However, computer security (“cyber-security”), in general, is still somewhat reactive. Good examples of being reactive are the Anti-Virus products on the market today, for example Norton Utilities by Symantec. While they try to anticipate new types of attacks, they still can not effectively predict specific attacks, because the creators of such attacks are effectively on the “offensive.”

Most laptop computers today use Microsoft’s Windows XP, SP2 as the operating system. This release has some of the best security features currently available for a computer, but they need to be checked or in some cases implemented by the user. A good example of this is an anti-virus product installed on your laptop. Not only does the Anti-virus software need to be enabled, but the Microsoft XP settings may need to be changed to accommodate the anti-virus changes. It is the user’s responsibility to make sure this protection in enabled.

These checklists outline the steps you should take to reach a baseline of security with Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional computers, either on their own or as part of a Windows NT or Windows 2000 domain. Additional information about these checklists can be found on the Microsoft Website. Just search on the Microsoft site using the term “security.”

Important: The purpose of these checklists is to give instructions for configuring a baseline level of security on Windows XP computers. This guide does not provide a complete list of all security features provided in Windows XP or how to use them. A complete list of new security features available in Windows XP is available on the Microsoft Web site.
Windows XP Professional Configuration – 12 Steps

1. Verify that all disk partitions are formatted with NTFS
2. Protect file shares
3. Use Internet Connection sharing for shared Internet connections
4. Enable Internet Connection Firewall
5. Use software restriction policies
6. Use account passwords
7. Disable unnecessary services
8. Disable or delete unnecessary accounts
9. Make sure the Guest account is disabled
10. Set stronger password policies
11. Set account lockout policy
12. Install antivirus software, antishareware software and updates

These security tips are suggested by Microsoft to provide a baseline level of security for your computer. Additional security steps that are very important to protect your laptop and desktop computers include:

?Keep your data safe and backed up
?Use the Internet safely
?Protect your networks and servers, especially when wireless access points are used

Microsoft has a tool called the Baseline Security Analyzer that is excellent. It helps detect security threats and is a must have tool for anyone interested in security for a laptop, desktop or computer network.

Laptop Theft

Another very real security threat to your laptop is theft. According to Safeware Insurance, “387,000 laptops were stolen in the US in the year 2000 – versus 319,000 in 1999.” The FBI notes that “over 98% of stolen laptops are never recovered.” Also “notebook theft is the 2nd most prevalent computer crime, following virus related offenses” according to a CSI/FBI PC Crime and Security Survey.

When your laptop is stolen, you not only lose the hardware, you lose the data on the hard drive. This happened to my daughter, an architecture student at the University of New Mexico. She lost much of her portfolio of architecture projects in her first two years because of this theft. As with most laptop owners, some of the data was backed up and some was not. We replaced the laptop but the sense of violation and loss was still there. She still misses that Fujitsu P2046 laptop, as she really liked it.

Think what would happen to you business or home records if your laptop was stolen. Even it you have it backed up and replace the computer, you will probably feel violated by the theft. There is also a psychological cost that is often not thought of until it happens to you. You would have no idea of where or if your data on the laptop was stored on some criminal’s computer waiting for the opportune time to steal your identity, or pull some other crime against you. You would not know if one of the many laptop drives sold on web auction sites was the one out of your laptop, or even if that laptop “just like yours” being auctioned was in fact yours.

As you can see, laptop security encompasses a number of things. Many of these things are not really very difficult or even very technical. They do take some thought, planning and often some research to find out the best way to counter some of the threats that are out there today.

The good part is that there are many security resources which can be very helpful and useful available on the internet today. Many software and hardware suppliers, like Microsoft, and Dell for example, have extensive security information, articles, whitepapers and books available. Many county, state and federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland security, FBI and CERT, also have extensive security suggestions and information available for protecting your laptop, desktop computer, and computer network.

About the Author
H. Court Young is a writer, author, publisher and a geologist. His ebook entitled “Ten Most Needed Features in a Laptop Computer” can be found at

Article source:
Protecting Your Laptop with 12 Simple Laptop Security Steps

First, there are the obvious solutions like closing software programs that you’re not using. Another is to set your computer to hibernate when you walk away. Although most of us realize that we should do this, what normally happens is that the few moments we assume we’ll be away from our computer turns into a few hours. Until the longer life laptop battery hits the shelves, using hibernate or standby is one of the most important things you can do to preserve the life of your laptop battery.

To set your Windows computer to automatically go into hibernate mode, open your control panel, select “power options,” choose the “hibernate” tab, and check “enable hibernation.” After that, click the “power schemes” tab and set the amount of idle time after which you want your computer time to hibernate.

Mac users can set their sleep mode preferences by selecting “system preferences,” clicking the energy saver tab, and then clicking “sleep.” The earlier you set your computer to sleep, longer the battery will last. Sure, it’s a bit annoying to have the screen saver appear after 1 minute of non-use, but when you consider the savings from the laptop battery’s point of view, it’s a smart trade-off.

Aside from using less power, you can actually condition your battery to retain more power. Just like an Olympic athlete conditions to get into optimal shape, so too can your laptop battery. When you purchase a new laptop battery, it comes to you completely empty of charge. Though most of us can’t wait to get back to using our laptops cord-free the moment possible, it’s important to let the battery accumulate a full and complete charge.

For the first 2 or 3 cycles only, you’ll want to completely deplete your battery before recharging to the max. This “trains” your battery to understand its own power capacity. After those first few cycles, you’ll want to recharge your laptop battery, ideally, before it depletes entirely.

When to get a new laptop battery
If you’ve got to recharge every 2 hours, it’s time for a new battery! Most of us put off buying a laptop battery until the computer practically won’t hold a charge at all. Buying a laptop battery may not be as interesting a purchase as buying something new for your closet, but once it arrives, you might wonder why you waited so long to make your life so much simpler. Once you get it installed, try out some of these tips. If you treat your new laptop battery well, it may just last until the 8-hour battery finally becomes available.

About the Author
Author writes for EBatteries To Go who specialize in laptopbatteries and accessories. For more information you can visit http://www.ebatteriestogo.com.

Article source:
Laptop Battery Life How to Get More of It

The computer has come a long way since it first came out. The computer used to take up a whole room, and now all you need is a little notebook. Gone are the days of needing a desktop. The notebook now makes the desktop computer look big and bulky. You no longer need the monitor, and mouse, and keyboard, and hard drive taking up all that space, all you need is your notebook.

When you are in the market for a new notebook it is best if you do a little research before you buy. You don’t want to just rush in and buy the first one you find just to find out later that a different notebook would have fit your needs better. No matter what your needs are you are sure to find a notebook that fits those needs.

You have a choice in screen size, gigabytes, weight, and brand. You may want to start by narrowing down your brand choices. You can choose between Dell, Gateway, PC, Mac, or HP. You may already have an idea of which brand you would like to work with. You may want to check out two brands to make sure you are getting a good deal and getting what you need.
Next thing you may want to do is talk to someone who specializes in computers. You will want to know what each notebook is capable of. Knowing what your needs are will help the person direct you to the right notebook. It might be wise to talk to more than one person to make sure you have a good idea of what notebook is best for you.

After you know what you want you can start shopping around. You can go to a local computer store and check out what they have, and you can shop online. We suggest that you look around to make sure you get what you are looking for. You may be able to find a better deal if you look on the Internet. You can visit the manufacturers site and see if you can bet notebook for less than if you go to the store and get it.

With so many choices available to you just make sure you do a little research. The time you spend researching will pay off when you have a notebook that is exactly what you need.

About the Author
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as computer accessories at http://www.computersystemsandaccessories.com

Article source:
Why More People Today Are Turning To Notebooks For Their Computer Needs

But cheating in computer games is not necessarily equal to lying or taking unfair advantages over your opponent. It constitutes a wide spectrum of activities, which in general is aimed at altering the game experience so as to lead in the game. Cheating differs in every computer game and is dependent on what the players have agreed upon as an unfair advantage.

Most computer games have the so-called “cheat codes,” which are used to make the game easier. But these cheat codes are designed for single players, especially those new to the game. Using these codes could also mean cheating, but it cannot be said that you are using them to gain unfair advantage.

Cheat codes are primarily used in multiplayer and mass multiplayer computer games played through the Internet. In these types of computer games, players may remain anonymous and so they can boldly cheat, without fear of being known to his opponents.

There are different types of computer game cheats. These are by changing the user settings, by using bugs, exploits and external software and by cheesing.

When you alter the settings of your computer, the layout of the computer hardwares or the game itself so that it would suit your gaming style or your computer system, you are in a way cheating. But this can be acceptable. However, going as far as modifying the color and brightness of your computer in order to see through shadowy areas could be questionable.

Exploits are features of a game unintentionally or erroneously made by the developers. When particularly used to gain unfair advantage over your opponent, they can be regarded as computer game cheats. However, sometimes these exploits make the game more fun and exciting.

The use of external softwares specially designed to let the player lead the game unjustly by modifying the program that runs the computer game, is considered as a grave way of cheating. Some of these computer game cheats analyze the status of the game in the computer’s RAM.

Other players “cheese” to lead in the game. This is done when virtual players do things that are not allowed or are unlikely in real life. Although this may not be a very grave kind of computer game cheat, most players disapprove cheesing in a game.

Usually, computer game cheats nowadays are due to alterations made in the game software. This is in spite of the developers’ prohibition of the modification of the original codes. The problem with most game softwares you can find in the market nowadays is that despite their being encrypted, data files can be easily revised without altering the main program so cheat protection features become useless.

Stopping all forms of computer game cheats is really hard because as said earlier, cheating in computer games cover a wide range of activities and there are a lot of aspects to consider in each computer game cheat. There are softwares, though that can be installed on the server in order to help detect a computer game cheat.

About the Author
S. Stammberger is the owner of ComputerGeek Blog. Her blog offers information for computer newbies.

Article source:
Computer Game Cheat – What Is It Really

There are eight basic steps to build your own computer.

Step 1 – Design

Decide what specific needs you have for the computer and make a list of components.
Research hardware and software needed to provide for the determined needs.
Decide if you are going to use reconditioned or used components or buy new. Test all used components. Most parts over five years old are not worth using, as they may be incompatible with newer parts.

Step 2 -Setting up a workspace

Find a clean, dry, bright and dust free workspace. Avoid work areas that have carpet as this can lead to problems with static.
Collect the basic tools needed such as screwdrivers and pliers. At the very least use an antistatic wrist strap when building your own computer. It would be even better if an anti-static mat were placed on the floor of the work area.

Step 3 – Getting Started

Remove the cover from the computer case. Mount the feet, power supply and cooling fan using the screws provided.
Prepare the motherboard for installation by attaching the standoffs to the removable plate on the cover. If the cover does not have a removable plate the rest of the components will need to be installed first. Screws should be tightened just enough to be snug and keep the motherboard in place, but not overly tightened.

Step 4 – Start configuring

Configure your motherboard using the product manual settings.
Install the CPU, memory and heat sink or cooler.
As with all components follow manufacturers recommendations for settings and installation.

Step 5 – Power

With the motherboard in place begin by attaching the large power cable from the power supply to the motherboard.
Attach the smaller power cords to the LED and other components.
Attach the flat ribbon looking drive cables to the motherboard.

Step 6 – Installing the Drives

Configure the hard drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD or floppy drive using manufactures specifications.
Ensure the setting for “master” and “slave” is correct.
Physically mount the drives to the front of the cover.
Ensure power is hooked up correctly to the drives; attach drive cables to the devices.

Step 7 – Operating System

Determine which operating system works best for your needs.
Install the operating system
Set up a security system for your computer.

Step 8 – Enjoy

Relax, sit back, and enjoy your new computer.
Feel proud that you were able to build your own computer to meet your exact needs.

About the Author
On http://www.build-computerz.com/ you will find articles on build your custom computers and make your own computers.

Article source:
How To Build A Computer – 8 Steps To Build Your Own Computer

I’ve only recently found out about the power of content. I kept hearing “content is king” and didn’t really pay enough attention to it. That was until I got a web design project and needed to write content for it. Unfortunately it was in a field that I had never written about before and had no experience with. So my writing skills weren’t up to the task. We had to outsource the content writing and had to deal with writers whose first language was not English. So now I was paying someone else to add content to a website.

I came across SocialSpark.com by accident when looking for something else on the net (like we all do). And here I have a program that allows advertisers to pay me to advertise on my blog and will even pay me for content writing. Sounds like a win-win to me! Whats the catch? Well thats yet to be seen since I’ve only just joined. But I jave to say that the signup process was incredibly easy. It took less than a minute and here I am writing this blog post.

I’d be interested to hear from any readers who have come across SocialSpark before. I will do another post next month to let you know how it goes.

As scary as the idea of spyware might sound, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. First, there are quite a few things you can do to reduce the risk of a spyware infection or avoid it altogether. And for the most part, all of these things are plain old good computer security practices anyway and apply to issues besides spyware, making this a good list to for all computer users to review. Here are some preventative measures you can take:

- Keep your software up-to-date. This especially includes your operating system (Microsoft Windows for most of us) and your web browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape, etc). Usually most of these programs can be set to automatically update themselves or prompt you when an update is available. Go ahead and take a few minutes to do that whenever you’re prompted. It can save you hours of headaches in the future if it helps protect your system.

- Be cautious about which sites you download programs from. There are tons of free programs, movies, games and other software all over the internet. However some of these programs (like the toolbar example mentioned above) are havens for spyware. All free programs aren’t bad, but just like in the real world, be careful about “taking candy from strangers”.

- If you don’t know what a program is, don’t run it or install it. If you’re on a Windows machine and see an unknown file ending in .exe, you probably shouldn’t run it until you determine what that program is. To find out what a program might be, try going to Google and doing a search for that file name. It will only take a minute and could save you from a huge hassle later on.

- If you’re getting bombarded with pop-up ads, don’t click on any of them. If you do click on them, you may inadvertently load a spyware program on your computer. This includes links that say something like “Click Here to Close”. Use the little orange “X” in the corner of the window instead and that will close the window without you needing to click on anything in the advertisement.

- Don’t click on any links that are in email SPAM. It doesn’t matter what the offer is, if you’re getting emails and you don’t know the sender or didn’t subscribe to that site’s newsletter, etc. then you should avoid the ads and delete the email. Some of those emails will just lead to more SPAM and if they’re offering software, the software can actually be riddled with spyware.

If you think your computer might have spyware on it, experts advise that you take three steps:

1. Purchase an anti-spyware program.
2. Set it to scan periodically but at the very least, once a week. It would be even better if it scans every time you start your computer as long as that doesn’t slow down your start up too much.
3. Delete any software programs the anti-spyware program detects that you don’t want on your computer.

About the Author
For a limited time, get exclusive access to our anti spyware mini-course – protect yourself from this growing threat. A $29.00 value, yours free if you sign up now. Click here: Spyware Mini-Course.

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Anti-Spyware Tips for Safe Computing Spyware Prevention