Posts Tagged ‘home computer’

Registry repair software is an essential tool for the modern computer user to keep their home computer running smoothly and efficiently. Luckily, there are tons of different registry repair software available on the internet for you to download and use. Unfortunately, not all registry repair software is created equal. While some are superb, others cut corners, gouge your pocketbook, or are even Trojan Horses for malicious software. How can you, the average non-techie home PC user, know what to avoid? This article will answer that question.

The first thing to look out for is software that contains spyware, adware, or other malicious software. Some registry repair software available on the internet, especially the free ones, are actually spyware in disguise. When you install the software (which may or may not even work), it also secretly installs malicious spyware that may steal your identity or wreck your computer.

To avoid this, do a little research on the software before you install it. If the software you’re considering using has a reputation for being associated with spyware or adware, then don’t use it. It may do more harm than good.

The next thing to research and avoid when shopping is software that gives false positives. A false positive is when registry repair software identifies harmless registry entries as problems needing to be repaired or deleted. This is essentially a cheap trick to inflate their numbers, to make their software report finding more registry errors than there actually are. This makes their program look more thorough and effective compared to their competitors. In reality, it doesn’t help your computer at all, and in some cases may actually damage it. It may accidentally delete registry entries that the computer needs to operate.

Before buying registry repair software, research consumer reviews of that particular registry tool. In particular, look for reviews done by knowledgeable professionals, as opposed to amateur reviewers offering only uninformed personal opinions. If, when professional tested, that software reports a high number of false positives, then avoid it and look for different software.

Another thing to look out for is software that requires you to do manual scanning. Registry repair software only works if you use it regularly. When you have to operate your software by hand, it’s easy to forget for weeks on end. Fortunately, it is very easy today for software to have a built-in scheduler.

Built-in schedulers will automatically scan your computer as often as you like at a time of your choosing (like at night when you’re not using your computer). These days, there is no excuse for registry repair software not have an automatic scheduler, and most do. The few that do not, however, should be avoided.

This should give you some basic ideas of what to look for and what to avoid in registry repair software. If you buy registry repair software with a good reputation and automatic scheduled scanning, you can be fairly sure that your computer’s registry is being properly maintained.

Is your computer sick? Does your registry need cleaning? Then take action now. You’ll find the best registry cleaner right here.

Author: Sidney Sanborn
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
iPhone/iPad apps

If you are about to buy your first computer, or if you are thinking about what to add to your current system, what extras should you buy? There are a few basics that will make it much easier for you and your family to use the computer and also to get the most out of the Internet. Luckily, most of these extras are either free or won’t cost you too much money.

1. Printer: You need this to make copies of documents from your computer files or from the Internet. Printers start at around $30.

2. Mouse: If you bought a desktop computer, it should come with a mouse. If you bought a laptop, it comes with a built-in mouse, but an external mouse makes it much easier to use most programs and web sites. You can get one starting around $10.

3. Writable CD-ROM or DVD drive: Having this capacity makes it easy to back up data, transfer files between computers, or to create music CDs: While you can buy a drive that is separate from the computer, it is much more convenient to have one built into your machine. Make sure when you order your computer that it comes with at least one drive that can read and write CD-ROMs.

4. Speakers: Most laptops and even some desktops have built-in speakers, but a pair of external speakers will give you a better sound. If your new desktop or laptop does not come with a pair, you can get a cheap pair for less than $20.

5. Flash drives: You can use these either to back up your files or to transfer files between computers. While you can also use CD-ROMs and DVDs to store data, not every computer will have an appropriate drive, but you can use a flash drive with even the most basic new computer. They can start at less than $10. You should get at least one for every member of your family who will use the computer for work or for school.

6. Firefox browser: This alternative to Internet Explorer allows you to have more control over your online experience, especially when it comes to blocking advertising. It is free and you can download it from http://www.mozilla.com/.

7. OpenOffice.org: This office application suite has all the software you need for doing word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations for either work or school. You can even use this set of software to work with Microsoft Office files from the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint programs. This is also free and available at http://www.openoffice.org/.

8. Adobe Reader: This free software can be used to view, print, and search PDF files, which is the preferred file format for many online documents. It often comes with new computers, and if not you can get it for free at http://www.adobe.com/.

9. Google Desktop: This free program allows you to search for content on your computer’s hard drive the same way you do online searches. You can find this program at http://desktop.google.com/.

10. iTunes media player: You can use this free program from Apple to easily manage most of the audio and music files on your computer. You do not have to buy an iPod to use the software. The software is included with new Apple computers, and you can download a version of the software for computers that run the Windows operating system.

Just remember, going online does not have to be expensive. Many of the things you want to do with your computer should not cost you a lot of extra money or extra hassle. The money you spend on basic extra hardware will allow your computer to be a very valuable tool for you and your family.

Other Resources

The book Parenting and the Internet (Speedbrake Publishing, 2007) by Todd Curtis has more suggestions about hardware and software, including advice on enhancing your family’s online privacy and security, and extensive links to providers of free software. To find out more about the book, visit http://speedbrake.com

About the Author: Dr. Todd Curtis is the creator of the web’s most popular airline safety site AirSafe.com http://www.airsafe.com, the director of the AirSafe.com Foundation, and an expert in the areas of engineering risk assessment and risk management. He has applied those basic principles to the problem of managing Internet use, and has put many of those insights and lessons learned into his book Parenting and the Internet (Speedbrake Publishing, 2007), an easy to understand how-to guide that parents can use to manage the activities of their online children. For more information about the book and how it can help you, visit http://books.speedbrake.com

Author: Todd Curtis, PhD
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Cool mobile gadgets

In the not to distance past, antivirus firewall software did not exist. You would have to purchase antivirus software, firewall software and spyware all separately. There was not an all in one package containing all three together in the same suite like there is today. Software manufacturers are now making software in combination packages that are a perfect fit for small business owners and home computer use too.

Antivirus Firewall Software comprises three parts. One is the antivirus portion that keeps viruses from attacking your system and can remove those already on your system. Another part of the system is the Firewall software that prevents any information from your computer or to your computer without your permission in the prescribed code written into the software. The third part of the software would be the Spyware Software to prevent and remove Spyware from your system.

Why do you need all this protection you ask? Antivirus Software is to prevent and remove viruses from your computer. Firewall software is to prevent hackers and hacking software from accessing your personal information like bank account numbers or your identity. Spyware software is to prevent and remove Spyware from your system. Spyware tracks your movement on the Internet for reasons that can be good or bad. The good is depositing cookies on your computer to recognize you when you revisit a site. Banks use this type of cookie to help keep other people from accessing your information for example. Some sites use cookies for advertising purposes. Some of these are harmless and some are not.

How does each of these work you ask? Antivirus Software scans all incoming data from email, Internet downloads and file sharing you may have with other people. Any good Antivirus program updates itself often to keep up with all the new known codes viruses are written with. Without keeping current the software can not know which codes to exclude. New viruses are written constantly in very large numbers. Virus codes can be very complex and creative but are written in code just like beneficial software. Keeping up to date is critical for good protection.

All computers talk to each other using data packets. This is where Firewall Software comes in. It is the job of the Firewall Software to monitor this data for corrupted or altered packets of info. It will not allow any data to enter your system if it notes any packets that are not written into the software to accept. The software can even pop up a box to ask if you want to accept this type of data if it is not recognized. Good Firewall Software is needed to keep your system safe.

The third part of this software suite is Antispyware Software. Spyware programs are not designed to crash your operating system but are designed to spy on all your activity on the Internet as well as files on your computer and gather that data for someone else’s benefit. Antispyware Software is to keep this software from attaching to your computer system and to remove any of this software already on your system. Spyware can cripple your system performance over time if it allowed on your system. I have seen computers with hundreds of spyware cookies on the system and the computer was so slow it was unusable. After the spyware was removed the computer operated at normal speed.

My advice is to purchase good Antivirus Firewall Software and keep it updated. With this type of software loaded on your system you can enjoy your computer for surfing the Internet and for file sharing with your friends or for business purposes.

Posted by LaZinnia Manley on December 08, 2009

Please visit Antivirus Firewall Software for more information. If you need this software Please go to Antivirus Firewall Software and follow the instructions.

Author: LaZinnia Manley
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Okay, so, I want to know how to use my home internet at school via proxy setup. Here at the house, we operate a linksys router. I have access to the routers settings, I just would like to know how to bypass the school’s firewall by using the internet via a proxy to my house here. Be detailed, please. Thanks! +++++++++++++ +++++++++++++ http://handyproxy.cn http://handyproxy.cn http://handyproxy.cn +++++++++++++ +++++++++++++

Answer:
It’s probably not going to happen, because your home computer and your school computer run on separate networks, and more than likely the school’s network is encrypted.