Computer Internet and Technology Articles.

As a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, a Certified Computer Forensics Specialist, Network
and Security Consultant, Software Developer, and Data Recovery Expert, my passion for technology
is undeniable. I also enjoy helping people, especially when it comes to my passion. This white paper
is centered on 10 important points to keep your computer systems secure.

1. Make sure that your password is secure.
This means any passwords in use should have some degree of complexity. A common standard for
secure passwords is to have a minimum of 8 characters, and be a mixture of letters, numbers and
symbols. For example, the user Jane Smith could use a password similar to Ja$mith1, providing a
good amount of complexity and very easy to remember. The symbol: $ can be used instead of s or S,
@ can be used instead of a or A, even 0 can be used instead of o or O.

2. As the Business Owner or as a Partner you should not hand your password to anyone, nor should you
write it down and leave it in your work environment or office.

3. Confidential information located on your network should be restricted and only allow access to the
appropriate individuals. Make sure you test the access rights or delegate this to a trusted individual.

4. Your personal computer should be password protected and automatically enable password protection
if the computer system has not been utilized for several minutes, this will prevent anyone from
snooping around on your computer while you are in the restroom or on a lunch break.

5. All Computers in your office should have Anti-virus software installed. Commercial products such as
Symantec Antivirus symantec.com or free software such as provided from Grisoft
grisoft.com.

6. All Computers in your office should also have Anti-spyware software installed.
This will help to keep your computer clean from other malicious programs on the internet that could
generate pop ups, capture confidential information, and slow down your computer system tremendously.
Commercial Anti-spyware programs such as Spyware Doctor from PC Tools can be found at
pctools.com. Free Anti Spyware programs such as Microsoft Windows Defender can be found
at microsoft.com and Adaware at lavasoft.com.

7. Keep your systems updated.
Microsoft provides an update feature that can be accessed from within Windows. It is used to update the
computer system with new improvements and security fixes. It is generally located under “All Programs”,
then click on the “start menu” to find “Windows Update”. If you are unable to locate the “Windows
Updates”, then updates can also be accessed directly from the Microsoft webpage.
microsoft.com. The same principle applies to other computer operating systems such as Apple
and Linux.

8. It is a very good idea to implement a Firewall.
There are two types of Firewalls: Hardware-based and Software-based. Your Firewall of choice depends
on the size of your organization. If you have less than 10 computer systems, I would recommend using a
Software-based Firewall on all of the computer systems. A commercial Firewall such as Zone Alarm Pro
can be found at zonelabs.com. Windows XP also has a built-in Firewall that can be utilized.
Hardware-based Firewalls vary depending on the size of your organization and the level of sophistication
desired. A good Firewall for Small Businesses is the TZ 170 from Sonic Wall sonicwall.com.
This Firewall is optimal for organization of 10 – 40 users.

9. Storing company information on USB Sticks to work on information at home, is the biggest most recent
trend. Make sure your company has a policy that specifies if such devices can be used and more
importantly to what degree.

10. Remote access tools such as Remote Desktop or PC Anywhere should be used with caution, given
they
open doors to your computer system and to your network.
Cyber criminals are attacking more and more Small Businesses assuming they are easy to bait.

Use these
tips to improve the security of your computers, your data and to counter cyber crime.

Andrew Mapp, President

Three Square Business Solutions

threesquaresolutions.com threesquaresolutions.com

MCSA, Security , CEH, CCFS

Overview of Indie Games

For those individuals who love to play various games in their free time and are also avid computer users, the two concepts can easily be combined to produce a wonderful result. Playing games via a computer is a common occurrence these days. Although there are a number of popular games one can play on the computer, one genre of game that is gaining in popularity is that of Indie games.

Defining Indie Games

Indie games can be defined as those games that are created independently of any large financially backed company. Indie games are ones which often come from a relatively low budget base and many of these games are ones that are only available online. These types of games can be video games, strategy games or puzzles, for example. The wide range of categories which various Indie games fall into is quite impressive.

How Indie Games Were First Developed

Indie games developed in reaction to an already established type of gaming industry. Those who create Indie games develop games which fall into a certain category yet do not have a large financially sound company which develops them. In order for Indie games to exist, there must already be a similar genre of game in existence. For example, Indie games which fall into the category of video games were developed in the 1970s shortly after the larger companies developed the mainstream video games. The Indie games which resulted from that category came into existence after games such as Pong and Asteroids hit the market.

Reasons for Online Popularity

Indie games are mainly available via online means. There are a few different reasons for this. First, those who develop various Indie games do so at minimal costs. Since it is much less expensive to provide online accessibility to these games as opposed to marketing them and selling these games in stores, one who develops Indie games makes them largely available online. Secondly, individuals who create various Indie games make them available online since it is an easy way to get the games out to the general public and enable individuals to start playing them as quickly as possible.

Size of the Indie Game Industry

The Indie game industry is one which is growing in size. As more and more individuals begin using the Internet, there are more people who gain access to Indie games. Online accessibility to games of this type is a primary reason for the growing popularity of Indie games. Indie games are developed all over the world and it is hard to pinpoint exactly how many Indie games are currently in existence at this time.

Future of the Indie Game Industry

The Indie game industry is one which will continue to grow in the future. Due to the fact that the number of Internet users continues to grow, so will the number of people who like to play Indie games online. Therefore, the future of the Indie game industry looks quite bright.

Summary

Indie games are the result of creative and innovative minds. For those who may not have the financial backing to get their games on the consumer market, developing Indie games and making them accessible via the World Wide Web is a great way for the developer to let others see and utilize their vision.

Steve is a writer for the GrandMatrix website. GrandMatrix provides hundreds of grandmatrix.com free game downloads and online games. Play and rate the latest PC games and play thousands of puzzles, word games and online arcade games with other members.

The latest statistics show that at least 800 new viruses are created each month. You have all heard that identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes. The people that do these things are constantly coming up with new ways to get into our computers. They either want to steal our personal identity, or they want to infect our hard drive and destroy our computer.

First and most important, you must have good anti-virus software. Not only that, you must keep your software updated, and you must run a scan at least weekly. Most anti-virus programs are only effective for about a year, and then you need to buy the newer version. You can download the newer version that is online quite easily, and it costs about $50.

Second, you must have a good firewall program if your anti-virus software does not include a firewall. Some of the more deluxe versions of the anti-virus software include a firewall. You can purchase firewall software that is relatively inexpensive. You can also activate a free firewall that is included with Windows XP.

Third, not only do you need to update your anti-virus software, you also need to update your systems software. You will receive notification of Windows and other updates, and they are usually free. You must keep all your systems updated for maximum virus protection.

Of course, everyone knows that you should not open email attachments unless you are absolutely certain who sent them to you. Be sure you know the sender, and contact the sender before you open the attachment if you have any questions. The freaks that want to ruin our computers are getting smarter and trickier. They try to disguise their emails so that you think they are from a friend or business associate.

You cannot be too careful with email. I have already received “phish” email, and you probably have also. Remember that no bank, credit card company, or other financial insitution will ever ask for personal information in an email. If anyone asks for personal information by email, you can be certain that their request is not legitimate. Do not email anyone personal information.

Everyone knows to back up the data on their computer frequently, at least weekly. I recommend you back up to an external hard drive, and you keep the hard drive in a fireproof safe or some other safe place away from your computer. Please do not carry the backup hard drive in the trunk of your car.

Finally, when you walk away from your computer, shut it down or make sure it is password-protected while you are away. Do not stay connected to the Web unless you are actively online. Never leave your computer connected to the Web overnight or any other time when you are away from your computer. You must be smart about computer protection, because the people who want to attack your computer are very smart.

Jo Ann Joy, Esq., MBA, CEO
Copyright 2006 Indigo Business Solutions. All rights reserved.

You may contact Jo Ann by phone at (602) 663-7007, by fax at (602) 324-7582, by email at joannjoy@Indigo Business Solutions.net, and by mail at 2313 East Ocotillo Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016

For more information about these and other important business topics and for legal consultation, please visit our website at IndigoBusinessSolutions.net Copyright 2006. Indigo Business Solutions is a registered trade name.

The future of your business starts here.

About the Author:
Jo Ann Joy is the CEO and owner of Indigo Business Solutions. She has a law degree, an MBA, and a degree in Economics. She also is a licensed realtor and has contacts in the local real estate industry. Her background includes commercial and real estate law, accounting, financial planning, mortgages, marketing, product development, and business strategies.

Jo Ann ran a successful business for 10 years and has written and given presentations on many different legal and business subjects. She is not a traditional attorney. Rather, she is a strategic business attorney who works closely with clients to create and implement strategies that will greatly improve their performance and success.

Please contact Jo Ann by phone at (602) 663-7007, by fax at (602) 324-7582, by email at mailto:joannjoy@Indigo joannjoy@Indigo Business Solutions.net, and by mail at 2313 East Ocotillo Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85016

Do you like to play online games? Well, I do and I used to spend most of my time playing games on my computer. I play a lot of games, but Bejeweled Deluxe is one of the games that I like to play the most. However, I haven’t played it in a long time because when my computer crashed the game went along with it. I didn’t want to pay for a second time so I decided not to download it again.

The gaming company refused to give me a new license key when I informed them that I lost my old one. I didn’t hold this against them because I’m sure that a lot of people are trying to do this all the time. There would no way for them to know if these people are honest about it. Anyway, it’s not really a big deal for me because I had played the game for so long that I was ready for something new.

I’m sure that you are going to love Bejeweled Deluxe if you like the original. It is a great game, and it greatly improves on the original version. However, you should not start playing this game unless you have a few free hours to give up because you can easily get lost with playing. Bejeweled Deluxe can be very addictive that you might neglect to wash the dishes or make dinner because you are too busy playing it. I have been so involved in the game in the past that people have shown up at my house to make sure that I was fine.

There are plenty of free versions of Bejeweled Deluxe on the Internet, but these free games will only be free for a very limited amount of time. These are only trial versions, so you have to pay for the rest of the game when the time of the trial expires. The trial version of Bejeweled Deluxe can help you decide if you would like to purchase the full version or not even if it may not be long enough of a trial.

There are also free versions of Bejeweled Deluxe online, but these come with expensive costs because they are not legal. These free versions are often infected with spyware, malware, and a ton of viruses that can cripple your computer. These games are for free but they also allow hackers to mess with your computer. Of course, the creators of Bejeweled Deluxe will never do this to you because they are honest businessmen who want to earn an income in an honest manner.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning

Motherboard technology changes so rapidly that the notable motherboard manufacturers like ASUS, Gigabyte and MSI come out with new boards every few months.

To help you out, I’ve consolidated a summary list of the top 5 Pentium 4 motherboards which I recommend.

These boards are all great performers - you won’t go far wrong if you build your Pentium 4 system using them. So let’s take a look at the list:

Intel D875PBZLK

The Intel D875PBZLK is a Socket 478 motherboard that gives leading performance for Intel based systems. It supports AGP 8X and 4X, comes with built-in LAN support, USB 2.0 and serial ATA features. A very nice motherboard indeed.

Abit IS-10

The Abit IS-10 Socket 478 motherboard releases incorporates the the Intel 865G chipset to deliver mind boggling speed and power. All the standard features of a good motherboard are there - in-built video and audio, LAN support, USB 2.0 and serial ATA. A very popular item in the market.

Gigabyte 8I848P-G

The Gigabyte 8I848P-G is a Socket 478 motherboard with integrated audio, AGP 8X and 4X support, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0 and serial ATA features. This full-function platform delivers excellent performance and rock-solid stability. A very affordable board that should be in a budget enthusiast’s shopping list.

ASUS P4P800E Deluxe

The ASUS P4P800E Deluxe is a high-end offering from the motherboard manufacturer. Built around the Intel 865PE chipset, this motherboard includes lovely features like IEEE 1394 connectivity, Multi-RAID technolog, as well as 8-channel audio, Serial ATA, USB 2.0 and Gigabit LAN. You get giddy just reading that don’t you? There’s also an interesting Wi-Fi slot that can be used for wireless LAN upgrade.

Gigabyte 8I915PL-G

A second Gigabyte board on our list? Well, yes. The Gigabyte 8I915PL-G Socket 775 motherboard is a solid performer with built-in audio, LAN support, USB 2.0 and serial ATA features. Most importantly, it comes with PCI Express support, which is needed to power the next generation of video cards.

Conclusion

OK - which of these motherboards would I buy? I’ve always liked Gigabyte and Abit motherboards so I’d certainly recommend the Gigabyte 8I848P-G, Gigabyte 8I915PL-G and the Abit IS-10. Ultimately, its your own decision - so consider what features you need and your budget, then make an informed choice. Happy shopping!

Gary Hendricks runs a hobby site on building computers. Visit his website at

With Software as a Service becoming the motto of many of today’s large software companies it becomes obvious the power Internet Applications hold. Instead of selling a license to install software and risk a bad install software manufacturer’s can charge for access to the software online through a web browser. This provides so many benefits that I don’t think I can list them all.

*Hosted software is instantly updated to all users
*Has an install so easy you can just click a shortcut and you’re running
*Can provide guaranteed off-site data back up that was once only the luxury of super rich mega companies.

Those are just the icing on the cake. You can run a Hosted application on almost any platform. Suddenly Linux systems don’t require a specialized software install, just a web browser. The technical support required for a non-Microsoft operating system drops considerably. You also get the added advantage of easy access on handheld devices and mobile phones.

The easiest fastest way to create any tool for multiple platforms and not worry about technical support costs is to look for those companies making the leap to the next level of technology. Software companies that make Internet Based and Web Based applications are going to experience an explosion as the world moves to this advantage.

Many of the largest companies have already stated their support and intensions in this area. When looking for a software company to provide a point of sale system I look at how well it integrates into this model. Can the software be hosted on a single server and manage 100 locations? How easy is it to install on different platforms? Can I keep it backed up and updated quickly and easily? Will it lower my bottom line and increase my profits? Evaluate the arguments and you’ll see the advantages Hosted Applications can offer any size business.

The development costs for a Hosted Application are also significantly less. Instead of worrying about difficult installs for multiple operating systems (even Windows Apps have to be tested on Win98 and up) you can focus on writing towards the most currently accepted standards as determined by the W3C. Having only one standard to worry about removes the concern that different operating systems will require different installs and files. As long as you use a browser that follows the W3C guidelines, and the big ones do, then you’ve reduced development and testing time. This creates a better application that isn’t bloated with all the junk needed to make it run on a million different systems.

There may be some concern in using a Point of Sale system through the Internet, but SSL encryption and other security techniques are quite sound. Stealing information has been around long before technology and thieves will always pick away at the profits. The question is whether the risk is higher in using a Software tool that can be so easily accessed by not only your employees but by financial assassins that we all know are there. Security is an always will be a concern, but if your company is connected to the Internet in any way then any information on those networks is at just as much of a risk if not more of a risk than the information stored in a hosted application.

If your network is connected to the Internet then you’re already taking the same risks as someone using an Internet Hosted Application. Even systems on a closed WAN have their security risks. The benefits of using an Internet Hosted Point of Sale System far outweigh the risks. In business every dollar counts and when it comes to technology picking the right path can make a huge difference in your profits.

Please consider this article for publication in your newsletter or on your website. Permission is granted to reprint for free with author box and byline intact. Please send me a copy of your publication if you choose to include my article.

© Ed Duval (2006) Ed Duval is contract writer and software developer for AndTechComputers.com www.AndTechComputers.com and Creator of the HotPotato Restaurant Point of Sale Software System. With over a decade of experience in software development he shares his unique insight on today’s point of sale software systems.

mailto:support@andtech2020.com support@andtech2020.com

We know that laptop computers are portable, convenient, and very necessary in today’s fast-paced world. A laptop gives its owner a renewed sense of freedom and capability. With a strong wireless Internet connection, business may be conducted from anywhere in the world. Cubicle walls expand to reveal wide open spaces, where people may communicate, shop, and accomplishment countless tasks.

Choosing the right laptop to suit your needs may take time and research, but one thing is for certain: all laptop owners should have the basic programs installed to get through daily life and work. Whether you are a writer, a computer programmer, a businessman, or work at home, these four programs are irreplaceable and versatile. Each should have a shortcut icon right on your startup screen.

Let’s take a look at what you need:

Word Processing Program

You don’t have to be a student to need a good word processing program. Can you think of a day where you haven’t written anything? Even for a one-page note, it is hand to have a word processing program installed to suit your needs.

These days, many computers come equipped with such software, though what is included may not necessarily meet your requirements. While all programs allow you to type, save, edit and print with ease, some programs go the extra mile and allow you to enhance presentations with embedded imagery, video, and font manipulation. Microsoft Word, as part of the Office Suite, lets you these things and more. A simpler program will limit the boundaries.

As you shop for your next laptop, consider what word processing packages are included, and determine if you need an upgrade.

Accounting Software

Whether you use the laptop primarily for business or household purposes, a good accounting program can serve as a solid backup for your traditional system of bookkeeping. Using accounting software to keep track of your income, bills and other expenditures is a good way to maintain organized focus throughout the year. You condition yourself to keep better track of your finances, and should you lose any paper you have that backup to consult onscreen.

Quickbooks is one example of such a program, and offers various features for whatever organizational purposes you seek. If the laptop you buy does not include accounting software, consider looking for some.

Electronic Book/Document Reader

Electronic book, or e-book, technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years. With the Gutenburg project, students and other avid readers have access to thousands of classic and academic texts, and third-party retailers like Fictionwise and Amazon.com offer instant downloads of electronic novels for sale. With a laptop, you can shop for a book, purchase and download, and read it instantly. You don’t even have to be in a bookstore!

That said, with certain e-book formats you will need specific readers. A PDF document will not open in a word processing program, and an e-book formatted for the Microsoft Reader will not open in Adobe Reader. Therefore, it is wise to keep such programs on hand in the event you need or want to read a book from your screen. The best thing about such programs is that they are offered for free by their respective companies. A quick Internet search will lead you in the right direction.

Security Software

No laptop is complete without a strong security program. As viruses and spyware become more prevalent and more sophisticated, the need to protect your computer is very important. Especially if you are a frequent user, you would be best suited to a program that offers anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall capabilities. Options to filter junk mail and prevent annoying pop-up advertisements is also a plus.

Not every computer system will offer such protection, so be sure to consult with a sales person before buying. Make sure your security programs are updated often to combat new issues.

From composing mail to battling SPAM, your laptop should be ready to do everything you need. Take care when shopping and don’t forget these essentials when you are ready to work.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer and editor. She writes for The Computer Connection, cgetapcloan.com military computer financing at affordable rates. She also offers thewriteseo.com free SEO advice to authors.

LCD monitors or Liquid Crystal Display monitors are replacing the old CRT or Cathode Ray Tube screens and are far superior in a vast majority of applications.

There are several advantages of LCD Monitors over the old CRT Displays. While LCD Monitors are compact and lightweight and consume less power approximately 20W whereas the CRT monitors are bulky and heavy consuming upto 150W. An LCD Monitor produces perfectly sharp images with perfect image geometry whereas in CRT the sharpness is limited and it tends to blur more at high brightness and with the aging of the tubes and suffers from geometric distortions.

LCD monitors have a consistent tonal scale and can display text with excellent contrast whereas the CRT monitors display strong bright areas which can cause other regions of the picture to dim and also has poor text contrast because of limited bandwidth.

LCD monitors do not normally flicker whereas a faint flicker can always be observed in a CRT monitor.

There are also some inherent disadvantages of LCD monitors over that of the CRT monitors. The contrast or the color changes with the viewing angle in a LCD monitor whereas in a CRT monitor it is always a consistent image irrespective of viewing angle. LCD monitors may cause motion blur and has a poor black on dark images. Whereas the CRT monitors usually portray motion well and also has good black contrast.

When viewing photos or videos on a LCD monitor it may appear flat and the peak brightness is limited by the back light. A CRT monitor displays movies/video/photos with a sparkle and life to images with very high peak brightness.

If LCD Monitor screens are damaged, it may develop stuck pixels whereas no such pixel based problems are present.

In LCD the natural interface would be digital e.g. DVI interface and the image can be sub-optimal with analog interface whereas CRT’s are naturally suited to analog interface.

On the basis of image-quality LCD monitor is best suited for technical/CAD applications and office uses such as large, detailed text-based but -non-critical color graphics while CRT still has the upper hand for high-end photography or art work and for television displays.

Unlike CRTs that are actively displaying the light through coated phosphors, an LCD actually takes white light and filters it to get the desired colors. To do this for each given pixel there are three sub pixels one for red, green and blue light. When the sub-pixel is off, the filter will block that particular color of light. When the sub-pixel is on, it will open the filter to let a desired amount of light through.

NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites lcdmonitorforyou.info/sitemap.html LCD Monitor, jewellery-foryou.info/fashion-jewelry.html Fashion Jewelry and researcher-hub.info One Stop Information.

If you are switching ISP, please keep in mind the following 3 easy steps and the switch will be much simpler:

1. Compare: Spend some time comparing ISPs in your area. It is a major decision even though it seems small at first. The reason being that once you sign up for an ISP, you will be with them for a while. So all your legwork upfront will come in handy. It is more important than opening a bank account. You know it is hard to change. Changing ISP is even tougher. The reason is simple, the ISP you choose sort of becomes your ‘identity on the internet’. You get email from the ISP; your access to the internet depends on the ISP. Come to think of it a lot rides on choosing the right ISP that suits you. You can check out getanisp.com and www.switchemail.com/pages/CompareISPs.asp for comparison of ISPs.

Just don’t look at the price. Make sure you are comfortable with everything they have to offer. Number of email addresses. Virus protection. Spam protection. Anything that is important to you; this is the time to pay attention and ask yourself ‘Is this the ISP I would like to be with 5 years from now’. If the answer is not a definite ‘yes’ then walk away. Look for another ISP.

2. Overlap: Once you have found your ISP that fits your needs, then don’t just cancel the old one. Overlap the service. Keep the old one online for at least a month. This will save you a lot of trouble. Paying 2 ISPs for a month is a small price to pay for making sure everything works at the new ISP. Secondly, you have time to get all your people informed about your new email address. Thirdly, you can transfer all your buddy lists and other saved information over. Overlapping will give the breathing room to do it at your pace and not leave anything behind.

3. Forward: After a month or so, when you are comfortable with the new ISP, go ahead and register yourself at Switchemail.com. Now go ahead and close the old ISP. In case anyone sends an email at your OLD ISP and they get a bounce back, they can simply forward the bounce to find@switchemail.com and switchemail.com will forward the email to your new email address. You can do the same too. Any time you get a bounced email, forward to find@switchemail.com and they will search and let you know the person’s new email address.

Bob Young writes for Emailsreview.com Emailsreview.com He can be reached at administrator at Emailsreview.com

Okay, by now you’ve been playing World of Warcraft to know only one thing about the game for sure. You aren’t playing it enough. There are too many things to do and not enough time to do them. For instance, power leveling.

Who wants to spend all that time making their way through the lower levels of the game when everybody knows that all the real fun only starts happening on the upper levels? But in order to get to those levels, you have to spend serious time working your way up through the lower levels.

Or do you?

Believe it or don’t, there are companies out there that will get you up through those lower levels without your ever turning on your computer. For a fee, these companies will log in and play under your account. You can pay them to play either for a certain period of time, or until a certain level or objective has been achieved. Typically, these companies offer various types of services that also vary in their expense. For instance, one company’s prices range from just thirty dollars for part time power leveling all the way up to almost three-hundred dollars to take you from level 1 to level 60.

Another option to consider is buying a used account. In this manner, you bypass a lot of the waiting period for power leveling and your character may already come to you loaded with some cool items, but you miss out on the personalization of naming your own character and training him in the method you prefer.

Something else you’ll want to know before paying for power leveling is that while your character is in the hands of a professional, you won’t be able to log on and play and the leveling is finished. On the other hand, you can actually go out and have a life and come back to the game with a stronger character than you would have had by that time.

As with all services provided on the internet, be sure to check out any company offering power leveling for a price before you decide. Anyone can design a professional looking site and then skip town with easy money. Also, if you happen to believe that people should be paid fair wages for their services, you might be interested to know that many of these power levelers are little more than sweatshop employees in China.

If that image doesn’t offend you, then you can very easily engage in some significant power leveling for your character while taking a vacation on the beach.

On the Other hand, if you want to do it yourself and not risk getting your account closed by blizzard, you should look for a good WoW Power Leveling guide..

Author: Matt Garrett © 2007