PCRemiX :: PC Tips, Tricks and Tweaks

Protecting Your Online Account

cathonline — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:55:51 +0000

Nowadays, technology is a part of every aspect of our lives. No matter where you go, a developing country uses an improving technology. We use technology for more than just accessing information. We use it for easy banking, bill paying, filing personal information and sending information to others. It makes our life a lot easier, but at the same time risky.

In order to be safe in using technology we rely on passwords to protect our identities and accounts. One simple "password" is all that it takes to safeguard our personal files against a possible huge headache if it is cracked by a hacker gaining access to it. A weak password is better than no password at all, but still not a good idea. It might deter a hacker for sometimes, but not for too long.

Though we can’t do anything with the hackers, extra security measures can be used to make cracking more difficult. It is by using a complex password. A complex password is critical to online security. It is different from a regular password because it uses more keyboard numbers, symbols and letters. A complex password is a strong password that is much more secure.

In creating a strong complex password you can think of a phrase or a sentence, to use as a clue to your password. Example: " My female cat Meow has 2 blue eyes" Then the password could be MfcMh2be. This is a strong complex password and it won't be as hard to remember since it is connected to a sentence. Mix capital letters with numbers. Adding symbols would make it more complex like **_MfcMh2be_** or –_MfcMh2be_-. Avoid using your name or screen name as your password. The length of the password should be from 10-14 letters and symbols. The more symbols the higher the security strength. Do not use passwords that are dictionary words, names, phone numbers and dates even words that are connected to you like your sports and favorites.

Using different passwords in your different accounts is a big thing. This way if someone tried to crack your password, they won’t have the access in your every account. Do not use shared computers to access your accounts. These include computers that are open to the public like internet cafes, kiosks, schools and libraries.
Laptop computers may be less secure as you use them in different places, so make sure your laptop has strong passwords.

Password protection is very important. Most security experts agree that you should never write down your password boldly and keep the information in an easily accessible area. If you must write down your passwords then write it using initials, clues, or drawings then store the information in a very safe place with your other valuables… do not write anything that would make it an obvious password. Another idea is to develop a code that will jar your memory so you can remember the password. This way the password in code won't make any sense to anyone but you. Always keep your passwords secret and change them ever 30-60 days. Always keep track of your banking accounts and monitor them regularly for changes you did not make.

Article written by Cath author of cathonline.com

Battery Life Testing for Windows 7

David Sterik — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:01:42 +0000

When Microsoft launched Windows Vista in 2006, the operating system received criticism after being released with numerous software bugs and steep hardware requirements. As a result of increased hardware demands to use the operating system, Windows Vista also became notorious for draining laptop battery power.

In an effort to avoid a repeat of the Vista debacle, Microsoft has made claims of comprehensive testing and improved energy efficiency for the latest version of the Windows 7 OS. One way Windows 7 conserves battery life is through a procedure Microsoft calls coalescing. This allows operating system to perform a number of routine tasks that require the CPU and allows a laptop to spend more time in low-power mode.

Initial testing of the Windows 7 battery life results have been good, but not great. According to testing performed by Microsoft, users should expect to see a 10 percent to 20 percent improvement in battery life when watching a DVD on Windows 7 instead of Vista. This translates to an extra 10 – 20 minutes for movies on average.

What does this mean to the average laptop owner? If you decide to make the switch to Windows 7, expect to receive a few extra minutes of run time for your laptop. For most users the improved battery efficiency alone won't warrant a purchase. But if you're considering the purchase of Windows 7 for any of the other updates this enhancement will be a nice bonus.

Whether Microsoft is serious about energy efficiency or if this is mostly a public-relations move has yet to be seen. But by addressing Vistas' blunders, Microsoft has at least shown they can learn from past mistakes. Windows 7 is available in stores October, 22^nd 2009.

This article was written by guest blogger David Sterik. He is a fulltime blogger for 1x793 laptop battery distributor PriorityElectronics.com.

How Safe Is Your Child From The Internet?

slavezero — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:29:33 +0000

I used to own an internet cafe. And some of my customers are kids playing online games and some researching for projects or assignments. Sometimes, I wonder if they are safe using the internet... so I provide some restrictions in sites that they can visit.

Nowadays, Almost each household now has a computer and has access on the Internet and almost every child knows to use the computer. The Internet can be a great place of resources for children. They can employ it to seek school reports, to communicate with professors and, friends and other children, and to play the interactive games. Any child who is enough old to punch in some letters on the keyboard can literally reach the world. But this access can also pose dangers with your children. For example, your 8 years could open a session with a Search Engine and seize the word “Lego”. But with Just a striking missed keystroke, him or she can enter the word “legs”, and is directed towards thousands of Web sites with contents focus on legs - some of which can contain the pornographic material. This is why it is important to realize of what your children see and hear on the Internet, of they meet, and what they divide about themselves online. Just like any exit of safety, it is an good idea of speaking with your children about your concern, benefiting from the resources to protect them from potential dangers, and to keep a narrow eye on their activities.

Web content ‘disturbing children’

Three out of four children have seen images on the internet that disturbed them, an NSPCC poll suggests.

The charity is renewing its call for computer manufacturers and retailers to install security to stop children finding violent or sexual content.

The NSPCC, which polled visitors to its children’s website There4me.com, said it was “alarmed” by the accessibility of potentially disturbing material.

Some 377 of 497 votes cast claimed to have been disturbed by internet images.

One child posted a comment on a There4me message board saying: “I’ve seen violent images I didn’t search for. I was freaked out.”

Another said his eight-year-old sister’s search for “pictures of animals” generated pornography adverts.

The NSPCC wants social networking and video hosting sites to remove offensive material within hours of finding it.

Policy adviser Zoe Hilton said the NSPCC was “alarmed” by how easy it was for children to access “disturbing internet material”.

She said: “Children are just a few clicks away from innocently stumbling across upsetting or even dangerous pictures and films such as adult sex scenes, violent dog fights, people self-harming and children being assaulted.”

‘More effort’

Ms Hilton said that every child should be using a computer with child protection software.

“High-security parental controls installed in their computers would help shield them.

“Currently computer manufacturers and retailers leave it to parents to find and install software that filters out material unsuitable for children. This can be a complicated process for customers.”

The charity wants retailers to ensure the software is installed before selling computers, and also manufacturers to start building such controls into their products.

She added: “Social networking sites must also put more effort and resources into patrolling their sites for harmful and offensive material and ensure their public complaints systems are clearly marked, easy-to-use and child-friendly.

“We would also recommend they give information on their sites about sources of help and advice, such as Childline, for children who have been affected by what they have seen.”

[source]

Define A Word Using Google

slavezero — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:14:36 +0000

Looking for a quick and easy way to define a word? well lucky you... Google has a capability to provide you accurate and extensive definitions and word meanings. It gives definitions and meanings from trusted sources like wikipedia and others.

To easily search fro a meaning or definition just go to Google home page, type "define:" (without the quotes) then the word you want to search. ex. define:megabyte, then hit the Search Button. You'll get a list drawn from various sites. Try it out!

How To Increase Your Printer’s Lifespan

slavezero — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:21:42 +0000

A normal inkjet printer usually last for about 3 to 4 years before it finally retires, but laser printers generally last a few years longer. But no matter what kind of printer you have or how much longer a printer usually lives if you don't take all the necessary maintenance you will end up replacing your printer every month. I have here some few tips that will help you maintain your printer in tip top shape for as long as possible.

Do not force out the paper in case of paper jam. If you force the paper out, that may not only cause damage to your printer but it can also leave bits of torn paper inside which will definitely cause harm later on. To safely remove the paper out, most printers have a hatch at their back that you can easily removed. Once removed, you will be able to gain access on your printers paper wheels there you will see the jammed paper and you can easily get it out without harming your printer.

Turn off your printer when not in use and avoid from shutting it down improperly. This will help your printer to function at an optimum level. Don't turn your printer off if you are in a middle of something. Remember to use the printer’s power button and then remove the plug if need be

Avoid using cheap ink cartridges or cheap toners. Sometimes we are tempted to use either a refilled ink cartridges or compatible cartridges because of their price difference. An original inkjet usually cost at around $30 but a refilled ink normally cost at around $5, Very tempting isn't it? Those refilled and compatible cartridges may have perform the same function as the original but it would not definitely last long and it can also affect the performance of your printer.

The lifespan of your printer depends on durability of the machine, how much you use it and how well you maintain it. I'm not saying that if you properly take care of your printer it will last forever, as we all know printers like any other machines will eventually fail, but if you do it may be it will last as nearly as forever. Take good care of your printer and it will take care of you, for a much longer time. The monthly duty cycle indicates the maximum number of pages the printer is designed to produce. Buying a printer that has a duty cycle that is two to three times your expected print volume will help ensure its longevity as well.

Lifespan of ink cartridges depends on how often you use and how much you print. Light users might replace their ink two or three times a year, while heavier users may go through cartridges every few months. Me, I replaced my cartridge every 3 to 4 months depending on the printing volume. If you let you printer and cartridge unuse for several months it will dry out as well. You can consult your printer manufacturer to know how many pages your printer can print before it will fail.

Take care of your printer and maybe you will be surprised that your printer is growing old with you

Happy Printing

Dress Up Your Firefox with Personas

slavezero — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:12:32 +0000

Is your Firefox browser been looking so boring lately? Wishing that you have a way to make your Firefox more alive without the pain of searching and installing Firefox themes every time you want to change the look of your browser? Well you can jump on your seat now because this is your lucky day.

I have found a very cool Firefox Extension that gives you the opportunity to brighten up your Firefox the easy way! I introduce to you Personas. This awesome extension provides you with a huge selection of skins for your Firefox browser depending on your mood, personality or preference.

Personas eliminates the pain of having to search and install Firefox theme whenever you feel like changing your Firefox look. It got lots of skins to choose from and are separated to different category so you can easily pick the look you want. What more is that you can preview the skin before you use it.

With Personas wide choices of skins you will never run out of styles for your Firefox and your browser will never look blah or boring again.

Personas Website

Visit their Gallery

Download Personas

How To Change Your CMOS Battery

slavezero — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:46:04 +0000

Do you know how a tiny piece of battery that normally cost a few dollars can bring your high-tech PC screeching to a halt? this battery is called CMOS or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor. CMOS is just a little battery located on your motherboard, but this is not your ordinary battery that you can find powering your handheld calculators. The first signs that your battery is failing is that your clock started to run slow and you will notice that your computer keeps forgetting the date and time or your computer is having a problem finding and accessing certain peripherals or your PC refuse to boot, displaying a "CMOS Checksum Error" or "System Configuration Lost" message. When you experince those signs it's time to change your CMOS battery.

Before you jump on replacing your CMOS batter, safety rules first. The inside of a computer is a bad place full of electricity and sharp edges. Make sure that your computer is unplugged from it's power source. Also be careful on the inside of your computer, most computer cases are unfinished metal and has very sharp edges.

Here are the following tools you need to change your CMOS battery

1. a X-point screwdriver
2. an anti-static strap(optional but recommended)
3. a new battery (seems logical)

First, When you remove the old battery from the motherboard, the information that's stored in the CMOS will be lost, so you should write down the BIOS settings.

Unplug all the cables from the back of the computer, if you are not familiar about the ports at the back of your computer you should make a note on where they came from so you can easily put them back when your finished.

Move the computer somewhere where you can work on it with ease.

Remove the cover by locating the screws around the outer edge at the back of your computer. Some computer cases only require you to remove 2 screws on one side then a panel can be removed allowing you access to the computers insides, others you must remove 6 screws and remove the whole case by sliding it to the rear and lifting it off.

Now make sure that you read and understand the safety instructions about static. -- Dangers of a Static Electricity

Look inside and will see a round silver thing that's almost a size of bottle cap. Carefully lift the retaining clip and slide the battery out.

Back to your computer insert the new battery by lifting the clip and sliding the battery in.

Reinstall your case and plug all the cables back (you did remember to label them didn’t you)

Power on your computer and check the bios, If you look carefully you will see a line that says something like "press del for setup" or some other key (F2 or ESC or tab) this will take you to god's house (the BIOS) where you can make lots of changes to the way your machine works.

You will now be presented with a blue screen with a lot of options on it, The one we want is load optimised/default settings.

Exit and save your bios setting, your computer should now reboot.

If every thing went well then your computer will now be up and running.

PCRemiX – Back from the Grave! Part 2

slavezero — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:34:26 +0000

Last April my site has been brought down to exactly 4 days due to hosting issues. Now my site faced another battle but with a different opponent. Someone hacked PCRemiX! but unfortunately for him/her my precious blog was brought to life again.

For the past few months, I’ve been super busy with my work. I didn’t notice that my site was down for 2 1/2 days. Early this afternoon, when I check my traffic counter, I noticed that I have no traffic since Wednesday; that made me think. I know I update my blog a little less than before but I’m pretty sure that I still have lots of daily traffic.

So with a frown face, I started checking everything, First, I checked the database name on my wp-config file and see if there some erroneous changes. When I found no error, next I checked the username and password. There I saw the problem, my username and password have changed. I kept thinking if I did any changes but I can’t recall anything. So with a haunch of being hacked, I immediately change the username and password on my SQL database.

I thought everything was fine as I already access my account. But I was surprised to find out that my site, PCRemiX already has different content, contents that I didn't know where it came from. Luckily for me I have a full backup of my site and I restore full back up of database and files that took almost half of the day. Finally, my site was up again.

After this incident I quickly changed my wordpress and hosting password and perform another full site backup again. Hopefully this will be the last, but even if this happen again I know that I'm prepared. Happy that my site is back online again.

As I always say no one is safe from those kind of people or any tragedy that might happen to your blog. The best way to protect and prevent those things from happening is to make sure that your blog are secure. Backup, Backup and Backup!

How to Display Hidden Files and Folders

slavezero — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:01:59 +0000

This tip is for beginners only and for people that don't know about this tip. I've been ask a lot of times on how they can see files or folders that are hidden. So here is a quick tip on to show those windows hidden files.

By default, windows hides important files to keep them from deleted or modified. Remember not to remove or modify files you don't understand to prevent your computer from being brought to Intensive Care Unit.

Follow the below steps to show hidden files.

Open Control Panel then on click Folder Options

Open Windows Explorer, My Computer or any Windows

Click on tools then Folder Options

Under the View tab, select "Show hidden files and folders" then click OK

You should be able to see your windows hidden folders.

All-time Most Notorious Hackers

slavezero — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:46:36 +0000

While I was browsing on some sites I stumbled on several sites, and saw their article about the most notorious hackers of our time. The post was very interesting so I decided to share it with all of my readers. They have great minds but they really wasted their talents. They are just a few of those great computer minds that instead of doing some helpful deeds, protecting the cyberworld, helping and sharing their knowledge to other people they do some crazy stuffs, not just an ordinary crazy stuff but destructive stuffs.

Here are some of them:

Gary McKinnon

Gary McKinnon, 40, accused of mounting the largest ever hack of United States government computer networks -- including Army, Air Force, Navy and NASA systems -- listens to a reporter's question outside the Bow Magistrates Court in central London Wednesday May 10, 2006. The court has recommended that McKinnon be extradited to the United States to face charges of illegally accessing 97 computers, causing US$700,000 (400,000 pounds; euro 588,000) in damage. British Home Secretary John Reid will make the final decision on extradition but if he approves it, McKinnon will appeal to the High Court, the alleged hacker said.

Kevin Mitnick (Several Convictions in the 1990’s)

For several years he made a career out of hacking into computers, stealing corporate secrets, scrambling phone networks, and breaking into the national defense warning system which caused millions of dollars in losses. He has spent almost six years in prison in solitary confinement for his notorious crimes.

It seems his hacking days are over, however. He is now a computer consultant, author, and public speaker. His story has inspired two Hollywood movies: Takedown and Freedom Downtime.

Adrian Lamo (Convicted in 2004)

Adrian Lamo admitted to various computer crimes directed at companies like Yahoo!, Microsoft, Ameritech, Cingular, AOL Time Warner, Bank of America, Citigroup, McDonald’s and Sun Microsystems, but he is best known his intrusion into “The New York Times” internal computer system. He repeatedly hacked into the system to add his name to confidential databases of expert sources. He also used the paper’s LexisNexis account to conduct research on high-profile subjects.

In 2004, he surrendered to FBI and pleaded guilty to one count of computer crimes against Microsoft, Lexis-Nexis and “The New York Times”. He was sentenced to six months’ detention at his parents’ home plus two years probation, and was ordered to pay roughly $65,000 in restitution.

Lamo is now an award winning journalist and public speaker. He has interviewed personalities like John Ashcroft and Oliver Stone.

Jonathan James (Convicted in 2000)

Jonathan James was the first juvenile, at the age of 16, to be jailed for computer crimes in the United States. His crimes were directed toward NASA and the US Department of Defense.

NASA claimed he downloaded $1.7 million worth of proprietary software. He then admitted to installing a “sniffer” on the Department of Defense’s computer system which allowed him to intercept over three thousand messages passing to and from employees, along with numerous usernames and passwords of other DoD employees. At least ten of the computers he hacked into were military computers

Although he could have served up to ten years in jail, the fact that he was a juvenile reduced his initial sentence to six months in jail and probation until he was 18 (he was also required to write apology letters to NASA and DoD). The judge then reduced the sentence to six months of house arrest and probation until the age of 21. After violating probation he was required to serve the full six months in a federal correctional facility.

Operation Web Snare (2004)

As of 2004, operation Web Snare is the “largest and most successful” law enforcement operation related to online fraud. The operation included more than 150 investigations of Internet-related crimes, including denial-of-service attacks, computer hacking, selling counterfeit software, phishing, and identity theft. More than 870,000 victims lost more than $210 million dollars from such crimes.

Among those convicted were Utah resident Mark Pentrack who offered car parts, aircraft parts, and other items for sale over the Internet, but did not own those items. More than ten people sent Pentrack more than $200,000 for such items. He hired secretaries in five states outside Utah to receive payments from the consumers, used an Australia based e-mail service, and used an “anonymizing” program when conducting online activities. He was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to mail fraud, misuse of a Social Security number, attempted destruction of evidence, and making a false statement in connection with an Internet fraud scheme.

Max Ray Butler (Convicted in 2001)

Also known as Max Vision, Max Ray Butler was a talented computer specialist who ran a computer security company in Silicon Valley. He was also a highly-skilled hacker who went to prison for creating an Internet worm that hacked into systems at McChord Air Force Base, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the Argonne and Brookhaven National Labs, IDSoftware, and an unspecified Defense Department system.

Interestingly, Max was an FBI informant for five years. He supplied to the FBI information about several major cracks and helped track down other computer hackers.

Police arrested Max in March 2000 after he refused to wear a wiretap to a meeting with a friend who was being suspected of cyber-crimes. He was later charged with 15 counts of hacking-related crimes including computer intrusion, possession of stolen passwords and interception of communications. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

His hacking career didn’t end with his prison sentence, though. Recently he was in court facing with charges of wire fraud and identity theft. He faces a possible sentence of 40 years in prison and a $1.5 million fine if convicted.

Nahshon Even-Chaim (Convicted in 1993)

Nahshon Even-Chaim , aka Phoenix, belonged to an elite computer hacking group known as The Realm. He was the first major computer hacker to be convicted in Australia. His targets centered on defense and nuclear weapons research networks. He was so skilled that many of his victims weren’t aware they were victimized until the evidence was presented after the arrests.

Some of his crimes include stealing a password cracking program from NASA, gaining unauthorized access to universities involved in nuclear energy research, tampering with files and crashing the system at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory which controlled the world’s most powerful laser, and many more.

Wire and data taps gave police all the evidence they needed to charge Even-Chaim with 48 offenses, most of which carried a maximum ten year sentence. After negotiations, however, his sentence was reduced to 500 hours of community service and a 12 month suspended jail term.

Vasiliy Gorshikov and Alexey Ivanov (Convicted in 2001)

After a very complex undercover FBI operations, Vasiliy Gorshikov and Alexey Ivanov of Chelyabinsk, Russia were arrested for 20 counts of computer crimes, fraud and conspiracy. They were convicted for stealing approximately 50,000 credit card numbers from U.S. online banks, e-commerce companies and Internet service providers.

Gorshikov was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay $690,000 in restitution charges, while Ivanov received a 3 years and 8 month sentence and restitution charges of $800,000.

Jeanson James Ancheta (Convicted in 2006)

Jeanson James Ancheta of California was charged with 17 counts of conspiracy, fraud and other crimes connected to a 14-month hacking spree that started in June 2004. He pleaded guilty to seizing control of hundreds of thousands of computers and renting the zombie network to people who used it to send out spam. He silently downloaded Spy ware/Ad ware to more than 400,000 infected computers that he controlled. He admitted to gaining for himself and a co-conspirator more than $100,000 in advertising affiliate proceeds.

Among the computers he attacked were some at the Weapons Division of the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, California, and at the U.S. Department of Defense.

Ancheta was sentenced to almost five years in federal prison and ordered to pay approximately $15,000 to the United States federal government for inflicting damage on military computers. He was also forced to return to the government more than $60,000 in cash, a BMW automobile and computer equipment.

See more of them Convicted Notorious of our time

More White-Black-Grey Hat Hackers