Software | iComputer

Protecting Your Identity

Identity theft is on the rise as sophisticated rings of hackers continuously find new ways to gather personal information. It’s quite likely that you know, or have heard about someone in the office or down the street who has been the victim of identity theft. Most recently news headlines revealed that hackers had stolen information from the Sony Playstation servers demonstrating the need to be safe on the web. Whether you are using a trusted service provider like wildblue, experienced hackers can still find loopholes if we are not careful.

So, how can we protect ourselves from identity theft? Below are three quick tips which you could implement today for safer shopping and gaming on the internet.

Only use trusted websites. Try not to be mesmerised by the colorful pop up leading you to a chance to win a million. Chances are you will be led to either an unsafe site or a competition that isn’t quite genuine. Remember that the smile of a luminous flashing smiley icon may be a cover for something else.
Have a seperate credit card for internet subscriptions and purchases. Its safe not to use a credit card which is linked to other bank accounts. Its also a good way to actually see how much you are spending each month!
Information is power. Think about any personal information you are asked to give out. Your bank for example will never ask for personal account information over the internet. If in doubt, call!

These simple tips will go a long way to reducing the risk of identity theft and keep your time on the internet a happy experience!

Filed Under: Internet, Software | Tagged: Tagged With: Identity, Protecting, websites

Make Sure Your Anti-Virus Software Stays Updated

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Anti-virus programs give the user a feeling of safety, knowing that their computer is protected from malicious programs. However, anti-virus programs are only as good as the person who uses them, which means that the user needs to be aware of the programs status. Sometimes the program stops automatically updating for unknown reasons, which means the computer is now wide open to malicious attacks.

Users expect the anti-virus software to operate in the background with no guidance from the user. It’s how they’re supposed to work. As a result, the programs status never gets looked into. There are a number of reasons why a program has stopped working; the subscription has run out, the company goes out of business, a software error pops up, and others. These issues can occur quietly and the user will never know anything untowards has happened.

Not having a working program while surfing the Internet is like running around with no clothes on. The computer is naked against any new viruses or trojans that are floating around, waiting to find an unguarded computer to infect. As a result, the unsuspecting user finds themselves with a corrupted hard drive, and a large bill from the repair people.

It is prudent to check the status of the program on a regular basis. Make some kind of note for yourself to remember to look. Getting an update on the program every couple of days is the best way to ensure that your computer is safe from harm. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches and misery, too.

Filed Under: Software | Tagged: Tagged With: AntiVirus, Malware, Security

Does It Matter Why

All computer viruses were designed to be malicious in purpose – or were they? Many people erroneously assume that they were. The truth is, there are many reasons that viruses are create. It is important to remember that, whatever the purpose, all viruses will impact the performance of your computer hardware and software.

While it is true that many viruses are designed with malicious intent, there are some whose sole purpose is to propagate itself. The intent is simply to spread to as many computers as possible. These typically are delivered via email or instant message and can spread like wildfire. In spite of the fact that viruses like these do not set out to hard a users computer, they do impact performance speed and other areas of the computer.

Malicious viruses serve a variety of purposes, from providing the original author with extra computing power to stealing identification information. Some are even designed to attack other computers for no other reason than to prove it can be done.

It is apparent that all users must implement a solid anti-virus program. Doing so is the only way to fully protect yourself from viruses – whatever their intent. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter why a virus is developed – instead all that really counts is how actively a user seeks to prevent their spread.

Filed Under: Internet, Software | Tagged: Tagged With: AntiVirus, Spyware, Virus

Keeping Your System Running

One of the most difficult things to accept about owning a computer is how quickly both hardware and software can become outdated. No matter how carefully you try to stay on top of these changes, many users find themselves using outdated equipment on a regular basis. As a computer users, you have several different options available to you to combat this problem.

First, you can resign yourself to buying a new system each year. For the most part, this will keep you up and running with the latest equipment. Unfortunately, buying new hardware and software each year can be expensive. This isn’t a good solution.

Second, you can invest in an upgrade package for your hardware and software. This will provide you with the ability to upgrade these items to the latest versions. While this usually works very well in the case of software, most packages will require the user to make some sort of payment for upgraded hardware.

Instead, many people are turning to a third option – keeping their current system healthy by installing anti-virus software and instituting a policy computer maintenance aimed at keeping their system running at peak for performance for the longer period of time. While this may still mean not having the latest in technology, it is the most cost effective way to have a high performing system for the longest period of time.

Filed Under: Internet, Software | Tagged: Tagged With: AntiVirus, Spyware, User (computing)

Choosing New Software

When choosing new software there are so many different kinds with seemingly all of the bells and whistles that it can be difficult to know which one to pick out. There are a few guidelines that may help you choose the perfect software for what you need to do.

Compare different brands to see which has the most features, best reviews and lowest price. For instance, you may be searching for the latest photo editing software but can’t decide between Photo Shop or Photo Explosion. One thing to look for is user friendly interface. This can be helpful when dealing with software that takes a college degree to use and don’t think that it’s not out there. However, if you feel that you can learn by online tutorials or instructions then you may get the most out of a more difficult title. These titles may cost more so it’s good to look at organic user reviews so you know what the average person has to say about what you plan to purchase.

Last but not least, find out if there is a trial period that you can use the software without paying. This is perfect for you to be able to get a feel for how the software works and if it’s right for you and this way you don’t have to pay up front and decide it’s not for you. Trial periods can last a certain number of days or even a certain number of uses but either way you can try it before you buy it.

Filed Under: Computer, Software | Tagged: Tagged With: Antivirus software, Spyware, Spyware Doctor

How To Retrieve Lost Software

If your computer crashes you may need to know what to do to retrieve your software that has been lost. Sometimes it can be a hassle to get back the software that you’re using but all is not lost because there are a few things that you can do to ensure that you retrieve all software and data that you were using.
One way to make it easier to retrieve your software is to have a good filing system in order before anything happens. For instance, always try to make sure to have an actual disk of all the software that you own. Many software companies that you order from will offer a disk of the software you’re ordering in addition to the download. Sometimes this costs a little more but it is well worth it in the long run because you’ll have a disk instead of just a program on your computer.

Another way that you can help ensure you always have a record of your software is to keep any e-mail correspondence and print them out. This will help ensure that you have a record of any key codes and URLs that are needed so you can access the site in the future. While this won’t mean that you won’t have to download your software again it will help you locate them easier and ensure that all the information you need is easily found in case of emergency such as a computer crash.

Hopefully you don’t have to worry about a computer crash but since it can often happen, as long as you’re prepared the damage will be much less and getting back up and running will be less painful. Nothing and fully prepare us for a computer crash and the loss of data but we can prepare by following these guidelines in making sure that we have everything easily available for when something does happen.

Filed Under: Computer, Software | Tagged: Tagged With: Computer virus, Personal computer, Spyware

Software Tips

If you’re the kind of person who always wants the latest operating system then you’ll want to plan your software purchases around this idea. What this means is that let’s say you have a software title you’re interested in and it operates on systems such as yours and lower. You’ll probably want to pass because as soon as you do a system upgrade such as Windows Vista up to Windows 7, you may lose the functionality of that software and then your money will be wasted.

Not every software title is upgradable either. You want to get the highest functioning software with the highest level of operating system for those times that you plan to upgrade. Even if you’re not one to upgrade much you will want to choose this type of software because if your computer crashes you may need a new one and most new computers will come with the latest operating system. That leaves you with no choice as to whether or not you want to upgrade and you want your software to be functional and be able to use it on your new system.

The best thing to do is always plan for the future. Think of your purchases like you already have made the upgrades so you don’t get stuck with software titles that are useless to you due to a new computer or an upgrade you recently have made. This also allows you to always have software that is the latest and most up to date so you don’t have to worry about out of date or old software titles.

Filed Under: Software | Tagged: Tagged With: Operating system, Windows 7, Windows Vista

How to Choose Software

There are so many different types of software out there in the cyber world that it can be hard to know what type, brand or style to choose. Depending on what you are looking for, the choices can be intimidating. There are a few guidelines to help you choose a product based on knowledge and need.

The first thing you want to do is narrow down what you are looking for and go from there. Let’s say that you want to do photo editing but you’re not sure which program to choose. There are programs that do everything from recreating an entire look to simple programs that resize your photo, and of course, everything in between. Consider what you specifically want to do and work around that. If you find a program that is a good price and does what you want but has a few extras too then you’re on the right track. There’s no need to get all of the bells and whistles if you don’t plan to use them all but if they are included then it can’t hurt to get the program and learn more about the extras when you have time.

Once you find a type of program you are interested in then try to look at online reviews to see what others have to say about this product. You can think you have found the perfect item only to find out later that everything is not as it seems. That’s why other people’s reviews can help you out in choosing a product because they can point out things you may not have considered.

Once you have all of that taken care of, try to find the best price and when possible, a free trial. This allows you to take the software for a test drive without being stuck with a product you hate. Once you find that you enjoy the product and the price is right then you can make your informed decision to purchase it.

Filed Under: Computer, Software | Tagged: Tagged With: Computer program, Spyware, Wal-Mart

Keeping Software Safe

It’s so convenient and easy to download software over the Internet and that’s not a bad thing at all. However, sometimes there may be an issue with your computer such as a computer crash or loss of data and you can lose your software that you downloaded. Without a disk, how do you keep up with your software in case of this kind of problem? There are a few ways you can ensure that you keep your software safe.

Print out any e-mails you receive so that you can access them later without having to depend on your computer. This way you have proof of purchase and will have license keys or information on how to redownload your software. Always keep a list of names of your software programs and their site locations (URL’s) so that you can return to them at a later date if needed.

If possible, get a program that backs up your files and programs so you don’t have to worry about a loss of your data. However, it’s still a good idea to have a printed list with all of the information because you don’t want to have to worry about data retrieval if there is an issue with your backup program. Let’s say that your data recovery program can’t retrieve all of your files; you’ll need that hard copy.

Choose to order the disc when possible. Some companies will send out a disk if you pay a little extra when ordering. This is a good idea to have in case you lose your data because you’ll still have a disk of the program and won’t have to look up the URL or reorder the product.

Filed Under: Software, Technology | Tagged: Tagged With: Computer program, Data, Data recovery

Choosing an Anti-virus Protection Program

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When choosing an anti-virus protection program there are many different aspects to consider before making your decision. A few things to keep in mind are:

Cost
Performance
Security

One thing to look for is what type of requirements your individual system needs. There are many different types and brands of anti-virus software but you’ll first need to be sure that it is the right software for your system. Once you know what type of software is good for your computer than you need to look at the cost. There are various price points on software for anti-virus protection and some will even have a free trial. This can be an excellent opportunity to try out the software before you purchase it to make sure that it performs up to your standards.

That brings us to performance. You’ll want to look at reviews and testimonials to see what others think of the software. Be sure to find organic reviews; not paid endorsements. The best way to find these is to do a search in a search engine for reviews and testimonials on that particular software name as opposed to looking at the reviews on their site.

For security, you want to be sure that the software will protect you. Look for individual points and benefits and compare them to what you require. Again, this is a good time to check out what others have said about the product so that you make a well informed decision.

A few things to take note of is how often the software updates, if the updates are automatically done and how often your computer is scanned and if that is done automatically. These are important parts of an anti-virus program that can help you be more sure that your computer is protected from threats and viruses. Regardless of which program you choose, make sure that it is always kept up to date and all new downloads are taken care of as soon as possible.

Filed Under: Computer, Software | Tagged: Tagged With: AntiVirus, Review, Security