Computer Specialist

Advantages of PC’s

There is and likely always will be the debate between Mac and PC computers. Each platform has many advantages which is why each claims to be the best. In the end, the different platforms excel in different areas so it can be difficult to judge. From a consumer standpoint purchasing a PC versus a Mac really depends on what the computer will specifically be used for.

Customization

One major advantage of a PC is the ability to build it from scratch. Users are literally able to select every component include processor, motherboard, RAM, video card, hard drive and monitor. On other hand, users also have the flexibility to purchase general models with the predetermined components.

Cost

Another major benefit is the cost. PC’s have historically been less expensive than other platforms. Keep in mind that cheaper costs not necessarily equate to lower quality components. Due to the widespread demand for PC’s, manufacturers are able to produce the componentry at a lower cost.

Options

Similarly, users have a much wider selection of brand options including Dell, HP, Gateway and IBM. However, the competition only provides a handful of models with different options. Therefore, if you ever have a bad experience with one company, it is easy to switch to another with the next system.

Software Compatibility

Overall PC’s boast superior software compatibility as most software is available for the PC. Similarly the platform also has excellent backwards compatibility. For instance, new operating systems can still run on a five-year old computer.

So which platform is better? This question really is a matter of personal preference. As mentioned, PC’s have many advantages which is the primary reason they are the top global sellers in the computer marketplace.

Securing a Wireless Connection

With the emergence of wireless technology across residences and businesses, data security has become one of the most important considerations. Information transferred wirelessly is much more susceptible to interception or malicious attacks than wired connections. This is primarily due to the easy availability of wireless data intercepting equipment and software.

Securing your Home Network

Luckily, hardware and software manufacturers have development easy methods for the average home user to wirelessly connect to the Internet with little concern for data seizure from malicious external sources.

Steps for Securing your Network

The first step for securing your home network is to configure the wireless connection to your needs. Most out-of-the box routers have default selections. Those that are new to the computing world should stay with those settings. Once the configurations are set, change the Service Set Identifier (SSID) to a simple yet descriptive name of your network.

The next step is to disable SSID broadcast which hides the network from external eyes. Then, you should select WPA or WPA2 security protocols which are enhanced versions of WPE. Since the process is the same for all three security protocols, select the most secure. Finally, once prompted, set your security key (password) to a string that is easy for you and your users to remember but difficult enough where external parties will not know.

Additional Tips

To minimize the leakage of your wireless signal, always place the router in a central location. Also, you will have the ability to fee MAC addresses and specific identifiers into the router to restrict or allow communication. Additionally, do not use DHCP to assign dynamic IP address, use static IP addresses.

Hackers

Are you Safe from Hackers?

If your anti-virus software is up-to-date, as well as your firewall software installed on your computer, you may feel that you are safe from hackers. Unfortunately, this is not enough to keep hackers away, because an anti-virus application or firewall will not stop spyware from being installed on your computer.

Spyware are small files that installs on your computer and spies on everything that you do when you are online. Some spyware are mostly harmless cookies that tracks you as you use websites, but there are other spyware called keystroke loggers that can be very dangerous, because they can record your social security number, credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal information.

Spyware can get on your computer in many different ways. In most cases, you unknowingly install spyware on your computer when you download software from the Internet and install it on your computer. In most cases, this is free software. You can also get it in the form of email attachments, or the hacker can find an open port on your computer and use your back door to install whatever he wants.

Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect yourself from this harmful spyware. There are programs that are made to scan your computer for spyware and remove it if it is found. There are many programs available for immediate download. Some of the better known spyware applications are Malwarebytes Anti-Malware or Ad-Aware Free Edition. Download and install a spyware program on your computer. Update and run it at least once per week to keep your computer spyware free.

Should You Leave Your Computer On All the Time?

Should You Turn Your Computer Off?

There really is no right answer to this question as it depends on how you use your computer. Some people prefer to leave their computer running 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, while others prefer to turn it off each night. There really is no right or wrong way to go about it and it is a personal choice.

There are some reasons why you should leave your computer on at night, however. For example, if you run virus scans or defrag your computer at night, leave it running. If you are on a network and your network administrator runs a backup or upgrades at night, leave it on. Basically, if your computer is actually doing something you should leave it running.

A typical desktop computer consumes approximately 300 watts of power. If you only use your computer for 5 hours a day, for example, and it sits for the other 19 hours, you may want to turn it off. Most people, however, use their computers off and on throughout the day. If this is the case with you, you might just want to leave it on.

Set your computer to go into sleep mode when it is not in use. Most modern computers have the ability to actually turn the monitor off and power down the hard drive when not in use. This cuts the amount of electricity it actually uses in half.

Some people say it stresses the computer turning it off and on all the time. The CPU chip gets quite hot after it has been running for a while, and it will cool down when you power off the computer. The contraction and expansion from the heat could possibly have some effect on the solder joints that hold the chip in. If this were the case, however, many desktop computers would be having this problem all the time, and they are not.

Basically it comes down to a personal choice. If you feel better turning off your computer and you do not plant to use it for many hours, feel free to power it down. If you feel better knowing your computer is up and ready to go whenever you need it, feel free to leave it on. Either way the computer will more than likely last the same amount of time.

Remove Spyware From Your Computer

Spyware Removal

Is that new computer you purchased not running as fast as it once did? When you turn it on do you have time to fix a cup of coffee before it finally boots up? If this is the case you more than likely have spyware. Spyware is installed on your computer without your knowledge and collects information about you. This can be a scary thought because they are running around your computer and you have no idea they are there.

Spyware causes a myriad of problems. It not only monitors your computing habits but goes well beyond that. Spyware collects your personal information, surfing habits, and sites you have visited. It can also wreak havoc on your computer. Spyware can install software on your computer, change settings that will cause slow connection speeds, home pages to change and loss of Internet connectivity.

You can get spyware in many ways. When you do a search on the Internet you not only find what you are looking for, but also leave a lot of data behind unbeknownst to you. You can look at it like leaving your footprints behind, and spyware follows those footprints back to you and attacks your computer. This causes increasing security problems by retrieving your personal information, such as your credit card number. These little bugs also monitor your browsing habits so advertisers can spam you.

If your computer is infected with spyware, it will become much slower and start locking up and freezing. You may get pop-ups on your screen or error messages that mean nothing to you. You may not be able to access the Internet. Fortunately, it is usually easily taken care of, as spyware applications have been developed to fight spyware problems and to remove it from your computer.

You can use spyware removal programs to fight off these hackers, and get your computer like new again. When choosing a spyware removal program it is much better to use a brand that is well known and has been on the market for a long time. There is some supposed spyware removal programs that are supposed to remove these nasty bugs, but instead scan for personal and sensitive information that can be used or sold.

Many spyware removal programs can be obtained as free downloads and some are free only for a limited period of time. In many cases the free spyware applications are as good as the paid software, as long as you are careful and use programs from reputable companies.

Keep your computer spyware free by running spyware scans on your computer at least once a week, depending upon how often you use your computer. You should update the software first, as there are new spyware developed each day ready to attack your computer. Once the software is updated, run a quick scan. If it finds spyware on your computer, it will automatically remove it for you. Run a full scan on your computer to make sure all spyware is removed.