Computer Viruses - the basics

readthenrate.com:
In its simplest terms a virus is a disruptive computer code period!
A computer virus almost always repeats itself and spreads by attaching itself to other files. Viruses can be made to host a number of harmful things on any computer from disrupting files to crashing networks. It can even be laying dormant, without you knowing it's there and then attack when least expect it, like right in the middle of downloading a large file or typing
a long report.
It can even be made to open at a certain date, sitting like a timebomb until it's time arrives. As you can see it can be annoying at the very least.
I do not want go into all the different types of viruses here because there are so many and more are being made everyday in some dank basement by the Dark Lord.
However, since so many viruses came from unknowingly opening e-mails I would like to mention some basics here:
Never open e-mail attachments unless you know for sure who it's from and that it's safe.
Some mail programs will even ask if you trust the attachment and if you're sure this you want to do. Your computer software can also scan attachments for viruses.
The danger is that when the attachment is opened the virus can attach itself to your hard drive and damage files. Not only that, it can search your saved e-mail addresses and send itself out to your friends, business partners and whoever is on the list, masking the message to look like a legitimate one from you. It will probably have an attachment
too and when opened will infect other computers.
Many people like to download music, video, games or other programs from different sites. If it is a site you dealt with before and trust it may be safe ok, but if you're not sure you can always run a virus scan on the download before installation. (You will need to check the anti- virus program that came with your system on procedures). This
security measure is necessary because some downloads may contain virtues, spyware or adware – these last two can collect personal information, note
your browsing habits and spam your e-mail with unwanted ads. Some software sites will offer a readme file that shows technical information on the download (if you like tech talk) as well as contact info.
The better sites that offer downloads will test and scan all there software programs before going online with it. As a last resort you can do an internet search for reviews on that particular company to see if others got burned.
This may sound scary to some but the fact is in this world anyone who owns a computer will have to look over there shoulders for hidden attacks when working with online.
That said there are some things should do to prevent viruses from attacking your computer:
* Download the latest virus definition lists ( files that tell your computer what to scan for)
that's used for your anti-virus program.
* Check to see if your internet service provider has tools to stop viruses before they can reach your mailbox.
* Always back-up your computer on CD-R disks or other media in case you loose some or all your data.
* You can scan software for viruses before installing it. (See system manual for procedure)
* Set your security settings at the highest level.
* Check your web browser and e-mail settings.
Doing these things at least every week will help keep your computer up to date on Virus protection and running safely.

Extend The Life Of Your Laptop Battery

readthenrate.com:
If you are the owner of a laptop computer, you know how frustrating it can be when you are working on the laptop and your battery is low. If you are constantly on the go, it is sometimes difficult to find a place
to plug in your computer to let it recharge. There are a few things that you can do to help you take care and extend the life of your laptop battery.
General caution should be observed when running the battery of your laptop. A laptop should be plugged in to the AC adaptor whenever possible. This will ensure that your laptop battery is always charged and ready to go when it is needed. Another tip is to not expose your laptop to extreme weather conditions, especially very cold temperatures. A cold battery will run much slower than one that is warm. Also, try not to use your laptop for long periods of time without recharging the battery. This can cause information to be lost if the battery sudden stops working.
When using your battery on your laptop, remember use as little power as you can by adjusting the settings on the laptop. This will make your computer go inactive when not in use for a certain amount of time. Adjusting the power setting
is easy if you go into the control panel and set the display time. It is also possible to adjust the brightness of the screen display to help the life of the laptop battery. Remember to turn programs off that you are not using. This will waste battery usage quicker. Also, running movies and videos will quickly drain the battery charge.
When using your laptop battery you will want to make sure you check the battery charge frequently. Charge your laptop as soon as you see the battery getting low. Whenever you can, plug in your computer. It is a good idea to always plug in your computer so that it is ready to go. Also, take care of your battery. It is important to clean the laptop battery and keep it free of dust and debris. Using canned air or a cotton swab on a regular basis can do this. The battery will run longer if it is cleaned frequently.
Another tip is to have an extra battery on hand. These are easily purchased. Have at least one fully charged at all times for a quick battery change. Some laptops can run with two batteries. Most laptops are also compatible with external batteries that can easily be added and changed when necessary. Battery charges that work in the car are also good options for anyone taking their laptops on trips. Also, if you are purchasing a new laptop computer, consider buying a smaller, lightweight version. These are more efficient and are able to run longer on a battery charge than the larger laptop versions. Following these basic tips can help extend the amount of time your computer can run with a battery.

How To Remove Winfixer 2005 Plus Unwanted Spyware And Adware

BBC Banned Music: Top Singles Banned By the BBC

readbud.com:
The British Broadcasting Corporation also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it allows itself to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. During the years, many
singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or bear the potential for offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.
In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.
The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.
Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin
scandalous duet Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you... me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.
The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in
the BBC official singles chart. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.
Je TAime ... Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned
the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.
Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the single's explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.
Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.

CES 2011: Alienware updates Aurora gaming desktop, M17x gaming laptop with latest hardware, 3D support By Sean Portnoy

As part of its CES press event,
Dell announced refreshes of two
Alienware lines that include new
hardware from Intel and Nvidia
and 3D capabilities. The latest member of the Aurora
family of gaming desktops, the
first in a MicroATX form factor,
will feature new Intel Core i5 and
i7 Sandy Bridge processors that
will be overclocked and liquid- cooled and can support dual
graphics cards (whether in AMD
CrossFireX or Nvidia SLI flavor).
Alienware is saying 3D support
requires an Nvidia video board
and 3D Vision Kit and 120Hz 3D- capable LCD. The new Aurora will
be available on January 10 at
the starting price of $1,799. The flagship M17x gaming laptop
is also going 3D, with an optional
120Hz 3D display letting you
game and watch movies in three
dimensions. It also will have Core
i5 and i7 mobile Sandy Bridge CPUs and three graphics card
options: the Nvidia GeForce GTX
460M (also needed for 3D
capabilities), AMD Mobility Radeon
HD 6870M, or the new Radeon HD
6970M (making it one of the first notebooks to use a new Radeon
6900 series card). The M17x
refresh will also be available on
the 10th, with a starting price
of $1,499.

Tips for Buying Laptop LCD Screen for HP from NearbyExpress by Rain Cloud

When buying your replacement
for your HP LCD Screen, there
are certain things we need to
know about. Nearby Express is a
professional dropship supplier of
laptop lcd screen. Here are some advices from Nearby Express on
buying Laptop LCD Screen for HP
or other computer brand, like
Acer, IBM, and Sony.
Make sure the resolution of the
replacement Laptop LCD Screen. Resolution is an important factor
that defines how clear you can
see your pictures and videos. A
larger resolution of the same
size screen makes you a great
view of the images, pictures, movies. It is important to buy
the screen with suitable
resolution based on your need.
Choose the right aspect ratio.
When buying things, it is
important to be need-based. So whether to choose a Laptop
Screen for HP with a 4:3 or 16:9
aspect ratio depends on your
need. If your computer is mainly
for office work, the general
aspect ratio 4:3 is good enough; if you are aiming to use it as an
entertainment tool, then an
aspect ratio of 16:9 may be a
better option.
If you want your laptop Screen
to give you the best vision, make sure you buy one with an
active matrix display. An active
matrix display means a brighter
display with more detailed
pictures, and quickly updated
screens which gives the impression of a more detailed
picture, particularly for video. It
is worth getting this kind of
Screen for your HP Laptop,
though it may be more
expensive. Do forget to ask about the pixel!
You may know that the higher
the pixel is, the higher quality of
pictures and videos it provides.
Therefore, it is very important
for us to check whether there is a defective or dead pixel on the
replacement LCD Screen for your
HP Laptop.
Nearby Express always offers a
12-month warranty since the
date of purchase. Don't forget to ask the supplier about the
warranty period for the
replacement Laptop LCD Screen
because it is an expensive part
of your laptop. If your laptop
does works that well after one year of purchase, it is cool not
to worry about the warranty.
But what if it does not work well
within one year, then the
warranty can save money for
you! The last but no least, the price!
Yeah, online business to some
extend reduces the cost of
buying a laptop screen. And
there are still a lot of tricks
online too. Make sure the price of the replacement LCD screen
you are going to buy matches
the brand and the quality of the
products.

Why Buying Refurbished Computers?

There are many misconceptions
having to do with reconditioned
and refurbished laptops. All the
replacement parts should have
the highest quality to ensure
customer satisfaction Sometimes the refurbished stock
comes directly from the
manufacturers to the consumer
when refurbished, or sometimes
to the company specializing in
refurbishment if the manufacturers does not
refurbish in-house. Then the
refurbishment company supplies
the items to the consumers.
There are cons and pros to
purchasing the refurbished computers:
PRO:
*The Cheaper Price
*Speed - often items sold from
the stock rather than the
made-to-order *Support - the refurbishment
companies are usually easier to
contact than the bigger
manufacturers.
*Often the refurbished items are
already upgraded to the higher specification than original items,
such as bigger memory or a
bigger hard drive.
*Items will come with the
warranty that is offered by the
refurbisher. CONS:
*Sometimes people worry that
refurbished one is inferior.
In summary; you do not have
anything to fear in buying the
refurbished laptops, except there could be occasional
marks,blemishes, or scratches on
the product.
Saves Your Money with A
Refurbished Computer
High end media computers are very expensive and therefore an
average family cannot afford to
purchase it. In such circumstance,
refurbished computers are the
only alternative for those who
want them for home and basic office use.
Refurbish computers are
available with computer retailers.
The dealers, who exchange new
computers for used ones,
refurbish the returned used ones and offer to sell them at
heavily reduced rate. In case you
require the monitor, it may cost
a bit more. Such computer
systems are available for sale
online at competitive prices. It is even possible to get insurance,
extended warranty and shipping
free of cost.
It is to be remembered that
some of these refurbished
systems are not condemned pieces. There are various
reasons for such systems to
reach for second sales as
refurbished.
Some of the customers prefer to
buy refurbished ones, because they have already bought an
expensive system, and require a
second one for family use.
An important advantage of the
refurbish system is that it is
upgradeable in case the buyer wants to add accessories like
hard drives, memory, faster
modems and DVD drives. All these
additional accessories are
available online, including monitor.
So the refurbished computer systems is a safe option for
those who want them at an
affordable price.
Refurbished Computers Are a
Great Solution
An entire industry exists around the business of refurbishing and
remarketing used laptops and
desktop computers. The major
sources of these machines are
billion dollar companies. Wise CIO's
plan to have a regular refresh schedule so that they don't end
up with a fleet of outdated
computers creating a budget
crisis. Fortune 1000 companies,
companies that employ
thousands of workers, typically lease computers for 3 years. At
the end of that period,
companies can extend the lease,
buy out the equipment, or
return the computers to the
leasing company. The largest leasing companies in the
computer field are actually
subsidiaries of the computer
manufacturing companies.
Examples would include DellT
Financial Services, HPT Financial Services, and IBMT Global Finance.
These companies exist to
facilitate the sale of new
computers for their parent
companies. Brokers, in turn,
want to sell these used computers to new buyers.
Brokers can (and do) sell used
computers "as-is" to other
brokers or consumers. Used
computers are a commodity, and
the market typically attributes a value to these machines that is
just a multiple of some value
multiplied by the speed of the
equipment's processors in
megahertz. These commodity
computers trade at low commodity prices.
Other brokers actually invest
time and capital to refurbish
computers. The Refurbishment
process involves many steps.
Brokers audit the equipment to determine the machines'
specifications. They test to make
sure the machines are bootable.
Brokers inspect the equipment
to ensure it is aesthetically
acceptable. If necessary, they professionally paint machines,
replace keyboards, wrist rests,
and covers. The next step
involves loading an Operating
System (OS). The best brokers
participate in the Microsoft Authorized Refurbished (MAR)
program which ensures that
they are providing a licensed
copy of the operating system
with a Certificate of Authenticity
(COA) sticker and a restore disk. Unlike used, commodity
computers, refurbished machines
are premium products, and
brokers can obtain a higher
price in the market. Still, these
prices are a great bargain compared to new retail prices.
Typically one can get
approximately the same amount
of refurbished computing power
for about 50% of the price of
new machines. The industry calls these "Off-
Lease" machines. They typically
sell with a 90 day warranty
provided either by the brokers
themselves, or by the original
equipment manufacturer. Originally owned by Fortune 1000
companies, they were once the
cutting edge of computing
power. Three years later, and
refurbished, they are still great
machines. Refurbished Off-Lease computers can be a great tool
for individuals who want
corporate power, or for mid-size
and small companies who just
haven't yet reached the billion
dollar level. Where to Buy Refurbished
Laptops
Refurbishing, simply, means "to
make bright, or fresh again,
renovate". When the customer
returns the laptop to the supplier for some reason, the
supplier would refurbish it and
re-sell it. The Internet provides a
lot of information regarding how
and where we could buy a
refurbished laptop. There are a host of websites that give
details regarding this and there
are many sites which sell
refurbished laptops online. Most
of these websites have simple
and easy to comprehend content which is very helpful in terms of
saving you a lot of time and
money, and avoiding unnecessary
hassles in buying laptops.
Online auctions are another
source for buying refurbished laptops. Most online
marketplaces have pre-set
prices and even if they offer
warranty, it would usually be for
only a short period of time.
Another route you could take is to get in touch with big brand
names in the laptop/computing
field. Most big brands do
refurbish returned laptops and
sell them for a cheaper price.
Known companies like IBM, Dell, Compaq, HP, Acer and others
refurbish laptops. You could
check with laptop manufacturers
who could recommend a list of
authorized sellers of their
equipment. Apart from this, reputable computer sales
companies often buy refurbished
laptops in bulk and then sell at a
good price About the author: Marcus - Sales and Technical Advisor to Customers @ Electro Computer Warehouse