Discount Computers

Oh, we all know that we can download a load of free stuff from
the Internet easily. But the best downloads are the ones that
DON’T come with ‘extra’ features like viruses, worms, adwares,
spywares, whathaveyounots. It’s the truth. When you download
something free on the Internet, they sometimes come with some
kind of a program that will either give you a headache or give
your computer a sickness.

You see, downloads are free on the surface. But whenever you
download something from the Internet, they want something in
return, such as our personal information which is sometimes
harmless.

The better way to download things online is to get a download
program to help you download things off the Internet. For
instance, http://www.amazesoft.com provides FlashGet which is a
program that can help you download large files like mp3,
programs, songs, videos off the Internet in an organized way.

And another wonderfully amazing software for downloads is the
GetRight download manager which can be downloaded at
http://www.getright.com. This software not only speeds up the
download process but it also allows you to download different
files from different servers easily and organize it in such a
way that you will be able to find the files that you have
downloaded very easily. You can download multiple files at the
same time without slowing down the speed of download. If the
download is interrupted or connection is severed, you can
continue the download process from where you left off without
having to start the download all over again. GetRight also works
with many different types of Internet browsers, i.e., Internet
Explorer, FireFox, Opera, Mozilla, Netscape, AOL, MSN, etc.
Whenever you download stuff from the Internet using this
software, you can get the download without downloading the
spywares and adwares that comes with some of these downloads.

Not to be left behind, SpeedBit also provides the same kind of
service that GetRight and FlashGet provides, with the speedbit
software that is downloadable at http://www.speedbit.com, you
can download files from the Internet at 500% faster than the
usual speed, broadband or not. The focus on SpeedBit is to make
the technology of Download Accelarator Plis (DAP) more
accessible to anyone in the world. There are tens of millions of
people who are currently using SpeedBit to download stuff from
the Internet. SpeedBit also helps you sift out the adwares and
spywares that comes with most downloadable stuff on the Internet.

Of course, the faster your Internet connection, the faster you
will be able to download programs and files from the Internet.
Hence, it will make a significant difference whether you’re
using a Broadband internet connection or a dial-up. Dial-ups are
definitely much slower than Broadband. If you’re using Broadband
and downloading real media files, it may take anywhere between
15 minutes to 45 minutes. However, if you’re downloading files
from the Internet using dial-up connection, you may have to wait
around 30 minutes to 180 minutes to download one single media
file.

Therefore, if you’re using Broadband and combine with one of
these downloading softwares, you’ll have a far more pleasant
experience than those without such privileges.

About the author:
Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla
lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of
http://your-free-downloads.com on which you will find a longer,
more detailed version of this article.

Introduction

For the most part, computer viruses and Trojans are
characterized by obvious computer malfunctions from blatant
graphical on-screen representations to the computer
automatically accessing the Internet, printing documents or
switching on its video camera without user interaction. Most
virus utility software detects and quarantines approximately 90%
of those currently in distribution. As for Trojans (rogue
programs that allow an unknown third party to access and control
your computer), commercial virus utility software detects and
quarantines approximately 60% of these, while a dedicated Trojan
utility software fares better at approximately 98%.

Although these performance figures may offer a guarded level of
comfort, there is a threat that even the most robust and
efficient virus or Trojan utility commercially available today
cannot protect you from. That threat is known as an instructive
code Trojan, or as those in the cracker underworld call it, a
\”backstop\”.

The instructive code Trojan defies detection because unlike most
viruses and Trojans out there, each instructive code Trojan to
date has been specifically written for its victim and the
targeted information it must access. While over 90% of viruses
and Trojans are variations or replications of others before
them, backstops are unique. Backstops or instructive code
Trojans are created to obtain specific files from a targeted
computer or network without detection. While it is improbable
that the average computer user will encounter a backstop, the
threat is very real to governments and corporate entities that
routinely use or create any form of proprietary, financial or
competitive data.

How it works

The instructive code searches for specific keywords or phrases.

It is delivered to its target as a hidden file attachment
piggybacked to an expected attachment, embedded in the body of
an e-mail, automatically loaded from a webpage the target is
known to frequent, or via external media such as a floppy disk
or CD. In one case, the instructive code was delivered on a
music CD to an employee known to play music on her laptop. Once
she connected her laptop to the network, the instructive code
transferred itself to its target. Once on the target system, the
code resides in a hidden file that cannot be viewed on the
system under regular default settings. The code then searches
all files and folders for occurrences of the specific keywords
or phrases programmed into it. When matches are found, copies of
the data are made, compressed, encrypted and made into a hidden
archive file. After a predetermined time, the code automatically
e-mails the entire file during a routine e-mail session
initiated by the target user. Once sent, the code deletes the
hidden archive and invokes a self-delete procedure to remove
itself, leaving all other files and programs intact. Thus, there
is virtually no trace that the instructive code existed on the
target system.

Users

In an age where information is a prized commodity, instructive
code Trojans are the new digital tool of high level corporate
espionage. From R&D data, confidential financial records to
other information not meant for a wide audience, the backstop
offers a potential key to gain access.

Protection

While there is no direct way to thwart a backstop being placed
on your computer or network, there are measures you can take to
manage the risk. Your first line of defense is a robust firewall
that is properly configured to your system. Proper configuration
is by no means the factory or default settings of your firewall
product. Nor is it configuring your firewall once on
installation and forgetting about it. The configuration of your
firewall has to be reviewed every time hardware and software are
upgraded, replaced or added.

Another security measure is to deploy utility software that
monitors and sounds an alarm when any changes to operating
system registry and configuration files are executed. In
addition, audit trail and network management logging utilities
should be configured to track and alert system operators
whenever files of a specific size are deleted. Windows users
should ensure that hidden files can be viewed by enabling the
“Show All Files” option in the View>Folder Options menu.
Information that is of the utmost secrecy or value should never
reside on a system connected permanently or even temporarily to
the outside world.

Due to the very nature and purpose of instructive code Trojans,
it is unlikely that accurate victim statistics will truly
reflect the real financial impact the backstop will have in the
corporate sector, or on national and international security. As
with any act of espionage, an average of only 3% globally ever
get reported for fear of repercussions of corporate
non-competence and weakened government diplomatic relations.

Copyright © 2005-2006 Dr. Robert Ing, www.drroberting.com

Permission is granted to publish this article electronically or
in print, free of charge, as long as the article appears in its
entirety, full credit is given to the author and a link or
reference to the author\’s webpage www.drroberting.com is
provided.

About the author:
Dr. Robert Ing is a forensic intelligence specialist and has
appeared on North American news networks on the issues of
technology crime, computer security, privacy and identity theft.
For more articles by Dr. Robert Ing please visit www.drroberting.com

Eventually, everyone faces a data disaster. Are you ready?
Unless all of your electronic files are expendable, you should
be making backup copies of your most important data on a regular
basis.

\”Your backup is as important as your data and your time—because
that\’s what it\’s going to cost you if you lose it,\” says Cheryl
Frogley-Rawson, an IT consultant with Helpin\’ Out, a computer
support company for small businesses and individuals. \”Even if
you have hard copies, it\’s going to cost you time to enter the
information again.\”

·Back up regularly, back up often. It is important that you get
into the habit of backing up your files on a regular basis. Just
having things stored on your hard drive is not enough. A
computer crash, a virus, or a hard drive failure can wipe out
everything. Don\’t make this simple mistake! Back up everything
at least once a week. Daily is better. If you use your computer
daily, it is best to back up important files daily and other
data weekly. At the absolute minimum, back up your files
monthly.

·Keep several backup copies. Never back up over a prior backup
copy – keep several copies over time so that you can back up
more than one version if necessary. Remember, a problem that is
backed up will remain a problem when restored!

·Be selective. You don\’t have to do a total system backup. In
fact, why waste your time backing up all those executable
program files when you can easily re-install them from the
original media in case of a problem. Just back up your important
files. Backing up the entire hard drive is time-consuming, not
practical, and should not be done. A backup of specific data
files is the way to go.

·Know what\’s really important. The most important things to copy
are files you create yourself. Be they text documents, e-mail
messages, pictures, or game saves, if you made them, be sure to
keep their current backup handy. Beyond that, it\’s helpful to
back up the configuration settings for any programs you use,
along with critical Windows data such as the registry.

·Organize your folders. Backing up is easy if you set your
folder structure properly. It\’s faster and easier to back up if
all your files and subfolders are in a single folder, rather
than having your documents scattered across the hard drive. The
My Documents folder is a good place to store files on any
Windows computer. When all your personal files are in one place
you are less likely to forget a file when you back up.
Organization can be the key.

·Use backup software to automate your everyday backup tasks. You
don\’t have to copy your files manually. You can accidentally
omit something, or simply make a mistake. A decent backup
program creates the backup of your data reliably and
automatically, and it will notify you in case of any problem,
and will log the backup activity in detail. In addition, there
are a lot more useful features, all usually for a very low
price.

About the author:
Willson Peterson is computer expert and network engineer. He is
the author of including \” tml\">How to backup your computer data\”. He has
website http://www.ebookarticle.com

Copyright 2005 Willson Peterson. This article may be reprinted
if the resource box is left intact.