Surfing the internet allows you to access a lot of information and gives you a very easy and convenient venue to communicate with other people around the globe. However, being connected to the web also lets you be close to threats that can ruin certain programs in your PC and even your hard drive. There are different threats you can meet in the web like viruses, worms, Trojans, etc. and they foster different risks once they infect your system. So you have to make sure your system is always protected. You can either buy an anti-virus or just avail for free virus protection that you can also get in the web.
When looking for an anti-virus to protect your system, you need to have the anti-virus that your system can run. There are certain programs that require a minimum free memory space for it to function properly. The reliability of the anti-virus should also be considered because not all programs can detect and remove or kill detrimental viruses. Choose the one that can give you maximum protection at all times.
IBM, the word speaks for itself. They are the giants in manufacturing computers and laptops. A unique laptop that they have introduced is IBM ThinkPad R50e Laptop . The product comes in trendy black colour, which is sleek and sure the users will enjoy working on it. It is a light-weighted product, which is easy to carry. It has itself some significant features including Intel Centrino technology. Read IBM Laptop reviews to know the latest Laptop models and decide on the right Laptop model for you.
IBM ThinkPad R50e Laptop supports the Intel Pentium-M processor. The total capacity of the hard drive is 40 GB, which allows the user to store only a less number of data. When it is analysed in terms of memory capacity is has been measured as 256 MB. The data that can be transmitted through this processor is 56K with the speed of 1.60GHz. It has the features that are available in almost all the model laptop that comes with this processor.
A special feature that is available in this device is the DVD-RW. With the help of this feature you can easily write and video file and also you can read it. The wireless internet is integrated in this device with the help of 802.11b/g standard. IBM ThinkPad R50e Laptop consist Lithium Ion battery that which lasts up to 4 hours. The total weight of the device is just 2 kg with the dimension of 268mm height, 332mm width and 37mm depth.
The size of the screen is 14 inches. Intel Extreme Graphics 2 card is the type of the graphic card that is used in this particular model. IBM ThinkPad R50e Laptop supports Type II or Type III port, including 2 USB ports. The other ports that are available in this model are parallel port, VGA, RJ 11 and RJ 45. The operating system that the processor supports is MS Windows XP Home.
On the whole, IBM ThinkPad R50e Laptop is a perfect match for those who are the ardent lovers of music and video. With the special feature of the DVD writer, you can enjoy watching your favourite videos anytime you like.
While browsing and searching YouTube for useful videos about data centre, I stumbled upon the video about the company called Fusepoint. This video is a mini-presentation on how reliable Fusepoint’s data centres are. We all know that in the age of internet and information technology, data centre plays a crucial role. In a world where uptime means money and downtime means losses, a company like Fusepoint is a gem. Here’s the video to give you a better idea of what I am talking about:
Back up generators, surveillance cameras, proper ventilation and tight security are just some of the features and amenities of Fusepoint. The video clearly defines reliability of a company that is offering IT services such as managed hosting, consulting, security services and disaster recovery. Thanks to Fusepoint, I did not only come to know about their company and their services, but I also learned what I need to look for in an IT services company.
Instead of buying a complete set of PC that requires quite space, why not avail for a Touch Screen and save space and faster manipulation. Who would have ever though that life and work can be made easy by a bunch of electronics products? Not only that; electronics continues to extend its family making more and more innovative products that cause the old ones obsolete because of newer and better features.
Wireless technology is now becoming even more interesting. Aside from the mobile phones that allow wireless communication, accessibility of information is now possible through the internet. Also, previously operating 2.4 GHz products such as RFIDs and other wireless access are made even faster and better. Now, you can get 5.8 GHz embedded computer that offer better service and are used in a variety of applications.
Can you predict what’s next? Whatever that is, it will definitely make life and work a lot easier.
New Computers are getting faster and faster every year. But the more programs you load, the slower it seems to gets. It may be time to clean house and get rid of the programs you no longer use.
To remove programs, start by going to the Control Panel. To find the control panel, click on the Start Menu button on the lower left-hand corner of the Windows XP desktop. The ‘Control Panel’ should be listed in the Start Menu.
If it’s not on your Start Menu, it’s easy to add.
1. Right-click the Start button and choose ‘Properties’ from the pop-up menu.
2. On the Start Menu tab, make sure the first (non-classic) Start Menu option is selected and click Customize.
3. Click the Advanced tab.
4. In the Start Menu Items list under the Control Panel section, select Display As Link.
Now that you have found the Control Panel, select ‘Add or Remove Programs’. A list of currently installed programs will be displayed. Start at the top of the list. The first program on the list will be highlighted. Use the up and down arrows to scroll the list.
You will see some details about the program. The size, used, and last used on date. There will also be a ‘Change/Remove’ button. Click on ‘Change/Remove’ to start the uninstall wizard. Some wizards will ask you to turn your computer off to finish the removal of the program. That’s fine, go ahead and restart your computer and continue down the list.
There may be some programs on the list that you don’t recognize. If there are other people using your computer, you might want to ask them about it before deleting it. Also, if it has words like driver, Windows, Microsoft, update or your Internet providers name in the title, you should leave it alone. Be sure to check the date last used. Then, if it has been more than a few months and is used rarely, it is safe to remove.
After you’re done removing programs, you should defrag your hard drive. Defragging your hard drive gets all the files back in line and helps your computer run faster.
To defrag your computer:
1. Select ‘My Computer’ from the Start Menu.
2. Right-click on the hard drive, this is usually referred to as the ‘C’ drive.
3. Select ‘Properties’ from the pop-up menu.
4. Select the ‘Tools’ tab and click on the ‘Defragment Now…’ button.
5. Click on the ‘Analyze’ button.
Wait a minute or so, and a little window will pop-up telling you if you need to defrag your hard drive.
When this is finished your computer should be Up to Speed. - Janean Wilson
The Internet, or simply “the Net”, has a profound impact on modern society by publicly providing a worldwide source of information, by being a preferred means of communication and by acting as a powerful entertainment tool. However, in the last few years, governments from all over the world are seeing it as a liability and are discussing how to take action to insure that it is not exploited by “cybercriminals”. This article evaluates the abstract idea of governmental control over the Internet, by providing potent arguments for both sides of the debate, in an attempt to decide whether this is the right path for prohibiting cyberspace abuse.
It is impossible to accurately calculate the sheer size, use and growth of the entire global system, but it is reasonable to assume that the Internet is the “fastest-growing communication medium in human history”. There is controversy over its origin and many people have contributed to the worldwide system but Tim Berners-Lee brought a public face to the Internet with his research in HTML and HTTP at CERN in Switzerland in 1991. By 1995 the Internet had entered the public domain and it had become uncontrollable - “first scientists, then academics and finally the general public” utilised the tremendous capacities for connectivity and communication. Because “the Internet just happened”, as asserted by Dennis Jennings, a network pioneer who played a major role in the emergence of the worldwide web, the system appears to the layman as a disorganized distributed network and that governments will not be able to regulate the system fully, even if they aspire to so.
The most popular belief is that as the Internet has no centralised point and that in consequence it is inherently uncontrollable. This is a myth encouraged by a lot of wishful thinking and not a lot of fact. When users visit a website or send an e-mail, Domain Name System (DNS) root servers search their hierarchical distributed databases and translate worldwide unique names, such as a website address and matches them with their corresponding Internet Protocol number. Due to technical constraints the network can only ever have 13 root servers and, because of the informal manner in which the Internet evolved, ten of the root servers are operated by American administrators. This notorious American hegemony seen in most industries illustrates in principle how America has Internet governance and the possibility of surveying most Internet transactions worldwide.
Regulation using DNS root servers is just one example of the diverse methods of surveillance but its not just governmental administrations that wish to record Internet data. The Internet giant Google rules the search engine industry with a 30 percent monopoly, with an average of 200 million searches a day. When a search is carried out using Google the system collects personal information to enhance the service and customise results. However, to achieve this, Google assigns a unique cookie ID number on your computer and then utilises log file cookies, that do not expire until 2038, that have the ability to retain an unprecedented amount of personal information about every search you have conducted using the system. So in principle this data informs Google of what is going on in every user’s head, what products you are considering purchasing, where your next holiday will be and even which embarrassing illnesses you have been researching. Privacy advocates are raising concerns about Google, calling the company’s records a potential gold mine of information for law enforcement.
Recently, Google has been in a legal conflict with the US Justice Department who have demanded that the company surrenders data about more than a billion searches. The subpoena is part of the Bush administration’s attempt to revive a law meant to shield children from online pornographic material. Eventually US District Judge James Ware “emphasized his sensitivity to Google’s concerns during a court hearing” and concluded by granting the Justice Department a scaled down request of 50 thousand randomly sampled search requests. Google displayed a staunch resistance to the government’s demands, but still the incident shed light on Google’s perception of public privacy and they were rewarded with a fall in stock prices.
A randomly generated telephone poll carried out by Ponemon Institute following the subpoena revealed that 77 per cent of users were unaware of Google recording personal information. Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt claims their main objective of this huge personal information database is to educate their artificial intelligent system resulting in a “Google that knows more about you.” But is it necessary to keep the data for 35 years? The survey additionally revealed that 56 per cent of users said Google should not turn over information to the Government, and only 14 per cent were happy for Google to hand over information even in criminal cases. Hence the public do not seem to want Internet governance by anyone.
Searching through huge databases and finding committed crimes is an example of a systemically impractical regulation technique. However, the Chinese authorities have raised the stakes and have adopted a vast security gateway, comically branded “The Great Firewall of China.” The system has been employed so that all Internet traffic entering or leaving China must pass through government-controlled gateways resulting in the government having complete censorship within Mainland China. This is an example of an extreme action where authorities have stopped the future of free expression because they believe it disrupts social stability and jeopardises state security.
One of the latest in a long line of Chinese restrictions on Internet-related activity that has received a large amount of media coverage is the creation of its very own specialised Google search engine. To obey with China’s censorship laws Google has created a site that purges any search results of any websites disapproved by the Chinese authority. Examples include sites promoting Falun Gong, free speech in China and any mention of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Google’s conduct in China did not go well with the people of the United States, their stocks fell and protestors waved placards outside their headquarters “comparing them to Nazi collaborators”. Many protestors such as Julian Pain, spokesman for Reporters without Borders, said that Google’s decision to “collaborate” with the Chinese government was a “real shame”. When the company went public two years ago, the co-founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page filed submissions with the Securities and Exchange Commission declaring that they are “a company that is trustworthy and interested in the public good”. However, most people see their decision as based solely on financial considerations as the number of Internet users in China currently stands at 100 million and is expected to rise to 187 million in two years time.
The main point to consider about Google’s conduct with China is how people all over the world reacted when it came to cyberspace freedom. We have exposed the diverse methods of observing Internet transactions but if other governments decide to follow in China’s footsteps and proactively intervene with the industry they will need to present strong arguments for its requirement.
Cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing criminal activities on the planet. It covers a huge range of illegal activity including financial scams, computer hacking (which is now considered as terrorism), child pornographic material, virus attacks, and creation of websites that promote racial hatred. “Given the extent to which computers have become a part of modern life, it was inevitable that some people would see the wired world as an opportunity to make money or cause mischief”, said by Home Secretary Jack Straw, is evidentially true as the German foreign minister Joschka Fischer recently put the global figure of illegal cybercrimes at more than $40bn a year.
Spam is destroying the Internet and the benefits of systems such as email and needs to be stopped by legal intervention otherwise the Internet will collapse. Spam accounts for approximately 50 percent of all email and is growing. Many regimes have already legislated to ban Spam and it does not seem unreasonable to envisage in this legislation. However, the best means of intervention in the fight against the Spam plague would be “Self-regulation”, as it has worked in many industries, particularly the financial world, and would only require computer owners to take reasonable precautions against infection and illicit use of their machines to distribute Spam, by simply updating anti-virus and filtering software.
Additionally to “self-regulation” authorities should impose higher penalties and more prosecutions, as gangs of organised cyber criminals who launch these Spam campaigns are not going to stop because of the huge profit the illicit activity makes. But for Governments to assert that privacy of e-mail communication should be breached to combat Spam is an immoral decision. If the Royal Mail decided to make photocopies of every letter that went through their service there would be public outburst so why is the situation any different when it comes to the Internet?
However, it is obvious that officials have to address these concerns and isolate the vast number of illegal activities committed but what is the right action to take? Currently President Bush is pushing to ratify the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention (CECC) global agreement that permits Internet surveillance and would pose as serious threat for privacy at home. The President of United States promises it would “be an effective tool in the global effort to combat computer-related crime” and added that it is the “only international treaty to address the problems of computer-related crime and electronic evidence gathering.”
But do we really want law enforcement conducting surveillance on people worldwide who have not committed any crimes in order to help enforce the law of some criminal party in Columbia?”
In this article I have considered the Governmental implications for Internet regulation together with the right for free expression. Personally the question has a tendency to pull at me from both sides in the debate and I can see that cybercrime is becoming a huge problem. However I do not believe that regimes all over the world should suppress economic liberalisation due to criminal activity because in a sense an action like that is criminal in itself. The CECC agreement should not be ratified as it is difficult to apply one set of laws which would be universally accepted by different cultures, religious sects or social groups. My final opinion is that authorities should improve upon “self-regulation” so that the Internet becomes a more attractive environment, particularly for children, as they are unable to defend for themselves.
Computers are the backbone of today’s world. A lot of functions are being executed on computer systems and their uses have increased significantly in the recent times. With phenomenal developments taking place, the shapes, sizes and designs of computers have also changed. Now one can find portable computers also which can be carried anywhere. Considering these factors, the computer market is growing with a rapid speed.
The portable and movable computers are the need of the world today. Not only the business world but the common households are the places where laptops are being used. These have given a new dimension to the businesses today. Such devices allow people to work on important projects anywhere and anytime. The lighter and smaller notebooks are quite popular among all sections of society. Students, teenagers, adults or busy housewives, everyone wants to have a lighter and portable computer for him or her.
The invention of internet technologies has given another boost to the portable computers market. People can access to the world of internet by connecting their laptops with data card or mobile phones. This connectivity feature helps users to execute the important works even while they are traveling. The lowering prices have also helped in the expansion of the notebooks industry. Another important benefit of using these is the less noise produced by them. At the same time, less power is required to run a notebook than to run a desktop. The picture quality is also better in this case.
Different websites and portals are the best places to shop. One can find different varieties of laptops online. The dedicated portals give many benefits to the customers so that they can attract maximum traffic to their site. While shopping for these, one should look for high quality Micro Processor, RAM and Operating system. The speed and storage capacity of hard disk are the other features that make the difference. The cheap laptops are also available on different websites which give satisfying facilities to the users. These may not score well in terms of design and colour combination, but the operating capabilities are of world class.
Many portals give the facility to compare laptops brands launched by different manufacturers. This exercise gives a detailed idea about the advantages and disadvantages of different models available in the markets. Currently, the best laptops are being produced by HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Acer, Compaq, etc. These companies are pioneer in the industry and have produced many attractive portable computers. The notebooks are not only used for professional purposes but they are meant for various entertainment purposes also. Watching movies, listening to songs, capturing pictures and making movies are some of such works.
The best laptops are those which are light in weight, have high resolution screen and fast processing speed. Today, one can have the movable computers which provide mammoth hard disk space of 160 GB and processing speed of 2 GHz. These are normally operated on a single battery which gives three hours as back-up time. Many other features have been added recently such as face recognition system, web camera, touch screen, DVD writer, etc. These features give a wonderful experience to the users to work on such electronic devices.
In order to capture larger market share, a stiff competition is going among different manufacturers. Each of them is claiming to give some or the other benefits to the customers. For example, Toshiba boasts of providing the sleek laptops. HP is not far behind and has introduced some amazing and stylish products. The sound quality and durability of HP products are unmatchable. Acer provides cheap laptops to the medium class buyers. Dell computers have also produced some wonderful notebooks in the markets worldwide and the N-series portable computers are getting huge demands. Overall, it can be seen that all types of such devices are being developed so that the customers could get what they want. The future of movable computers industry seems to be more promising and exciting.
Installing the right hardware and software is only the start of protecting your network. Another part of protecting your network is involved in how you use it and how you set up the appropriate network security policies and procedures. With networking becoming so popular many enterprises are finally starting to take a serious approach to network security. Just take a look at the many threats to computer today and you can see why network security is so important with malware, bots and assorted viruses.
In addition to your hardware and software you need to have the right policy, strategy and execution. The organization will determine how the security is managed, but it is necessary to have clear rules and procedures for the use and security of the network. Then you can back up your policies with the technology necessary to protect the network. But having the right policy is the starting point for all other network security methods.
Next you need to educate individuals about your rules. The rules won’t do any good if people don’t know them and follow them. Make sure all your users know what can and cannot be done safely. This is especially important since spy ware in the form of phishing emails and spam are becoming more prevalent.
Network security now needs to have someone in charge. You should no longer have an IT group looking after your network security. Rather you need someone whose full time job is to watch network security within your organization. More importantly if you have a group of people for this job make sure someone is clearly in charge and responsible for the department.
In order to keep malware from affecting your network you need to keep an eye on remote users and portable devices. Even with a secure network a user can log on from an unprotected Wi-Fi network and a back door will be opened into your network. So if you are going to give your workers the option of working wirelessly from many organizations you need to have a secure approach to the wireless technology.
Lastly don’t forget the physical nature of your business. With everything changing to an online approach and much security focused on that aspect it is important that you don’t forget about the physical security on your work site. So always give thought to what can be taken out of the trash or who can walk into your company and gain access to information.
A lot of European nations utilize public video surveillance as a leading tool for monitoring movement and possible terrorist acts. The United Kingdom is known for relying heavily on video surveillance in crime prevention efforts. Some studies show that video surveillance is indeed making an impact in the fight against crime.
Its Beginnings
Video surveillance in the United Kingdom started n 1986 in an industrial estate outside the town of King’s Lynn. Video surveillance cameras were installed and their usefulness was immediately apparent. Before the cameras were put in place, almost 60 crimes were recorded. Two years after installation, there were no crimes reported. Needless to say, other town and cities followed suit.
Soon after that, the government made a large amount of money available to establish surveillance programs in different areas. Municipal systems have been operating for over a decade but there is little formal data to measure actual effectiveness. However, British government reports assert that these surveillance systems are in fact, a major reason for declining crime rates.
A good example is Liverpool which has one of the largest systems in Great Britain. Shoplifting, prostitution, and vandalism have decreased by 25 percent. Residents there say they feel safer, even at night. It also seems that people charged with crimes plead guilty most of the time when faced with videotaped evidence of their misdeeds.
Most Britons are aware of these video surveillance systems. Going shopping, riding a train, buying gas, going to the bank, attending a soccer match. If someone does any of this, chances are his image will be recorded on video. This means that citizens notice the cameras but do not really seem to mind them. In fact, a surprising number of people support the use of video surveillance systems. But some people do think that the setup is Orwellian in nature.
Proof In The Pudding
Supporters emphasize that video surveillance is invaluable in apprehending criminals. Kidnappings and terrorist bombings have been prevented with the use of this technology. Arrests were conducted after video images were broadcast to the public and citizens responded. Video surveillance is also helping to clean up the notorious image of English soccer. Fans who had disrupted games in the past were barred from attending future matches with the help of surveillance images.
The advantage of the British video surveillance systems is that nearly all of them are linked to local police stations. If not, they are monitored by private security guards in a central location. If a guard notices an illegal act, the image can be sent to the police monitors so the authorities can react accordingly.
The United Kingdom has embraced video surveillance as powerful tool in law enforcement. Civil libertarians may decry their prevalence but there is no denying that they are effective in helping the authorities. It is a matter of proper usage of this technology. As long as they do not infringe on the privacy of law-abiding citizens, then the police can take full advantage of their utility in crime prevention.
Zero Gravity is a technology blog that reviews the latest gadgets, products and news in the tech industry.
