by Andrew Pilling

I get many emails from customers asking me what measures they can employ to keep their computers and their bank balances safe when they are shopping online. Keeping your data safe on your computer can be broken down into a few golden rules.

Use an official copy of Microsoft Windows.
Turn on automatic updates. Microsoft Windows will update itself automatically when new security updates are available.
Get some anti virus software. A free version is available from AVG.
Update your anti virus software daily this is a very simple task. The AVG anti virus software updates itself when you switch your computer on.
Make sure the windows firewall is turned on
Don’t use illegal copies of software, a lot of illegal copies contain spyware and hidden executables that will attempt to log your computer activity, recording keystrokes etc.
Run Spybot Search and Destroy regularly it’s an excellent piece of software, that’s easy to install and use. It is also free.

Shopping Online

Shopping online can be a far more relaxing experience from the chair in front of your computer. Who wants to be repeatedly bashed in the back of the legs with a shopping cart or stand in a long checkout line that never seems to shorten?

Shopping online also saves you money I probably save hundreds of pounds a year by doing my grocery shop online. It is far easier to find the best bargains and special offers just by clicking on the search button.

Basic Online Shopping Security:

Try to use a credit card or even better use your credit card through a middle agent like PayPal or Google checkout. These methods of payment will give you an excellent chance to get your money back if on one of those very rare occasions something goes wrong.

Before entering your payment details or password always check for the padlock and make sure it’s closed. Click on this padlock and you will be given more information about the sites security certificates etc. Also check your browsers address bar, the sites address will begin with https, the s on the end of the http denotes that any information transferred between your browser and the site is encrypted and cannot be read if it is intercepted. (PayPal’s address is an example of a secure address https://www.paypal.com/)

A lot of computer users also seem to be wary of purchasing digital products on the internet. They tend to panic and get a little confused when they are redirected to a merchant. When purchasing software online through an agent like BMTMicro, Swreg, PLIMUS, RegNow, share-it, etc. These merchants also give you an extra level of protection and in all the years I have been purchasing digital products on the internet through a merchant I have never had any problems with security; or getting a refund if I felt the product was not fit for purpose.

Never ever click on a link you have received in an email, unless you have been expecting the email as part of a sign up process to a subscription list etc. Remember banks don’t send emails asking you to confirm your details.

Use Roboform or some other password manager to securely store your encrypted login data. Roboform offers an extra layer of security by verifying sites as it retrieves the login data required. The free version allows you to store up to 10 passcards

Educational Adventures supply special needs software to LEA’s and parents.
Download Roboform: Click Here
Download SpyBot SD: Click Here
Other Infomation: Click Here

Article Source: Article Directory

by Mark Moon

When you need to buy replacement Printer ink cartridges, there are a number of things that you need to consider. Do you buy the manufacturer’s original brand or another company’s compatible cartridge? Is it a cheaper option to refill your existing cartridge yourself, using one of the many refilling kits available?

Each of these has advantages and disadvantages. Often the motivating factor when buying a printer ink cartridge is the price, as some can be very expensive. It is worth examining what is on offer and thinking carefully about what you want your cartridge to do, because price is not the only factor to take into consideration. There are other points to consider that may help you make the right decision.

Original ink cartridges are the ink cartridges supplied by the printer supplier for a specific model of printer. This type of cartridge can be quite costly, but they often have features that some of the other cheaper cartridges don’t have. For example, some printers have electronic read-outs that will tell you how much black or coloured ink is left in the cartridge. With an original cartridge, the electronic chip that links this option to your computer to give you this read-out will be fully functional and provide the information. You will need to think about whether this information is an important factor for you when buying your cartridge, as a cheaper alternative may not have the relevant chip.

Remanufactured Cartridges are ones that have been sent back to a cartridge supplier and refilled. The cartridges are taken apart, cleaned thoroughly and checked to make sure that they work correctly. This can be a cheaper alternative to buying an original cartridge. Buying a remanufactured cartridge is also more environmentally friendly, as you are effectively recycling the cartridge. However some of the functionality mentioned above can be lost with one of these cartridges; the only way that you will be able to tell if the cartridge is running out of ink is when the quality of the printouts begins to deteriorate. Once again you will need to think about whether the money you are saving on the cost of the cartridge is worth the loss of the read-out function.

Compatible cartridges are cartridges that will fit your printer, but are produced by a manufacturer other than your printer’s manufacturer. The advantage of this type of cartridge is that it is brand new and made to the specifications of the printer. Some of these third-party cartridge manufacturers are highly competitive so their products are cheaper than the original ink cartridge. However, any electronic functionality that monitors ink usage is likely to be lost. You may be more comfortable buying this type of cartridge than a remanufactured one, so in this case the price is probably going to be the deciding factor in your choice.

You can buy special refill kits and choose to refill your own cartridge. This is by far and away the cheapest method. It has all of the benefits of the remanufactured cartridge but it is a do-it-yourself solution. It is an environmentally friendly option because you are refilling your own cartridge but it can be messy, as you have to inject the ink into the empty cartridge by hand. With the very cheap options, the ink in the refill packs can be too thick to travel from the cartridge and through the printer unit, which may result in you having to go and buy a new cartridge anyway. If you are on a budget and are prepared to spend a little time refilling cartridges yourself, then these can be a good, economical option.

The motivating factor between purchasing one cartridge over another is probably going to be the price. All of these cartridges offer the same quality of printing, with perhaps the exception of the self-refilling methods available. No matter which alternative you choose, you are going to need to know your printer’s make and model number. None of these methods should invalidate your printer’s warranty, although it may be wise to check in your printer’s terms and conditions before deciding on a particular option.

Refresh Cartridges supplies a wide range of ink cartridges;from a variety of manufacturers. Permission granted to re-distribute this article granted as long as a link to our website remains.

Article Source: bb-articles.com

by Kent Lee

Did you know that the Internet offers you a plethora of games, themes and ringtones that allow you to customize your Blackberry into your own personal, perfect tool? And best of all, you can get this Blackberry software for free!

Some of the free Blackberry software applications available online are things like:

1. GPS navigation tools

2. text editors

3. to-do lists

4. television listings

5. Body Mass Index (BMI) calculators

There are millions of websites willing to offer you some of these free software applications. As with any application that is downloaded from the Internet, you have to be use caution and good judgement.

Always remember this – as many people as there are that are willing to give you free, useful software there are an equal number if not more that have no qualms about adding viruses and spyware to your computer and Blackberry. Make sure that if you plan to download software for your Blackberry phone from the Internet, that you are using a PC or laptop that has virus or spyware protection.

There are also anti-virus applications developed especially for the Blackberry, but not necessarily for free. According to some computer experts, the Blackberry cannot be infected by viruses. However, it would be prudent to protect yourself whenever possible.

Websites that allow you to get Blackberry software for free usually tell you exactly how to download and install the software. However, if they do not, there are forums, blogs, and other mobile phone sites that offer you the kind of help you need. To install using desktop manager, just extract the downloaded files to a place you can easily remember (like your desktop) and then use the desktop manager’s installation wizard to do the rest.

If you would like to download Free Blackberry Software you can find a comprehensive list at: http://theblackberrystore.info

Article Source: Article Directory

by Groshan Fabiola

Internet Fax and Internet SMS are hot and happening buzzwords on the Internet! More and more people are waking up to these new and exciting mediums of communication. The reasons could be many! Internet Fax and Internet SMS are proving to be faster, economical, and simpler.

The user is not required to go through a learning curve before he or she is able to use this service. There are no requirements whatsoever in terms of qualifications or skill to be able to use the software, or technology. Which makes it a big hit and a preferred option for people across the globe. These services are easy to join and use. Anybody who has worked on computer can learn to make use of these services with ease.

Let us discuss Internet Fax and Internet SMS in detail.

Internet fax service means you are using Internet to send and receive faxes. Some of the portals offer free Internet fax service while others ask you to pay. Similarly, different portals use different technologies. Some require electronic mail and web access to send and receive Internet Fax while others require you to install special software on your computer. You can also find many commercial Internet fax services that offer options like bulk faxing and many such special features.

Internet Faxing, also known as “online faxing” is about minimizing cost and maximizing functionality when compared to the traditional faxing.

The conveniences and advantages of internet fax are many. You don’t require an extra telephone line for the internet fax. It is a paperless communication, which can be easily integrated with email. It also facilitates sending and receiving multiple faxes at oen go. Internet Fax results in remarkable reduction in communication costs, especially when there is a frequent exchange of long faxes between overseas or distant offices. It also helps minimize phone bills. Depending upon the method of use, suitable equipment and/or the use of a gateway may be required to use this service.

Coming to Internet SMS, the speed, convenience and cost effectiveness of Internet SMS messaging is unparalleled by any other communication medium. It’s faster than email, less intrusive and cheaper than phone calls. Using your PC to send Internet SMS on mobiles has become a popular business tool today. Again like Internet Fax, Internet SMS is easy to install and takes a few minutes. Internet SMS are economical. Whoever wants to use Internet SMS service needs to register with the companies offering these services. The only requirement is that you have a valid email id. It is advisable that you check out rules regarding character limitation, accepting Chinese characters, sending and receiving Internet SMS from overseas, premium membership or expiry of account etc before joining.

It is also possible to use Internet SMS service to send SMS to multiple mobile users. There is no charge for receiving message from Internet SMS portal. And as long as your login is active you can send as many SMSes you want from the portal.

Let us not be left behind and check out this Communications Revolution called Internet Fax and Internet SMS.

If you are looking for information on Internet fax or how to send an Internet sms please visit http://www.fax-24.es

Article Source: bb-articles.com

by Huzaili Aris

For many companies, the board room holds the conference calling equipment, usually the futuristic base crowds the center of the long table, and during calls everyone belts out their answer for those on the other end to hear. In the age of technology, where palm sized phones can access email, surf the web, and place calls, it is no wonder that the conference calling equipment has advanced as well.

The conference calling equipment of yesteryear consisted of tidy phones with speaker phones, splayed out like an octopus on the board room table. The wires having to be hidden and disguised as it ran between an executive’s legs to the outlet. Today’s conference calling equipment comes with many options to eliminate the nasty entanglements of wires, and even more options for muting, recording, and call inclusion. It is simply a matter of weeding through the conference call phones out there to find the one suitable for your business.

As we begin the search for the right conference calling equipment, we notice quite a few cordless alternatives. These conference call phones shaped like a half star fish can operate without the clutter of the wall outlet and only need power, but some even function off batteries. If the conference room you regularly use lacks the floor telephone jack in the middle of the room (yes, some have these), then you might consider this stylish alternative. A wired phone would probably be a better alternative to this though, as frequencies can be problems in some office buildings. Who wants to pick up the phone with a major client, only to have the call dropped moments later due to the conference call phones?

The latest in hi-fidelity, wideband conference calling equipment allows those on the call to talk from two to twenty feet from the microphone, without sounding any different. The revolutionary talk experience eliminates the inefficiency found with many conference call phones. The clear voice transfers eliminate the need to repeat what was said. The satellite microphones that can be splayed out across the board room table enhance voice pickup from other guests on the call. Although these conference call phones cost twice as much as other alternatives, they will increase conference call efficiency ten fold. With a state of the art conference call phones like these, a guest should never have to question a lengthy tirade again…they will hear it loud and clear the first time!

The conference call phones in existence today strengthen the voice signal of the callers, allow for more flexibility of space by going wireless, and provide added efficiency to a sometimes difficult call. With some research a company can find the best alternative to their conference call needs. The conference call phones offer clear voice pickup of the multitude of people in a board room, providing efficient conference calls.

Huzaili Aris is the webmaster of http://www.conferencecall101.com Starting a conference call is not as complex as some people think. It is the easiest way to save you time and money for your business. Find out about the various web conferencing solutions to fit yout needs by visiting our website.

Article Source: Rhino Articles