How to Speed up your Slow Computer

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Sometimes it turns out to be really frustrating when you try to work on your PC and it doesn’t function smoothly, in turn the speed and the performance is really slow. Does it affect you?

If it does then you might be one of those who search for a solution to tackle this problem. Here are a few general tips that might help you in increasing your system’s performance and in turn speed it up to get the best possible results:

-- There are many people like you and me that install many useless programs in our PC there are chances that we never use these programs. If there are any such programs in your computer that you do not use then get rid of it and remove them from your PC. This might be of a great help in cleaning up the junk and thus help in increasing your system’s speed and performance.
-- Any program that is installed on your computer uses a lot of registry and thus it decreases your computer’s speed. There are lots of registry cleaners that are available near you, getting those would really help you in getting your computers registry safe and clean thus helping in increasing your computer’s speed. Cleaning your registry is very important if you have to keep your PC in the best performing condition.
-- The disk volumes should be defragmented well so that there is less time consumed when you out to search anything or any folder n your system, there are chances that at times when you haven’t defragmented your PC well then the search or even opening up of the drives may take longer time than you thought of.
-- There are any files may be in y\the recycle bin or even the old chkdsk files that can be a threat to the sped and performance of your computer, so proper disk clean up is the best solution to tackle such problems so that they don’t bother you much.

Computer is a device that is used mostly o do your work faster safer and in a much better way so its your duty to see that this device works properly and check out the probable flaws that might affect the working so get rid of them use tools like the Reg fix, registry cleaner and other tools that help you maintain a clean and fast working computer.

Should I hide my IP Address?

Hiding your IP address is an absolutely normal thing to do. It is the same as you conceal your other personal information like your address, your phone number, your credit cards numbers from unknown people. IP address can also be accessed by unknown people, so if you want to set privacy restrictions you can hide your IP address.
You should hide your IP address if you do these activities on the net:

1. If you regularly visit blogs,
2. If you are a regular at forums and chats,
3. If you like to write articles on the net,
4. If you want to make your ICQ secure,
5. If you want to make your mail box secure,
6. If you like to play online games,
7. If you want to use popular torrents,
8. If you are a frequent visitor of social websites like Myspace and Facebook,
9. If you exchange sensitive information over the net that you do not want to be leaked,
10.If you want t stay protected on the web.

You may believe that the web is perfectly safe and that since you are not the owner of a big firm, nobody would be interested in your activities. But the truth is that there are many people who want to know what you do and who you are. These are advertisers, marketers, providers and the websites themselves. They want to know about the sites you like to visit, your emails, your interests, your location and so on. And what’s worse is that they have a legal right to do so. But you have a right to protect your privacy too.

You can hide your IP address with the help of proxy server or any other software or tool available. These days there are plenty of such tools available on the Internet. There are both free ones and paid ones. A proxy server accesses different servers on your behalf using its own identification so that y

7 Business Advantages Of Offering Data Security

1. Protection of Valuable Information

Valuable information must be protected. Information is one of the most valuable assets of any enterprise, no matter what kind of product you are developing to handle it: a custom software or in-house automation solution. Its protection is a vital part of IT infrastructure. Make your life easier by integrating security into the solution.

2. Keeping Ahead of Competitors

Stay ahead of competition. Be in the first row of software manufacturers, who build their applications with security in mind. Any software is more welcome, when it fits into existing business processes. Adding another level of data protection is always viewed as a benefit, while its lack is a serious disadvantage.

3. Expanding Into New Markets

Adding security to typical applications is a way to expand the business into new markets. For example, adding a security to you LAN communication application may give you an access to government or military market.

4. Caring About Clients

Offering security drives sales. When you offer security in your software as a bonus, your clients will feel that you really care about their well-being.

5. Reduced Costs of Development

Plugging security into your application beforehand reduces development and support time. Sooner or later you will face the necessity to add security features to your solution. The later you do this, the more code you will have to modify. Inadvertent data loss caused by insecure software may cost you significant money and time lost in courts. This will make you think about adding security anyway.

6. Software Interoperability

By adding security you will improve different software systems interoperability. Some developers choose custom data storage and exchange formats, thinking that they are faster to implement. Later it turns into additional expenses, when proper communication with other applications becomes a must. A lot of resources will be spent on changing formats or creation of data converters. Use of standard security enabled data storage formats and data exchange protocols ensures widest possible interoperability.

7. Meeting Current Standards

In order to be reliable and up-to-date, a software needs to follow current standards. One of the widespread and important standard is requirement of software security. In the majority of industries data protection is a must, and your software should follow these standards to be adequate to current demands.

What is Spyware and Adware?

Halfway working through using your computer you found that your machine is giving you a very sudden slow performance. It does not indicate you early enough but by the time you know it, your system is already as slow as s tortoise with something running secretly in the background.

If you still insist that you are not noticing anything weird happening to your system, then you will soon see a pile of pop up advertisements whenever you open a new page in your browser. Colleagues start to hint you with the possibility of spyware attacks on your system, and hurry you to try the latest anti spyware programs.

It sounded so familiar. Spywares are usually programs that are installed in a system without the acknowledgement of the user. Usually spread while the user is installing freeware or shareware, which are often downloaded free from the net. Other ways of spreading also includes fooling the users to install the spyware instead of the software they wanted to install at first.

Many spywares actually logs user information such as webpage they visited, or the types of webpage they usually visit. Advertisements are then sent to the user's computer, appearing as pop ups that annoys users whenever they click their intended page. Clicking on the pop up windows might just bring them to more spyware infested sites.

Spywares causes the computer to slow down drastically. It takes up resources without the knowledge of the user, running on the background, sending and retrieving data between the user's computer and the company that sent out the spyware to log user's information. Low in memory, slow processor speeds, and also a decrease in network traffic is what expected to be happening in a spyware hit computer.

To avoid getting spywares is easy. Rely only on trusted freewares from re known companies. Never try to click on a pop up advertisement. If a suspected ware is running in your computer, use a spyware detector such as Spybot Search and Destroy to find out the culprit.

Computer Monitoring – Annoying?

Imagine the situation when you are happily working to your current project using the PC in front of you, then came a popup message notifying you of a new email have been received from a colleague. Seeing the 'Urgent' label across the mail you clicked it open to find it to be a gossip about your boss's weird looking necktie is all wrong with his pink blazer and blue slacks. Soon you see both of you being called into your boss's office facing your ugly nightmare.

Because of the terminal monitoring software installed in your computer. Making it a chance for your boss to monitor your every email you've sent or received using your desktop. It may be just pure luck for your boss to notice this funny email, or it is there on purpose to catch gossipers around.

Yes it is wrong to not paying attention while working, but at least better than using the computer to commit crimes or threats. Monitoring an employee's work desktop should not be that strict until it is not possible to let employees having at least some freedom of using the company's resource.

Privacy, defined as information being shared within a secluded group of people or alone, should not be invaded, either in both real world or on this scenario, virtually. Employers have the right to monitor your mailbox for worrying the leak of company secrets or so, but taking things like the case above this seriously will only cause a workgroup to be working involuntarily.

This is not only happening in the workplace, but also in schools, homes, and even cyber cafes. Schools with computer laboratories often imply strict monitoring methods to avoid students accessing harmful websites such as online pornography, bomb making sites, and sites full of viruses and worms. We can see the need of computer monitoring here but blocking out online messenger services within friends, or even doing a research about 'Sextuplet

Protecting your Online Security-Internet Scams

Internet scams or fraud usually refer to any fraud schemes that utilizes single or multiple online services which may include e-mails, chat rooms, or Web sites. They are designed to commit deceitful solicitations, transactions, or transmission of fraud to financial institutions or related schemes.

The most popular type of internet scam surrounds small and valuable which have broad appeal products such as laptops, hand phones, cameras, and jewelry. These products are sold at low prices to perceive people so that they classify these as low risk items in accordance with the cost.

These types of scams are usually done on electronic marketplaces, most notably E-Bay. Customers become victims when they bid or purchase an item that never really exists, as bank and credit card information is given blindly. There have also been incidents where crackers managed to obtain huge amounts of information of credit cards from companies' database, thanks to the company's employees who sold this information.

Another form of popular internet scams are internet investment scams. This occurs when users are sent an e-mail or given a message stating that they have won an amount of money, but at the same time they will request for a payment to cover the advertising fees or simply your bank information. Truth is it's a scam and they will run away with the money should you decide to pay it.

There are several ways to avoid these scams. One way is to know who you are dealing with. If you find that the seller is unfamiliar, verify with the organization the seller claims to be working with. Do not trust in easy money-making schemes advertised. These are most definitely scams, especially when they claim you do not need work, credit, etc. Also think twice when entering a contest organized by mysterious companies, as they can steal info from entry forms.

Unless you really have to pay for something, never give out your credit card or bank details. Though you won't realize it, you may never know if it may fall to a third party. There are a load of other internet scams on the web today. You can only hope that you trust the right parties whenever you are online.

Protecting your Online Security-Virus

Viruses are computer programs which copy themselves and infect the computer without the user's knowledge. One of the many ways viruses are spread from one computer to another is over the network or Internet.

These viruses infect file systems on the network and when another computer accesses the file system, it too gets infected. These online viruses come in the form of 'worms' and 'Trojan horse', just to name a few. These are the two common viruses that are transmitted online. 'Worms' spread themselves to other computers without being part of a host, while a Trojan horse may seam harmless.

Yet both have vastly different damaging effects. Worms do not actually harm a computer system's hardware or software, while a Trojan horse can be extremely harmful in more ways than one when executed.

Viruses come in various forms unknown to many people. Most are file downloads uploaded by other users, or commonly known as file-sharing. The problem with these files is that they are not copyright protected, thus have no certificate. This makes it easier for viruses to infect the file. Users also have difficulty in deciding whether to download a specific file because a virus can infect almost anything, especially online software products that claim to be free.

To protect your computer from viruses, the most basic thing that can be done is installing anti-virus software. Different anti-virus software can detect different viruses. You may find that when you change anti-virus software on your computer the new anti-virus may detect virus on your computer that has been there for a long time but never picked up by your old anti-virus. So be sure to check with the suppliers to determine which anti-virus to use with your computer.

If you find that you may not be able to remove a virus using your anti-virus software because its effect has been dealt deep into your system, you will need to use system restore. Only available on Windows ME, XP, and Vista, you can reboot your system to an earlier date, thus rendering the system.

Worse come to worse, you will need to re-install your operating system. This process reformats the operating system (OS) and installs the OS from its original media. This method is guaranteed to remove any virus on y

Protecting Your Online Security-Phishing

Computer Phishing involves attempts to fraudulently acquire personal information on a particular website usually made accessible through e-mails. These may include passwords, usernames, as well as credit card and bank account details.

There are three types of Phishing techniques used online. The first one is called 'Link manipulation'. Through this method phishers use a form of technical deception where a link in an e-mail appears to belong to a genuine website, but in truth the website is a fake representation of the link. These links are made deceivable as phishers use misspelled URLs or sub domains.

The second type of Phishing is called filter evasion. Filter evasion involves the use of images instead of text to redirect users to a website. This type of Phishing is harder to detect for anti-phishing filters because these filters are normally programmed to detect text commonly used in phishing e-mails.

Website forgery is the third type of online phishing. This process occurs when the user visits or is redirected to a website. Once there, the contents of the address bar are modified to a new URL which is a spoof link. This is done by either placing a picture over the URL or by replacing the original address bar with a new one containing a legitimate URL.

Once these phishers manage to obtain the user's personal information such as credit card details or social security numbers, they can create fake accounts under the user's name, thus ruining their credit or deny them access to their own accounts.

The most common way of combating phishing is by eliminating phishing e-mails. This is done by specialized spam filters where they rely on machine learning and natural learning processes to classify phishing e-mails.

Another way is to install anti-phishing features as extensions or toolbars for web browsers. These add-ins will then monitor websites and warn you when a spoof website is detected. The best way to combat phishing is if the user is able to recognize phishing websites and e-mails. If you receive an e-mail saying that an account needs to be verified, always try verifying the e-mail, because most are spoof e-mails. Phishing is becoming an extremely popular way of online fraud because of the modern browsing habits of users, surfing the web freely without caution. It is important that you keep track of your own online activities to combat this problem.

Tokenless Two Factor Authentication Ensures Secure Remote Access

Network security requires a solid offensive and defensive strategy that addresses the volatile and dynamic state of internet threats, man-in-the-middle attacks and the ever evolving list of vulnerabilities facing organizations today. The old notion of 'you are only as strong as your weakest link', rings true now more than ever.

As such, two factor authentication has become not just a method of security, but truly a requirement for a multi-layered approach to security. Secure remote access that is legitimate without being cumbersome to network users or administrators is a necessity among viable and mobile workforces.

Tokenless two factor authentication solutions are an improvement on the traditional choices, which eliminate the vulnerability associated with lost or stolen tokens or other PKI authentication issues subject to attack by viruses and other malicious programs. In addition, tokenless solutions greatly eliminates any cost barriers that previously existed, especially among large enterprises.

Ensuring that the tokenless two factor authentication solution selected is reliable and easy to deploy is also essential. Many security products claim that they are easy and effective, but often times the infrastructure is so awkward and unmanageable in large networks. It's one thing if a security product is easy for a network admin to navigate and operate, but it should also be one that requires very little end-user education in order to truly work and be used as its intended. As security can be extremely expensive, especially for large organizations, tokenless solutions not only address the usability issue, but the cost factor as well. Tokens are very costly and are still subject to be lost, damaged, stolen or loaned to outsiders.

With tokenless two factor authentication solutions, an end-user logs in to a secure authentication server to register a password. At that point they are then given a one time password through an alternative medium, such as text message, email or phone, where they are required to answer a series of security questions. Once the user has successfully completed this process, they are authenticated with a certificate granting them VPN access.

Typically the components involve something you know, questions that only you know the answer to and something you have. When leveraging out-of-band registration another layer is added, requiring that the user have access to the outside medium, (their cell phone, email, etc).

Tokenless two factor authentication is just that, a security solution that requires more than one thing to authenticate a user and grant network and web-application access without an expensive and vulnerable token hindering the security process. The beauty of tokenless two factor authentication is the reduced expense. The sheer cost of supplying and replacing users with tokens can deter even the most security minded organizations, it just simply isn't feasible on a large scale. The biggest problem associated with tokens is you have to have the physical token in order to be granted access. Many users are so paranoid about losing or not being able to find their token when they need it that they carry the token with their laptop, some even adhere it directly to the pc. Now, not only is the individual laptop subject to unwanted access is found in the wrong hands, but the entire organization's network is at risk too.

With tokenless two factor authentication, these risks and extensive costs are removed, while the level of security an organization experiences benefits from out-of-band registration authentication.

Top 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Computer Viruses

As more and more people are becoming comfortable using their computers at school, home or in the office it’s only a matter of time before they encounter a computer virus. Here are our top 10 steps to protect you from computer viruses.

Use a high quality anti-virus program. There are many different anti-virus computers programs on the market some of them are better than others. Look to reputable computer magazines or websites for ratings to help you find the one that matches your needs.

Always use your anti-virus software. Make sure your anti-virus software is always turned on and scanning, incoming and outgoing email messages, and any software programs you run.

Keep your antivirus programs up to date. Most programs come with a yearly subscription make sure you take advantage of the updates. More advanced programs allow you to schedule updates or full system scans for “off hours” like 2AM when you aren’t likely to be using your computer.

Keep your computer up to date. From time to time operating systems fall victim to security holes or issue updates. Make sure you check periodically to make sure you are running stable up to date versions of your software.

Backup your data regularly. Most windows computer users keep their documents in the “My documents” folder. This makes it easy to back up all of your important documents. Make weekly or monthly copies to CD or USB drives.

If you use floppy disks or USB drives on public computers like your school computer lab, Kinko’s, or even digital photo printing store make sure you scan them for viruses. Public computers are notorious for not being up to date and properly protected.

Be wary of email attachments. Treat any email attachment as potentially dangerous. Never open attachments from people you weren’t expecting. Also be careful of attachments from people you know but weren’t expecting. Many computer viruses replicate themselves by reading the contacts from an infected computer.

Use text email if possible. While HTML email is prettier and allows you more control over formatting it also can carry computer viruses. If you use text based email the only way to get a virus is by opening an attachment.

Use downloaded freeware and shareware files or software with caution. Try to download them from popular reputable sources that scan the programs before they are uploaded. To make sure you are safe scan the program before you install it on your computer.

Be wary of links in IM or instant messaging software. Don’t accept invitations from people you don’t know and never click a link from someone you don’t trust, they can easily redirect you to another website that will try to install a virus on your computer system.

Traditional Antivirus Programs Useless Against New Unidentified Viruses!

Most traditional antivirus programs rely on their database. Potentially hazardous files are matched against the database to see whether they are to be considered safe or not. Since a new virus can spread worldwide within a few hours it can cause severe damage to your computer long before the manufacturer of the antivirus program identifies the virus and updates the database. You also need to go online to import the manufacturers' database to you antivirus program, which means that your computer will be online totally unprotected. The new Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 however, contains TruPrevent Technologies: a new system designed to protect your computer against unknown viruses and intruders.

Every now and then you can read about a new virus and the damage it causes. The millions of viruses cost companies each time they strike. It is however not only companies that are suffering from the damages caused by viruses. A virus can be just as damaging if not more for a private Internet user by destroying important documents, family pictures and everything else you keep on your computer. Therefore should no home computer be without good virus protection software. This way you can protect your computer and yourself from losing data, corrupted hard drives and a number of other problems. There are several antivirus programs available of which some are free and some are not. You should however always remember that you might get what you paying for, meaning that the service and the updates might be better for the paid alternatives and thereby protect your computer better.

When using a virus program you should try to find one that is fast, reliable and able to discover as many viruses as possible. Whether it is fast or not might seem unimportant if you don't use your computer that much, but you will find that an anti virus program that scans your computer faster will be used more frequently and thereby giving you a better protection. If an anti virus program should be effective when protecting your computer it needs to be able to recognize all viruses, and since new viruses are constantly created this means that the database for the program has to be constantly updated. You should therefore consider how often the different antivirus programs update their databases when choosing which antivirus program to get. You should always make sure to keep your virus program up-to-date.

One of the best antivirus programs on the market today is Panda Active Scan Anti Virus Software Online which has an unrivalled capacity for detecting viruses and other threats online which is the most common path for viruses to reach our computer. Almost all viruses today are spread through the Internet. Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 is easy to install and once it is installed it finds and remove viruses automatically. Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 also automatically updates itself if you want it to. In other words: Panda Anti Virus is an anti virus program that manages itself and makes sure that it is up to date and able to keep your computer safe from viruses. Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 scans your entire computer, including the program itself, to make sure that a virus can't infect any part of the computer. Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 doesn't just search for virus, it also search your computer for a number of other security risks like spy wares and Trojans.

Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 contains TruPrevent Technologies. TruPrevent Technologies is a system designed to help Panda Anti Virus protect your computer against unknown viruses and intruders. The user can choose whether they want to use TruPrevent Technologies or not. The technology has been implemented to allow Panda Anti Virus to protect your computer against new virus since a new virus can spread worldwide within a few hours. The TruPrevent Technologies allows Panda Anti Virus to detect and block viruses even if they are not yet included in the virus database. This allows Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 to keep your computer safe against all viruses and not only the ones that are already identified, since you might encounter a new virus despite the fact that Panda updates their database at least once a day. Old antivirus programs - and most of the modern antivirus programs as well - can only protect you against already identified viruses. The ability to protect against unknown viruses is what Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 a superior choice for an anti virus program.

Panda Titanium Active Scan Anti Virus 2005 does not only offer superior security and very user friendly functionality. It also comes with tech support where experts answer any questions that might arise.

Looking for the best sourced help regarding computer security

Looking for the best sourced help regarding computer security. When you're in the hunt for top-quality advice concerning computer security, it will be intricate sorting out the best information from poorly sourced computer security proposals and help so it is important to recognize ways of judging the information you are offered.

What follows next are a few tips that we believe you should use when you're searching for information regarding computer security. You need to realize the advice we offer is only appropriate to internet info about computer security. We do not give you any tips or guidance if you are receiving information offline.

An excellent tip to follow when you're presented with help or advice concerning a computer security webpage is to ascertain who owns the site. This may show you the people behind the site computer security credentials The fastest way to determine who owns the computer security website is to look on the 'contact' page or 'about this site' information.

All respectable sites giving you information on computer security, will always have contact information which will provide you with the owner's details. The details should make known some advice concerning the owner's requisite knowledge. You can then decide for yourself about the webmaster's training and understanding, to advise people on the subject of computer security.
Looking for the best sourced help regarding computer security. When you're in the hunt for top-quality advice concerning computer security, it will be intricate sorting out the best information from poorly sourced computer security proposals and help so it is important to recognize ways of judging the information you are offered.

What follows next are a few tips that we believe you should use when you're searching for information regarding computer security. You need to realize the advice we offer is only appropriate to internet info about computer security. We do not give you any tips or guidance if you are receiving information offline.

An excellent tip to follow when you're presented with help or advice concerning a computer security webpage is to ascertain who owns the site. This may show you the people behind the site computer security credentials The fastest way to determine who owns the computer security website is to look on the 'contact' page or 'about this site' information.

All respectable sites giving you information on computer security, will always have contact information which will provide you with the owner's details. The details should make known some advice concerning the owner's requisite knowledge. You can then decide for yourself about the webmaster's training and understanding, to advise people on the subject of computer security.

Malware...A New Threat

The Internet and to some extent you email can contain hazardous materials that pose a risk to your computer. As time passes these threats become increasingly dangerous as they can be programmed not just to steal data and files from your computer and/or networks but programmed with the intent and ability to steal your personal information as well, making you a victim of identity theft.

The key to safety on online safety is not just strong antivirus and antispyware utilities but education as well. Though the majority of antivirus applications update their definitions on a regular basis these programs more or less perform such updates in response to newly discovered threats so in this sense you’re security software may not be enough to ward off possible threats.

One should be equally as cautious when dealing with emails. Many unscrupulous emails these days are masked to appear as though they come from someone you know. As such is the case even more experienced users may have a difficult time in discerning which emails are legitimate contacts and which are not. As with browsing the internet, Desktop Security programs may not be enough to stop such threats.

Take for example one of the newest and most dangerous threats. This new phishing email was designed with one sole purpose, which is to mimic the Salesforce Identity Confirmation feature and collect usernames along with passwords that will allow devious individuals to access online bank accounts and even credit agencies. This new threat functions as many others have in the past by coaxing the recipient into opening an attachment that might appear to some as legitimate and then by installing malware into the recipients computer..

These attachments have commonly been reported as being one of the following, “form.zip” or “UpdateIElink.zip”, though other names are likely to be reported at some point. As a general rule attachments from even valid contacts should be scrutinized to avoid any problems they may cause but identifying these two types of attachments should prompt you to delete the email immediately. Once deletion of the email and attachment has been completed one should consider running a thorough scan using their elected Security Management software. This will serve as a double check and should pick up any problems the email may have caused.

Should a user already have saved and opened the attachment, disconnection from any network said computer is on should be top priority. This can help prevent infection from spreading and limit any possible damage to one machine. Once this step has been completed passwords to banking, credit, and shopping websites should promptly be changed and kept not on the computer but on a notepad somewhere as most Internet Security publishers will not offer a solution to a new threat for close to 72 hours.

In cases like this where PC Security programs may not be able to detect such a threat, knowledge is the best defense against such things. Though there may be no solution that will remove a threat like this as of yet, one should always have security protocols in place and running as a first line of defense. If and when any of these should fail for an individual it is advisable to take the measures mentioned previously and utilize another computer temporarily, at least until your programs definitions receive the update it needs to detect and eradicate a threat such as this.

Internet users be wary. Though many of us now rely on PC Security Software to handle these types of things for us you’ll always want to keep in mind that the individuals responsible for malicious attacks are usually one step ahead of the rest of us and endeavor to prey on uneducated masses of internet users. It is for this reason alone that all of us, even those of us with profound experience should always stay educated about such topics.

How Secure is Your PC Security Software?

The majority of computer and internet users have always been vulnerable to viruses, spyware, and in extreme cases, data and file theft. Though computer technologies continue to evolve at a rapid rate it seems as though the level of internet and computer proficiency remains the same with most users remaining unaware of just how serious security threats to their personal data actually are.

There have always been threats to ones privacy, data, and files while surfing the internet but in this day and age the threats have become not only more abundant but more serious in nature as well. In days past most internet surfers would likely find themselves contending with simple Trojan horses, worms, and little nuisances. In today's high speed world many of us worry about much more menacing and unscrupulous threats such as viruses and malware that hand our personal information over to those who would use it for their own personal gain and profit.

When we think of Computer Security we often find ourselves thinking about how threats have changed over the years and how most users will find themselves unaware and uneducated about such things. Those of us who are savvy about such things will undoubtedly tell you that good PC Security Software along with continuing education will be the best defense against modern threats while those that are inexperienced about this area will undoubtedly find themselves with PC's that function with minimal protection and in many cases resources too. Regardless of education and experience users at both ends of the spectrum will want and need a good security application to keep their computers running smooth and free from threats.

One could certainly argue in these times that it is difficult to find not only reputable PC Security Software but software that is comprehensive as well. Mass produced computers are generally come prepackaged with software that offers very little protection against modern day threats. In addition to this, the general populace doesn't even know that the security software has been included and the few that do, will never figure out how to utilize such tools. For those individuals who build their own machines or are tech savvy, choosing an application for Computer Securityis equally as challenging. Savvy users are already aware that many of the popular and mainstream programs only offer partial security and must often be used in conjunction with other programs to have a complete security diagnostic performed. This can be a time consuming process that most users have no patience for but are left with no choice.

Those concerned with threats to their PC and their personal data should consider an alternative to the programs they are currently using. eEye is known throughout the cyber world as a company that produces superior Computer Security applications and continues to grow in popularity as a result of their high end security programs. Upon visiting the eEye website one will find that they are presented with not one but four different types of PC Security Software, so there is something here for every type of user.

First up is Blink Personal Edition. Blink not only delivers the best in endpoint security but will also replace all of the other endpoint programs you're running. Blink does what all your other programs do but does it in one program, protecting you from all known exploits and zero day attacks! If that's not enough to get you interested, Blink is available as a free download directly from eEye. Blink is great for the home and for business as it's the most comprehensive piece of endpoint software you'll find.

Retina is the next product available from eEye. Retina functions as a network security scanner and identifies all vulnerabilities but also provides risk assessments allowing you to make the best decisions as to how to treat the threat, remove it and modify your security practices.

Iris is eEye's Network Traffic Analyzer. Iris will help you identify what and where your traffic is coming from and if it's a threat. Within Iris one will find integrated forensics reporting and packet sniffing which further give you and your network the protection it needs.

Last up in eEye's arsenal of PC Security Software isSecureIIS. SecureIIS delivers the very best in integrated Windows web server protection and will provide you with high end protection against zero day attacks as well as every other type of exploit.

Looking for Powerful PC Protection?

Most computer users have only a vague understanding of what PC protection really means. Terms such as malicious code, pharming, spamming, spyware, flooding, DNS spoofing, buffer overflows and a slew of other terms bewilder and stupefy the masses. Today most computers come preloaded with security software claiming protection against viruses, identity theft and a host of other security issues. But for the average computer user, these programs offer little more than a false sense of security.

The old saying, "what you don't know, won't hurt you," does not apply to the world of internet security. Daily victims fall prey to identity theft, spyware, botnet schemes, viruses and unknown malware. The bigger issue is not so much that people are ignorant to these threats, but the security programs that claim protection fall short when it comes to complete PC protection.

If you're looking for comprehensive PC security that is user friendly, take a look at Blink® made by eEye Digital Security. Blink has won a number of awards recently making it one of the top rated endpoint security products. Since Blink is made by the company that brought vulnerability research to the forefront of the computer industry, it is no surprise the number of threats, vulnerabilities and types of internet attacks that are stopped by Blink's security technology.

As reported in Information Security last month, Blink is the "clear leader in identifying client-side attacks." The problem with most security programs is that in order to block an attack, virus or threat, it has to be known and programmed to look for that specific threat. What's unique with Blink's protection, is that it protects based on the classes of attacks as well as specific attack identifiers. This approach allows computers to be protected from known attacks in addition to providing PC protection from unknown malware and zero-day attacks. Zero-day attacks prove to be some of the more critical threats to enterprises, as they prelude patches or fixes. According to the Information Security review, Blink was the only product that successfully defended all the zero-day exploits of third-party applications, while companies such as IBM's ISS, Sophos, McAfee, Trend Micro, and Symantec "allowed zero-day attacks."


Blink is available as a free product, downloadable via eEye's website. The free version provides significant PC protection and offers antivirus plus antispyware technology, online identity protection, built-in firewall protection, missing patch protection, unauthorized activity protection, automatic updated PC protection, shields computer settings all the while offering improved computer performance. The lightweight security agent enables ultimate protection without slowing down processing or connection speeds. Users can also upgrade to even more robust versions of Blink, ideal for home networks or corporate offices.

Blink Professional offers integrated endpoint security plus comprehensive host-based intrusion prevention. Blink's layered approach to PC security, includes a copy of eEye's comprehensive Retina security scanner, designed to search for and discover several hundred security flaws as well as propose fixes.

Computer Security: a Matter of Concern and Tips to Avoid Trouble

With so much of today’s business being transacted online, computer security is a major issue affecting businesses and consumers. For online businesses, there can be problems in the form of stolen credit card information, mailing or personal information. If you are selling information, your content may be hacked into and copied. This affects the business and customer adversely, since the customer is likely to blame the online business. This erodes the image of your business and discourages other customers from trusting you with their information. No one likes their email inbox to be bombarded with viruses and spam. If they feel that your site has something to do with it, your business and reputation will suffer long term damage. To avoid problems with your business’s computer security, follow the guidelines listed below.

Never allow external storage devices – Do not permit anyone to take data out of your system in any form of external storage device, such as floppy disks, CDs etc. for any reason. Obviously, this compromises your safety and that of your customers.

Limit employee access – Restrict employee access to files, folders and areas within the system that they require in their day to day work. Do not allow anyone to gain access to any information that they do not require. Make sure that you install systems that lock out employees who do not have authorization.

Third party outsourcing – Outsource your payment system to a third party such as PayPal, so that your liability is reduced in case of any computer security problems. This third party will have the necessary technological support to ensure that the customer and your business are safe. But to be sure of this, you will need to do a thorough check on your selected provider or choose a reputable one.

Check on your technology vendor – It is important to ensure that your technology vendor has taken steps to protect the server and the software in your system appropriately with firewalls etc. If it is possible and affordable, look into getting a third party security audit of the system from both ends – the server provider & the software at your end since leaks may be from either end. Pages that contain sensitive data should be appropriately protected with software security locks.

Newsletter email lists – If you have a newsletter, make sure that your online business keeps its mailing list secure and that no recipient can tamper with it or gain access to the list. This is essential in protecting the privacy of your customer information.

Affiliations with reputable associations – Form affiliations with trusted business and computer security organizations, such as BBB online, to ensure that customers feel safe coming to your site. The additional benefit of this is the identification of any flaws in the security through a check up.

Educate customers – It is imperative to educate your customers about computer safety. Ensure that they know your online business will not send them emails soliciting information and that if they receive any such mail, they should report it to you at once.

Content – Protect your content by ensuring that it is safe behind firewalls and other applications that prohibit unauthorized entry. As for public content, simply provide your visitors with updated and informative content regularly since good quality cannot be copied.

In Reality, Spyware is Always a Threat

I received a spam email the other day and the subject said "Tired of reality shows? Make your own!"

Of course I deleted it and proceeded to go about my online chores, but later that email got me thinking, what if there was a 'Online Safety' reality show?

Hear me thru ok?

There would be contestants.... Say on a sunny south sea island beach, and each contestant has to accomplish a variety of tasks to win. You would get to vote one or more contestants off the show if they were too good or maybe a ringer. The same for the really dumb ones,after all, it would have to be exciting to keep the viewers interested.

So the basic task would be to succeed in staying safe online while surfing the web, and completeing various online challenges. For example, they would have to insure the computer given them was secure.... Ya know, updated with the latest from MS, etc. Then they would have to get online and insure their provider was also credible and choose which browser they want to use too.

Oh, don't forget their anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall programs, gotta make sure those work.

Now they are ready for the competition. They would have to send and receive, and reply to emails.

Hopefully they would know how to set up their email program to protect against attachments and pictures infecting them, and if not they would have to learn. Not only that, but in addition they would have to know weather or not to reply to a email, because in today's game it could be a phish or worse, a scam to get them to enter their personal info at a fake bank site.

Ok, on to the rest of the challenges, like buying a product and insuring the website used is safe.

If the checkout does not have that lil' lock icon at the bottom right, they could be in for trouble. Continuing on, they have to visit a variety of websites to gain knowledge about a given subject, hopefully they wont pick up a 'drive by download', resulting in a keylogger or a bot being installed on the computer used to compete.

Another task would be to register at a forum or blog and participate. Some programs that run forums and blogs are susceptible to hacks, hopefully they wont lose their personal info they gave when they registered to nefarious users set to sabotage their computers.

Then it gets tough. They have to download and install a program, something like a weather update service or maybe one that tracks favorite sports scores. A lot of these are loaded with spyware, adware or even malware.

At this point, some will have failed. They will have forgotten to update their antivirus or said yes to a popup that allowed some evil program to glean their passwords or such. The show will be down to a few who were knowledgeable enough beforehand or will have learned sufficiently while on the show to stay in the running.

After the last commercial, its only a half hour show ya know, it all climaxes with them visiting their bank to pay bills and access their account balance. If they can safely do this and not have given up their holy grail of information, the bank account info, they will be the winner.

The prize? Vegas of course. After all, not insuring your online security is gambling, and the house always wins. By the way, who do you think they would pick to be the host of the show?

Me of course, I wrote the article! My lovely wife would be the Vanna White style woman wearing my "Spywarebiz" t-shirt, and telling the contestants what they have won.

Some Tips For Buying home computers Wireless Routers

The advent of wireless routers has helped small offices and home computers interconnect and function fast. No more sharing of files with thumb drives or squabbles over who will access the internet fast. If you have notebook or laptop you can keep repositioning your place of work within your house, such is the convenience of wireless networking. With a little bit of planning you can configure a network that suits your business requirements the most.

The task of settling for a particular model of wireless router can be very puzzling. There are many models from various manufacturers and each with many features. Some of the features of wireless routers to check out before buying one are explained below.

Router Functionalities
Firewall
Firewalls are ideal for home networks. They help in protecting home use computers by stalling the destructive efforts of other official websites and potential hackers. This software or hardware device filters the information coming through the internet connection, flagging the information that is not to be allowed through. You can find some such models at:

VPN Pass through
VPN pass through feature of routers allows traffic between the endpoints and does not support one of the endpoints. This feature is ideal for routers of home use or small office setups; they are less expensive than a router with full VPN that supports the endpoints.

DHCP server
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) servers can be implemented for windows based system. The server automatically assigns an IP address to the computer’s TCP/IP stack software.

Wireless Access Point
The performance of your network will depend on signal strength of the wireless access point. Before you position it, find out the exact location from where it will give the maximum network range.

DSL Modem
Digital Subscriber Line modems are faster than regular modems and can use the existing phone lines. Both internet connection and phone lines for telephone calls can be used simultaneously.

Voice over IP gateway
VoIP routers have both wireless networking feature and telephone terminal adapters. With this feature the network can access both Internet and voice communications.

Protocols
These are formats for transferring data between the various devices. The protocols determine the various aspects of the data like compression types, delivery and retrieval by devices and error checking. The standard protocols differ in their various features, so in order to communicate with other computers correct protocols must be selected.

Internet Protocol (IP) enables unique addressing for computers.
When used with transport control protocol, it is referred as TCP/IP.
The newer IP version 6 is referred as IPv6. This version addresses 16 bytes in length.
DHCP: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol assigns dynamic IP addresses to devices on a network.

Routing Protocols
The information packets have to be routed by a series of routers to get to its destination. Latest routers automatically exchange route information with other routers through the use of routing protocols.

While configuring the router on your own, you have to choose what types of routing protocol you have to install and configure.

RIP version-1: It is a dynamic protocol and automatically figures routing tables on its own, thus manual inputs are not required.
Encryption Standards
This feature configures the virtual private network, encryption hardware advanced integration modules and the network modules.

Data Encryption Standard - applies 56-bit key to 64-bit block of data. This is the most commonly used encryption standard. A single key is used which is very difficult to break.

Triple DES (3DES) - applies 3 keys in succession making it more difficult to break the code.

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) will be the next encryption standard for commercial transactions in the private sector.

MD5

SHA 1
Modulation
There are many standards of modulation. The most commonly used types are:
QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation, a dominant modulation technique for high speed digital signals.
CCK: Complimentary Code Keying is a modulation scheme to operate in data speeds up to 11Mbps in the RF band.
OFDM: Orthogonal Frequency division multiplexing modulation is used for even higher speeds of 54Mbps.
DSSS: Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum use wideband signals that are not easy to detect and resists jamming attempts.

Security
Today no home and office network is secure. To counter the hacking efforts of hackers, look for good built-in security functionalities. These will ensure that your system doesn’t slow down, those within the range of your wireless are not able to view your files, emails, instant messages, usernames and passwords. Depending on the security features you can also block spams, illegal activities with your internet connection and prevent loading of dangerous software.

This however doesn’t mean your network is completely secure.
Some steps that can be taken are:
Enable WEP, wired equivalent privacy encryption provides security to WLANS. The WEP keys encrypt the data stream.
Turning on WPA encryption. The Wi-Fi protected access adds on the authentication and encryption features WEP explained above.
TKIP, Temporal Key Integrity Protocol covers up for the encryption weaknesses of WEP.
WPA2 protection is the latest one and provides high level of protection.
Enable wireless MAC Address filtering.

WEP Encryption length
The WEP encryption is based on a combination of secret user keys and system generated values. The key encrypts and de-encrypts the data that is transferred between the access points and the clients. There are two versions:
The earlier version supported 40-bit encryption; the key length was 40 bits and 24 additional bits of system generated data, thus a total of 64 bits.
Easy decoding of 40 bit WEP encryption encouraged vendors to go in for 128-bit encryption. 128-bit encryption has a key length of 104 bits.

Antenna Type
The omni directional antenna of routers broadcast 360degrees around the router. Position them in such a way that you can make the most of the radiating signals.

External antennas can add strength significantly, thus giving a wider range and increased network performance when compared with the performance of in-built antennas.

Detachable antennas disable 802.11a lower band communications when detached. On attaching the antenna the lower band is enabled. Thus they can be screwed into the device and can be upgraded easily.

The third type is the internal integrated antennas. These antennas are built-in, and hence cannot be changed or directed.
Brand Name
Wireless routers are still evolving, and at this infant stage it will do good to stick to one brand. Switching between brands can lead to compatibility problems. Linksys and Netgear wireless routers are among the few companies that have the highest wireless router ratings a company can get.
Linksys
Linksys wireless routers are easy to install and are reputed to give good performance and signal range. The various features that the router supports are protection from hackers with NAT technology, VPN pass through, and can encrypt all wireless transmissions. Most of its models have excellent performance and extremely useful support features. Some of the features are the firewall and routing capabilities, MAC address filtering and virtual server support. Most of the models are easy to configure with the browser-based configuration.
Netgear
Netgear wireless routers have not only superior looks but also good signal strength and wider range. Security features are good and are taken care of with WPA-PSK, WEP (128-bit). Netgear markets wide range of wireless routers for home networking as well as business networking. The selling factors are ease of use, reliability, quality and security.
Apple
Customers loyal to this brand can go in for wireless routers of this brand; they are however priced higher than model

Satellite Internet Service is The Answer for Individuals in Rural Communities

Living in a remote part of the world can be both tough and inconvenient. Not only must a resident of such secluded areas travel miles for simple things like groceries and entertainment but are almost always limited in the types of internet connections available to them. Furthermore the connections made available in isolated parts of the world are often inadequate for even casual users. Most residents will find that dial-up is the only way they can access the web and while a lucky few will be given access to DSL, Cable is a mere fantasy to those who reside in less populated communities.

There are of course alternatives to dial-up internet connections which consist of mainly no connection at all or one may opt to look into satellite internet services. Internet connections through a satellite provider have been around far longer than one would expect. In fact satellite internet first became available before the turn of the millennium and the late 90’s saw many of today’s satellite companies plant a firm foot in the ground. In these days however satellite connections were a last resort as they were often plagued by extremely limited bandwidth restrictions, horrid ping rates, and in many cases users would find themselves repeatedly being disconnected.

Living in rural areas and utilizing satellite internet services no longer means that you’ll be beleaguered with the myriad of problems that were once prevalent in the world of remote connections. The majority of satellite internet providers these days have worked hard to eliminate such issues and have done so with great success. In testing satellite connections side by side with Cable and DSL connections satellite has fared well and regularly measures up to its two successful cousins. As satellites have become far more powerful than they once where more and more people are choosing satellite internet services over dial-up and rightfully so.

Aside from making its mark in the private community, satellite connections are becoming commonplace for businesses who set up shop in these same remote areas. In many cases it is because of the improvements in satellite services that those who once stayed out of desolate areas, are now beginning to do business within them. Without satellite internet services many areas would be unable to grow economically and would continue to remain “off the map”. Things are changing rapidly however as business can also be taken on the road should a user utilize a satellite connection. There’s no doubt that the improvements in satellite inte

Cable vs. DSL - Which is Better?

As broadband Internet becomes more mainstream, one of the most common questions we get is: which is better, cable or dsl?
The answer to that question is not so definite. Many factors come into play when deciding which high-speed connection to choose. Regardless of which you choose (DSL, Cable, or even Satellite) it's going to be a ton better (and faster) than that ancient dialup modem you've been using. Not to mention, your Internet experience will be much more enjoyable.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)

Just like your existing dialup modem, DSL uses your existing copper wire phone line to deliver data at high speed. To qualify for DSL, you need the following:

- A phone line
- A DSL modem (which normally comes with the service)
- An Ethernet card or an available USB port (most DSL modems allow both connections, but Ethernet is recommended).
- A phone company (ISP) that is offering DSL service (e.g., Verizon)

One important factor that will influence your DSL connection is the distance between your home or office and the phone company's central office. The farther away you are from the central office, the signal becomes weaker, thus a slower connection. With that said, DSL is not as available widespread compared to cable. You'll need to contact your local phone provider to check availability.

Speed wise, depending on the package you choose, DSL can range from 128 kbps to 3 Mbps. Generally, the faster your connection the more expensive your service will be. You can expect to pay around $25-$30 a month for a 768 kbps connection, which is roughly 13 times faster than a 56k dialup modem.

::Pros::
- Relatively cheaper than cable
- Dedicated line, so speeds are almost guaranteed
- You can talk on the phone at the same time while surfing the net

::Cons::
- Slower speeds compared to cable
- Speeds drop the farther away your home/office is from the central office
- Not available in all areas

Cable Internet

Cable Internet gets our recommendation. Cable, which you can probably already tell, uses the coaxial cable that your television uses. To qualify for cable internet, you need the following:

- A cable modem (which normally comes with the service)
- An Ethernet card or an available USB port (most cable modems allow both connections, but Ethernet is recommended)
- A cable company offering cable Internet (e.g., Adelphia)

Unlike DSL, cable Internet does not depend on the distance between your home or office and the central office. However, unlike DSL, cable connections are typically shared among your neighbors. Although, most cable companies provide pipelines with huge bandwidth that this rarely becomes an issue.

Speed wise, cable Internet typically ranges from 3 Mbps to 10 Mbps, up to 3-4 times faster than DSL. However, expect to pay more for the service - $40-$50 per month.

::Pros::
- Faster speeds than DSL
- More widespread than DSL
- Distance does not affect speed

::Cons::
- More expensive than DSL
- Line is shared with other users

7 Easy Steps to Secure Your Wireless Router

When you buy a wireless router it is not secure and its default configuration will allow unwanted users that are in the vicinity of your router to connect to the internet and “steal” your wireless router internet connection. They could also gain access to your PC and steal files and folders of data. Manufacturers leave the configuration “open” so that the user can easily set up the router and get it up and running quickly. However, there is a risk if the router is not secure.

Acessing Your Wireless Router's Configuration

To gain access to your wireless router settings and configuration menu then connect to the router either wirelessly or via a Ethernet cable. Open a web browser and type either: http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.2.1

1) Change Admin password
Most wireless routers ship with a blank password. It is essential that this is changed else a potential hacker could get into your router configuration and lock you out of your own hardware.

2) Change The Network Name (otherwise known as the SSID)
The default network name is usually made up of the name/model of your wireless router. This information gives a head start for a hacker and makes it easier for them to break into your network. Don't rename it to something like your surname or house name as this unnecessarily exposes personal information. Rename it to an alpha-numeric string - this can be up to 32 characters long.

3) Turn off SSID broadcasting
By default, a wireless router's SSID is broadcast so anyone in the vicinity of your wireless router can see that it. SSID broadcasting can be turned off thus making your wireless router virtually invisible.

4) Enabling Encryption
This is switched off by default. There is a choice of WEP, WPA and WPA2. Currently the latest encryption method is WPA2 so use this where possible. Both your wireless router and wireless PC adaptor must be configured to use the same encryption.

5) Mac Address Control
All hardware has a unique MAC address associated with it, including your PC adaptor card. This MAC address can be added to access control list in the wireless router. Only devices added to the router's access control list are allowed to be connected.

6) Update router firmware
It is recommended that the latest router firmware is downloaded from the manufacturer's website and installed in the router. This will hopefully fix any bugs that have been found for your router and also help with any known security flaws in the router itself.

7) Backup settings
Finally, backup all router settings. If you reset the router back to its factory default settings for whatever reason, your configuration can later be easily and quickly restored back into the router.

Data Recovery / Datenrettung & Securing Data on Computers

Data recovery or Datenrettung is the process by which the data is recovered from damaged or inaccessible storage media. Data recovery is done from storage media like CD?s, DVD?s, Floppies, Hard disks, Magnetic tapes etc. There are two reasons due to which the data becomes inaccessible. They are logical damage and physical damage to the storage media.

Physical damage to storage media can occur in many ways. Magnetic tapes can break, get crumpled or dirt may settle on the tapes. CD?s and DVD?s can have scratches or the metallic layer may get damaged. Magnetic heads in hard disks can crash or motors may fail. The floppy is notorious for failing frequently due to bending, overheating, cold, dust etc.

There are other reasons like fires, electrical surges etc that can cause data to become inaccessible or lost. There are many methods by which data can be recovered from magnetic media or optical media. The methods most commonly used are Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM), Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM), Magnetic Force Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) etc.

In these methods a sharp magnetic tip is placed closed to the surface to be analyzed. It interacts with the stray magnetic field. An image of the data is generated and then repairs are carried out on logical damage and thus the data is recovered. Many companies carry out data recovery.

Logical damage is the damage to the file system. It is not physical but a software problem and also tells us that we need to be cautious and have a quality system for data recovery, datenrettung. It generally occurs due to power cuts, system crashes etc preventing file system structures from being written resulting in file system being left in an inconsistent state.

Logical damage is more common than physical damage. This may cause strange behavior like infinitely recurring file directories, loss of data, system crashes, hard disks reporting negative space etc. The end result is that the operating system cannot mount the file system.

Most operating systems come with repair facilities like, Linux has fcsk utility, Mac has disk utility and Windows has chkdisk facility. There are other specialized programs available which have better repair facilities than the operating systems.

There are also other systems called journaling file systems like NTFS, EFS (used in Windows XP), ext3 and xfs which can be reverted back to their earlier consistent state. These file systems reduce the amount of data loss.

Data back up is the best way to prevent loss of data and it?s the most common system for data recovery, datenrettung. The simplest method is to keep data on drives on which the operating system is not loaded. The other method is to write data on magnetic tapes, CD’s or DVD?s or have online backup.

Backups are very important for databases. Data backup is of 3 types. Full backup means backing up all data. Incremental backup means backing up of only the files that have changed. Differential backup is a mixture of these two. There is another method called continuous data protection in which when data is written to a disk, it is also written to another computer in a network.

Hard Disk Failure and Data Recovery

Hard Disk: An Introduction Hard disk is a non-volatile data storage device that stores electronic data on a magnetic surface layered onto hard disk platters. Word Hard is use to differentiate it from a soft, or floppy disk. Hard disks hold more data and can store from 10 to more than 100 gigabytes, whereas most floppies have a maximum storage capacity of 1.4 megabytes and in addition are faster too. Normally term hard disk is much familiar with computers only but it is widely used as network attached storage for large volume storage. Furthermore, appliance of hard disk drives spread out to video recorders, audio players, digital organizers, digital cameras, and even in latest cellular telephones.

Reynold Johnson invented the first hard disk in 1955 for IBM 305 computer with fifty 24 inch platters and total capacity of five million characters, and in 1956 - first commercial hard disk was launched with 5 megabyte capacity, the IBM 350 RAMAC disk drive. Within time frame of 50 years and rapid progress in technical enhancement, we have now reached to latest 2006 - First 750 GB hard drive from (Seagate) and First 200 GB 2.5" Hard Drive utilizing Perpendicular recording (Toshiba).

Heart of hard disk consists of four basic components: The Platters: Platters are the actual disks inside the drive that store the magnetized data. Conventional platters are made of a light aluminum alloy and coated with magnetize-able material but latest technology uses glass or ceramic platters as they are thinner and also heat resisting. Most drives have at least two platters and the larger the storage capacity of the drive, the more platters there are.

The Spindle Motor: Hard disk drive consists of a spindle on which the platters spin at a constant RPM. Moving along and between the platters on a common arm are read-write heads. The platters in a drive are divided by disk spacers and are clamped to a revolving spindle that turns all the platters in a uniform motion. The spindle motor is built right into the spindle and rotates the platters at a constant set rate ranging from 3,600 to 7,200 RPM.

The Read/Write Heads: Read/write heads read and write data to the platters, and each head is fixed to a single actuator shaft so that all the heads move in harmony. Typically, only one of the heads is active at a time either reading or writing data. When not in use, the heads are inactive, but when in motion the spinning of the platters generate air pressure that lifts the heads off the platters. The space between the platter and the head is so minute that even one dust particle or a fingerprint could disable the spin. When the platters cease spinning the heads come to rest, at a preset position on the heads, called the landing zone.

The Head Actuator: All the heads are attached to a single head actuator arm, which moves the heads around the platters. The Actuator arm moves the heads on an arc across the platters as they spin, allowing each head to access almost the entire surface of the platter. Contemporary hard drives use a voice coil actuator, which controls the movement of a coil toward or away from a permanent magnet based on the amount of current flowing through it.

Fundamental structures of all hard disk are same, and are composed of the same physical features, but their performance depends on the quality of their inner components.

Hard Disk Failure: Hard Disk Failure occurs when a hard disk drive malfunctions and the accumulate data cannot be accessed. It may happen in the course of normal operation due to an internal or external factor. Disk failure varies and the most common is "Head Crash" where the internal read and write head of a device touches a platter or magnetic storage surface often grinding away the magnetic surface. Head hover just micrometers from the platters plane which makes such collision a common one. This sort of crash usually invites severe data loss and unprofessional data recovery attempts results further damage to the remaining data. Hard drive also includes other controller electronics i.e., semiconductors, valves or electronic circuits, and major components such as Platters, Spindle Motor and Head Actuator. Failure of any these devices may cause a hard disk failure.

Factors causes disk failure are numerous, yet most common are power surges, voltage fluctuations, electronic malfunction, physical shock, wear and tear, corrosion, exposure to high magnetic waves, sharp impact, high temperature exposure etc.

The phenomena of hard disk failure is raising higher and higher; as to increase the read and write speed, today we have latest hard disk rotating amazingly faster and this immense revolving speed generates massive centrifugal force, a single adverse cause in the course of normal operation can cause severe hard disk failure.

Hard Disk Data Recovery: Hard disk data recovery is the process of recovering the trapped data from the damage hard disk device, when it can not be accessed in normal circumstance. Several Techniques are used to retrieving data from damaged hard disk and techniques vary accordingly. It can be done by moving disk drive to a working CPU, or may have to open the disk drive and replace parts such as read/write heads, arms and chips and sometime the platters have to be removed and placed into another drive. Physical damage can not be repaired by the general users, as it requires clean and dust free lab environment, in addition proper hardware and technical expertise; where under microscopic examination with proper tool and techniques, the damage drive is put on to observation for data salvaging.

Knowing Your Hard Drive - A Guide to Data Recovery

Hard drives are usually reliable devices that store all your important files and data. Today’s Information Age runs on data, making the storage of such worth its weight in gold. However, no matter how evolved this technology has become, these media devices are still prone to serious errors that could result in the loss of invaluable data. Hard drives may crash or may develop logical errors.

Most data crashes occur when some physical or logical error is introduced into a system. Hard disks, CD-ROMs, Tape Drives and other storage media can and will fail eventually. This could be caused by a host reasons – power outages, physical damage to media, head crashes, motor problems and the like.

Whatever the reason, you will need a means to restore all this data. This is especially true if for some reason the deleted, destroyed or corrupted data contains information that is not backed up or existing in any other location anyway.

You will also want to get your hard disk in running order again, if that is possible.

Signs and Symptoms to Look out For
Most hard disks show signs of croaking before completely crashing. Symptoms of an impending crash include frequent disk error messages, the disk not showing during start up, garbled information regarding the disk when analyzed, and weird clicking or whirring sounds.

If you notice any of these back up at all costs! This ensures that you at least have your data safe before anything untoward happens to your hard disk.

Some disks suddenly croak without a warning. You can, however, gauge and maintenance your hard disk by running a check disk utility to scan and repair logical errors. Bad sectors get marked too so data is no longer stored there.

Reasons for a Crash
Hard disks crash for various reasons. One of the more predictable offenders is unstable power supply. When there is a sudden power outage or sudden power surge, hard disks can take quite a pounding. Aside from physically damaging the disk, logical errors to the disk’s file system can be traced to this reason.

Logical errors for such happen when the disk suddenly loses power while it is writing critical information to the disk. Such errors can make the data on the disk unreadable unless the file system is corrected.

Viruses and malicious code can also be a cause for a crash, as well as the ill handling of a disk – sudden shock, dropping, or magnetizing can seriously damage your hard disk.

What to do
If you hard disk does crash, the simplest thing to do is to go for your back ups. If the data you need is not backed up. You can try recovering the data yourself.

There are softwares available that can help recover your hard disk’s data and even make your hard disk usable again. These softwares try a low-level read and access of your hard disk and are usually able to at least recover some of the data.

Some software applications can recover deleted or corrupt data. They also are able to correct file system errors and logical errors that beset your hard disk.

But in the case of truly important data, like that of company data and others, you may want to employ the services of a data recovery expert. They have both the expertise and equipment to handle a problem like yours.

Data Storage

In this day and age of corporate espionage, you need to store your data not only efficiently, but also securely. You need to be able to effectively store and backup your data in order to keep your business alive.

Many data storage firms now offer the necessary infrastructure, comprehensive security, working scalability and far-reaching management services to give you the highest level of data protection. But how do you know which of them can answer your specific needs? Read on to find out.

What to look for in a date storage firm

Not all data storage firms are created equal. More often than not, some give you more value-added services and more effective, data storage implementation. Here are some characteristics of good data storage providers.

Good reputation and history. Look for a data storage company that has done a lot of work for a wide array of data storage areas, such as business record keeping, providing back up and security for healthcare records, archiving of film and sound files, backup vaulting, disaster recovery services and continuity consulting. Older companies are not necessarily better than new ones. Don’t make the mistake of deciding just based on numbers. Do your research and find out from other clients which firms implement the best practices.

Extensive networks. The best data storage companies have an international network of offsite data storage vaults in highly-secure environments. This way, your data is backed up in several sites. The sign of a true, full-service data storage provider is linking. They should have a very sound and structured network of databases that are secure and accessible.

Quick recovery. The essence of effective data storage is not so much record ‘keeping,’ but record ‘recovery.’ The firm must give you back your data quickly and accurately the moment you need it. Look for a data storage firm that can perform rapid recovery when urgent situations and disasters strike.

Security and peripheral services. A data storage company should not stop at filing your records away. They should be able to perform routine and preventive data security measures such as vaulting your backup data for remote offices

2 Tips to Getting the Best Data Recovery Companies on Your Side

Forbid it that you have to experience a major hard disk crash – containing a lifetime of work – before considering the importance of your company’s data. Since today’s economy is becoming increasingly technology driven, the loss of sensitive data without backups is tantamount having your business burn down to the ground.

However, if this has already happened to you, then this must be a terrible time for you. If the hard disk that contains all the important data of your company –which costs a fortune – has totally crashed, then you will need to employ the services of a professional data recovery expert.

Most data recovery services will tend to be pricey; no matter how much you may wince at the price they may quote you, the fact remains that in most cases, the data you may lose could very well be worth ten time more than that anyway.

But still it remains that you have to know how to choose and deal with a data recovery service provider to make sure you don’t get the raw end of the deal.

1. Assess You Loss – First of all, you will have to assess the data loss you are experiencing. If the data is dispensable, then you may want to just suck down the loss. If the data is valuable but ultimately not invaluable – you may try some data recovery techniques that you can perform yourself – software recovery and other like methods.

If the data is invaluable – then you might want to hold your horses and employ a professional software recovery company to do the work itself. It would also be advisable that you refrain from doing anything to your hard disk as you could very well exacerbate the damage to the drive. All you should do is secure the offending drive and set it aside properly.

2. Choose the Right Company - When considering a data recovery company, always consider whether they have the right equipment and facilities to deal with your data recovery needs. You will want to choose the right company to deal with the kind of media you need recovered – hard disks, CD-ROMS, tape media, etc.

Many hard disk failures due to motor head crashes or other physical malfunctions in the media will require that the disk be opened and possibly disassembled in the data recovery company’s laboratories. Hard disks are sensitive, precision instruments and cannot be opened and exposed to our normal environment.

The data recovery company you will deal with should have Class 100 clean room facilities to deal with such instruments. Class 100 facilities means that the area has only 100 airborne particles larger than .05 microns per square foot. This ensures that further damage to the drives is avoided when they are disassembled.

Also, just because a data recovery company charges much for its services does not mean that they are better than the rest. Since the data recovery business is becoming increasingly saturated, it would do good to shop around for the best service at the right price.

Beware of bait and switch schemes some data recovery companies perform. They will quote you a price saying that they are willing to perform the job for let’s say $600 - $2800. You will be attracted to the lower end quotation of the job - $600. Unfortunately, more often than not, they will charge you the higher end price - $2800.

Laptop Hard Drive Recovery

Our society now has become fast paced and individuals feel the need to cope up thus the popularity of laptops. These machines allow individuals to carry out their daily tasks even when they are not at home or in the office. Most companies nowadays allow their employees to telecommute or bring their work at home. However, because laptops are mobile, the danger of data loss is higher compared to the desktop pc.

To avoid paying a lot of money and saving yourself from trouble of losing all your important data, backing up your files once a week is recommended. Back up your files using CD-RW or DVD-RW or you can backup your files online.

But if the worse has happened and you have already lost your files because you accidentally dropped your laptop, because of hard drive failure, accidental deletion, virus attacks and corruption, or physical damage from fire or other disasters, I suggest you seek professional help immediately.

Contacting a data recovery service as soon as possible is the most logical thing to do. Trying to recover the data yourself may do more harm than good.

Data recovery services are fast, reliable, and safe. You may research your neighborhood for data recovery service companies that specialize in laptop data recovery.

If you can’t find a laptop data recovery company in your local area, you can always search the internet. There are a lot of great companies that offer data retrieval services for laptops and they allow shipping of your laptop to their laboratories and once they have retrieved your data, your laptop and files will be sent back to you.

Generally, data recovery process for a desktop hard drive is rather the same compared to laptops. The only difference is quite obvious; a laptop’s hard drive is typically smaller and a bit more difficult to handle. Engineers would have to be more careful because one wrong move may bring all those important data down the drain.

Once you have contacted a data recovery service that would retrieve your files, their engineers or technicians will assist you and ask you a series of questions regarding the problem. You will then have to send your laptop to their laboratories or if you choose to have an on-site service, meaning they will be the ones who will come to your home or office, you could do so but usually for an additional fee. They will then evaluate your laptop’s case and suggest what kind of data recovery you will need.

Data recovery service for laptops usually won’t cost you anything if the data recovery attempt is not successful. Evaluation of your laptop is also usually free and if they are confident that they can retrieve your data, they will give you a quote on how much you are going to pay.

During urgent situations, these laptop data recovery companies can also do an emergency data retrieval for your laptop. This process usually lasts between 24 to 48 hours.

Data recovery for your laptop can be really expensive. Companies charge depending on how severely damaged your laptop is or how long it will take them to retrieve your files.

However, the amount that you are going to pay them is worthwhile if the data stored in your laptop are important especially if these data are work related.

Recover your Hard Drive Data 101

Most people do not realize the importance of backing up their files. As the clich? goes, you only realize the importance of something once it is gone. You accidentally delete your file or your hard drive goes nuts. Now your files are gone, and you feel miserable, depressed and frustrated because those are precious files. May it be work-related, school-related, sentimental value-related, you now feel the impact of your lost files because those files are indeed important.

So now what are you going to do? You can wallow in grief and learn your lesson to back up your files the next time.

But you can’t help but think of how important those files were. Your boss is going to be raging mad. Those reports should be submitted on time. Is there a way to recover them?

Of course there is.

If you accidentally deleted a file from the recycle bin, don’t fret. You could still recover that file because it is not completely deleted. Windows only modifies the first letter of the file name in the disk's bookkeeping system so technically the file is still there. In order for you to recover that file, the file’s original name and retags should be restored before Windows overwrites it.

Because Windows hasn’t exactly deleted your files, it is only sensible that you do not anymore save anything on the hard drive. Why? Because once you have saved a new file, your deleted file (that you badly need to recover) will be overwritten to give way to the newly saved file.

You do not want that to happen right? So leave it as is or else you could do more damage than ease out the situation.

Now what? There is no magic formula to recover your files. To recover your files you will need a special recovery software or utility.

There are many commercially available recovery tools that you could use. Most of these tools access the disk through an operating system. Search the internet for programs that can restore your files. But before you actually buy a product that you think will work, read and research on several product reviews so that you not only get to recover your files but you also get your money’s worth.

If you can’t afford to spend on special recovery tools, you can find freeware restoration utilities on the internet. FINDNTFS, NTFS reader for DOS, TESTDISK, PC Inspector and Restoration are good freeware restoration tools that you can use.

If unfortunately all else fails, your last option is to hire a professional data recovery service but be prepared to shell out some serious cash. Prices can range from $300 to $4000. Just make sure you look a for a data recovery service that is reliable and won’t charge you if you can’t recover your data.

Also if you already decided to seek professional help, be prepared to supply them with your PC’s necessary information like drive size, operating system, and the cause of failure.

Now you have learned your lesson. Data loss is due to many reasons; user error, software error, hard drive failures, etc. Hard drives are not immortal; they too wear out, get defects and eventually die. You are not perfect; you make mistakes and accidentally delete things. You can prevent costly data recovery and other hassles if you will back up those files.

The Role Of A Hard Disk Data Recovery Specialist: Getting Your Precious Files And Data Back

Hard disk damage through fire, sabotage, flood, blocked system and partitioning along with certain mechanical failure, accounts for about 75% of all lost data incidents.

A “data recovery specialist’s” service is something that is desperately needed when it is necessary to have information or data in your computer recovered.

However, do take note that you only need the services of a hard disk data specialist in cases of hardware failure or catastrophe.

Loss of data is indeed expensive. In fact, a study conducted by “McGladrey and Pullen” accounting firm revealed and estimated that an average of out in every 500 companies this year, will undergo a serious computer disaster resulting to bankruptcy.

The slightest effect of losing important company data is lost in earnings as well as missed opportunities in business.

Data recovery simply means restoring lost files. Should you lost your data for whatever reason and you do not possess sufficient backups of your data, then, so to restore it you will be needing the help of hard disk data recovery specialists.

Note however, that even if the files cannot be accessed, as it is usually the case, much of your files, still is existing on the computer disk and will be recovered at the right conditions.

Nevertheless, this process can be very difficult, although it is very much possible to do the recovering of data yourself, but without much experience and knowledge, often times, it is essential to hire a hard disk data recovery specialist.

Keep in mind that it is very significant that you do not entrust recovering of data in untrained engineering hands, because this job requires much experience, leading-edge data recovery tools and importantly, deep understanding and knowledge of your problem as well as solution to it is required and only a reliable hard disk data recovery specialists can do the job successfully.

The role of a hard disk data recovery service

Hard disk data recovery specialists are experts and experienced on the subject of computer data recovery and of course their main goal is to recover lost data.

Regardless of what your computer has gone through, the possibility of recovering such data is great but most likely it can successfully be done by a “hard disk data recovery specialist”.

Generally, on your first contact with a “data recovery specialist” regarding your lost data recovery task, they will first create a duplicate of a specific medium where you desire to recover the files.

Then from this copy, they will work so as to protect the original data from further damage.

Then the specialist will examine the medium to verify if he can or can not recover the lost data for you. When your hard disk data recovery specialists believe they can not, they will give you back the medium and most hard disk data recovery specialists do not charge any fees for this.

It is very important that you check always so to make certain that the hard disk data recovery specialists you are dealing with will grant you a “free estimate” because you do not intend to pay just to find out that the hard disk data recovery specialists can not recover your lost data or files.

There are several reliable hard disk data recovery specialists that will notify you when they think that the data can be recovered yourself and will guide and give you information on how to do it. This is a very good service which is at times, provided to you for free.

The science and art of a professional and experienced hard disk data recovery specialist can establish the difference between your business' failure or success. That is why it is crucial to find a reliable hard disk data recovery specialist to do the job for you.

Data Recovery And Back Up For Email Clients

Booting issues, virus attacks, or corrupted file systems are very much present in any exchange or mail servers and can cause many of your archived email messages to apparently disappear. Companies which rely heavily on email communication and do not have back ups might find this a pervading problem. But data recovery designed specifically for email recovery can fix this problem.

Here are a few examples of data recovery steps in three of the most widely used email clients:

IncrediMail Email Data Recovery

* Select File | Data and Settings Transfer | Transfer from Old Computer... from the menu in IncrediMail email client.
* Click on the OK button.
* Click Open; then click OK.
* IncrediMail Email data recovery process will then start.
* Once done, a dialog box will appear, indicating that the data recovery process is finished. Click OK.
* IncrediMail will auto-restart to complete the data recovery process.

Outlook Email and Other Data Recovery

* Select File | Import and Export... from the Outlook menu.
* In the drop-down menu that appears, select Import from another program or file.
* Click Next.
* Run your mouse over the Personal Folder File (PST) to highlight it.
* Click the Next button again.
* Using the Browse button, select the backup copy of the PST file you want to recover from your backup location.
* On the dialog box, place a check mark on the box that says Replace duplicates with items imported to start the data recovery process.
* Click Next.
* Once the data recovery process is done, click Finish.

Outlook Express Email Data Recovery

* Select File | Import | Messages... from the Outlook Express menu.
* Choose the Outlook Express version that you have as the email program to import from.
* Click the Next button.
* From the dialog box, make sure that you again choose the right Outlook Express version.
* Click OK.
* Select the folder containing your back up copy of your Outlook Express mail store by using the Browse button.
* Click Next >.
* Choose which folders to import and the data recovery process will start.
* Click Next; then Finish to finalize the data recovery process.

Backing Up Your Data in Windows XP

If you haven't backed up your important data at least to a CD, you should do so IMMEDIATELY! A computer, any computer, can crash at any time, whether it's a new computer, an old computer, a really expensive computer, or a cheapy.

This article will teach you how to back up your My Documents folder on a CD, since the My Documents folder is where people usually keep most of their important stuff. I only discuss the method for Windows XP here, because methods for other operating systems tend to vary.

(By the way, you need a CD burner (or CD-RW) to do this. If you're not sure if you have one, look at your CD drive(s) and see if you see "rewritable" written in tiny tiny letters. If so, you can burn CDs. If not, well you might want to think about getting a CD burner installed in your computer.

1. Open your CD burner. There's usually a button on the outside you can press to open it. Place the CD in the burner. The side you will burn onto should be face down. Close the burner, again using the same button you used to open it.

2. Wait a minute. A box should pop up on your screen with a variety of choices. Click once on the choice that says "Open Writable CD Folder Using Windows Explorer." (There's a picture of a manilla folder next to it.) Your choice should turn blue. Click OK.

3. A box opens up representing the empty CD you want to burn. Now take your mouse pointer and place it on the top blue border of this box. Press and hold (don't click) with your left mouse button, and drag the box down into the lower righthand corner of your screen.

4. Locate your My Documents folder on the desktop. If this folder isn't on the desktop, you should put it there for convenience sake. See the tip How to Put a Shortcut on your Desktop.

5. Now simply press on the folder with your left mouse button and drag the folder onto the empty box representing your CD in the lower right corner. You should see the contents of your folder being copied over. If you get a box asking if you want to copy "Thumbs" files, you can say "Yes" or "Skip." It's your choice. These files aren't important, trust me. You can also check the box to repeat your answer for each of these files to save time.

6. When the folder is completely copied to your CD box, clik on "Write these Files to CD" on the lefthand side of the box. A "wizard" pops up.

7. Click Next in the wizard (ignore the CD name and date underneath) Wait for the CD to burn. You'll see a green line progress across the screen.

8. When the CD is done, it should pop out of its drive, and you can click on Finish in the wizard. Label your CD with a Sharpie or other felt-tip pen, and you're all backed up!