Geeks Of America

What Are Computer Cookies?

noreply@blogger.com (Geeks Of America ...) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:03:00 +0000

What are computer cookies?

Cookies are messages that web servers pass to your web browser (ex: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape etc.) when you visit Internet sites. Your browser stores each message in a small file, called cookie.txt. When you request another page from the server, your browser sends the cookie back to the server. These files typically contain information about your visit to the web page, as well as any information you've volunteered, such as your name and interests.

The term "cookie" is an allusion to a Unix program called Fortune Cookie that produces a different message, or fortune, each time it runs.

Examples of computer cookies

Cookies are most commonly used to track web site activity. When you visit some sites, the server gives you a cookie that acts as your identification card. Upon each return visit to that site, your browser passes that cookie back to the server. In this way, a web server can gather information about which web pages are used the most, and which pages are gathering the most repeat hits.

Cookies are also used for online shopping. Online stores often use cookies that record any personal information you enter, as well as any items in your electronic shopping cart, so that you don't need to re-enter this information each time you visit the site.

Servers also use cookies to provide personalized web pages. When you select preferences at a site that uses this option, the server places the information in a cookie. When you return, the server uses the information in the cookie to create a customized page for you.

Security concerns

Only the web site that creates a cookie can read it. Additionally, web servers can use only information that you provide or choices that you make while visiting the web site as content in cookies.

Webmasters have always been able to track access to their sites, but cookies make it easier to do so. In some cases, cookies come not from the site you're visiting, but from advertising companies that manage the banner ads for a set of sites (such as DoubleClick.com). These advertising companies can develop detailed profiles of the people who select ads across their customers' sites.

Accepting a cookie does not give a server access to your computer or any of your personal information (except for any information that you may have purposely given, as with online shopping). Servers can read only cookies that they have set, so other servers do not have access to your information. Also, it is not possible to execute code from a cookie, and not possible to use a cookie to deliver a virus.

Viewing and controlling computer cookies

For privacy reasons, you may wish to view the cookies currently stored in your browser or control which sites you accept cookies from. You may also decide what period of time they may be stored and used. Most modern browsers offer the ability to control cookie settings; to do this, see the appropriate document below, or consult your browser's help files:

Facts and Figures About Data Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Geeks Of America ...) — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:17:00 +0000

25%	of all PC users suffer from data loss each year. (1) 1 in 4 -- Are you willing to risk your business or job with these odds?
7 of 10	small firms that experience a major data loss go out of business within a year (5)
15%	of all laptops are stolen or suffer hard drive failures (1) What if you or your sales people lost their laptop and it had no recent backup?
$61,881	...the average loss due to laptop theft. ⁶
No. 2	...cause of overal PC loss is theft. ⁷
$12 Billion	annual cost of data loss. Can you afford to not back up your data?
96%	of all business workstations are not being backed up (3) While servers are typically backed up, companies rarely back up individual PCs containing valuable data generated by employees every day.
$55 Billion	annual computer virus damages to U.S. businesses (4) Even equipped with the latest antivirus software, viruses continue to pose a serious threat to your most valuable asset.
80%	...of computer crime consists of "inside jobs" by disgruntled employees. ¹
80%	...of surveyed companies admitted financial losses due to computer breeches. ⁶
100%	the failure rate of disks and tape drives -- all drives eventually fail.

(1) Gartner Group; (2) IDC; (3) Contingency Planning & Strategic Research Corp.; (4) TrendMicro; (5) DTI/PriceWaterhouse Coopers, 2004; (6) CSI/FBI Computer Crime and Security Survey; (7) Safeware The Insurance Agency; 5) Gartner Group; (6) CSI/FBI 2002

Cost of Recreating Your Lost Data

According to the National Computer Security Association, without adequate backup it takes:

19 days and $17,000 to recreate just 20 MB of lost sales/marketing data;
21 days and $19,000 to recreate just 20 MB of lost accounting data;
42 days and $98,000 to recreate just 20 MB of lost engineering data.

You can protect all your files automatically offsite with Remote Data Backups for just a few dollars a month. Take our service out for a free 30-Day Trial today.

Troubleshooting Your HP Printer And Other HP Devices

noreply@blogger.com (Geeks Of America ...) — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Windows Vista offers quite a few advantages over XP, but it can also present a few challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is trying to get the system to communicate with your existing hardware devices. For example, if your HP printer functioned error free on XP, you may find that it doesn't work at all on Vista. This could be a very frustrating situation, but there are ways to troubleshoot the problem.

Troubleshooting Your HP Printer

The first thing you want to do is unplug your printer. After unplugging the printer, insert the printer's installation disc into your CD-ROM drive. Be mindful of the fact that the disc should state whether or not the hardware is a certified-Vista device. If so, follow the installation prompts that appear on the display.

After progressing through the setup wizard, turn on your printer and use the USB cable to connect it to the computer when instructed. If all goes well, there will be a successful installation and your printer should work fine. If you do not have a certified-Vista printer or issues of compatibility exist, there will probably be a failed installation.

Using Device Drivers to Create Compatibility

When your hardware and Vista aren't naturally compatible, fixing the problem could be as simple as installing new device drivers. Appropriate drivers can be found by going online and visiting the Hewlett Packard website. Always be sure that your drivers are specific to your operating system and HP printer. If not, the installation will fail and possibly make your system unstable. After locating the drivers you need, download them to your computer, click the file and follow the instructions for installation.

Performing a Manual Installation

If the device drivers do not download as .exe (executable) files, you must perform the installation manually. This is done by launching the "Control Panel" and clicking the "Printer" icon. Select your HP printer from the list and right-click it. Choose "Properties" from the sub-menu and click the "Advanced" tab. In this window, you should notice an area that displays device drivers that may work with the printer. You have option of using the drop-down box to choose from a selection of device drivers, or you can click "New Driver." When you click this button, the "Add New Printer Driver" wizard will launch. Under the "Manufacturer" pane, click "HP." Scroll through the list of available HP printers and select the model you have. From there, simply follow the instructions to allow the system to locate the device drivers you downloaded and install them on your computer.

After installing the device drivers, you will want to test the printer and make sure it works. From the Control Panel, click on "Printers," right-click your HP printer, select "Properties," and click "Print Test Page." If the correct drivers are installed on your computer, the printer should respond accordingly and print out a test page.

Whether it is an HP printer or another device, compatibly issues with Vista usually boil down to the lack of device drivers. In most cases, you simply need to obtain the appropriate drivers from the HP website, install them and receive the same functionality you enjoyed on your XP system.

How To Detect Key-loggers On Your PC

noreply@blogger.com (Geeks Of America ...) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:00:00 +0000

1. Are Key-loggers Harmful To You Or Your PC?

Yes. These programs are dangerous because they can potentially steal sensitive information such as: credit card numbers, bank account information , passwords, etc. Other less harmful key-loggers are used to monitor employee activity.

Some of the more expensive key-loggers are able to record every keystroke made on the monitored system. Some are also able to record other information inside the system and even take screen-shots. This information, when stolen by criminals, can be used for illegal activities such as identity theft. To detect and remove such this kind of software, simply go to step #2.

2. How to Detect Key-logger on your Computer?

If your PC is experiencing sudden slow downs when starting up or shutting down, you may have a key-logger running in stealth mode recording your every move. One of the best and most efficient ways to deal with this type of issue is to download key-logger detection and removal software. This type of software is very effective at finding and cleaning up these threats since that is its' only purpose.

3. What Are Some of the Most Obvious Signs that a PC has Been Infected by Key-loggers or Spy-ware?

Some of the most common symptoms include changing of the Internet explorer homepage ( homepage highjacking), increased number of pop-up ads, severe slowdowns or frequent system crashes. One of the better tools we've found for eradicating this type of error is MacroVirus On-Call Anti-Spyware. With this product you're able to scan your PC for FREE. If no errors are found, you pay nothing. If it does find any errors the cost of the software is a small one-time fee of $30.00.