Computer Home Network

Computer Virus Repair Help

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 07:36:50 +0000

Viruses happen. They’ve been around for years and unfortunately that doesn’t look like changing. What happens when you need to do a computer virus repair?

Of course, you should be running up to date anti virus software at all times.

But occasionally a virus will still slip through – an update fails, the anti virus software company launch a new version that causes your current one to stop getting updates or you’ve just plain ignored the “you need to update” messages.

So what do you need to do when you need to perform a virus repair on your computer?

If you’re not already running an up to date virus removal program, install one now. Most of the programs around can cure most viruses for you when they detect that you’ve got a problem. If you’ve got a boot sector virus you may not be so lucky, but otherwise there’s a good chance that they can help.

Unplug your network and internet cables. Disconnect from your home wireless network before you cause any damage there.

Then run the anti virus program, following any virus disinfection prompts as they appear.

Once that’s been done, reconnect your internet connection and if necessary update your anti virus software with the latest virus signatures and then re-run the software.

With luck, you’ve now repaired any virus infection you may have had.

Next, make sure you keep it that way.

Get Windows Security Center to advise you when there problems with your virus repair software. If you’re running XP or Vista, you’ll find the Security Center in your Control Panel (or just search Help and it will point you in the right direction).

Check your virus repair software settings. Make sure that the virus signatures are regularly updated so that you keep any potential future infection safely out of harms way.

By: Lucas Richardson

A Novice Guide To Setting Up A Wireless Network

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:22:01 +0000

O.K. It’s time to dispel the myth about networking! Although networks, (wireless or otherwise) used to be used primarily by businesses and schools, times have changed. There are now huge benefits to installing a network at home. The thing that put’s many people off is the fact that they are notoriously complicated to set up and get working. Well, as technology had advanced this process has become a darn sight easier and if you are interested in setting up your own network then don’t panic. As long as you have a little patience, you can do it. There is an abundance of information on the internet to help you get through any problems so, if possible, keep one computer off of your network, (but connected to the internet) to start with. This way you will still be able to connect to the web and get any advice and tips you need during your installation and set-up.

For those that consider yourself novices and are not sure why having a wireless network in your home is beneficial, let’s take a look at some of it’s uses. Many of us now have more than one computer in our homes. Whether you have children with a PC in their room, or a laptop that you use around the house and in the garden there are some great benefits to connecting them all together. First of all, Think about your printer. Why bother having a printer for every PC, or transferring documents to the computer that’s attached to the only printer, when you can use a network to let your printer receive information form all your computers? Of course the other bonus is that, with a wireless network your printer can be put anywhere in the house out of the way. If like me, you have a computer in your living room, then hiding the printer away in the cupboard is perfect.

So there’s one advantage. Now, what about music, videos and other media? There is no need to waste time and money putting music onto all of your hard-drives. By creating a Wireless home network you can store all you media on one hard-drive and access it via the network. Of course these are only examples. Another obvious benefit is the ability to access all of your documents from any computer in the network. If your chilling in the garden with your laptop and need a file from your desktop PC, no problem. Just access it via your wireless network. Now we’ve covered some of the more obvious benefits to installing a wireless network let’s take a look at how to do it.

The first step, without a doubt is planning. You need to know what you require from your network. How many computers you want to attach, where your computers are located, and any other peripherals, (such as printers). Once you have this worked out it will be much easier to determine what equipment you need. When looking at equipment I would recommend that you set up your network using the 802.11g technology, as it is the most compatible.

So, let’s take a look at what you will need. First of all, you’ll want a broadband connection. Secondly, you need a wireless router. And third, a wireless network adaptor for each computer that is going to be part of your network. For desktop PC’s, buy a USB adaptor and for laptops, get a PC card adaptor, (this will plug into your expansion slot). Before buying your wireless network adaptor, check to make sure your PC doesn’t already have this feature built-in. If it does then there is no need to buy an additional one. Also, buy your network adaptor and wireless router from the same company. This will make things far easier when setting up. Now you have your equipment, it’s time to get it up and running.

Unplug your modem and connect it to your wireless router. You will notice that your router came with a network cable. Plug one end into the back of the router, (the port labelled internet, or Wlan, or Wan) and the other end into your modem. If you are unsure which port to connect your cable to, you will need to refer to the instructions, as routers vary depending on the make. Now plug in your modem again and connect to the Internet. Next, plug in your router and turn it on. After a few 30-60 seconds you should see lights that indicate the router is connected to the modem. Now it’s time to configure your modem.

Your router will have come with an address. Open Internet explorer and type this in the address bar. You may need to enter the default password at this stage. This also comes with the router. You should now be looking at the configuration page for your wireless router. Don’t panic if it looks technical, you only need to change a few things. First of all you will need to give your network a name. Choose something that is not too easy to guess, as this will help with security issues, and type this in the SSID section. You should also see a section that asks for a WEP or a WPA. Choose something long and random as this will prevent hackers getting in, you don’t need to remember this anyway. Now you need to create an ‘administrators password’. Again choose something unique containing letters and numbers, (you will need to remember this one though). Now that’s done, disconnect the network cable from your computer.

Now you can connect your computers. Before doing anything, make sure you have “Windows Service Pack 2″. Now, repeat the following steps for each computer.

If you have purchased a USB network adaptor, plug this into a USB port on your computer. If you have a network card for your laptop, plug this in your expansion slot. Windows should now detect your new hardware and ask you to insert the CD that came with it. Do this, and follow the on-screen instructions. Once you have completed this you will see a new icon in your taskbar, (bottom right of main windows screen). Right-click it and select ‘View Available Wireless Networks’. You should now see the name of your wireless network, if you don’t, click refresh. Select that network and click connect, enter the network key you will have typed in earlier and wait for it to connect. Now you can close this window.

Finally you need to………..

Do Nothing, that’s it! Congratulations, assuming everything went smoothly then you just set up a wireless home network. If you encounter problems, then visit www.wirelessnetworkinstallations.com for more advice. Failing that, call the technical support that came with your router and they will be able to steer you in the right direction.

By: Dawn Smith

How to Secure Your Wireless Network

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:47:58 +0000

There was a time when computers weren’t something ordinary people could afford. Back then, only the rich could buy them and the only networks in the world were those run by governments or large companies. Today, the picture is most certainly different. An average family’s home can have a network of computers owned by each family member and their Internet connections are fast and topnotch. Some families even use wireless computers and though cost is no longer an issue, information security definitely is.

What makes wireless networks sensitive sometimes is the fact that signals can go everywhere and are very hard to detect. This makes hackers very happy then, because now, they can hack any wirelessly connected computer and very easily at that. There’s no need to install Trojans or keyloggers. They just have to connect to that wireless network with their own laptop and start stealing information from those that are already connected. This is why wireless security should never be taken for granted. Imagine having a close neighbor connecting to your network without your permission. The risks are always there but it doesn’t mean wireless networking is bad altogether.

In fact, only unsecured wireless networks can be a headache which means as long as you secure yours, you shouldn’t have any problem. If you’re not exactly technically savvy, you might think it’s some complicated task that needs an expert to do. On the contrary, you can do it on your own and quite simply.

First off, because networks run on ID’s, you need to secure your own network’s ID so unauthorized access is prevented. Laptops will come with a default SSID (Service Set Identifier) or ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier). If you don’t customize it, you can expect hackers to come prying in because it’s actually very easy for them to research on the default identifiers for each wireless computer manufacturer. This is why it’s extremely important that you change you SSID or ESSID into something unique to you.

Then you need to disable Identifier Broadcasting so you don’t get to announce to the whole world that you’ve got this wireless network that just about anyone out there could hack into. A manual that comes with your device will have instructions for this.

The third step in securing your wireless network is to enable Encryption so only authorized people able to access your information. There are actually two types of encryption you can use – WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). For maximum security, it’s better to go for WPA which provides stronger protection than WEP which has many flaws and is quite easy to crack.

Firewalls are, of course, basic to every Internet security campaign, whether wired or wireless, so check your manual and set up your firewall to block unwanted traffic. Anti-virus software as well as anti-spyware and anti-adware should also be installed and updated regularly to ensure maximum protection.

As a final step, change your default password into some unique to you. Refrain from using birth dates and anniversaries which are pretty easy to crack. The most secure password could be a random combination of letters, characters and numbers.

As a general online security measure, an IP hiding software just might be very helpful. Because it allows you to surf with fake a IP address, you don’t leave a trail for hackers to follow back to you. This way, you keep these unwanted elements at bay and you simply enjoy the added freedom to your Internet activities.

By: Brad M Smith

Computer Help – New Computer? Now What?

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:25:03 +0000

Congratulations! Computer prices are at an all-time low and now you are the proud owner of a new computer. It’s faster than your old one, has a larger hard drive and maybe gives you your first go at Microsoft Windows XP.

There is only one thing missing, all of your old data! This not only includes all of your treasured photographs and music but all of your Word and Excel documents as well as all of your internet browser favorites and your e-mail address book.

Transferring data from one computer to another is an unbelievable hassle, unless you know what you are doing. Although time consuming and a little cumbersome, there are steps you can take that will help the process be a bit more manageable.

The first thing that needs to be done is the new computer needs to be setup following the instructions that came with your new purchase.

Once that is up and running the amount of data that is to be transferred needs to be determined.

If there are limited files that need to be moved, the easiest method would be to burn the files on the old computer to a CD-ROM. Once the CD is burned the files can be downloaded to the hard drive of the new computer.

If the data transfer is greater than what can be held on a CD-ROM there are a few methods that will handle larger data migrations. The below mentioned methods will prevent the need to purchase pricey migration software.

- Via Network: This requires an in home network. If one is setup in the household or business, both computers need to be on the network. Once this is established both of the computer’s hard drives will be shared and files can easily be copied back and forth.

- Files and Settings Transfer Window: This is a tool that transfers data and Window Settings (mail and contacts for Outlook and Internet bookmarks) and is found in Windows XP. To find the tool, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools and then Files and Settings Transfer Wizard. Once activated the Wizard will walk through the data transfer process step by step.

By: Cari Diaz

The Internet – The Largest Network in the World

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:48:34 +0000

Computer engineers have been finding ways to connect computers and their devices together in different ways. Computer networking has come hand in hand with other bodies of knowledge such as telecommunications, information technology, and computer engineering. So many things have been made possible through computer networking. It has helped people live easier lives in many ways through personal area network, local area network, metropolitan area network, and wide area network.

One great example of a wide area network is the champion of all networks, the Internet. It is the biggest network in the world, and billions of data (maybe even trillions) is being transferred everyday. So much information is exchanged and it has practically changed the way we live our lives.

Education online

The usual way to get your education is to enroll in a school, and go to your classes on a fixed schedule. Nowadays, we can actually get a college and master’s degree through the Internet. A lot of reputable universities now offer their courses online because they understand how hard it is for some students to juggle a job and their schooling. Depending on the program, you can have your own schedule, and usually you’d just have to submit work on or before a particular deadline. At times, you’d have real time chatting with you professor and “classmates”, sometimes even with a webcam. What’s great about this is that you no longer have to go through the hassle of commuting. The good news is that companies have been accepting a lot of applicants with this sort of education but there are still some that are overly traditional.

Video games galore

What started out as simple 2 dimension games is now a multi-billion dollar industry, and has spawned a new way of social interaction. Because of the Internet, gamers are now able to interact with people from across the globe, and play the same game at the same time. This is great because video games were once viewed as an anti-social activity. This is no longer true and now gamers not only get to play the game together, but are able to chat and make new friends as well. Internet gaming has also created a new gaming genre called “massively multiplayer online role-playing games” or MMORPGs. This is a supercharged type of RPG where thousands of players get to play together in a particular game at the same time.

Social Networking

A lot of websites nowadays allow people to interact and socialize with each other with their different tools and services. Some of them are focused on dating, where users can create their own profile and indicate their particular tastes. Other websites are dedicated to people uploading pictures and sharing them with other users as well. This has been a great way of connecting with long lost friends, and making new ones as well.

It’s great that computer networking has helped in bringing us the Internet. With it, life has become more convenient, and we can learn so many new things everyday just by connecting to it. With the Internet, there are certainly more new things to come.

By: Benedict Yossarian

Computer Home Business – What Does it Take to Make Money From Home?

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:07:39 +0000

Starting a computer home business is a very worthwhile endeavor, at least for some people. For others, it seems like they can work hours and hours and not have a dime to show for their efforts. Why is this?

There are a few reasons, in my opinion. What separates successful business owners from the wanna bees? The first is what I call opportunity hopping. I came across this a lot in the network marketing industry. Everybody is looking for that latest and greatest opportunity that will make them a killing without them having to do any work.

If you are looking for network marketing opportunities, you’ve probably come across tons of different companies, and are wondering which opportunity is really the best to make money.

I’m going to let you in on a secret that they don’t want you to know-it really doesn’t matter which you sign up with. Most people think it’s all about the system, but the truth is, you can make a killing in any system on the planet.

Is this to say the system you follow isn’t important? Not at all. However, your success or failure really comes down to your ability to market. If you are a good marketer, you can make money with any company or computer home business opportunity, and if you can’t market, you won’t make a dime regardless of how great the system might be.

The most successful network marketing distributors don’t use the generic company website. Instead, they created their own sales copy, auto responders, etc, and tested them out on a bunch of different keywords to see which ones convert well and which don’t.

Once they do this, they then continue advertising on those keywords, generate leads, follow up with up with them over the phone, explain the opportunity, and generally, direct them to a company conference call. After that, they will follow up with the prospect, and hopefully get them to sign up.

This is more or less the activity you will be doing with any network marketing company. In other words, your success depends entirely on you, and not the system.

This is what separates the successful from the unsuccessful, not just in network marketing, but in any computer home business opportunity. The truth is, I’m using network marketing to make a point-most people are not willing to do the work or testing necessary to make money, and instead want that magic system to do everything for them.

The truth is, such a system doesn’t exist. If you want to make big money online or offline, and with network marketing or anything else, it will depend on you learning marketing and advertising, and in the case of network marketing, over the phone selling.

Not as easy as you thought? The truth is, if it were as easy to make money online as many would have you believe, everybody would be making money online big time. How many people do you know off hand who are making a full time income online?

Not many? Me neither. The reality is, making money online is very possible, but it will require a lot of hard work and dedication on your part, and this is how to make money with a computer home business.

By: George Mitchell

What Are the Main Computer Network Security Threats?

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 09:54:08 +0000

Whether you are looking to protect a small network in your home or one that is the foundation of your business, you will find that it is first important to understand what kind of threats you might be facing. As soon as you have a computer hooked up in order to connect to the network, you will find that there is a chance that it can be exposed to a number of different risks. When you are thinking about what you can do to make a system a great deal more secure, you will find that an understanding of the risks that you are vulnerable to is something that can help a great deal.

First and perhaps most obviously, is the threat of a virus. While the majority of viruses are simply annoying, there are definitely viruses that can damage your network’s hardware, software, or both. For the most part, a virus is an executable file that will be spread by human means and will require someone to open it before it can do its work on the network. When looking at virus threats, it is worth understanding worms as well, which are considered a subset of viruses. Worms do not need human help to propagate themselves, and in fact one example of the way that they work is to turn your computer into an email server that will distribute copies of themselves.

When looking into network security threats, though, it is very important to consider what risks may be present from inside the system. First and foremost, the idea of bad architecture must be considered. If a network is mis-configured in the first place, it can be a very tempting target for people who are looking to get on it. One obvious example of this would be leaving a wireless network unsecured so that anyone with a network card could get onto it. This can certainly happen in a broader and more disastrous scope.

Interestingly enough, one of the most common measures taken to save time is also one that leaves network systems shockingly vulnerable. Consolidating a lot of services to one machine is a common measure for saving time and resources. It is easy to manage and simple to maintain, but if this single machine is compromised, there is a great deal of harm that can happen. While accidental failure is one thing, there is also the concern regarding the ease with which a single machine could be manipulated. In this case, the answer is frequently redundancy.

Computer network security is something that is very important, and if the information that you are safeguarding has anything to do with money or with personal information, it will achieve even a higher priority. Take some time and think about your system and think about whether it is vulnerable to any of the threats above. The more security that you can provide, the better off you will be. The protection of both your company and your customer depend on this aspect of your company’s working, so always consider what network security means to you.

By: Derek Rogers

Computer Network Engineering Schools Offer Advanced Degrees

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:20:22 +0000

Computer Network Engineering Schools, colleges, and universities grant associate, bachelor, master, doctorate degrees, and post-graduate certificates in computer network engineering and management. Degree programs in computer network engineering teach the design, installation, configuration, and maintenance of computer system networks.

Computer network engineering college students will develop a solid background in math and science, as well as skills in critical thinking, communication, logic, and problem solving. Courses in calculus and physics, in addition to computer programming and networking can be expected.

Bachelor degree students in computer network engineering university programs will be prepared for entry-level positions as network administrators and technical support specialists.

Master and doctorate computer network engineering degree programs emphasize specialized technical network engineering. Post-graduate certificate programs provide advanced topics of study, allowing students to develop expertise in specific areas.

Computer network engineering college and university graduate degree programs are designed for engineers with bachelor degrees in electrical engineering, computer science, computer engineering, or a related discipline, and for engineers in the fields of design and development of network systems, components, products, and services.

Corporations and businesses use computer networks in daily functions, making the jobs of computer network engineers important for keeping these networks in good operating condition. Computer network engineers are prepared for a variety of duties involved in designing new computers, testing computers, and maintaining existing computer network systems.

Since keeping current with trends and developments in technology, computer network engineers can anticipate continuing their education throughout their careers in workshops and continuing education courses.

Computer network engineering careers will continue to grow with the growth and use of advancing technology. If you would like to learn more about the promising field of Computer Network Engineering and Computer Network Engineering Schools, please search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 – All Rights Reserved
Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

By: Michael Bustamante

Home Computer Business – The Dirty Dozen – Mistakes To Avoid (Mistake #9)

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:15:23 +0000

This article is one of a series, collectively titled “The Dirty Dozen: Mistakes That Could Ruin Your Business.” Making these mistakes can be very costly in both time and money, but all of these possible mistakes can be easily avoided by some advance knowledge and planning ahead. Although I think the information in this series of articles can be very valuable to home business operators, it is very important for you to know that I am writing this series of articles solely from a “lessons learned” perspective. I am not a legal, tax, or accounting professional. You should consult an appropriate professional for detailed advice that is specifically relevant for you and your business.

In this article, I am going to discuss the potential problem area of not keeping adequate records.

I cannot overstate the importance of keeping clear, accurate records. If you have never filed a tax return for a business before, you will probably be pretty surprised by how much detailed information you will need. If the IRS ever audits your business tax returns, you could be required to explain and show proof of every single one of your business expenses.

Don’t throw away anything away until you are positive it no longer matters. In general, many tax specialists suggest keeping all business financial records for at least seven years after the date of your tax return. So if you are filing a tax return that includes business income and expenses for the tax year 2007, you need to keep all of your expense receipts, income statements, etc. until at least 2014.

Don’t freak out. Although maintaining detailed business financial documentation is crucially important, it is also pretty simple. Here’s one easy and inexpensive, but perfectly effective, way of keeping track of your business records. Go to a housewares or office supply store and get one or two little plastic trays that are a good size for holding regular, white letter-size envelopes. Start labeling envelopes with categories of business expenses: office supplies, professional education, computer hardware and software, etc. Put all of your receipts in your tray of envelopes at the end of every day. Once a week, put all of your receipts in the appropriate envelopes. When you come across a receipt that doesn’t already have an envelope, make one right then. Do the same things for all business income that you receive.

If you are comfortable with scanning, you could also scan your business receipts and organize them electronically. I still have sort of a paper-and-pencil brain, so I just do the envelope thing, and it works just fine.

Remember that you may be able to claim business mileage for your car. This can really add up to a nice deduction for you – but it’s also easy to lose track of it. Here’s one easy way to stay on top if it. Get a lined index card (decide what size is best for your handwriting). Make columns labeled, “date, destination, purpose, begin mileage, end mileage, and trip miles.” Leave the index card and a pencil in your car (you could attach it to a small clipboard). Every time you go somewhere that might count as business mileage, just quickly fill in one row of your index card. When the card is full, take it inside, and file it in an envelope labeled “mileage.” Even if you don’t calculate the “trip miles” every single day, as long as you record your beginning and ending mileage for each trip, you will have the information you will need at tax preparation time to help your tax professional verify that your mileage is allowable.

Note: You can’t mix business and personal mileage. Let’s say you head off to Kinko’s to do some business copying, and then, since you’re running errands anyway, you decide to get your grocery shopping done too. If going to the grocery store adds mileage beyond what your Kinko’s trip would have taken by itself, you must subtract that “personal” mileage from your business mileage claim. Again, talking to a tax professional early in the tax year can help you a lot!

Mileage on your car is not the only type of travel expense that you might be able to claim as a business expense. Let’s say you fly somewhere to attend a professional conference or to take a class that is relevant to your business. All your travel costs (transportation, hotel room, meals, etc.) might be deductible expenses for you. You might also be able to claim the costs of conference registration or class fees, educational books, etc. as legitimate business expenses.

The key here is to keep complete and detailed records, including receipts for all expenses. You can always discard records that you don’t need. Finding supporting details for a “claimable” expense can be time-consuming, frustrating, and could eventually disqualify you from claiming legitimate expenses just because you can’t document them.

Aside from documenting your business finances if you are ever audited, this careful record-keeping also helps ensure that you get to take every business deduction to which you are entitled. Again, please consult with a tax specialist about all of this.

Be Sure Your Business Expenses Are Allowable: Consult with a professional tax advisor to confirm that all your business expense claims are within IRS guidelines. (Write down all expenses that you think might count – just verify them with a knowledgeable professional.)

Another possibility is keeping all of your business records electronically. Intuit offers the Quicken and QuickBook series of products for both PC users and Mac users. It will take some time to learn if it is all new to you, but once you are familiar with them, electronic checkbooks and business record keepers can save you a lot of time – especially when it’s time to do your taxes.

One more time, please remember that what I am giving you here is only my personal understanding of these topics. I advise you to get professional assistance.

By: Cindyann Williams

Why Do I Play Home Based Work Opportunities?

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:04:53 +0000

We all want a passive income, do not we?

What I mean by passive income is a business that makes money without us doing anything, that’s right, no phone calls, no mailing, no talking to people, no inviting a mate around to spring a marketing plan on them, just a simple fully automated home business that puts huge amounts of money in your bank every day, 365 days by the year.

It is a good thing when you just generate sales some how. However, when you play Internet Marketing you need to speak with people. In truth, what you have to do is to teach people to do what you do so well, that is to make money online.

Think about you have been able to have this incredible power to a job work from home while you are still wearing our pyjamas!

Nevertheless, be sure one thing: it is not a making money machine overnight.

Anyway, if you play a home based computer work you can decide to speak with people, if you are going to build an empire business downline, or you can just work with some program, like Google Adwords or Google Adsense, to build your web site and stay in silence with your new incoming cash.

The difference between failure and success is very often the quality of information and action. First, you collect information, build strategies. Second you take action.

That is what I did when I decided to play home based work.

But it did not have been very easy. Many people think it is unworkable. It means a home based work is a making money easy way.

Well, it is not. Everyday you must have discipline yourself, work from 2 to 8 hours on your desk, and if you do not have any target, plan, you do not go anywhere.

Maybe I can say it is easy, when you get the right information. Even so, it demands a lot of work.

For example, to play a home computer network you will need to dominate some computer abilities. It is not HTML knowledge. You can start a new one business without that and to get some abilities throughout you way learning.

Abilities mean to know how to operate an email, for example. It is a very simple idea, but I really know people they do not know to turn on a computer. Did you get that?

So, Internet marketing can bring anyone passive income. It is my great why that explain my option to work with Internet marketing.

By: Wolney H Filho