Tuesday, October 20, 2009
ISP Caractéristiques
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Effective Document Scanning
Monday, July 20, 2009
10 Best Hidden Windows Features
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Who Needs a Firewall?
You do! Read more to find out what a firewall is, how it can keep you safe, and how to get one.
A Firewall is, actually, pretty much the same as its non-tech definition. A firewall, in building construction, is set up to contain or prevent fire from traveling from one side of the wall to the other - an extra bit of protection, if you will. A firewall on your pc does, essentially, the same thing.
Seven Design Avenue describes a firewall this way:
A firewall is a safeguard utilized by many Local Area Networks (LANs) or Wide Area Networks (WANs) to protect the network from unauthorized access from the outside. They are basically gates that verify the users before they leave or enter the network by way of a User ID, Password or IP address.
bytown internet explains it another way:
A Firewall is a system which limits network access between two or more networks. Normally, a Firewall is deployed between a trusted, protected private network and an untrusted public network. For example, the trusted network might be a corporate network (ie: Queens University), and the public network might be the Internet. A Firewall might grant or revoke access based on user Authentication, source and destination network addresses, network protocol, time of day, network service or any combination of these. These settings are normally controlled by the Network Administrator.
So how can a firewall help you - the average, home user?
By giving an extra level of blocking protection against spam, viruses and other malware.
Those lucky enough to be running WinXP SP2 (that's Windows XP, Service Pack 2) already have a built-in firewall that they can use. All they have to do is turn it on. Here's how to make sure you have SP2 and your firewall turned on:
How do I know if I'm running Windows XP? Easy enough. On your Desktop, right-click once on My Computer and choose "Properties". The little window that pops up should tell you which operating system you are running. If not, you can also open My Computer and choose Help: About Windows from the taskbar at the top of the window.
Ok, I'm running WinXP - how do I know if I have Service Pack 2? The same way we just went through! Both of the ways listed above will tell you if you are running Service Pack 2 (or sp2).
Great! How do I make sure my firewall is turned on? First off, go into your Control Panel (usually found on the Start menu). Find the "Security Center" and open it up. You should see the firewall as one of the security features offered - simply make sure it's switched to "On".
I don't have Windows XP or Service Pack 2 and I have no plans to upgrade any time soon. That isn't a problem. There are other legitimate, and trustworthy firewall sites on the Internet (of course, there are some of the other kind, too!).
About the author: Professional i.t. tech & geeky-girl gamer who feels her duty to warn the average user about the dangers of the Internet. Feel free to use, please link back to homecomputersafety.com
Monday, March 16, 2009
Get Antivirus Security for Your Computer
Computer viruses are malicious enough to spoil your years work. If you are among those who require being online for various purposes, whether work or fun, your computer is at risk of being attacked by numerous viruses roaming in cyberspace. So, guard your system against pesky malware with the help of an effective antivirus security program.
There can be a number of essential things that are required to be checked before you install antivirus or install spyware. Ensure that your PC is not virus infected. Such PC security software programs don't work if you install it on an infected computer. Since there are computer viruses that imitate the behavior of different computer files, the antivirus software may not be able to detect them. Once you make sure that your PC is malware-free, install your antivirus software.
If you are completely baffled about which antivirus software program you should buy, you can take help of any online computer repair technician. They are masters in handling every issue related to computers and networking. Moreover, they can refer you the kind of antivirus you should use along with getting its installation, configuration and up-gradation done.
It is suggested to install antivirus or install antispyware under experts' guidance to ensure your PC security. Help centers have different computer support plans depending upon your personal requirements.
Other services available with these online computer help resources are PC health check up, data back-up services, troubleshooting computer errors, and handling basic installation/reinstallation for PC, operating systems or any other software applications. These services are not just limited to PCs or laptops. There is also the Internet support which is getting famous among computer enthusiasts. You can consider about availing Internet optimization services to optimize you Internet speed and run your network as never before.
In addition to offering you antivirus support services, online computer help resources can also help you with a plethora of technical support services. You can try asking these company a try-before-you-use plan which is generally free of cost. Another advantage of going with online computer support companies is their 24x7 availability and their expertise in handling technical issues and problems.