If I asked you the question: which part of your computer
is the most fragile, what would you say? What if I asked:
which part is most important to you?
Often, the answer to both of these questions is your Hard
Drive.
Your hard drive is likely one the most important things you
own. It contains work data, school data, emails, photos, music,
movies, tax information, etc… Incidentally, the hard
drive is also one of only two moving components in your computer
(the other being your optical drive). The following is a list
of important maintenance and monitoring techniques you can
use to maximize the life of your hard drive and prevent data
loss.
Hard drives are physically fragile – handle with care
Statistics show that 25% of lost data is due to a failure
of a portable drive. (Source: 2001 Cost of Downtime Survey
Results)
Contrary to its seemingly rugged appearance, your hard disk
is a very delicate device that writes and reads data using
microscopic magnetic particles. Any vibration, shock, and
other careless operation may damage your drive and cause or
contribute to the possibility of a failure. This is especially
relevant for notebook users, as they are most at risk of drive
failure due to physical damage, theft, and other causes beyond
their control. That’s why we recommend regular backup
of notebook hard drives, as often as possible.
Possible solutions include external USB or Firewire drives
(although these are prone to the same risks), desktop synchronization,
or backup at a data center through the web.
Hard drives write data in a non-linear way forcing it to
become fragmented.
When files accumulate on your hard drive, they do not just
get written in a linear fashion. A hard drive writes files
in small pieces and scatters them over the surface. The fuller
your hard drive becomes and the more files you save and delete
the worse file fragmentation can be. Hard drive access times
increase with fragmentation since your drive must work harder
to find all the pieces of the files. The more fragmented your
data is, the harder the actuator arm has to work to find each
piece of a file.
A case in point: Disk fragmentation is a common problem for
users of Outlook Express and database software. Each time
outlook saves new mail, it does so in a different physical
location from the previous time. This results in extreme fragmentation,
causing longer hard drive access times and forcing more strain
on the heads. This strain can eventually lead to a head crash,
and often that means a virtually unrecoverable drive.Finally,
in the event of a total crash, a fragmented drive is much
more difficult to recover then a healthy defraged drive.
Luckily, Windows makes it remarkably easy to defrag your
hard drive, simply launch the Disk Defragmenter utility (Start
> Programs > Accessories > System Tools), choose
which disk or partition you’d like to defragment and
set it to work overnight or while you are not actively using
your computer. Defragmentation will speed up your computer
and ensure a longer life for your hard drive.
A very small power surge can fry a hard drive – use
a UPS and turn off your computer when you can
Another little-known fact about the fragility of your hard
drive is its susceptibility to electrical failure. An electrical
failure can be caused by a power surge, lightening strikes,
power brown-outs, incorrect wiring, a faulty or old power
supply, and many other factors. If a power surge enters your
computer, it may do an unpredictable amount of damage, including
destroying your hard drive’s electronics or crashing
the heads and possibly resulting in total data loss.
The best way to protect your computer from such dangers is
to use a highly rated protected power bar or an Uninterruptible
Power Supply (UPS). Although these devices won’t eliminate
the chances of a crash, they will serve as effective protection
in most cases. Also, you can minimize the danger of an electrical
problem and reduce wear of your hard drive by turning off
your computer or using power-save modes whenever possible.
It’s a known fact that 100% of drives fail, the question
is when will it happen and will you be prepared? Make sure
to check out the knowledgebase section of our website for
more detailed information on how electrical power affects
your computer.
Be SMART, monitor the health of your drive to prevent unexpected
crashes
All modern hard drives have a self-monitoring technology
called SMART (Self Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology).
What most people don’t realize is that the majority of
hard drive failures do not have to be unexpected. Most failures
occur as a result of long-term problems which can be predicted.
By regularly monitoring disk health and performance, you can
know about potential hard drive problems before you lose any
of your data.
Several excellent utilities are available, including DiskView
and Stellar SMART for standard IDE and SATA desktop drives.
Also available are tools that monitor the health of SCSI drives
and full RAID Array systems. Ariolic Software offers a great
utility called ActiveSMART.
The only fool-proof way to prevent data loss is... Backup!
If you only take one of the suggestions here to heart, let
it be this one: always back up your important data. After
all the monitoring and all the prevention measures are in
place, one fact still remains: all hard drives fail. Backing
up regularly will ensure that you’re never caught without
your critical data. For individuals, the simplest solutions
include external portable hard drives, dvd’s, and online
storage. For businesses, we recommend renting space at a secure
data centre and implementing a disaster recovery plan, regardless
of the size of your business.
I hope that the above techniques give you some idea of the
importance of hard drive maintenance and provide some insights
in how you can protect yourself from data loss.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Friday, 23 March 2012
How to Configure Router
Cisco Router Configuration Tutorial
Cisco Inter-network Operating System:
Cisco IOS Modes of Operation
The Cisco IOS software provides access to several different command modes. Each command mode provides a different group of related commands.
For security purposes, the Cisco IOS software provides two levels of access to commands: user and privileged. The unprivileged user mode is called user EXEC mode. The privileged mode is called privileged EXEC mode and requires a password. The commands available in user EXEC mode are a subset of the commands available in privileged EXEC mode.
The following table describes some of the most commonly used modes, how to enter the modes, and the resulting prompts. The prompt helps you identify which mode you are in and, therefore, which commands are available to you
Mode of Operation
Usage
How to Enter the Mode
Prompt
User EXEC
Change terminal settings on a temporary basis, perform basic tests, and list system information.
First level accessed.
Router>
Privileged EXEC
System administration, set operating parameters.
From user EXEC mode, enter enable password command
Router#
Global Config
Modify configuration that affect the system as a whole.
From privileged EXEC, enter configure terminal.
Router(config)#
Interface Config
Modify the operation of an interface.
From global mode, enter interface type number.
Router(config-if)#
Setup
Create the initial configuration.
From privileged EXEC mode, enter command setup.
Prompted dialog
User EXEC Mode:
When you are connected to the router, you are started in user EXEC mode. The user EXEC commands are a subset of the privileged EXEC commands.
Privileged EXEC Mode:
Privileged commands include the following:
• Configure – Changes the software configuration.
• Debug – Display process and hardware event messages.
• Setup – Enter configuration information at the prompts.
Enter the command disable to exit from the privileged EXEC mode and return to user EXEC mode.
Configuration Mode
Configuration mode has a set of submodes that you use for modifying interface settings, routing protocol settings, line settings, and so forth. Use caution with configuration mode because all changes you enter take effect immediately.
To enter configuration mode, enter the command configure terminal and exit by pressing Ctrl-Z.
Note:
Almost every configuration command also has a no form. In general, use the no form to disable a feature or function. Use the command without the keyword no to re-enable a disabled feature or to enable a feature that is disabled by default. For example, IP routing is enabled by default. To disable IP routing, enter the no ip routing command and enter ip routing to re-enable it.
Getting Help
In any command mode, you can get a list of available commands by entering a question mark (?).
Router>?
To obtain a list of commands that begin with a particular character sequence, type in those characters followed immediately by the question mark (?).
Router#co?
configure connect copy
To list keywords or arguments, enter a question mark in place of a keyword or argument. Include a space before the question mark.
Router#configure ?
memory Configure from NV memory
network Configure from a TFTP network host
terminal Configure from the terminal
You can also abbreviate commands and keywords by entering just enough characters to make the command unique from other commands. For example, you can abbreviate the show command to sh.
Configuration Files
Any time you make changes to the router configuration, you must save the changes to memory because if you do not they will be lost if there is a system reload or power outage. There are two types of configuration files: the running (current operating) configuration and the startup configuration.
Use the following privileged mode commands to work with configuration files.
• configure terminal – modify the running configuration manually from the terminal.
• show running-config – display the running configuration.
• show startup-config – display the startup configuration.
• copy running-config startup-config – copy the running configuration to the startup configuration.
• copy startup-config running-config – copy the startup configuration to the running configuration.
• erase startup-config – erase the startup-configuration in NVRAM.
• copy tftp running-config – load a configuration file stored on a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server into the running configuration.
• copy running-config tftp – store the running configuration on a TFTP server.
IP Address Configuration
Take the following steps to configure the IP address of an interface.
Step 1: Enter privileged EXEC mode:
Router>enable password
Step 2: Enter the configure terminal command to enter global configuration mode.
Router#config terminal
Step 3: Enter the interface type slot/port (for Cisco 7000 series) or interface type port (for Cisco 2500 series) to enter the interface configuration mode.
Example:
Router (config)#interface ethernet 0/1
Step 4: Enter the IP address and subnet mask of the interface using the ip address ipaddress subnetmask command.
Example,
Router (config-if)#ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
Step 5: Exit the configuration mode by pressing Ctrl-Z
Router(config-if)#[Ctrl-Z]
Routing Protocol Configuration
Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
Step 1: Enter privileged EXEC mode:
Router>enable password
Step 2: Enter the configure terminal command to enter global configuration mode.
Router#config terminal
Step 3: Enter the router rip command
Router(config)#router rip
Step 4: Add the network number to use RIP and repeat this step for all the numbers.
Router(config-router)#network network-number
Example: Router(config-router)#network 192.168.10.0
Note: To turn off RIP, use the no router rip command.
Router(config)#no router rip
Other useful commands
• Specify a RIP Version
By default, the software receives RIP version 1 and version 2 packets, but sends only version 1 packets. To control which RIP version an interface sends, use one of the following commands in interface configuration mode:
Command
Purpose
ip rip send version 1
Configure an interface to send only RIP version 1 packets.
ip rip send version 2
Configure an interface to send only RIP version 2 packets.
ip rip send version 1 2
Configure an interface to send only RIP version 1 and version 2 packets.
To control how packets received from an interface are processed, use one of the following commands:
Command
Purpose
ip rip receive version 1
Configure an interface to accept only RIP version 1 packets.
ip rip receive version 2
Configure an interface to accept only RIP version 2 packets
ip rip receive version 1 2
Configure an interface to accept only RIP version 1 or 2 packets.
• Enable or Disable Split Horizon
Use one of the following commands in interface configuration mode:
Command
Purpose
ip split-horizon
Enable split horizon.
no ip split-horizon
Disable split horizon.
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
Step 1: Enter privileged EXEC mode:
Router>enable password
Step 2: Enter the configure terminal command to enter global configuration mode.
Router#config terminal
Step 3: Enter the router ospf command and follow by the process-id.
Router(config)#router ospf process-id
Pick the process-id which is not being used. To determine what ids are being used, issue the show process command.
Router(config)#show process
Step 4: Add the network number, mask and area-id
Router(config-router)#network network-number mask area area-id
The network-number identifies the network using OSPF. The mask tells which bits to use from the network-number, and the area-id is used for determining areas in an OSPF configuration.
Example:
Router(config-router)#network 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0 area 0.0.0.0
Repeat this step for all the network numbers.
To turn off OSPF, use the following command.
Router(config)#no router ospf process-id
Other useful commands
• Configure OSPF Interface Parameters
You are not required to alter any of these parameters, but some interface parameters must be consistent across all routers in an attached network.
In interface configuration mode, specify any of the following:
Command
Purpose
ip ospf cost cost
Explicitly specify the cost of sending a packet on an OSPF interface.
ip ospf retransmit-interval seconds
Specify the number of seconds between link state advertisement retransmissions for adjacencies belonging to an OSPF interface.
ip ospf transmit-delay seconds
Set the estimated number of seconds it takes to transmit a link state update packet on an OSPF interface.
ip ospf priority number
Set router priority to help determine the OSPF designated router for a network.
ip ospf hello-interval seconds
Specify the length of time, in seconds, between the hello packets that a router sends on an OSPF interface.
ip ospf dead-interval seconds
Set the number of seconds that a router’s hello packets must not have been seen before its neighbors declare the OSPF router down.
ip ospf authentication-key password
Assign a specific password to be used by neighboring OSPF routers on a network segment that is using OSPF’s simple password authentication.
Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)
• Create the IGRP Routing Process
To create the IGRP routing process, use the following required commands starting in global configuration mode.
Step
Command
Purpose
1
router igrp autonomous-system
Enable an IGRP routing process, which place you in router configuration mode.
2
network network-number
Associate networks with an IGRP routing process.
• Disable Holddown
The holddown mechanism is used to help avoid routing loop in the network, but has the effect of increasing the topology convergence time.
To disable holddowns with IGRP, use the following command in router configuration mode. All devices in an IGRP autonomous system must be consistent in their use of holddowns.
Command
Purpose
No metric holddown
Disable the IGRP holddown period.
• Enforce a Maximum Network Diameter
Define a maximum diameter to the IGRP network. Routes whose hop counts exceed this diameter are not advertised. The default maximum diameter is 100 hops. The maximum diameter is 255 hops.
Use the following command in router configuration mode.
Command
Purpose
metric maximum-hops hops
Configure the maximum network diameter.
• To turn off IGRP, use the following command.
Router(config)#no router igrp autonomous-system
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
• Enable BGP Routing
Use the following commands in global configuration mode.
Step
Command
Purpose
1
router bgp autonomous-system
Enable a BGP routing process, which places you in router configuration mode.
2
network network-number [mask network-mask] [route-map route-map-name]
Flag a network as local to this autonomous system and enter it to the BGP table.
• Configure BGP Neighbors
BGP must completely understand the relationships it has with its neighbors.
Command
Purpose
neighbor {ip-address | peer-group-name} remote-as number
Specify a BGP neighbor.
• Reset BGP Connections
Use either of the following commands in EXEC mode to reset BGP connections
Command
Purpose
clear ip bgp address
Reset a particular BGP connection.
clear ip bgp *
Reset all BGP connections.
• To turn off BGP, use the following command.
Router(config)#no router bgp autonomous-system
How to read router/link status
Status of router and links can be easily determined by power LED of router and link LED of each interface (if any). However, you may find a transceiver connected to an AUI port looks like the following:
When this transceiver is correctly connected, the “POWER” LED should light. Similarly, the “LINK” and “POLARITY” LEDs should light when you inserted the cable into the RJ45 socket on the transceiver. (Note that to get this result; the other end of the cable should be connected to some other devices as well.) If these LEDs are not light, you probably have problems with the link (cable).
Cisco Inter-network Operating System:
Cisco IOS Modes of Operation
The Cisco IOS software provides access to several different command modes. Each command mode provides a different group of related commands.
For security purposes, the Cisco IOS software provides two levels of access to commands: user and privileged. The unprivileged user mode is called user EXEC mode. The privileged mode is called privileged EXEC mode and requires a password. The commands available in user EXEC mode are a subset of the commands available in privileged EXEC mode.
The following table describes some of the most commonly used modes, how to enter the modes, and the resulting prompts. The prompt helps you identify which mode you are in and, therefore, which commands are available to you
Mode of Operation
Usage
How to Enter the Mode
Prompt
User EXEC
Change terminal settings on a temporary basis, perform basic tests, and list system information.
First level accessed.
Router>
Privileged EXEC
System administration, set operating parameters.
From user EXEC mode, enter enable password command
Router#
Global Config
Modify configuration that affect the system as a whole.
From privileged EXEC, enter configure terminal.
Router(config)#
Interface Config
Modify the operation of an interface.
From global mode, enter interface type number.
Router(config-if)#
Setup
Create the initial configuration.
From privileged EXEC mode, enter command setup.
Prompted dialog
User EXEC Mode:
When you are connected to the router, you are started in user EXEC mode. The user EXEC commands are a subset of the privileged EXEC commands.
Privileged EXEC Mode:
Privileged commands include the following:
• Configure – Changes the software configuration.
• Debug – Display process and hardware event messages.
• Setup – Enter configuration information at the prompts.
Enter the command disable to exit from the privileged EXEC mode and return to user EXEC mode.
Configuration Mode
Configuration mode has a set of submodes that you use for modifying interface settings, routing protocol settings, line settings, and so forth. Use caution with configuration mode because all changes you enter take effect immediately.
To enter configuration mode, enter the command configure terminal and exit by pressing Ctrl-Z.
Note:
Almost every configuration command also has a no form. In general, use the no form to disable a feature or function. Use the command without the keyword no to re-enable a disabled feature or to enable a feature that is disabled by default. For example, IP routing is enabled by default. To disable IP routing, enter the no ip routing command and enter ip routing to re-enable it.
Getting Help
In any command mode, you can get a list of available commands by entering a question mark (?).
Router>?
To obtain a list of commands that begin with a particular character sequence, type in those characters followed immediately by the question mark (?).
Router#co?
configure connect copy
To list keywords or arguments, enter a question mark in place of a keyword or argument. Include a space before the question mark.
Router#configure ?
memory Configure from NV memory
network Configure from a TFTP network host
terminal Configure from the terminal
You can also abbreviate commands and keywords by entering just enough characters to make the command unique from other commands. For example, you can abbreviate the show command to sh.
Configuration Files
Any time you make changes to the router configuration, you must save the changes to memory because if you do not they will be lost if there is a system reload or power outage. There are two types of configuration files: the running (current operating) configuration and the startup configuration.
Use the following privileged mode commands to work with configuration files.
• configure terminal – modify the running configuration manually from the terminal.
• show running-config – display the running configuration.
• show startup-config – display the startup configuration.
• copy running-config startup-config – copy the running configuration to the startup configuration.
• copy startup-config running-config – copy the startup configuration to the running configuration.
• erase startup-config – erase the startup-configuration in NVRAM.
• copy tftp running-config – load a configuration file stored on a Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP) server into the running configuration.
• copy running-config tftp – store the running configuration on a TFTP server.
IP Address Configuration
Take the following steps to configure the IP address of an interface.
Step 1: Enter privileged EXEC mode:
Router>enable password
Step 2: Enter the configure terminal command to enter global configuration mode.
Router#config terminal
Step 3: Enter the interface type slot/port (for Cisco 7000 series) or interface type port (for Cisco 2500 series) to enter the interface configuration mode.
Example:
Router (config)#interface ethernet 0/1
Step 4: Enter the IP address and subnet mask of the interface using the ip address ipaddress subnetmask command.
Example,
Router (config-if)#ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
Step 5: Exit the configuration mode by pressing Ctrl-Z
Router(config-if)#[Ctrl-Z]
Routing Protocol Configuration
Routing Information Protocol (RIP)
Step 1: Enter privileged EXEC mode:
Router>enable password
Step 2: Enter the configure terminal command to enter global configuration mode.
Router#config terminal
Step 3: Enter the router rip command
Router(config)#router rip
Step 4: Add the network number to use RIP and repeat this step for all the numbers.
Router(config-router)#network network-number
Example: Router(config-router)#network 192.168.10.0
Note: To turn off RIP, use the no router rip command.
Router(config)#no router rip
Other useful commands
• Specify a RIP Version
By default, the software receives RIP version 1 and version 2 packets, but sends only version 1 packets. To control which RIP version an interface sends, use one of the following commands in interface configuration mode:
Command
Purpose
ip rip send version 1
Configure an interface to send only RIP version 1 packets.
ip rip send version 2
Configure an interface to send only RIP version 2 packets.
ip rip send version 1 2
Configure an interface to send only RIP version 1 and version 2 packets.
To control how packets received from an interface are processed, use one of the following commands:
Command
Purpose
ip rip receive version 1
Configure an interface to accept only RIP version 1 packets.
ip rip receive version 2
Configure an interface to accept only RIP version 2 packets
ip rip receive version 1 2
Configure an interface to accept only RIP version 1 or 2 packets.
• Enable or Disable Split Horizon
Use one of the following commands in interface configuration mode:
Command
Purpose
ip split-horizon
Enable split horizon.
no ip split-horizon
Disable split horizon.
Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
Step 1: Enter privileged EXEC mode:
Router>enable password
Step 2: Enter the configure terminal command to enter global configuration mode.
Router#config terminal
Step 3: Enter the router ospf command and follow by the process-id.
Router(config)#router ospf process-id
Pick the process-id which is not being used. To determine what ids are being used, issue the show process command.
Router(config)#show process
Step 4: Add the network number, mask and area-id
Router(config-router)#network network-number mask area area-id
The network-number identifies the network using OSPF. The mask tells which bits to use from the network-number, and the area-id is used for determining areas in an OSPF configuration.
Example:
Router(config-router)#network 192.168.10.0 255.255.255.0 area 0.0.0.0
Repeat this step for all the network numbers.
To turn off OSPF, use the following command.
Router(config)#no router ospf process-id
Other useful commands
• Configure OSPF Interface Parameters
You are not required to alter any of these parameters, but some interface parameters must be consistent across all routers in an attached network.
In interface configuration mode, specify any of the following:
Command
Purpose
ip ospf cost cost
Explicitly specify the cost of sending a packet on an OSPF interface.
ip ospf retransmit-interval seconds
Specify the number of seconds between link state advertisement retransmissions for adjacencies belonging to an OSPF interface.
ip ospf transmit-delay seconds
Set the estimated number of seconds it takes to transmit a link state update packet on an OSPF interface.
ip ospf priority number
Set router priority to help determine the OSPF designated router for a network.
ip ospf hello-interval seconds
Specify the length of time, in seconds, between the hello packets that a router sends on an OSPF interface.
ip ospf dead-interval seconds
Set the number of seconds that a router’s hello packets must not have been seen before its neighbors declare the OSPF router down.
ip ospf authentication-key password
Assign a specific password to be used by neighboring OSPF routers on a network segment that is using OSPF’s simple password authentication.
Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP)
• Create the IGRP Routing Process
To create the IGRP routing process, use the following required commands starting in global configuration mode.
Step
Command
Purpose
1
router igrp autonomous-system
Enable an IGRP routing process, which place you in router configuration mode.
2
network network-number
Associate networks with an IGRP routing process.
• Disable Holddown
The holddown mechanism is used to help avoid routing loop in the network, but has the effect of increasing the topology convergence time.
To disable holddowns with IGRP, use the following command in router configuration mode. All devices in an IGRP autonomous system must be consistent in their use of holddowns.
Command
Purpose
No metric holddown
Disable the IGRP holddown period.
• Enforce a Maximum Network Diameter
Define a maximum diameter to the IGRP network. Routes whose hop counts exceed this diameter are not advertised. The default maximum diameter is 100 hops. The maximum diameter is 255 hops.
Use the following command in router configuration mode.
Command
Purpose
metric maximum-hops hops
Configure the maximum network diameter.
• To turn off IGRP, use the following command.
Router(config)#no router igrp autonomous-system
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
• Enable BGP Routing
Use the following commands in global configuration mode.
Step
Command
Purpose
1
router bgp autonomous-system
Enable a BGP routing process, which places you in router configuration mode.
2
network network-number [mask network-mask] [route-map route-map-name]
Flag a network as local to this autonomous system and enter it to the BGP table.
• Configure BGP Neighbors
BGP must completely understand the relationships it has with its neighbors.
Command
Purpose
neighbor {ip-address | peer-group-name} remote-as number
Specify a BGP neighbor.
• Reset BGP Connections
Use either of the following commands in EXEC mode to reset BGP connections
Command
Purpose
clear ip bgp address
Reset a particular BGP connection.
clear ip bgp *
Reset all BGP connections.
• To turn off BGP, use the following command.
Router(config)#no router bgp autonomous-system
How to read router/link status
Status of router and links can be easily determined by power LED of router and link LED of each interface (if any). However, you may find a transceiver connected to an AUI port looks like the following:
When this transceiver is correctly connected, the “POWER” LED should light. Similarly, the “LINK” and “POLARITY” LEDs should light when you inserted the cable into the RJ45 socket on the transceiver. (Note that to get this result; the other end of the cable should be connected to some other devices as well.) If these LEDs are not light, you probably have problems with the link (cable).
Wireless Router & Security: A Step-By-Step Guide
Setting up a wireless router is easy. Essentially you turn
your cable or DSL modem off and your wireless router on. Then,
you connect the router to the modem with a cable, and turn
the modem back on. You are more or less done. The wireless
network wizard on your computer will pick up the router and,
if your ISP does not have any special requirements, away-you-go,
you are on the Internet.
For ease of setup and configuration, manufacturers ship wireless routers with all security disabled. Therein lies the problem. If you do not take any further steps to secure your router, and a surprising number of people don’t, your network will be wide open to all passersby and strangers. It’s like you’ve hung out a sign, “The door is open. Please come in and help yourself.”
The problem is not that strangers will be able to use your router to access the Internet but that, without further protection, would-be intruders will be able monitor and sniff out information you send and receive on your network. Malicious intruders can even hop on to your internal network; access your hard drives; and, steal, edit, or delete files on your computer.
The good news is that it is relatively easy to secure your wireless router. Here are three basic steps you should take.
1. Password protect the access to your router’s internal configuration
To access your router’s internal setup, open a browser and enter the routers setup URL. The URL will be specified in the manual. The URLs for D-Link and Linksys routers, two major manufacturers of wireless routers, are http://192.168.0.1 and http://192.168.1.1, respectively.
For Linksys routers, leave the user name blank and type “admin” (without the quotes) in the password field and press enter. To change the password, simply click on the Password tab and enter your new password.
For other routers, please consult your manual. Alternately, you can search on the Internet with the term “default login for ”. Don’t be surprised to find quite a number of pages listing default login parameters for many different routers, even uncommon ones.
2. Change the default SSID (Service Set IDentifier)
The SSID is the name of a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). All wireless devices on a WLAN use SSIDs to communicate with each other.
Routers ship with standard default SSIDs. For example, the default SSID for Linksys routers is, not unsurprisingly, “Linksys”. As you can see, if you don’t change the default SSID of your router a would-be intruder armed with a few common SSIDs from major manufacturers will be able to find your wireless network quite easily.
To change the SSID, click on the Wireless tab. Look for an input item labeled SSID. It will be near the top. Enter a new name for network. Don’t use something like “My Network”. Use a name that is be hard to guess.
3. Disable SSID broadcast
Wireless enabled computers use network discovery software to automatically search for nearby SSIDs. Some of the more advanced software will query the SSIDs of nearby networks and even display their names. Therefore, changing the network name only helps partially to secure your network. To prevent your network name from being discovered, you must disable SSID broadcast.
In the same screen that you changed the name of your network, you will see options for SSID broadcast. Choose “Disable SSID” to make your network invisible. Now save all your settings and log out.
Since your wireless network is now invisible, you will have to configure your computers to connect to your wireless network using the new name. On Windows XP, start by clicking on the wireless icon in the Notification Area and proceed from there.
With these three steps, your network now has basic security. However, if you keep sensitive information on your computers, you may want to secure your wireless network even further. For example, you can
- Change the channel your router uses to transmit and receive data on a regularly basis.
- Restrict devices that can connect to the router by filtering out MAC (Media Access Control) addresses.
- Use encryption such as WEP and WPA.
As with most things in life, security is a trade off between cost (time, money, inconvenience) and benefit (ease of use). It is a personal decision you make. However for the majority of home uses, the three basic steps plus WEP/WPA encryption provides reasonably strong security.
Turning on encryption is a two-step process. First you configure your router to use encryption using an encryption key of your choice. And then, you configure your computer to use the encryption key. The actual process of configuring your router for encryption varies from router to router. Please consult the router’s manual.
There are even stronger methods for ensuring security. A strong and robust security method is RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service). Using RADIUS requires additional hardware and software. However, there are companies that offer RADIUS security as a subscription based service. The fees are reasonable and dropping.
Therefore for example, if you run a business on your wireless network, have sensitive data on your computers such as credit card information, and have a number of users who access your network, you should consider using RADIUS. Since the service sector for RADIUS is dynamic and growing, a search on the Internet with terms like “RADIUS subscription” or “RADIUS service” is probably the best way to locate one.
For ease of setup and configuration, manufacturers ship wireless routers with all security disabled. Therein lies the problem. If you do not take any further steps to secure your router, and a surprising number of people don’t, your network will be wide open to all passersby and strangers. It’s like you’ve hung out a sign, “The door is open. Please come in and help yourself.”
The problem is not that strangers will be able to use your router to access the Internet but that, without further protection, would-be intruders will be able monitor and sniff out information you send and receive on your network. Malicious intruders can even hop on to your internal network; access your hard drives; and, steal, edit, or delete files on your computer.
The good news is that it is relatively easy to secure your wireless router. Here are three basic steps you should take.
1. Password protect the access to your router’s internal configuration
To access your router’s internal setup, open a browser and enter the routers setup URL. The URL will be specified in the manual. The URLs for D-Link and Linksys routers, two major manufacturers of wireless routers, are http://192.168.0.1 and http://192.168.1.1, respectively.
For Linksys routers, leave the user name blank and type “admin” (without the quotes) in the password field and press enter. To change the password, simply click on the Password tab and enter your new password.
For other routers, please consult your manual. Alternately, you can search on the Internet with the term “default login for ”. Don’t be surprised to find quite a number of pages listing default login parameters for many different routers, even uncommon ones.
2. Change the default SSID (Service Set IDentifier)
The SSID is the name of a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). All wireless devices on a WLAN use SSIDs to communicate with each other.
Routers ship with standard default SSIDs. For example, the default SSID for Linksys routers is, not unsurprisingly, “Linksys”. As you can see, if you don’t change the default SSID of your router a would-be intruder armed with a few common SSIDs from major manufacturers will be able to find your wireless network quite easily.
To change the SSID, click on the Wireless tab. Look for an input item labeled SSID. It will be near the top. Enter a new name for network. Don’t use something like “My Network”. Use a name that is be hard to guess.
3. Disable SSID broadcast
Wireless enabled computers use network discovery software to automatically search for nearby SSIDs. Some of the more advanced software will query the SSIDs of nearby networks and even display their names. Therefore, changing the network name only helps partially to secure your network. To prevent your network name from being discovered, you must disable SSID broadcast.
In the same screen that you changed the name of your network, you will see options for SSID broadcast. Choose “Disable SSID” to make your network invisible. Now save all your settings and log out.
Since your wireless network is now invisible, you will have to configure your computers to connect to your wireless network using the new name. On Windows XP, start by clicking on the wireless icon in the Notification Area and proceed from there.
With these three steps, your network now has basic security. However, if you keep sensitive information on your computers, you may want to secure your wireless network even further. For example, you can
- Change the channel your router uses to transmit and receive data on a regularly basis.
- Restrict devices that can connect to the router by filtering out MAC (Media Access Control) addresses.
- Use encryption such as WEP and WPA.
As with most things in life, security is a trade off between cost (time, money, inconvenience) and benefit (ease of use). It is a personal decision you make. However for the majority of home uses, the three basic steps plus WEP/WPA encryption provides reasonably strong security.
Turning on encryption is a two-step process. First you configure your router to use encryption using an encryption key of your choice. And then, you configure your computer to use the encryption key. The actual process of configuring your router for encryption varies from router to router. Please consult the router’s manual.
There are even stronger methods for ensuring security. A strong and robust security method is RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial In User Service). Using RADIUS requires additional hardware and software. However, there are companies that offer RADIUS security as a subscription based service. The fees are reasonable and dropping.
Therefore for example, if you run a business on your wireless network, have sensitive data on your computers such as credit card information, and have a number of users who access your network, you should consider using RADIUS. Since the service sector for RADIUS is dynamic and growing, a search on the Internet with terms like “RADIUS subscription” or “RADIUS service” is probably the best way to locate one.
14 Household Ways To Protect Your Computer From Viruses
Computer viruses are deadly. They often spread without any
apparent contact and can be a nuisance, or even worse, fatal
to your computer. Individuals who create these viruses, estimated
at 10-15 new ones a day, are the electronic version of terrorists.
Their goal is to inflict havoc and destruction on as many
people as possible by disabling, stealing, damaging, or destroying
computer and information resources. Often, they have no specific
target in mind, so no one is safe. If you access the internet,
share files or your computer with others, or load anything
from diskettes, CDs, or DVDs onto your computer, you are vulnerable
to viruses.
Fortunately, there are good guys working just as hard as the hackers to develop cures for viruses as quickly as they send them off into cyberspace. And there are many things you can do to keep your computer from catching viruses in the first place.
Defining Viruses:
A virus is a small computer program that can copy and spread itself from one computer to another, with or without the help of the user. However, viruses typically do more than just be fruitful and multiply, which is bad enough in itself because it hogs system resources. Anything else viruses are programmed to do, from displaying annoying messages to destroying files, is called their payload. Often, they cannot deliver their payload until an unsuspecting user does something to make the virus execute its programmed function. This could be as simple as clicking on an innocent looking file attachment with the .exe (executable) extension.
Catching a Virus:
Most viruses are spread through e-mail attachments because it's the easiest way to do it. Although Macintosh, Unix, and Linux systems can catch viruses, hackers are particularly keen on exploiting the security weaknesses in anything Microsoft, particularly Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express. Because of the popularity of this software, hackers get maximum bang for their buck, and they probably get some satisfaction from continually reminding Microsoft that being big doesn't mean you're perfect.
Solution 1: Anti-virus Software
Your first line of defense is to install anti-virus software. To be extra safe, also install firewall software, which is now included in some anti-virus packages. This software can scan all of your drives for viruses and neutralize them. Here are some features to consider when evaluating anti-virus software.
- Compatibility with your operating system - Make sure the software works with your system, particularly if you are using an older operating system like Windows 98.
- Firewall software - If it's not included, find out if it's available. If you must, buy it from another vendor.
- Automatic background protection - This means your software will constantly scan behind the scenes for infections and neutralize them as they appear. This provides some peace of mind.
- Automatic, frequent updates - Because new viruses appear every day, you'll want regular updates. It's even better if they occur automatically when you connect to the internet. If automatic updating isn't included, you'll have to check the vendor's website and download updates yourself. This is vitally important, because you will not be protected from new viruses if your software is out of date.
- Disaster recovery - Software with a recovery utility to help you get your system back to normal after a virus attack is always good to have.
- ICSA certification - The International Computer Security Associatioin has standards for the detection rates of anti-virus software. Make sure your software has the ICSA certification.
- Technical support - It's a good idea to select a package that offers free technical support, either online or through a toll-free number. If you're ever felled by a virus, you may need it. Some anti-virus software vendors are Symantec Corporation (Norton AntiVirus), McAfee Corporation (McAfee VirusScan), Trend Micro Inc. (PC-cillin), and Zone Labs Inc. (Zone Alarm Suite).
Solution 2: The Virus Scan
If you receive a particularly juicy attachment that you're dying to open, save it on your Windows desktop and run your anti-virus software on it first. To do this, click once gently on the file on your desktop ... don't actually open it ... then right click and choose Scan with (Name of Anti-Virus Software) to activate a virus scan.
If it's infected, your anti-virus software may neutralize it, or at least tell you the attachment is too dangerous to open. On the other hand, don't feel guilty if the very thought of saving a potentially damaging file anywhere on your system is enough to quell your eagerness to open it and make you delete it immediately.
Solution 3: Delete first, ask questions later.
When in doubt about the origin of an e-mail, the best thing to do is delete it without previewing or opening it. However, some viruses, such as Klez, propagate by fishing in people's address books and sending themselves from any contact they find to another random contact. You can spread a virus just by having people in your address book, even if you don't actually e-mail them anything. They'll receive it from someone else in your address book, which really makes life confusing. Because of the proliferation of porn on the internet, e-mail viruses often tempt victims by using sexual filenames, such as nudes.exe. Don't fall for it.
Solution 4: Beware of virus hoaxes
E-mails warning you about viruses are almost always hoaxes. You may be tempted to believe them because you typically receive them from well-meaning friends, who received them from friends, etc. These e-mails themselves usually aren't viruses, but some have actually fallen into the hands of hackers who loaded them with viruses and forwarded them merrily on their way as a sick joke.
The proliferation of e-mails about virus hoaxes can become nearly as bad as a real virus. Think about it, if you obey an e-mail that tells you to forward it to everyone in your address book, and they THEY do it, and this goes on long enough, you could bring the internet to its knees. If you ever want to verify a virus warning, your anti-virus vendor may have a list of hoaxes on it website. It's in the business of providing the fixes, so it will know which viruses are real.
Solution 5: Beware of filename extensions
The extension of a filename is the three characters that come after the dot. Windows now defaults to hiding filename extensions, but it isn't a good idea. Just being able to see a suspicious extension and deleting the file before opening it can save you from a virus infection.
To see filename extensions in all your directory listings, on the Windows XP desktop, click Start button | Control Panels | Folder Options | View Tab. Clear the check box for Hide extensions of known file types. Click Apply | OK. System files will still be hidden, but you'll be able to see extensions for all the files you need to be concerned with. Viruses often live on files with these extensions - .vbs, .shs, .pif, .Ink - and they are almost never legitimately used for attachments.
Solution 6: Disable the .shs extension
One dangerous extension you can easily disable is .shs. Windows won't recognize it and will alert you before attempting to open an .shs file. The extension is usually just used for "scrap object" files created in Word and Excell when you highlight text and drag it to the desktop for pasting into other documents. If this isn't something you ever do, or you have Word and Excell 2000 or later, which allow you to have 12 items on the Clipboard, click the Start button | Control Panel | Folder Options | File Types tab. Under Registered file types, scroll down and highlight the SHS extension. Click Delete | Yes | Apply | OK.
Solution 7: Dealing with double extensions
When you turn on your extensions in Windows, you'll be able to detect viruses that piggy-back themselves onto innocent looking files with a double extension, such as happybirthday.doc.exe. NEVER trust a file with a double extension - it goes against Nature.
Solution 8: Beware of unknown .exe files
A virus is a program that must be executed to do its dirty work, so it may have an .exe extension. Unfortunately, this is the same extension used by legitimate program files. So, don't panic if you find files named Word.exe or Excel.exe on your system - they're your Microsoft software. Just don't EVER open any file with an .exe extension if you don't know what the file's purpose is.
Solution 9: Watch out for icons
Viruses in attachment files have been known to assume the shape of familiar looking icons of text or picture files, like the wolf in the hen house. If you recieve an unexpected attachment, don't open it without first running it through your anti-virus software.
Solution 10: Don't download from public newgroups
What better place for a hacker to lurk and stick his virus than in the middle of a crowd? Sooner or later, someone's bound to download it and get the virus going. Don't download files and programs from newsgroups or bulletin boards, or open attachments sent from strangers in chatrooms ("Let's exchange pictures!") without first scanning with your anti-virus software.
Solution 11: Avoid bootleg software
This may seem like a no brainer, but sometimes that tiny price tag on a popular but expensive package can be too good to resist. Resist it! Likewise, be careful about accepting application software from others. You don't know where it's been, and what may have started out as a perfectly clean package could have become infected during installation on someone else's infected computer.
Solution 12: Protect macros in MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
A common type of virus uses macros. Macros are sets of stored commands that users can save as shortcuts to perform long functions in just a few keystrokes. A macro virus may perform such mischief as changing file types from text files or spreadsheets into templates, locking up keyboards, and deleting files. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint come with macro virus protection. To make sure yours is activated, open each application, then click Tools menu | Macro | Security. On the Security Level tab, make sure Medium or High is selected. Clcik OK. If you are already infected with a macro virus, you may find that the steps of this procedure are unavailable becasue the virus has disabled them. In that event, run a virus scan on your system to see if your anti-virus software can kill the virus.
Solution 13: Use passwords
If you share your computer, it's a good idea to assign everyone a password. Passwords should be a combination of letters and numbers no less than eight characters long, and preferably nonsensical. Never write passwords and stick them anywhere near the computer. To assign passwords in Windows XP, click the Start button | Control Panel | User Accounts. Follow the prompts to assign/change passwords.
Solution 14: Update application software
Microsoft constantly issues patches for the security holes in its operating system and applications software. however, don't be lulled into complacency if you have Windows Update automatically checking things for you. Update checks for patches to repair bugs in the operating system, not for security problems.
To get the latest security hotfixes (as Microsoft calls them), visit www.microsoft.com and look for hotfixes for all your Microsoft software, particularly Outlook and Outlook Express.
Microsoft also has a free downloadable package called Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) that scans your system for missing hotfixes. It works with Windows 2000 and XP Home and Professional only. It doesn't support Windows 95, 98, or ME.
To download the MBSA, go to the TechNet section of the Microsoft Website. Be warned that the information is written in techie language, so you may find it daunting.
Last Words:
Now that you know some ways for avoiding and dealing with viruses, let's wrap things up with some solution you've probably heard before but have ignored.
- Back up your files regularly - If a virus crashes your sytem, you'll feel much better if you've got backup copies of all your important files. Make the backup copies on a media that's separate from the computer, such as on diskettes, CDs, or zip disks. Scan them for viruses before you put them away to make sure they aren't infected. If they are, they'll do you no good if you ever have to use them because they will just transmit the virus right back onto your computer.
- Make a boot disk - Create an emergency boot diskette before you have a problem so you can start your computer after a serious security problem To make a boot diskette with Windows XP, put a blank floppy disk in the drive. Open My Computer, then right click the floppy drive. Click Format. Under Format options, click Create an MS-DOS startup disk. Click Start. Keep the disk in a safe place. With luck, you'll never need to use it.
- Turn off you computer - DSL and cable connections that are "always on" may be convenient, but you should always turn off your computer when its not in use. Hackers can't get to a machine that's powered off.
Fortunately, there are good guys working just as hard as the hackers to develop cures for viruses as quickly as they send them off into cyberspace. And there are many things you can do to keep your computer from catching viruses in the first place.
Defining Viruses:
A virus is a small computer program that can copy and spread itself from one computer to another, with or without the help of the user. However, viruses typically do more than just be fruitful and multiply, which is bad enough in itself because it hogs system resources. Anything else viruses are programmed to do, from displaying annoying messages to destroying files, is called their payload. Often, they cannot deliver their payload until an unsuspecting user does something to make the virus execute its programmed function. This could be as simple as clicking on an innocent looking file attachment with the .exe (executable) extension.
Catching a Virus:
Most viruses are spread through e-mail attachments because it's the easiest way to do it. Although Macintosh, Unix, and Linux systems can catch viruses, hackers are particularly keen on exploiting the security weaknesses in anything Microsoft, particularly Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express. Because of the popularity of this software, hackers get maximum bang for their buck, and they probably get some satisfaction from continually reminding Microsoft that being big doesn't mean you're perfect.
Solution 1: Anti-virus Software
Your first line of defense is to install anti-virus software. To be extra safe, also install firewall software, which is now included in some anti-virus packages. This software can scan all of your drives for viruses and neutralize them. Here are some features to consider when evaluating anti-virus software.
- Compatibility with your operating system - Make sure the software works with your system, particularly if you are using an older operating system like Windows 98.
- Firewall software - If it's not included, find out if it's available. If you must, buy it from another vendor.
- Automatic background protection - This means your software will constantly scan behind the scenes for infections and neutralize them as they appear. This provides some peace of mind.
- Automatic, frequent updates - Because new viruses appear every day, you'll want regular updates. It's even better if they occur automatically when you connect to the internet. If automatic updating isn't included, you'll have to check the vendor's website and download updates yourself. This is vitally important, because you will not be protected from new viruses if your software is out of date.
- Disaster recovery - Software with a recovery utility to help you get your system back to normal after a virus attack is always good to have.
- ICSA certification - The International Computer Security Associatioin has standards for the detection rates of anti-virus software. Make sure your software has the ICSA certification.
- Technical support - It's a good idea to select a package that offers free technical support, either online or through a toll-free number. If you're ever felled by a virus, you may need it. Some anti-virus software vendors are Symantec Corporation (Norton AntiVirus), McAfee Corporation (McAfee VirusScan), Trend Micro Inc. (PC-cillin), and Zone Labs Inc. (Zone Alarm Suite).
Solution 2: The Virus Scan
If you receive a particularly juicy attachment that you're dying to open, save it on your Windows desktop and run your anti-virus software on it first. To do this, click once gently on the file on your desktop ... don't actually open it ... then right click and choose Scan with (Name of Anti-Virus Software) to activate a virus scan.
If it's infected, your anti-virus software may neutralize it, or at least tell you the attachment is too dangerous to open. On the other hand, don't feel guilty if the very thought of saving a potentially damaging file anywhere on your system is enough to quell your eagerness to open it and make you delete it immediately.
Solution 3: Delete first, ask questions later.
When in doubt about the origin of an e-mail, the best thing to do is delete it without previewing or opening it. However, some viruses, such as Klez, propagate by fishing in people's address books and sending themselves from any contact they find to another random contact. You can spread a virus just by having people in your address book, even if you don't actually e-mail them anything. They'll receive it from someone else in your address book, which really makes life confusing. Because of the proliferation of porn on the internet, e-mail viruses often tempt victims by using sexual filenames, such as nudes.exe. Don't fall for it.
Solution 4: Beware of virus hoaxes
E-mails warning you about viruses are almost always hoaxes. You may be tempted to believe them because you typically receive them from well-meaning friends, who received them from friends, etc. These e-mails themselves usually aren't viruses, but some have actually fallen into the hands of hackers who loaded them with viruses and forwarded them merrily on their way as a sick joke.
The proliferation of e-mails about virus hoaxes can become nearly as bad as a real virus. Think about it, if you obey an e-mail that tells you to forward it to everyone in your address book, and they THEY do it, and this goes on long enough, you could bring the internet to its knees. If you ever want to verify a virus warning, your anti-virus vendor may have a list of hoaxes on it website. It's in the business of providing the fixes, so it will know which viruses are real.
Solution 5: Beware of filename extensions
The extension of a filename is the three characters that come after the dot. Windows now defaults to hiding filename extensions, but it isn't a good idea. Just being able to see a suspicious extension and deleting the file before opening it can save you from a virus infection.
To see filename extensions in all your directory listings, on the Windows XP desktop, click Start button | Control Panels | Folder Options | View Tab. Clear the check box for Hide extensions of known file types. Click Apply | OK. System files will still be hidden, but you'll be able to see extensions for all the files you need to be concerned with. Viruses often live on files with these extensions - .vbs, .shs, .pif, .Ink - and they are almost never legitimately used for attachments.
Solution 6: Disable the .shs extension
One dangerous extension you can easily disable is .shs. Windows won't recognize it and will alert you before attempting to open an .shs file. The extension is usually just used for "scrap object" files created in Word and Excell when you highlight text and drag it to the desktop for pasting into other documents. If this isn't something you ever do, or you have Word and Excell 2000 or later, which allow you to have 12 items on the Clipboard, click the Start button | Control Panel | Folder Options | File Types tab. Under Registered file types, scroll down and highlight the SHS extension. Click Delete | Yes | Apply | OK.
Solution 7: Dealing with double extensions
When you turn on your extensions in Windows, you'll be able to detect viruses that piggy-back themselves onto innocent looking files with a double extension, such as happybirthday.doc.exe. NEVER trust a file with a double extension - it goes against Nature.
Solution 8: Beware of unknown .exe files
A virus is a program that must be executed to do its dirty work, so it may have an .exe extension. Unfortunately, this is the same extension used by legitimate program files. So, don't panic if you find files named Word.exe or Excel.exe on your system - they're your Microsoft software. Just don't EVER open any file with an .exe extension if you don't know what the file's purpose is.
Solution 9: Watch out for icons
Viruses in attachment files have been known to assume the shape of familiar looking icons of text or picture files, like the wolf in the hen house. If you recieve an unexpected attachment, don't open it without first running it through your anti-virus software.
Solution 10: Don't download from public newgroups
What better place for a hacker to lurk and stick his virus than in the middle of a crowd? Sooner or later, someone's bound to download it and get the virus going. Don't download files and programs from newsgroups or bulletin boards, or open attachments sent from strangers in chatrooms ("Let's exchange pictures!") without first scanning with your anti-virus software.
Solution 11: Avoid bootleg software
This may seem like a no brainer, but sometimes that tiny price tag on a popular but expensive package can be too good to resist. Resist it! Likewise, be careful about accepting application software from others. You don't know where it's been, and what may have started out as a perfectly clean package could have become infected during installation on someone else's infected computer.
Solution 12: Protect macros in MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
A common type of virus uses macros. Macros are sets of stored commands that users can save as shortcuts to perform long functions in just a few keystrokes. A macro virus may perform such mischief as changing file types from text files or spreadsheets into templates, locking up keyboards, and deleting files. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint come with macro virus protection. To make sure yours is activated, open each application, then click Tools menu | Macro | Security. On the Security Level tab, make sure Medium or High is selected. Clcik OK. If you are already infected with a macro virus, you may find that the steps of this procedure are unavailable becasue the virus has disabled them. In that event, run a virus scan on your system to see if your anti-virus software can kill the virus.
Solution 13: Use passwords
If you share your computer, it's a good idea to assign everyone a password. Passwords should be a combination of letters and numbers no less than eight characters long, and preferably nonsensical. Never write passwords and stick them anywhere near the computer. To assign passwords in Windows XP, click the Start button | Control Panel | User Accounts. Follow the prompts to assign/change passwords.
Solution 14: Update application software
Microsoft constantly issues patches for the security holes in its operating system and applications software. however, don't be lulled into complacency if you have Windows Update automatically checking things for you. Update checks for patches to repair bugs in the operating system, not for security problems.
To get the latest security hotfixes (as Microsoft calls them), visit www.microsoft.com and look for hotfixes for all your Microsoft software, particularly Outlook and Outlook Express.
Microsoft also has a free downloadable package called Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) that scans your system for missing hotfixes. It works with Windows 2000 and XP Home and Professional only. It doesn't support Windows 95, 98, or ME.
To download the MBSA, go to the TechNet section of the Microsoft Website. Be warned that the information is written in techie language, so you may find it daunting.
Last Words:
Now that you know some ways for avoiding and dealing with viruses, let's wrap things up with some solution you've probably heard before but have ignored.
- Back up your files regularly - If a virus crashes your sytem, you'll feel much better if you've got backup copies of all your important files. Make the backup copies on a media that's separate from the computer, such as on diskettes, CDs, or zip disks. Scan them for viruses before you put them away to make sure they aren't infected. If they are, they'll do you no good if you ever have to use them because they will just transmit the virus right back onto your computer.
- Make a boot disk - Create an emergency boot diskette before you have a problem so you can start your computer after a serious security problem To make a boot diskette with Windows XP, put a blank floppy disk in the drive. Open My Computer, then right click the floppy drive. Click Format. Under Format options, click Create an MS-DOS startup disk. Click Start. Keep the disk in a safe place. With luck, you'll never need to use it.
- Turn off you computer - DSL and cable connections that are "always on" may be convenient, but you should always turn off your computer when its not in use. Hackers can't get to a machine that's powered off.
Maintain Your PC's Performance With PC Programs
Over time, even the most sophisticated, memory packed computer
can begin to run slow if we don’t do something to prevent
it. The reason why has less to do with how computers are made
and how they age and more to do with the way we use them.
You see, all of the daily tasks that we do on our PC from
running programs to downloading and deleting software can
make our computer sluggish.
To keep this from happening, you need to understand the reasons why your PC is getting slower and do something to keep your PC running at its best. You can do this through regular maintenance and PC performance optimization programs.
Before we discuss all of the things that could be affecting your PC’s performance, let’s talk a little about what symptoms a slow computer can have.
In addition to being excruciatingly slow when it comes to opening programs or finishing tasks, your PC may also experience data loss, unwanted shutdowns, Windows crashing and Windows hang up. All of these can be very annoying to deal with and are a sure sign that you need to optimize your PC and maintain it.
There are many reasons why your PC is getting slower and not performing quite the way it used to. Any one of them may be just the thing that is holding your PC back. In some cases, there is more than one culprit at work. But there are solutions to keep your computer from being affected by these nuisances, and we will talk about what you can do to maintain your PC and keep it running smoothly if it encounters any of these problems.
When you download and use programs on your PC, sometimes they are set up to start running as soon as you turn on your computer. These programs may be running in the background without you even knowing it and they use up precious memory needed for other tasks.
To see if you have any programs running in the background, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time.
A list of all of the currently running programs will appear in a pop up window. You can choose to stop the programs by highlighting the program and clicking “end task.” If you want to keep those programs from starting when you turn on your PC, change the individual settings for each program so that they will not automatically be turned on.
Memory is a computer component that allows it to do all of the various tasks that you require of it. When you start to do a task, a segment of memory is assigned to that task. If you don’t have enough memory and you try to do several tasks at once, you may run out of memory and not be able to perform any tasks properly. In order to optimize and maintain memory, you can use a Memory Optimizer program. This program changes the way that Windows manages memory so that you can use it more efficiently.
Your hard drive is like a huge filing cabinet containing all of the files that you need for your computer to perform properly. When you add programs, files are added to this data base. When you delete data or programs, files are removed. This process results in holes or empty spaces in your filing cabinet.
These holes make it harder for your computer to work because it continuously has to search for information over a larger distance and sometimes search for information that is completely out of order. To combat this, you need to defragment your hard drive. You can do this with your Windows system optimization tools or with a Registry Defrager and Optimizer. These programs eliminate holes and arrange your files in a sensible order.
Just as your PC’s hard drive could be filed improperly, it can also be too full to work at its best. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 2MB to 3MB of space on your hard drive for your PC to function properly. To free up space, simply delete unused programs on the C: drive.
Maintaining your PC’s performance is vital if you want you computer to always complete tasks at its top speed. While Windows has some system tools to help you do this, they do not work on their own. You have to actually go and start the programs to optimize your computer. And they may not be enough. In this case, you may want to opt for optimization software such as PC Programs to help maintain your PC’s performance.
To keep this from happening, you need to understand the reasons why your PC is getting slower and do something to keep your PC running at its best. You can do this through regular maintenance and PC performance optimization programs.
Before we discuss all of the things that could be affecting your PC’s performance, let’s talk a little about what symptoms a slow computer can have.
In addition to being excruciatingly slow when it comes to opening programs or finishing tasks, your PC may also experience data loss, unwanted shutdowns, Windows crashing and Windows hang up. All of these can be very annoying to deal with and are a sure sign that you need to optimize your PC and maintain it.
There are many reasons why your PC is getting slower and not performing quite the way it used to. Any one of them may be just the thing that is holding your PC back. In some cases, there is more than one culprit at work. But there are solutions to keep your computer from being affected by these nuisances, and we will talk about what you can do to maintain your PC and keep it running smoothly if it encounters any of these problems.
When you download and use programs on your PC, sometimes they are set up to start running as soon as you turn on your computer. These programs may be running in the background without you even knowing it and they use up precious memory needed for other tasks.
To see if you have any programs running in the background, press Ctrl + Alt + Delete at the same time.
A list of all of the currently running programs will appear in a pop up window. You can choose to stop the programs by highlighting the program and clicking “end task.” If you want to keep those programs from starting when you turn on your PC, change the individual settings for each program so that they will not automatically be turned on.
Memory is a computer component that allows it to do all of the various tasks that you require of it. When you start to do a task, a segment of memory is assigned to that task. If you don’t have enough memory and you try to do several tasks at once, you may run out of memory and not be able to perform any tasks properly. In order to optimize and maintain memory, you can use a Memory Optimizer program. This program changes the way that Windows manages memory so that you can use it more efficiently.
Your hard drive is like a huge filing cabinet containing all of the files that you need for your computer to perform properly. When you add programs, files are added to this data base. When you delete data or programs, files are removed. This process results in holes or empty spaces in your filing cabinet.
These holes make it harder for your computer to work because it continuously has to search for information over a larger distance and sometimes search for information that is completely out of order. To combat this, you need to defragment your hard drive. You can do this with your Windows system optimization tools or with a Registry Defrager and Optimizer. These programs eliminate holes and arrange your files in a sensible order.
Just as your PC’s hard drive could be filed improperly, it can also be too full to work at its best. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 2MB to 3MB of space on your hard drive for your PC to function properly. To free up space, simply delete unused programs on the C: drive.
Maintaining your PC’s performance is vital if you want you computer to always complete tasks at its top speed. While Windows has some system tools to help you do this, they do not work on their own. You have to actually go and start the programs to optimize your computer. And they may not be enough. In this case, you may want to opt for optimization software such as PC Programs to help maintain your PC’s performance.
Creating Your Own Website - Some Simple Tips
Many people come up with wonderful ideas for websites but before
they ever end up delving into actually making them, they are always
stopped short with the question, "How do I even create my own website?"
The good news is that it's not hard at all to learn how to make your own
website. The important factors are doing it right the first time and
making sure that you solidly cover all the bases so that problems don't
arise in the future.
The first task to tend to if you are serious about making your own website is choosing a domain that will work well for your website. This will be "http://www.yourwebsite.com," and users will type it into their browser address bars to visit your website. This will be the method that the majority of users will use to connect to your site, so picking a clever, memorable, and simple domain is important.
Once you've picked your domain, you'll need to register it using a company of your choice. Register the domain as soon as possible so that you don't run the risk of it being taken while you're in the design process.
Next,
you'll quite literally need to get down to the design and coding aspect
of your website. Many people that aren't familiar with how to make a
website will attempt to design their own without the help of a designer,
and this is okay if the website is simple enough. However, in most
cases, it's best to hire a designer for this part of the process. They
are experienced and well-versed in the field of web design, and they'll
know exactly what to do and what not to do when it comes to your
website.
After your designer has completed the design process, you'll want to look over the site for errors. You might find errors in how the site works, or you could even find error in the wording used on the site. Make sure the website is completely error-free before launching to make a good impression on your users.
After the site is completely ready, you'll need to choose a hosting company for your site. Choose one with a plan that will provide enough space/bandwidth for your site and is also reliable. A hosting company that constantly experiences downtime could be detrimental to your business in the long run.
Lastly, you'll upload to the hosting company's server using an FTP (file transfer protocol) application so that users can visit your website. Make sure to advertise and get the word out about your website to increase traffic and maximize the amount of people that are visiting your website on a daily basis.
Picking a Domain
The first task to tend to if you are serious about making your own website is choosing a domain that will work well for your website. This will be "http://www.yourwebsite.com," and users will type it into their browser address bars to visit your website. This will be the method that the majority of users will use to connect to your site, so picking a clever, memorable, and simple domain is important.
Once you've picked your domain, you'll need to register it using a company of your choice. Register the domain as soon as possible so that you don't run the risk of it being taken while you're in the design process.
Design and Coding
After your designer has completed the design process, you'll want to look over the site for errors. You might find errors in how the site works, or you could even find error in the wording used on the site. Make sure the website is completely error-free before launching to make a good impression on your users.
Hosting and Uploading
After the site is completely ready, you'll need to choose a hosting company for your site. Choose one with a plan that will provide enough space/bandwidth for your site and is also reliable. A hosting company that constantly experiences downtime could be detrimental to your business in the long run.
Lastly, you'll upload to the hosting company's server using an FTP (file transfer protocol) application so that users can visit your website. Make sure to advertise and get the word out about your website to increase traffic and maximize the amount of people that are visiting your website on a daily basis.
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