Discount Computers

Picking the right Keyboard

We probably don’t realize it, but we spend hours upon hours each
day pecking on our keyboard. Since we use our keyboards daily
and for such long periods of time isn’t important to make sure
that you are comfortable. Here are just a few ways to make your
life much more pleasant while using your keyboard.

If your hands and wrists hurt after typing for long periods of
time, you might want to look into buying an ergonomic keyboard.
Ergonomic keyboards are made with your health in mind. They are
designed to support your writs and hands to combat fatigue and
CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome) which can have horrible and
uncomfortable effects on your hands and wrists. Ergonomic
keyboards are usually inexpensive costing less than $100 and
they will definitely make your hands and wrist feel better.

Wireless keyboards are another innovation that is extremely
practical. Many people don’t want to be tied up next to their
keyboard. Since there are plenty of commands for your music
movies and applications on your keyboard, you can use your
keyboard as a kind of remote control. Wireless keyboards also
get rid of the clutter and if you love to type with your
keyboard on your lap, wireless keyboards make it easier than
ever. Most wireless keyboards come with a wireless mouse so you
can finally get rid of all your cords on your desktop.

About the author:

Jay is the web owner of http://www.dsl-in.com DSL, a website that provides
information and resources on DSL, DSL Service, and DSL Service
Providers. You can also visit his website at:
http://www.dsl-service.us DSL Service

If you’re concerned about security on your computer network,
there’s a new word to add to your vocabulary – rootkit. A
rootkit is a set of utilities installed on your computer whose
purpose is to hide what other programs are doing. They’ve been
around for a few years, but they didn’t really hit the security
spotlight until November 2005. That was when researchers
discovered that some CDs from Sony were installing a rootkit on
user computers as part of their DRM (Digital Rights Management)
software. The purpose of the rootkit was to prevent the DRM
software from being detected and uninstalled – but there was an
unintended side effect. The rootkit opened a security hole on
those computers that couldn’t be detected by standard security
software, and left them vulnerable to attacks by malicious
software and hackers.

That’s bad news for users and IT professionals who depend on
virus and spyware detection programs to alert them to an invader
on their networks. Generally, when you’re computer is infected
by spyware or malware , it can be detected by monitoring your
computer activity. You can check the running processes and find
programs that shouldn’t be loaded. You can run a virus or
spyware scanner to find registry keys and files that fit certain
patterns. You can monitor activity coming in over a network.

A rootkit makes all of those defenses worthless by hiding the
keys, files, processes and communications from your computer
operating system. What your computer can’t see, it can’t report
and you can’t fix. The methods used to hide the files and
processes vary and are getting more and more sophisticated. Most
do it by ‘hooking’ into a process that Windows expects to find
running, either by replacing the process files, or by adding
itself into them.

With the rootkit in place, the hacker has a virtual backdoor
into your system. He can read your keystrokes, record passwords,
gather information from your network and change your data and
files. A hacker with access to your system through a rootkit can
reinstall hacking programs, access your accounts and your users’
accounts and wreak general havoc. It’s the ultimate Trojan
backdoor.

Once a rootkit is installed, it’s virtually impossible to detect
and remove. When a virus detection or spyware program runs, they
don’t see the rootkit processes – they see the process that’s
cloaking it. Some may alter their own files with the details and
stats associated with the files that they’re replacing so that
operating systems don’t notice a difference. A sysadmin who is
an expert in network security may be able to detect it by
running system checks from an uninfected machine, but most agree
that once a rootkit has been installed, the only way to be sure
you’ve removed it is to wipe the drive clean and install the
operating system.

Because rootkits don’t install themselves, you can block them by
blocking attempts to penetrate your network. One way to
effectuate this is to install a spyware or malware protection
program to help prevent rootkits from being installed at the
server level or on individual desktops. The key is to practice
excellent network security at all times so that you block the
programs that install rootkits.

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About the author:
This article was prepared exclusively by
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These days, computers are almost as common in households as
telephones. Computers themselves do not cause any threat to
individual security. When connected with networks and the chaos
that is the World Wide Web, computers have become the tools that
identity thieves and hackers use to extrapolate this chaos. In
order to establish computer security, software companies have
created devices to ward off the hazards and hassles of viruses,
spyware, pop-ups and spam.

The first of these creations is anti-virus software. There are
two main companies that offer this software: McAfee and Norton.
These programs work to scan the files on your computer and check
them for attributes that are in viruses or are often linked with
viruses. These traits or attributes are often called virus
definitions and need to be downloaded on a relatively regular
basis. In addition to the files on your computer, files on CDs,
floppy discs and e-mails can and should be filed. There is no
question on this one: anti-virus software is vital to computer
security.

Next on the list is spyware scanning software. Spyware occurs
when certain websites run programs in the back ground of your
computer while gleaning information from it. The information can
be as benign as tracking what type of websites you look at, to
actually acquiring passwords. Regardless of the type of spyware,
it can slow your computer to a crawl and needs to be removed
from your computer. Two popular software options are Spy Sweeper
and Ad-ware.

Last, but certainly not least are pop-up blockers and span
filters. Not only are pop-ups and spam annoying, but these often
contain the spyware scanning software explained above. In
addition, they can slow your computer down incredibly. And when
you are angry at your computer, your computer is not secure!

In addition to these software items, there are a few more tricks
you can use to keep your computer and your information "http://www.computersecurityblog.com">secure. Password
secure everything you can, and when you create the passwords,
don’t make them easy. Do not use your name, your birthday or
your social security number. And, if you are on an unsecured
wireless network, do not check your bank statements. These
networks allow several people on them at one time. Remember,
hackers are smart. You have to be smarter!

About the author:
Sara Chambers is a marketing consultant and an internet content
manager for "http://www.computersecurityblog.com">http://www.computersecurity
blog.com