Computer Magazine Online

There are many reputable anti virus software companies out there. Some are well known brands that you can see both online and off. Their software is considered among the best. Then there are those who are not so widely known that are just as good, but only available online, and in some cases, only available as freeware. Others offer a scanner, but not the cleaner in a demo mode.

Then there are the total scammers. These are among the prolific of theives online. Their scam often catches the unwary, the illiterate, the easily panicked. Some of these so called virus scanners have been nothing more than clever frauds. Still others have been clever attempts at identity theft as they scan the victim’s computer for financial information or user names and password information.

Then there are still others that start as a trojan that mislead the victims into “purchasing” the scammer’s software to get rid of the virus. In one sense, this spells double trouble. How? The victim buys a fake software that can be more dangerous as it can lead to the victim’s identity theft. It may get rid of the virus or just the message, but plants others in its place.

It should also be noted that this scam is growing very fast. Scammers and would be thieves are using this type of scam more often than one would believe.

One of the more recent versions of this scam (called the MonaRonaDona scam) uses a different approach. The victim’s computer is infected by a trojan. This trojan can be from a website, an e-mail, or a pop up. The trojan pops up a message that notifies the user of its existence. The user may research it and find a number of blogs, message board, or stories ,etc. on this.

All of these fake entries direct the use to fake anti virus software to get rid of the trojan. The software may in fact turn off the message (thereby “cleaning the victim’s computer“) but it may also be scanning for information or planting more of the viruses it is supposed to be cleaning.

Anti virus experts have also found a link to a registry cleaner program that itself was found to be a fraud.

Where this one becomes different is how the scam is being promoted. That promotion is being done on social networking and video sharing sites. The bogus blog entries, etc. are set up on these sites as a type of waning. The result is that a large number of people have fallen victim to this fraud.

To avoid scams like this, here are a few tips:

Purchase a good anti virus and anti spyware software. One that offers a firewall would be even more preferrable. Once you install it keep it updated. A good idea is to set it to auto update.
It is also a good idea to manually update your software once in a while to ensure that it is working properly.

Do not click on any popup that advertises anti virus or anti spyware software. Many viruses often come from popups. A good tip here is to install a good pop up blocker. You should also avoid any sites that are questionable, especially ones that promise the world. Another reason to avoid questionable sites is that they are often filled with malicious codes. Sometimes these malicious codes are auto downloaded.

A final note is that you should never download any freeware software unless you are certain it is from a reputable company. Many of these freeware programs are nothing more than viruses in disguise.

Ryan Smith is the author of the hot, new, blog “The 10 Commandments of ID Theft Protection” Learn more at http://www.e-profitsubmissions.com/wordpress

Though a common term in the computer age today, it needn’t bring out doubt in users. We all know what a proxy is, something that’s used instead of the real thing, especially when it comes to dubious deals where you send a proxy to carry out an intended act instead of the real person.

Similarly in the world of servers, proxy servers are fast gaining popularity. A closed proxy can be accessed by limited people and permits using someone else’s computer to conceal your identity and/or location. An open proxy refers to a proxy server that can be accessed by anyone who uses the Internet.

By and large, a proxy server permits users in a particular network group to accumulate and further internet services such as DNS or web pages. Consequently their bandwidth usage is lessened and controlled. In case of any open proxy, however, every user on the Internet can avail of this forwarding service.

The open proxies, also known as anonymous open proxies, allow users to hide their true IP address from the service they access. In fact the use of proxies has at times been intended to abuse or disrupt a service. This obviously includes breaking its terms of service or the law.

For such reasons open proxies have been viewed as problematic from time to time. They have been under severe scrutiny because school children, as well as office staff have been known to use it time and again to access restricted sites during work hours.

The use of proxies can work to your advantage as it ensures that no one can take advantage of you in this visual world. This is very true in reference to users who use social forums on a daily basis. Users may be getting onto such sites to gain knowledge, learn about latest developments or also increase their social networking base, but there are always those who are on the prowl to find the vulnerable and easy targets.

And just incase you’re targeted your life could be a mess. Your credit card accounts could be tampered with, someone would know all your details and you could be stalked or black mailed and worse still you’d find yourself visiting sites and forums which you never have.

You could even be made the next porn star. For your identity to be protected and enhancement of online security, the use of proxies works just fine. This permits you to access facebook, hotmail, youtube, and others without a worry.

These may be popular as fun sites, but they also promote educational needs, helping you learn along the way or even have a secure social networking group you can depend on. Along the way you can make alliances that can assist you in getting a job, help make business or even make a friend. The opportunities are endless, as long as you keep yourself safe from prowlers.

A computer can be run on an open proxy server without the owner knowing this. This is possible because of misconfiguration of proxy software used in a particular computer. Malware, viruses, trojans or worms are all used for this purpose. Open proxies are slow, as slow as 14400 baud (14.4 kbit/s), or even below 300 baud. At times they could keep alternating between fast to slow every minute. PlanetLab proxies are quicker and were deliberately put in place for public use.

Despite the popularity of proxies, because of the controversies surrounding them, there are systems in place that don’t permit their usage everywhere. IRC networks routinely test client systems for identified open proxy types.

Mail servers can be configured to routinely check mail senders for proxies with the help of proxycheck software. Mail servers can also consult various DNSBL servers that block spam. Such servers also list open proxies and help in blocking them.

Nevertheless, anonymous open proxies have also been hailed because they enhance ambiguity, in other words security when browsing the web or engaging in other internet services. The use of proxies conceals any users’ true IP address. This is a boon because your IP address can be used against you.

It can help miscreants construe information about any user and accordingly hack into his/her computer. Open proxies are being looked upon as the next big thing when it comes to dodge efforts at Internet censorship by governments and concerned organizations. There are various web sites that make available updated lists of open proxies on an ongoing basis.

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A Dynamic Desktop Deployment implementation is divided into a series of phases, with teams of dedicated Dimension Data staff contributing to their respective areas of expertise. The process begins with data gathering, which feeds into architectural guidance and design. With the solution outline and design in place, Dimension Data evaluates the need, if any, to upgrade the organization’s technology infrastructure and considers what steps are necessary to ensure that its applications are compatible with the operating system and with one another.

Dimension Data then implements the technology infrastructure and processes to streamline and automate desktop deployment using a standard software image. It evaluates the best ways to package and distribute applications and to ensure that users’ data and settings are preserved during the migration. The solution is designed to be secure by default, allowing organizations to apply security policies to different users based on their needs and risk profile. Finally, tools and processes that enabled the initial deployment can be re-used to streamline ongoing management of the desktop environment.

Dynamic Desktop Deployment reduces downtime for staff, streamlines deployment and helps organizations align their desktop management operations with their business goals. It significantly lowers desktop setup and installation costs and minimizes the risks of a desktop refresh project. The investment quickly pays for itself through reduced management costs and increased staff productivity.

Organizations can reduce costs and improve productivity by:
- Automating manual processes
- Reducing downtime related to upgrades and patching
- Creating a stable, secure and manageable desktop environment
- Lowering training costs with a consistent operating environment
- Continuously optimizing infrastructure using a proactive and managed methodology
- Quickly deploying new business applications and upgrades

Dimension Data’s professional staff work with clients to seamlessly deliver a desktop management solution that allows them to:
- Standardize applications across the organization
- Use best practices throughout the desktop deployment process
- Rapidly modify and test desktop images prior to deployment
- Plan a proactive migration path for their server and desktop infrastructure to a fully managed environment
- Improve operational agility and responsiveness

Many desktop deployment approaches focus on a point-in-time deployment, but leave few options for growth once the initial goals have been achieved. By contrast, Dynamic Desktop Deployment helps organizations manage a living environment long after the initial rollout is complete. Dimension Data’s standard Dynamic Desktop Deployment service is aimed at medium-to-large organizations with a Microsoft Windows environment and network infrastructure. It is flexible enough to handle a diverse combination of hardware and software. It is divided into a series of core and supplementary services that can be applied and customized to suit a client’s requirements and internal skills.

The solution can also be modified to meet the desktop deployment needs and budgets of smaller organizations; to address specific requirements for scalability, security, availability and disaster recovery; and to manage environments with heterogeneous directory or operating systems.

http://www.datacraft-asia.com – The leading independent IT services and solutions company in Asia Pacific. Datacraft combines an expertise in networking, security, Microsoft solutions, storage and contact centre technologies to craft IT solutions for businesses.

Probably one the biggest notions among computer users is that if they are not online, they are safe from identity theft. Their reasoning is that, if they are offline, they are not vulnerable to phishing, viruses, malware, hackers, etc. While, it is true that being offline would protect them from such things, to fall into the belief that they are safe is being somewhat blind to other possibilities for id theft.

Even people who are connected to the Internet fall into a false sense of security. How? Computer users think that once they install a firewall, get adware, malware, and virus protection. Throw into all that, phishing protection. They get lulled into that invulnerable feeling. They think they are safe.

But are they? Among the many ways to steal data from a computer is through the peripheral data ports. They can be hooked up to printers, external disk drives, etc. Still another way to steal data has been the use of cds or floppy disks. This is done by actually stealing the disks themselves or dumping data onto them. In most cases, this can be done without the computer‘s owner ever knowing.

Along the same ideas, hard drives can be stolen or broken into. This is alot easier than one might think. Here’s how. Hard drives fail. There’s nothing that can be done about that. We get them replaced, reload the software, and move on with our lives.

But what about that old hard drive? Even if it has crashed, data can still be harvested from it. In some cases, it is not easily done. There are softwares written to help map the crashed disk and retrieve information off of it. This software is used by legitimate, reputable companies as a means of data reclamation for their clients. It is also used by thieves to steal personal and company data.

Another way to break into a computer involves the thief using his or her own floppy disk or cd to boot your system. With this method, they can bypass your security features and gain direct access to your data.

Even more recently, with the advent of flash drives, it is easier to steal data and conceal it. These small devices are roughly the same size as a man’s finger and are hard to detect when concealed. They can be stolen or lost very easily due to their small size.

When it comes to dealing with these issues, many businesses are removing the extra disk drives from computer work stations. They are also networking their printers, etc. to monitor information flow.

Hard drives can be rendered totally useless by drilling holes in the cases and drives. Still another way to do this is by burning the hard drive.

Certain types of flash drives are being built with security features in place to aid in preventing theft. By using a security system which encrypts the data, it adds a measure of protection not offered by Microsoft. This encryption feature is called Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) symmetric encryption. It is considered to be the best encryptions systems for flash drives. It should also be noted that it is not the only form of encryption available. Many versions of encryption are designed with the user in mind (I.E. ease of use).

The final problem deals with the users themselves. Often times, the user will be careless with with their user name and password information. They sometimes will paste it to their computer or somewhere close to it. In this case, it is always best to either commit this information to memory or store it in a very secure place.

Ryan Smith is the author of the hot, new, blog “The 10 Commandments of ID Theft Protection” Learn more at http://www.e-profitsubmissions.com/wordpress

It is definitely convenient to have a printer at home. If everything goes smoothly school assignments, letters, speeches, recipes, pictures and business material can all be printed off in a matter a seconds. But how much should you pay for the printer ink cartridges that make the whole process possible?

Printer ink cartridges can vary a lot in price from place to place. Just doing a quick search online for my own printer ink cartridges, I discovered that one company offered to sell me a precious little cartridge of ink for a mere $100 while another company only asked me to fork over about $13. I don’t know about you, but a $13 price tag is much more attractive to me than a $100 price tag — especially when the product I’m buying is exactly the same thing. Shop around at different stores for the same product, and you are sure to find lower prices.

In addition to trying different stores, you can also try a couple different products. It is always safe to buy printer ink cartridges specifically called for by the printer you own, but it is possible to save even more money by choosing an ink cartridge that has been designed to replace your name-brand option. A lot of consumers opt to stay away from alternate ink cartridges because they are worried about getting stuck with lower quality. After all, it seems reasonable to expect less quality with the lower price. But, since I found the exact same name-brand product selling for different prices, it means that lower costs do not always mean lower quality.

To help dispel customer fears, a good alternate printer ink cartridge supplier will provide the appropriate credentials to assure their customers that they sell quality products. One of the credentials they may offer is ISO9000 certification. ISO9000 is a family of standards maintained by the International Organization of Standardization. Some of the requirements they hold to include regularly reviewing individual processes and quality systems for their effectiveness and making corrections accordingly as needed. This means that the products they certify have been tested and proved both effective and reliable.

Myths like inferior quality, ink clogging and equipment damage — all resulting from alternate ink cartridges — scare consumers into buying pricier printer ink cartridges for their home and office printers. Since alternate printer cartridges can be so much cheaper than name-brands, trying them out won’t be a risky investment. And then, if you find them as serviceable as the expensive ones, you can save money year after year.

USA Ink Tank (http://www.usainktank.com/index.php) is ISO9000 certified and supplies alternate printer ink cartridges for Cannon, Epson and Apple printers at the most affordable prices. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

Open source gadgets mean any software whose source code is made available for use or modification for users or developers.
The advantages of the open source gadgets are evident: since everyone can modify the source they are improved continually by software communities and the vast majority of open source programs are free.

Being free is a huge advantage sometimes you, the computer owner want to do simple, one job, like editing a document or a picture, and you don’t want to spend a small fortune doing it, so the free open source programs are your best friends.
The most of the open source gadgets were initially created for Linux owners, but in the last period of time more and more open source gadgets were developed for Windows. And in this article I’m going to tell you about the best gadgets for Windows users.

The free and open-source software that you should use are: web browsing – Mozilla Firefox, video player and video podcasting: Miro, instant messaging: Pidgin, e-mail – Mozilla Thunderbird, RSS: RSSOwl, peer-to-peer filesharing: Cabos, video player – Media Player Classic, DVD ripping and video conversion – Media Coder, word processing suites – OpenOffice.org, podcasting: Juice, sound recording: Audacity, photo editing Paint.NET, FTP – Filezilla.

I’m currently using: OpenOffice.org to write and manage documents, Filezilla for FTP connections, Paint.NET to work with graphics and Thunderbird to read and write emails.
Don’t aspect the open source gadgets to have as many features as the paid ones, after all you get them for free.

Well known are the open source Google Desktop Gadgets like: Google-battery (Never lose track of your power. Always tell you how much battery power is left) Google-calculator (Calculator gadget for Google Desktop), Google-cricket-news (Displays cricket news headlines and images), Google-cricket-videos (the same like the previous only it displays videos on your desktop), Google-desktop-sdk (Complete examples of using the Google Desktop Gadget APIs) Google-digital-clock (is one of my favorite desktop gadgets, it is obviously what it does: it shows time, but in a beautiful manner ),Google-flower-pot (It is a Virtual Flower Pot which will grow to full bloom right before your eyes if you give the flowers some water using your mouse like the old Tamagoci games), Google-moon-phase (Displays the moon’s current phase) and Google-timezone (Find what the time is in different locations).

For now the most used software’s are the paid ones, but the free open source ones come fast from behind. Each day communities of developers work on them for us to have a better experience and free programs.

Visit the http://www.gadgets-for-men.com to find gadgets for men and the future gadgets blog http://www.future-gadgets.com.

Eviews is one of the popular econometrics packages being used by the research community and academicians. It is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) based program compatible with Windows and Macintosh operating systems. Other popular econometrics packages include SHAZAM (shazam.econ.ubc.ca), LIMDEP (www.limdep.com), SAS (www.sas.com), GAUSS (www.aptech.com) and R (cran.r-project.org). Eviews is one of the most popular packages for analyzing time series data. Eviews, produced by Quantitative Micro Software (QMS) from Irvine, California, comes with very comprehensive user guide and reference manuals: The Users Guide and The Command and Programming Reference (www.eviews.com). If you are familiar with programs like C++ and Gauss you will be able to use your programming skills to run your own customized protocols in Eviews. Let us view some examples of Eviews code here.

The recent version, Eviews 6 is a marriage between modern spreadsheet and Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) technology with conventional statistical tools. Through Eviews, you can do general statistical analyses, cross section or panel data analysis, time series data estimation and forecasting, presentation of graphics, simple data management and large-scale simulation of data.

Market researchers use Eviews in order to analyze the characteristics of actual purchases and transactions called revealed preference data. Quantitative statistical models such as the standard Linear Regression model, Binomial Logit model, Multinomial Logit model, Nested Logit model, Proportional Hazard model and Censored Regression model are used extensively for this sort of analysis using Eviews.

Examples of Eviews Code and Batch Programming

The Eviews program is command driven in both interactive and batch programming modes. But, you can also construct commands through dialogue boxes and menus. Batch programming is executing a collection of commands automatically. Through batch programming, you can have access to a number of features, which are normally not available to the ordinary user, such as conditional branching and loops.

Running Regression Models in Eviews

Now assume that you have data on returns from the Microsoft stock and returns from S&P 500. Also, assume that Microsoft stock return is a dependent variable and S&P 500 is the explanatory variable. We call this regression model eq1. The model, which is called a Market Model, can be described in Eviews as below.

eq1.ls microsoft_ret c sp500_ret

Once you run the regression, you can opt for a Chow Test for structural breaks. You can do this test in the regression window in the menu, VIEWS – STABILITY TESTS – CHOW BREAKPOINT TEST. You can use the following command to test for stability in batch programming. This command will test whether there was a structural break at observation 5000 or not.

eq1. chow 5000

In Eviews, besides different views, objects allow you to call upon t-statistics, residual sum of squares and Durbin-Watson statistics. Let us try to get adjusted R2 data. The R2 data is stored in a scalar called r2bar.

scalar r2bar
r2bar = eq1.@rbar2

You will be able to access the t-statistic for the individual parameters through the command

eq1.@tstats(i)

and the standard errors for the parameter estimates through

eq1.@stderrs(i).

You can get all the available data members from the Eviews programming manual.

These examples of Eviews code will help you get to know the basics of Eviews programming. Once you go through the programming manual, you will be able to do complex statistical modeling with ease.

David Stockwell PhD is promoting numeracy and using niche modeling methods from ecology to help the corporate world to manage and discover new clients.

http://nicheshape.com – From Content Creation to Web Dominance.
http://landshape.org/enm – The Science and Statistics of Niche Modeling.