Whether it is the latest tech gadget, new clothes, your next holiday trip, or car insurance - there are few things that you cannot buy online. But as great the pleasure of having everything delivered to your door step may be, the hard is the awakening once you realize you've become a victim of online shopping fraud.

During the past five years, every third online shopper has experienced fraud while shopping online according to a recent global consumer study. Beyond that, about USD 3.4 bn are lost each due to online shopping fraud - money from consumers like you and me!

Fortunately, there are a few simple rules that can help you to stay safe from becoming a victim of online shopping fraud and save a lot of money. The below infographic will show you how!

Courtesy of: TrustedCompany.com

I am sure that you would have heard about keylogger. Many of you might be of the notion that keylogger is a software, but this is not so. Keylogger could be hardware or software. It is meant for both legitimate and illegitimate jobs, but most of the times, it is used by the bad guys to spy on other's information.

If you do not want anybody to have an illicit access to your information, you need to know to catch hold of this kind of process that might run in your system without your knowledge. Here is how, you can have a check on this process.

Hardware keylogger:

Hardware keylogger is the device that needs to be connected to the keyboard port. If you happen to locate it, you can have it disconnected, so that the keystrokes are not traced. 

An alternate method of having the hardware keylogger installed is by soldering it into the circuit of the keyboard. To make sure that you do not have it soldered into the keyboard, you need to disassemble the board and find if there is any such thing fixed.

Software keylogger:

There are innumerous Software keyloggers that can be found online. Certain virus or malware programs have the ability to install keyloggers in your computer while running in your system. Most often, the keyloggers are used to have the credentials of important accounts, such as bank, social media, etc.

There are few things that you can do to identify a software keylogger and here they are!

1) Run an antivirus program

You can run an antivirus program to find, if there is any keylogger installed in your system. You can land on the computer review sites to find which product is the suitable one to detect a software keylogger.

2) Get rid of the malicious files

Run your antivirus and anti-spyware programs almost daily, so that these programs protect you from the malware that is capable of running and sliding keylogger into your system. Make sure that the detected malicious files are either quarantined or removed from the system.

3) Update antivirus software regularly

We would suggest you to schedule updates for your antivirus program on a daily basis. If the virus definitions are open to updates more often, then there is less chance that your computer will be attacked by the trouble making malicious files.

Hardware keyloggers are easy to find when compared with the software keylogger. However, you can make use of updated antivirus or anti-spyware to get rid of it.

Image Credit: adamr

Author Bio:

Robert R. is an avid guest blogger who writes on behalf of Mytechgurus. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with the everyday computer user, by helping them with common errors, especially Windows installer errors and slow computer problems.

Computers are usually bought in top notch conditions bringing maximum performance to their users when they are new. Most users ignore the fact that their computer is bound to get slower by the day. The majority of computer users disregard proper maintenance as required. Hence, their computers gradually decline in performance. Windows newest Operating System, Windows 8 has slowly grown as it takes up the market share. Step by step procedures have been written down to ensure computer users receive the best from their money over time.

1. Remove programs from startup

When programs are installed, a shortcut is created in the startup. This enables services from the program to be launched once a computer is booted. With time, the computer has many services set to be running on startup. This consumes the primary memory of the computer and exhausts the processor as unused programs are also in operation. The following steps are used to remove unwanted programs from the startup and ensure the computer achieves required speeds in booting and its operations.

• Open the task manager.
• Click on Startup tab. A list of the programs running at startup is displayed.
• Right click on a program and select disable. On the status column, it should now show disabled.

2. Manage computer space

Unwanted files accumulate over time and take up disk space in computers. Once the primary partition holding the operating system is congested, the computers speeds go down tremendously. Removing unwanted files from the recycle bin, caches and cookies formed by browsers and other temporary files can all be done an application incorporated in windows through following the following steps;

• Open disk cleanup.
• Select drive to work on then select ok.
• Select file types to be deleted then ok.
• A message appears. Select delete files.

3. Hard disk defragmentation

Data saved in computers is stored in forms of files. These files are kept as data blocks in the computer’s hard disk. The continuous addition and deletion of files leaves huge gaps in between the data blocks created. The computer then gets hard time accessing data in the hard disk. Files that should be concurrent for easy access but are separate are said to be fragmented. To keep data in an organized format, the hard disks need to be regularly defragmented. The following steps are taken in implementing this.

• Open Computer. The hard disks present are displayed.
• Right click on any drive and select properties.
• Click on Tools tab.
• Select Optimize. A list of all active drives is shown.
• Select required drive and click on optimize.

4. Computer graphics

Computers with low RAM require their graphics to be allocated minimum space so that other important features can be worked on. The following steps are used in effecting this.

• Click on start and type performance information and tools. It will appear under settings.
• Click it and select adjust visual effects.
• You can then select what you require by clicking on the checkboxes. For critical situations, adjusting for best performance is recommended.

5. Uninstall unused programs

There are many programs that users install by visiting internet sites and making downloads. These programs are installed and consume space in the computer. Computer users are advised to keep only the programs they use and remove unused programs. In order to uninstall a program, a user has to;

• Click on control panel.
• Ensure the view is set to category view and click on uninstall a program.
• Go through installed programs and click uninstall on those unused programs to remove them completely.

6. Cleaning up of the computer

Computers are easily affected by unwanted programs that include Viruses, Worms and Trojans. Getting the right antivirus solution is the best solution. Windows 8 however comes preinstalled with windows defender which can be updated regularly to prevent from attacks from malware programs.

With the above solutions, a computers performance is bound to be at its best. Upgrading of computer components such as the RAM, processor and hard disk can also be considered.

Author Bio:

The Author is a professional writer with grown interests in computer interaction to help novices make the best of their computers. He writes for Essay Jedi.

Have you been receiving a lot of junk mail lately ? Have your email contacts reported receiving an email from you that you have absolutely no recollection of sending ? Or have they reported getting an instant message from you which you have never sent ? If the answer to any of these questions is a 'yes', then it is very likely that somebody has hacked your Hotmail account or stolen your Hotmail password. This is a very serious situation, and it is possible that this hacker may make use of your Hotmail account for illegal and even criminal purposes.

Steps To Be Taken By You Once You Find Out Your Hotmail Account Is Hacked :

Now that you have a strong idea that your Hotmail account has been hacked, you shall need to take immediate steps to retrieve the situation. We present a list of immediate actionable steps to be taken by you. However, before we go into the details, in case of any confusion in following the instructions given by us, we advise you to please use the Hotmail customer service contact number and get the help of the Microsoft service team to help deal with the problem.

Step 1 : Free Your PC From Malware Or Virus

Download and install a reputed anti-virus and anti-malware system such as the Microsoft Security Essentials (for a Windows 7 operating system) and Microsoft Defender ( for a Windows 8 operating system). Make certain of running a full scan of your system. And only after that, change your Hotmail account password.

Step 2 : Reset Your Hotmail Account Password

Once you have fully completed the scanning of your system, log in to your Hotmail account and reset your password. While selecting a new password, you shall need to make completely sure that you use something that is totally different from the old one. Please do not use any of the commonly used passwords that may be found in many accounts, such as "passwd" or "admin". Use something much more complicated. Make use of capital letters, symbols, lower case letters and numbers. But do make sure that this new password may be easily remembered by you. Run your password through Microsoft's password checker to make sure it has never been used before by anyone. And once set, make sure of changing your password at regular intervals.

Step 3 : Change Your Account Settings

Make sure of resetting your Hotmail account settings. Click on the "more mail settings" field in the "Options" tab and follow the instructions given on how to reset the various options available in your Hotmail account.

Step 4 : Get Back The Deleted Mail

One of the most important signs that your Hotmail account has been hacked is the sheer number of deleted mail. Once the Microsoft mail server has an inkling that your account is being hacked, it saves all the deleted mail in a special "Deleted" folder. Click on this folder, and opt for for "restore deleted mail" option. Now you are good to go!

Summary:

Hacking of the Hotmail account of private individuals is a serious problem that has become very common of late. The first step in dealing with it is to check for the signs that tell you whether your Hotmail account has been hacked or not. Then the instructions given in this article should be followed step by step to help in retrieving the situation.
Image Credit: Stuart Miles

Author Bio:

Smith is a professional programmer from NewYork , who has often been the victim of a Hotmail hack, and has found using the Hotmail customer service contact number a mighty useful way to deal with this mini-crisis. Besides helping out people who are under attack from dangerous hackers, He dabbles in photography and hates global warming.

USB drives are a fantastic way to share information from computer-to-computer. While many people use email to send documents, USB drives can take just about anything that your computer has and move it to another system with minimal effort. Plus, USB drives can be used to share information without actually putting it in someone’s possession. Doing so can keep sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands. If you have a USB drive, though, there are still extra measures you should take to secure its contents. Continue reading for 10 easy steps that you can take to safeguard your USB drive.

Proper Password Management Protects Your USB Drive

First, let’s make sure that if anyone gets a hold of your USB drive, they won’t be able to use it.

• Insert your USB drive into your computer.
• Find the USB drive in your computer’s “Devices with Removable Storage” section or similar area.
• Right click on it and choose, “Turn on Bitlocker.”
• Once you choose this, Wizard will open up, and you’ll see the option to “use a password to unlock the drive.”
• Type in the password that you would like to use for your USB drive and click next.
• You’ll be asked how you’d like to “back up Recovery Keys.” Simply choose from the menu.
• Next, you’ll be asked to confirm whether or not your USB drive is already being used or if it’s brand new.

Encrypt Your USB Drive

Now you’ll want to encrypt the information that is found on your USB drive. This is a further measure that will make sure that your drive is protected from prying eyes, no matter how badly they want your information. After the above 7 steps, Wizard will ask you how much of your drive you’d like to encrypt.

• You’ll be given the option to encrypt the entire drive, which is best for those that are already in use, or just the used disc space, which is preferable for a new drive. The former option will take longer.
• After you make your choice, the encryption process will start.
• When the encryption process is complete, you can remove your USB drive, confident that its contents are now safe.

Going forward, whenever anyone wants to use the USB drive, they’ll be prompted to enter your password first. You can follow the same steps to change the password, as well, if you should so choose.

Keep in mind it’s also important to store your USB drive in a safe place at all times. Even if someone doesn’t have your password, possessing your USB drive can still be damaging, as you no longer have access to the data, either. If the USB drive contains information related to your company, check with human resources or your management. There are often official guidelines specific to securing USB drives that carry company data.

While USB drives are extremely convenient, they can easily expose you to information leaks if not controlled properly. Maintain your USB drive in a secure place at all times, and use the above 10 steps to encrypt the information and protect it with a password.

Source:
http://geekofreak.com/2013/03/encrypt-and-password-protect-your-usb.html

Is your PC under par? Does it take longer to log on and load websites then it used to? Are your programs crashing more often then Evil Knieval used to?

If the answers yes to all of these questions, then it’s time to give your computer a new lease of life. But we’re not talking drastic measures like buying a new one, as there are a few fixes you can do yourself (or with the help of an expert) that will restore your computer to its former glory. Here’s how you can perk up your PC.

1. Install tune-up software

The quickest and easiest way to restore your PC to health is to install a free registry cleaner that’ll tune things up. In fact, some programs won’t just return your computer to its regular speed; they’ll even turbo-charge it for you so you’ll have a boost of power when you need it the most.

As well as running at normal speed, your system will crash less and have more disk space available. You’ll probably even notice improvements in battery life too.

2. Back up your computer

Before you carry out any maintenance or make any changes to how your computer works, back it up first. Backing up is when you create a copy of your current system onto an external device or disk, such as an external hard drive or a writable DVD or CD.

As well as backing up before making any changes to your system, it’s wise to regularly make a copy of your files. After all, some of the information on your computer, like family photos, may be impossible to replace if it was deleted. After you’ve backed up, you can then remove any large files that you don’t use regularly (like mp3 files or high-res images), this should help free some disk space and speed up your system.

3. Uninstall programs you no longer use

Another easy way to free up some space on your hard disk is to uninstall programs that are out of date or that you never use. This could include pre-installed software or trial versions of programs you no longer use. If you browse online with Chrome or Firefox you might also consider removing Internet Explorer too.

To check for programs you don’t need, firstly click on the Start button and choose Programs and Features. Google any program names that you don’t recognise. After all, you don’t want to delete anything that’s vital for running the system. Removing the icon from your desktop does not delete the program. You’ll need to uninstall it via the Programs and Features menu you navigated to above.

4. Clean up your hard disk

Deleting large files you’ve backed up and programs you don’t use will provide you with extra space on your hard disk, but you can probably clear even more junk than that. Cached and temporary files, for example, will also be using up valuable chunks of memory.

Fortunately there is a program already installed on your PC that can clear these for you. Disk Cleanup will search your drive for unwanted data and then either remove it, or simply identify it so you can decide whether or not to get rid of it. If you use your computer a lot, it’s a good idea to run Disk Cleanup regularly. Set it as a weekly scheduled task and prevent your computer from slowing down drastically again in the future.

5. Update your software

Older versions of software or operating systems will make your computer run slower as additional security fixes (often called patches) and add-ons reduce computing speed. Updating to newer versions should help to improve the speed of your PC, as well as the security of your set-up too.

If you’re running Office 2003 or Windows XP, then you should definitely consider upgrading to a newer version. From 8th April 2014, these programs will no longer be supported by Microsoft, leaving users more open to risks from hackers than before.

6. Scan you computer for viruses

Viruses and malware (malicious software) may well be to blame if your computer’s running slowly or performing strangely. As well as preventing your computer from working as normal, they could be gathering your information or even planning to steal your identity.

Running anti-virus software will not only identify and get rid of any viruses you’ve managed to pick up; it’ll also help to keep your computer clean in the future. So both your computer and the information on it will be safe from harm.

7. Defrag and check for disk errors

If you’ve done all of the above and your computer’s still not performing as it should, then it may be necessary to defrag the hard drive and then check it for disk errors. Both of these tasks are slightly more complicated however, and you’re only advised to carry them out if you’re a competent PC trouble-shooter. If you’re not, then this is the time to call in the experts.

Image Credit: Boians Cho Joo Young

A site of programming languages has made its way into the tech world in last 2 decades. And each of these trumps others riding on its glorious capabilities. While working on them is not fun by any stretch, the final product as a result of logical thinking and application of extensive skills is something web users around the world cherish.

And all these factors has lead to a huge boom in the software development sector. Students around the globe are more than willing to learn programming languages in order to stand better chances of grabbing a job when they graduate. There are various training institutes for getting trained on different programming languages. While these institutes are greatly equipped to help students grab the most important concepts an a most effective manner, trainees also need to do their bit on their own end. There are various sources on the Internet that can help them in learning different programming languages like PHP, Java, .NET, C#, etc.

These websites either offer online tutorials, or are the places where you as a learner can find answers to the most difficult and common question you often find yourself asking people.

In this article, I bring to you some such websites that have gained immense popularity in the developer community:

Stackoverflow.com

If you have been into programming from quite a while, there is a slim chance that you haven’t head of Stackoverflow.com. This is an immensely sought-after website where you can find developers from all parts of earth. You can find beginners as well as the most skilled programmers here. On this site, people often ask question for which there are elaborative answers provided in the form of full-fledged codes and program snippets. These code snippets are more often than not read to compile and help the learners to grab intricate concepts with much more ease. And if you can’t find what you are looking for, simply ask it, and you will see many hands raised there.

leetcode.com

Another websites that does not skimp on details while helping the learners get a firm grasp on different programming languages. There are dozens of programming languages being covered here, and irrespective of whether you are learning .NET or PHP, you are set to find all the answers right here. there is a huge literature on all the languages and you can refer to various pages for any confusions or doubts regarding the coding. You can go to the Q & A section to check if the question you have in mind is already asked there or not. It is a very responsive site that makes v=navigation between different pages easy and fuss-free.

asp.net/web-forms

This particular website is a haven for those looking to hone their skills in ASP.NET, and also for those who have to start from scratch. Practical PHP Programming is an extremely informative website that makes use of some insightful tools to impart incredible PHP lessons to the most untrained of minds. The time spent on this site learning .NET proves to be fruitful as you are made aware some of the most complex aspects of this language and platform. The Model View Controller is studied in detail and all the latest features are covered in this site.

Github

You can in detail learn how to use the APIs associated with different languages. Introduction to the most basic as well as the very advanced aspects of programming is done cleverly by the means of this website. Learning the programming language becomes a rewarding process as this website makes it an experience much cherished. You can even create a new project and host it without paying a penny. Now that’s a feature not every website offers.

With options aplenty, making a choice would be difficult, but worth all the fuss

Author Bio:

Peter Milar is a highly reputed writer who works as a team with the Java Web Development experts of Xicom Technologies to create informative and full of insight posts around the Java technology. Hire Java Developer from Xicom to receive premium quality Java application development.

When it comes to studying the thought of it is enough to make us want to give up before we've even picked up a book!

The key to studying is balance – remember to take regular breaks and reward yourself for all the hard work you are doing!

The International Association of Book-keepers has worked closely with the digital marketing agency Reflect Digital to produce a fantastic info graphic for people studying any subject.

Despite advances in cyber security, passwords are still the best first line of defense against account infiltration because of their fluid customization. If an account becomes compromised, it is relatively easy for users to reestablish their defenses by changing how it is protected.

News outlets are regularly reporting tales of hacker devastation due to inefficient passcode strength. Although it is simple for users to change their passwords and optimize their security measures, according to PCWorld, there are simple strategies that businesses and consumers alike can consider in order to optimize their defenses from the start.

Tips for password fortification

Business 2 Community reported that password management software can do the work of creating complex and hard to hack passcodes without forcing the end user to memorize long strings of characters, across multiple accounts. With this cost-effective solution, the software will do this work for the customer, requiring minimal setup or maintenance. Furthermore, for businesses that need to manage various online presences over different account names, password management software provides users with an easy to use administrative interface.

Single sign-on solutions (SSO) are also worthwhile investments because of their instant authentication capabilities. When this software is deployed, users can connect to their accounts instantly, without requiring troublesome and often frustrating reset validations. Additionally, this strategy prevents business professionals who manage multiple password-protected accounts from having to spend time constantly signing into them as they perform their daily tasks.

There can never be enough security when dealing with the Internet. People who are invested in preserving their online identity should consider these optimized password strategies.

Just as fun as it can be to shop online, it can equally be risky at times. Not because you might just end up ordering the wrong size (thank god to the fact that there’s always an exchange window and you can courier it back) but because there are some safety issues that you need to keep in mind while swapping that plastic card of yours. With a dramatic increase in numbers of online purchasing portals, online flick stores, shopping windows, etc. it is becoming more and more crucial to keep a watch on where exactly you are stashing your card numbers in. There are scammers flopping in the online world like never before. So it helps to keep an eye before you decide to lay your hands on that beautiful dress or shoe you just spotted on the screen.

Here we lay down few safety procedures which once you ensure will make your experience equivalent to one that you have while visiting your nearest mart for picking stuff up.

1) Your computing environment should be very secured

Almost a no-brainer yet half the online population neglects this as a safety step. When you make purchases online, everything is encrypted. So if your computer is not protected of malicious software, your financial information and passwords will be stolen (as a matter of fact everything stands the chance of being stolen that are saved in your computer). So it is the first thing to ensure that the firewall is on. Also adding to it, try avoid shopping online from cyber cafes or using a public network. Financial transactions are better done through trusted computers.

2) Verify as to just how much you trust the store

There are correct ways of going about the shopping portal/ website you are trusting:

- If you already know the outlet of the brand or store you are purchasing form, go-ahead and have trust. In case anything goes wrong during the financial transaction, you can always walk in to the relevant store and get the problem sorted.

- If you have friends or family buying from a particular store/ portal, there’s nothing to worry much in that case then.

- If you do not know the store at all, BEWARE! Keep your eyes open. Read customer reviews or best is, do the store’s background check by looking at sites dedicated to reviewing e-stores. You find your store there, go ahead and make your picks.

3) Avail discount

Why pay extra when there can be options o availing discounts. There are many sites like indianprice.com, etc. which provide massive discounts via coupon codes. They have lots of stores registered with them and if your chosen store is registered, there you go hitting the jackpot. Cross-check and who knows you might just be lucky!

4) The too-good-to-be-true offers are not all that good always

You got no idea about the extent deceits can stretch. It’s not just on the online space but everywhere but when you are putting your money online, you can just be extra careful. It won’t hurt after all. Do not fall for the too-good-to-be-true offers. If they sound too unrealistic, there is no harm checking their reliability. They can be pretty unreal. Often purchasing from those sites can just be calling for bad luck. They can be low quality or stolen items or can also be cheap substitute of tall brands. The products might just never reach you or the portal merchant might just be playing all of it up for trading your bank details with someone else.

5) Stay alert while buying a gift-card

It is always nice to make your dear ones happy with the fabulous gift cards which are available online these days. But always read the terms and conditions carefully when buying one. Also, ensure the store from where you are buying is legitimate.

6) Do not trade too much of information

If the purchasing site is asking more information than you think is required, back off. It clearly is not reliable. The reliable sites would not go beyond asking name, contact details, email address, some method of payment, and at max your interest/ hobbies. But if you come across ones asking for driver’s license number, bank account information, social security information, etc. be cautious. It is a fraudulent one. There are hints that the merchant resell, rent or share your information. Alternatively, check the site’s privacy policy.

7) Make a unique password if required

Often online purchasing stores ask you to create an account with them. You need not do it but just in case it seems important to you or easy, then carry on. But ensure you choose a very strong password for the account. Make it unique.

8) Go a step high to ensure the security of the site

Hold on! Just before you enter any personal or credit card info onto a shopping site please do look at the URL. See if the web address on the page begins with "https:" and not "http." That little ‘s’ tells you the information is being encrypted to protect your information.

9) Wiring money through Western Union or Money Gram is not suggestible

Reliable sites generally do not make it a mandate for you to pay through wires. It is always wise to pay via credit or debit card. Wiring is suggestible to people you know but not to random strangers. So do not take the risk unnecessarily.

10) The grammar matters!

Might just sound very funny but do read the content that has gone on the website. If the content hosted by the portal/ the site is full of errors, typos, poor content, you can already sniff danger. They are not professional.

All in all, novice shoppers who are going to just start buying online should better stick with well known brands and famous online shopping portals rather than breaking their head in the smaller, less known ones. Once you get a grip of the online shopping fundamentals, you can always start your journey towards becoming the pro online shopper. But till then, have patience.

Author Bio:

This is a guest article contributed by Ajeet Sharma who works for IndianCoupons.com - a coupon site helps user shopping online by providing discount coupons, promotional codes and deals for all major online shopping stores.

Many of my friends communicate with their children via text message. It’s easy for the kids to send a quick message from school or when they are at a friend’s house to update so their parents know what they are up to. In my generation, you didn’t need a cell phone when you were in middle school or high school, but now with families having busy schedules, it almost has become a necessity. Keeping in contact with your kids is the biggest benefit of text messaging. You can see an example of how text messaging was a lifeline to this parent whose child was on lockdown during the Arapaho shooting. Without his child having a cell phone, he would have been in the dark if his child was okay.

Despite some obvious benefits, there are some drawbacks to allowing your kids access to text messaging as well. Here are just 4 dangers that they may face when they have a cell phone and send texts.

Cyber Bullying

It seems like everyday that you turn on the news there is a new story about kids getting bullied or committing suicide because they were bullied. The attacks can come from people they know or even people that they meet on the internet. It’s becoming an epidemic.

Sexting

As kids get older and head into their teens, they start to get curious about their bodies and start wondering about their sexuality. Some teens have started to practice sexting, which involves sending naked pictures or suggestive text to people they know or would like to know. Many scandals have arisen from those text messages getting forwarded. Teens need to work hard to protect their reputations in a digital age and refraining from sexting is one way to do so. Since their relationships are young and volatile, a person who they trust now may be an enemy next week. What’s to stop that person from sharing those private texts that were sent?

Phishing Scams

Another way kids can become victims is through phishing scams. Even with the FCC cracking down, they still exist and kids are easy pray. They usually come in the form of a text message that tricks someone into replying. Once they reply, they are signed up for a premium service and their bill gets charged. They may never know they are being scammed.

Predators

Online predators are everywhere. They lurk on social media, forums and chat rooms. Make sure that your kids aren’t making themselves susceptible to these predators. Tell them to be wary of anyone who they don’t know contacting them online.

What’s the solution? Teach your kids to not give their number out to just anyone. Also, they should never be sharing their phone number on social media sites like Facebook. Unfortunately many have their number on Facebook right on their profile and may not even realize it. Some of those phone numbers show up in their “friends” contacts in their phones. I was surprised when I linked my social media accounts to my phone how many private phone numbers showed up. If their phone number is in their profile someone that they don’t know could be text messaging them.
Image Credit: David Castillo

Author Bio:

Jill Myers is a mom and drivers education instructor. When not helping others learn to drive, she is contributing her knowledge to the blog at Phone Sheriff, parental control software that helps parents keep track of what they are doing online.

Are you slaving yourself to that PC in exchange of a completed coursework? Or are you catching after an oncoming deadline? The more urgent the nature of work, the higher your expectations is for that internet connection.

And when it fails to deliver, there’s no telling how worse it could be.

The slow net scenario

Now, at an era largely characterised by instant gratification, the sight of a loading icon – the circling arrow or the bar of green – could inspire automatic groans. Nobody wants them, unless this slow net thing is epidemic in your neighbourhood.

What are the causes of this slow internet connection? About.com’s “Internet for Beginners” has identified at least thirteen (13) causes.

1. Poor hardware
2. Incorrect router configuration
3. Leeching internet users
4. Un-upgraded NIC
5. Spyware/malware infection
6. Downloads
7. ISP’s routing signals
8. Outdated DNS
9. Full browser memory cache
10. Devices disrupt signals
11. Old PC
12. Open windows
13. Unattended dialog box

Take keen note these 13 represents the different possibilities. These may or may not necessarily disrupt bandwidth connection; it is up to you (dear user) to carefully weigh these things. The key to verifying it is by careful observation and simple logic (ie, is the connection faster with a new DNS, or not?).

Faster than energy bunnies

There are many ways of increasing your internet connection's speed. The best way to do it is to start with diagnosis. See through those aforementioned causes and learn which among those are causing your internet speed to drop.

Through a determined cause, you are able to appropriate a targeted solution. For instance, if the problem is caused by poor hardware, then you can purchase a newer and better model. If it’s about the incorrect router configuration, try to correct it or tap your friendly IT expert to do the works.

Or if the culprit of the internet snail-pace is your leeching neighbours (most likely the case for Wi-Fi connections), strengthen your connection’s password and utilise other security features. Infections, on the other hand, could be fixed through stringent scanning software.

Obviously, the nature of addressing your internet connection speed has something to do with the basics: consistent upgrades and investment in clearing ups. All of these serve to speed up that connection, probably faster than the proverbial energy bunnies.

Tech buddies

Apart from those, don’t skimp on tech savvy relationships. Try to foster a friendly (and not hostile) bond with that tech – the ones from the hardware distributor, the internet connection provider, the tech support team, and so on.

They’re your key to the better world of lightning speed connection. And though you might approach them for professional service, they would be willing to extend support if you’re consistently nice to them.

Awakened consciousness

Lastly, to increase the speed of your internet connection, try not to do things that could disrupt it. Avoid these disruptive things if it can be helped. And if the PC or any other device is shared among the members of the family, encourage them to perform the same measures.
Image Credit: ddpavumba

Author Bio:

Manuella Theissen works as a tech support for a widely recognised hardware brand. If not busy with clients, or writing stuff, Manuella can be observed at the local community service office, as she does code-writing tutorials for free.

I have been working in an office for the better part of ten years now; and one thing that I know for sure is that if my keyboard could talk, the stories it would tell will scare even the most die-hard Stephen King fan. I am not a very social person you see, and the one thing I really like to do is to get lunch and eat it right here, on my desk. Now that may be convenient for me, but as you may have already guessed, most of the food falls directly on my keyboard, behind the desk and on my chair. I must have eaten at least 90% of my meals this way, imagine all the food residue lying everywhere. If you are like me, then you know exactly what I am talking about. Just turn your own keyboard upside down and start shaking it like a toaster. Right off the bat, you will see remnants of your last 5 meals, plus some older ones. I know that this concept might not be appealing to you, but trust me when I say that if you make a much deeper analysis using some modern forensic equipment, you can even trace the first meal you ever had in front of that computer. But here is where the fun part begins. If you zoom even further, using a microscope for example, the horrors you are going to see will make you want to burn your keyboard and the rest of your office equipment.

Why is the Keyboard Dirty

For one, you keyboard doesn't have any protective coating. Like a typewriter, it is just a set of buttons hooked to a printer (graphic interface). The crevices between the keys are more than enough to permit whatever you are eating to fall inside your keyboard. This is not a matter of being 'hygienic' or anything like that, because even if you are very, very careful not to drop anything between the keys, you keyboard would still be dirty. I don't know how this happens, but your keyboard is basically one big magnet for everything nasty and unpleasant.

One more thing people neglect is their own greasy hands. I know how this sounds, but hear me out. Our hands and fingers secrete oils, and guess where those oils end up on? The keys of our keyboards, of course. If you look very carefully, you can actually make out which button your are using the most, just by the amount of greasy fingerprints on each one. Finger grease is the perfect medium on which bacteria thrive and reproduce.

Cleaning the keyboard

Now that we have established that your keyboard is very, very dirty, it is time to talk about some cleaning issues (yes, you will have to clean it now that you know how dirty it is). If it was up to me I would just buy a new keyboard every three months or so, but because most people can't do that, let us talk about actually cleaning our keyboard. The procedure itself is simplicity itself (in theory). You remove all the keys, you shake well, then put the keys back in their original order. I have done this several times now, (half the time ending in complete and total disaster).

Author Bio:

Rose Finchley works as a manager of http://www.cleancarpetlondon.com/. She loves to write and give advices about cleaning.

Sometimes it isn't always clear what is wrong with your computer when you can't connect to the internet, and Windows can be a little less than helpful by offering to search the internet to find a solution (who wouldn't want to know what genius added that option to the connectivity troubleshooting page?). However, in most cases a little bit of understanding as to what your computer is actually trying to tell you can help you to solve the problem; or at the very least identify the problem so that you know who needs to solve it.

There are three primary issues that could be causing your problems; your internet service provider, your connection hardware (hub, modem, router, Ethernet cable etc.) or your computer itself. Identifying where the problem is located is the first step, so try a little self-diagnosis first. This is particularly import with Windows 8, as many have experienced problems with the connectivity on this operating system and sometimes it is just a case of the software having a hiccup.

Step One

Start by clicking the wireless icon one desktop mode, this will bring up the side panel with all of your available internet connections. But the computer into airplane mode and leave for a few minutes, then turn off airplane mode and try connecting again. You may find that it takes a few minutes to establish the connection this time, but it might suddenly work.

This can be a problem with your ISP as much as your computer and is worth mentioning to them. Some Virgin Media packages for example have connectivity issues dealing with Windows 8 and recent operating Apple operating systems (such as iOS7).

Step Two

If it still isn't working try connecting to your internet through an Ethernet cable rather than using wireless internet. If you are able to connect and use the internet when hardwired there may be a problem with your modem or with the wireless adaptor within your computer. Most internet service providers will be happy enough to come out and replace your wireless modem, after testing with a replacement you should know whether it is the fault of the modem or the computer. If it is your computer you may need to have the wireless adaptor replaced.

Step Three

Try connecting to a different internet connection. Ask a neighbour if you can try connecting to their internet briefly to test your connection. If your problem connecting is on a laptop you can try connecting it at a friend’s house. This should give you a very clear indication as to whether your device is at fault or your internet connection. If your computer does connect to another wireless connection without a problem then it is most certainly your internet (which was mostly likely to be the case if Ethernet didn't work).

Resolution for Internet Fault

It is possible that the connection between your internet modem and phone socket is the problem, perhaps a new filter is needed or there is damage. However this is unlikely to happen suddenly for no apparent reason. The only way you can be sure of resolving the problem is to call your internet service provider for technical support. Either there is a fault with their service, which they can sometimes resolve remotely (perhaps your internet service was accidentally cancelled or otherwise altered in a way that caused a problem) or they will send a technician out to identify the cause of this problem.

Resolution for Computer / Laptop Problem

If the problem was with your wireless adaptor then you should be sure to have it replaced. However, if you were unable to connect to the internet using Ethernet both at home and at another location where the internet connection is known to be working then the fault could be something more serious with your device. Start by ensuring it is not in airplane mode, then run an anti-virus scan. Some viruses can have terrible impacts on your computer, including the disabling of your internet access; however this is nothing an up to date anti-virus can't deal with.

If you can't find a software problem and running the trouble shooting window hasn't helped you identify a problem then it is possible that you have just been incredibly unlucky and managed to damage your Ethernet port and wireless adaptor at the same time (did you perhaps drop the device onto concrete recently? Either way it is best to take it to the manufacturer and explain the problem – they should be able to help.

Note for laptop users – Some laptops have a switch on the side or bottom somewhere that will turn off the internet access. Look for this and or check the manual to identify whether or not your laptop has one and check it is turned on before taking it back to the manufacturer to report it as faulty.

Other issues

Fortunately, although Windows 8 can be a little prone to a few connectivity issues, it is very easy to use and the problems are fairly simple to resolve. Though these fixes will probably only work if you were not experiencing connectivity issues prior to needing resolutions for them. In other words; if you're having connectivity issues from the off there is a good chance you actually just set your internet connection up incorrectly, check your usernames and passwords are all correct and go through the manual while setting everything up. They all come with step by step instructions so it shouldn't be too difficult to find what you did wrong and fix it.

If your wireless internet is running slowly and/or dropping out frequently you may be too far from your wireless modem. Try moving the device and modem closer together or purchasing a wireless extender.

Image Credit: rajcreationzs

Author Bio:

Kate Critchlow is a writer passionate about technology, both new and old loving and writing about everything from web development to dial-up.

URL shorteners are part of the unexciting world of Twitter and email efficiency. Yes, all the thrills and spills of making your Twitter messages a look a little cleaner of your emails look a little more compact. But, before you fall asleep with giddy delight at the prospect, you should know that not all URL shorteners are alike. They have been known to “introduce an extra point of failure” (life hacker).

An extra point of failure

This is some nerd’s way of saying that a URL shortener can cause you a bit of trouble. The website that published this idea claim that the company WatchMouse monitored a bunch of popular URL shortening tools/services over a month and noticed that they appear to have a few inherent problems.

The quality of the services varies a little with things such as a varying latency and varying uptimes. Their results are only subject to their own tests and bias, but here are a few of the results.

The slowest performance

This has to be the Facebook “FB.ME” which has a performance time that is four times that of its leading competitor. It takes a massive amount of time to connect when compared to the other URL shorteners.

The URL shorteners that are always online

Uptime is difficult to pull off at 100% in any online situation, but somehow the Google and Twitter shorteners had an uptime of 100%. Their tools are called “Goo.gl” and “Twt.tl”. The one with the worst uptime is Snurl. Do not forget the these figures were pull up by the Dutch WatchMouse team and were only based on recorded research that was conducted over a month time period.

Which is the most efficient URL shortener

That has to be the Google tool “Goo.gl” which narrowly beats the YouTube shortener called “you.be”.

The most secure tools

Nobody seems to have published reliable results on this one. However, many of the URL shorteners are from larger companies such as Google, Twitter, etc, which means they have a lot to lose if they are secret back doors for hackers.

Goo.gl

This is the official URL shortener that Google have released. It is highly trusted and reliable too. It contains public stats and can show real-time analytics for any of your short Google links. It is also the fastest for producing shortened links.

Su.pr

This is the URL Shortener that Stumble Upon have released and many people feel that it is one of the best URL shorteners on the market. It has sharing functions and the shortened URLs help to increase traffic from their own website. It has a history viewer and can tell you things such as the number of reviews and re-tweets that the URL has had. It also has real-time analytics like the Google URL shortener. There is also a very sexy function that tells you to best times to post based on the information it has collected in the past.

Tinyurl

It has a cute name and is not bad at its job. It has a browser toolbar and you can use the preview features too. The tool will also allow you to hide your affiliate URLs. It is not the world’s most feature filled tool, but it certainly gets the job done for you.

Bitly

This is a tool that some people use because they claim it helps them build a lot of traffic. It has a sharing functionality, which is rather nice. It also has analytic data with is good for real-time traffic and data analysis. The good thing about this tool is that you can get it in a number of ways. You can get it on mobile Internet and with browser extensions. You can get it via a website and there are lots of third party tools that use it too.

Budurl

This is a URL shortening tool but it does have a lot of premium features that some people have found useful. You are able to schedule your tweets to go out at a certain time and you can send emails to your clients and prospects. They have a mobile Micro-sites that help you to drive traffic for all of your mobile campaigns, and it is good for affiliate links. You can pull up very detailed statistics for comment sites and blog posts and you can add in advertising links. There is also QR Code integration for your print campaigns. You can add links to your PDFs and you can link to other files from your website or your emails.

Image Credit: Photostock

Author Bio:

Kate Funk is a freelance writer at http://www.aussiessay.com. She is mainly focusing on technology, gadgets and all the latest trends which are interesting for networking enthusiasts.

It can be all too easy for businesses to downplay the importance of security when it comes to e-mail. Many people wrongly assume that the products available on the e-mail encryption market are vastly unnecessary and simply tools for the companies that sell them to make money whilst capitalising on people’s fears. However, many businesses have become unstuck after underestimating the security concerns attached to e-mail.

Staying Up To Date with Threats

With every new development in the online world comes another series of risks that can be exceptionally damaging. E-mail encryption plays a pivotal role in protecting businesses from the activities of criminals and others into whose hands information can fall all too easily. The information that is included in e-mails can be of a highly-sensitive nature, and can result in huge security breaches taking place. Encryption can protect everything from business plans to employee bank details from being used by outside sources. It is as necessary and as useful for private individuals as it is for companies small and large.

Reputable Software

Identity thieves have been known to intercept millions of e-mails in the past, using information such as insurance details and social security numbers for their own illegal means. Even Government departments have come under fire in the past after not taking advantage of the tools available to them to prevent interception from taking place. It’s important for businesses to always stay one step ahead of criminals, by choosing the most reputable companies and software possible for protecting the content found in e-mails. It’s also essential that quality is not compromised when it comes to finding the most reliable sources possible. Companies should never opt for a low-cost service just to save capital, or the results could be disastrous. No confidential information or indeed anything that you don’t want others to see should be sent in an unencrypted e-mail.

Eliminate the Risks

There’s no real denying that e-mail isn’t a risky way to do business, but if there are no realistic alternatives available, you should ensure that you achieve the highest level of security possible. Ways of keeping e-mail activity secure include using personal e-mail certificates to prove that you are who you say you are when communicating with others and asking others to do the same. Spam and malware have regularly been sent out to contacts without the consent or even knowledge of e-mail account owners, but if your contacts know that you only ever send e-mail with a security certificate attached, they will be unlikely to open any e-mail that doesn’t feature a certificate, leaving them protected from harm.

Author Bio:

Egress Software Technologies offer a simple to use email encryption product. You can also find out more about their service for secure large file transfer at www.egress.com/solutions-large-file-transfer

The latest iOS upgrade has brought with it new and unique ways to secure the iPhone. TechRepublic reported that although much of operating system has remained the same, updates to its design and improvements to workplace integration makes it a worthwhile change. Additionally, Apple's passcode features have improved with a new alphanumeric password option.

Managing an iPhone with iOS 7

The bring your own device (BYOD) model for workplace integration has taken off, with more businesses allowing their employees to utilize smartphones, tablets and laptops, in place of their company-provided tools. As if in response to this trend, Apple released iOS 7 with features that enhance the functionality of the iPhone in an office setting.

According to TechRepublic, features such as AirDrop make sharing photos and documents fast and simple by connecting employees to one another, enabling a collaborative workplace environment for those who are utilizing this technology. Additionally, the source reported that Apple has also improved its overall app security by enabling a data protection function automatically, preserving any information transferred across these third-party app providers.

Another new resource that speaks to the iPhone's updated security is the single sign-on (SSO) capability that will allow end-users to set a password once across applications that contain sensitive information. This option is especially useful for businesses that hope to safeguard the data employees might be accessing through the cloud because it can prevent code sharing.

The first step is securing the phone itself

None of the above options are innately secure, however. According to Tom's Guide, it's essential that end-users with a mind for safety make optimal use of their iPhone's built-in security feature - the passcode.

The source reported that it's one of the easiest ways to prevent accidentally or intentional breaches of data. Additionally, the upgrades to the iOS 7 platform have provided end-users with new options for creating and maintaining security. Traditionally, the lock screen was protected by a 4-digit passcode. Now, after Apple's latest upgrade, it is possible to set alphanumeric protection, utilizing ten or more upper- and lower-case characters and numbers.

Tom's Guide noted that the 4-digit PIN code has 10,000 combinations, which is difficult to hack but not impossible. With the newest option, it is much more challenging for individuals to break through this defense. In addition to this new safety measure, the iOS 7 upgrade enables users to program how often the device will ask for authentication. Rather than the traditional method, which asked for authentication every time the screen was opened, the iPhone can be set so that it will lock on a timed interval instead.

Does it really matter?

According to Security Watch, mobile devices have become a major part of the lives of users everywhere. The source referenced a study by Sprint that reported how frequently smartphones are accessed on a daily basis, and the one unifying factor is the risk associated with information exposure.

Because of the ability to access the Internet on the go, data security has become a constant concern that responsible individuals are having to overcome. Additionally, without utilizing passcodes and other features meant to preserve the integrity of stored information, issues with privacy are growing.

In order to preserve what Security Watch calls "our most personal computers," it's important that smartphones are protected with verification features that are built into their operating systems. Additionally, it is possible to reinforce these safety precautions with password management software, which can provide an extra layer of defense against unwanted access.