice above to give yourself a fighting chance.

RECOMMENDED: Tightening Android Security Against Data Stealing Applications

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*by andreascy*

Wireless Printing and Why You Need It

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Wireless printing is a technological innovation which is rapidly growing in popularity, and it's easy to see why. Wireless printing really gives conventional wired printing a bit of a 'slap in the face' as it allows you to print to your own printer or a printer of your choice from anywhere. Add to this the fact that you can print from a number of different tech-savvy devices such as laptops, tablets and even mobile phones, and you really have a very beneficial piece of kit at your disposal.

Photograph of wireless printer by dennis and amiee jonez Via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Unlike the back in the old days, where printing involved being connected to a wired network or even connected via a direct line from desktop to printer, today’s printers are far more functional. So, let’s have a look and see how this tech works and how its ease of use can have a positive impact on functionality and ultimately user experience.

Cloud Printing

'Cloud Printing' has become increasingly popular in recent times. You may have already glimpsed an insight into 'the Cloud' through other uses such as in backup and storage in particular. Cloud Printing allows users to connect over the web and use the printer in a way that is somewhat similar to a fax machine. To do this effectively you simply set up a designated printer on the Cloud via software hosted on your computer or phone, and then send what you need to be printed over the internet. One of the most amazing things about this technology is that you don’t need the device to be connected via a wireless network necessarily and you can actually use mobile connectivity to connect and print from your printer with ease.

There is one issue to note with some Cloud Printing apps and that is that not all software works on all manufacturers’ printers and so occasionally it can be quite troublesome trying to link up all sorts of applications, devices and printers, with the whole process being quite confusing. That said, software has improved since the early days of this technology, and continues to do so. Also over the years many third party companies have started to offer full suites of printing options, compatible with a vast range of printers, on just one piece of software.

Mobile Printing

One of the alternatives to Cloud Printing comes in the form of 'Mobile Printing'. Mobile Printing uses wireless technology, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, to connect to the printer directly and send the documents which you require printing, whether these be standard page prints or images. Of course, unlike Cloud Printing, you can’t set up a print from the other side of the world with this form of data transfer as you will need to be within close proximity of your printer to print. That said, there are a number of ups however, and one of these is that as your data is not being sent over the internet it's actually a lot more secure than it would be if it were printed via Cloud Printing. Another thing with Mobile Printing is it can often be a lot faster, and you will not find yourself having to rely and count on the quality and speed of the internet connection in the area where you are.

Most printer manufacturers provide both Cloud and Mobile Printing solutions, and these days buying a printer with these capabilities will seldom cost a lot of money. In the case of both Cloud and Mobile Printing they can really be a benefit to your functionality by making it far easier to print at both work and home.

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*by andreascy*

Important Tips to Keep in Mind When Purchasing a Domain Name

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

What is important to know when the time to buy yourself a domain name comes? 

Nowadays, the world is all about being online. Most of the businesses are available completely in an online format and they are actually a lot more convenient as doing business online doesn’t have to be in person which saves you the trouble of going somewhere. 

Also, there is the factor that online businesses often promote themselves with the help of quite good discounts which actually makes them more than viable competition to the physical stores. Technology advanced quite a lot in the past few years and now having a website that is managed by your company is a pretty important thing as it really boosts up the profits for any business. The website of your company will be something like a gate that you will use to reach your clients and they will use it in order to seek your products or services.

One thing is clear - you need a website in order to be competitive in this Internet age. Whether your business available only online or you have a traditional business which seeks a little support from the web, having a website is quite important. Building a site in general isn’t something that hard. However, deciding on the domain name that is right for your business might be quite tricky as there are some things which you need to keep in mind in order to get the best results from your domain name.

You might say that choosing a name shouldn’t be quite hard. Well, you probably are right, but only partially. Surely choosing a domain name shouldn’t be trouble, but think about the fact that that domain name will be used in the future for reference to your business. A good and successful name will lead to a good and successful business while if you choose second-rate name, people might end up not noticing your website and your business might fall behind the competitors despite its quality.

The most important function of the domain name is to be catchy and to get you a good ranking in the search engines. Getting a good rank in these search engines (Google, Yahoo and etc.) will ensure that your business will be noticed and once someone searches for the merchandise or the service that you offer, your site will pop up and they will be able to purchase from you. Here are a few general tips that will help you choose the best domain name:

1. Names that draw attention, are easy to remember and are catchy are preferable.

2. The shorter, the better as it is quite easy to remember. In any case don’t go over 12 characters.

3. Try using a keyword that relates to your merchandise and company name in the domain name as that helps for search engine rankings.

4. Have another option ready in case the domain name you have chosen is already taken.

5. Get the ‘.com’ extension. It’s the most popular one.

Following those tips will help you choose the best name for your website that will not only bring many customers to you but will make you known amongst your competitors.

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*by andreascy*

How to Setup the Ideal Server Room

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Whether a business or company is large or small, if it has a network of computers than it likely going to need a server room. But not every organization has the means to construct the type of expansive hub filled with wall-to-wall computer banks that are commonly seen in the movies. A server room doesn’t need to be the largest or most well funded, but it does require a good amount of solid design to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.

Those IT professionals embarking on the planning phase of server room construction should focus not only on operational needs but on long-term functionality as well. After all data rooms expand, and if there isn’t enough space to accommodate new equipment then the entire room will prove ineffective. To that end, here are some tips to setting up the ideal hub for IT infrastructure: the server room.

Plan for Space

As mentioned above, IT needs increase the longer an organization is in operation. And although raw space is expensive, that’s no reason to shortchange the server room. It is important to focus on room size when designing the layout of a data center. That said, square footage isn’t the only consideration. IT professionals can maximize space with the proper equipment, including telco racks and enclosed cabinets. And with the advent of smaller servers, oftentimes hundreds of units can fit on a single rack.

Focus on Server Physical Security

Just as it’s important to focus on room size when designing a new server room, it’s also important to focus on room security. Staying abreast of all the new software patches and packs is all for nothing if the room and physical equipment are not secure. That means implementing strict policies regarding the server room, such as only allowing authorized personnel in the area at all times. And while keycard security systems are certainly effective, other more advanced systems, such as handprint recognition, provide the ultimate piece of mind.

Security also extends to safety, and to this end proper fire and water-detection systems should be installed in the server room.

Consider the Environment

The manufacturers of server equipment set strict environmental limits, and it is important to adhere to these limits absolutely. Those running servers in an environment heavy with severe weather, such as hurricanes or lightning storms, would do well to install a generator capable of backing up the UPS in the case of a power outage.

Invest in Server Monitoring

As the nerve center of an organization, the server room is functionally a living organism and thus needs to be constantly monitored to ensure good health. To this end, it’s vital to install software systems that monitor every aspect of the data center, from servers to network traffic. Modern monitoring software also allows for notices to be sent to mobile devices, which is ideal.

Spring for Cabling

Most in the IT business will recommend those designing a server room to make the speed of the connections as fast as their budget will allow. Those who skimp on cable quality usually regret it down the line when they find their overall IT needs are not being met. Nothing less than category 6 cabling is recommended for the server room, and it should be installed by a professional organization that provides a comprehensive warranty.

As for cable location, under the floor is always ideal. Cable pathways under a raised floor (12” or so) prevent tangles. They can also be disconnected and connected from equipment quickly and don’t get in the way when equipment needs to be moved.

Maintain the Correct Server Temperature

This is one of the most important things to consider when designing a server room, as incorrect temperatures can lead to total equipment failure. Servers are sensitive, and thus operate in a narrow temperature range. General recommendations state that temperatures should not be above 82 degrees or below 50 degrees. Those who want to ensure accurate temperatures can invest in a monitor, which measures temperatures all the time, including nights and weekends.

In the end, the importance of proper server room design is crucial. Once the room is in business, it’s only a matter of time before something needs to be added or moved around. By implementing the above tips into the design, IT professionals can ensure a secure server room that is also flexible.

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5 Hot Mobile Apps for Small Businesses

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

If you own or operate a small business, the last thing you want to do is waste your precious time. You might always be looking for savvy tools that can make not just your business but also your life run more smoothly. 

All that you need is a simple mobile application that can help you plan, organize and communicate. Fortunately, there are mobile apps for Android and Apple devices designed to simply your daily business operations. Here are the five hot mobile apps that small businesses like you should have. 

Dropbox 

This mobile app allows you to take your documents with you right on your tablet, phone or computer. It provides 2GB free storage and any document you saved into this app will be saved automatically on all of your devices. This makes it easier for you to share the documents with your colleagues. It is a great mobile app because everything is saved to the cloud instead of to your devices and this means that you documents can be accessed anywhere there is internet connection whether at home or in the office. Even if you lose your device, your document remains secure. 

TripIt 

Using this mobile app, you will be able to organize and share your personal and business travel. All you need to do is hit forward on your hotel, flight and car rental confirmation emails and this app will turn that information on one convenient itinerary. This is an app you will like as it lets you share your itinerary and this means that your colleagues will be in the loop. In addition, admins can create trip itineraries as well for other travelers. 

Mint 

This application for your mobile device organizes your expenses into categories. You will be able to view your spending in a convenient place on your phone or computer. Mint helps in keeping your budget on track with mobile and email alerts and even reminders on bills. 

Evernote 

With this app, you will never have to forget something again on your to-do list. You can simply save all your to-do’s, ideas and notes across your mobile devices. Aside from that, you can also record voice reminders and upload photos. This app is well loved by many small business owners as it allows them to access their notes from anywhere using multiple devices. This will make it easier for them to add notes on your computer and access them from their mobile devices such as phones and tablets while on the road. 

Shoeboxed 

This mobile application mainly works by tracking and reading receipt. Using this mobile app, you can now turn massive piles of receipts into digital files for easier expense reporting, bookkeeping, accounting and preparation of tax. This is a good app to use for small business owners as it can help you save a lot of time looking through all your paper receipts. It is useful during tax season as it stores your information and makes it readily available for you. 

These are a few of the many mobile apps available for small businesses. Managing your business and ensuring everything runs smoothly is possible using these apps. 

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