Hello!
Today I'm going to review three free applications that could prove useful to you. This blog is intended for anyone that is searching for free, legit software to use on a day-to-day or weekly basis.
=== Thunderbird ===
Do you email a lot? Do you hate going to a website to check your emails? Don't you wish there was an easier way? Well, there is. Thunderbird is a wonderful mail application that is compatible with most mail services. I use Gmail and Thunderbird quickly pulls my mail from the Gmail website so that I don't have to log in every time I want to check my mail. Also, it delivers notifications when a new message comes in. It's possible to never have to check your emails again and simply wait for a notification to pop up. Thunderbird is very easy to use and the organizational features inside the application help with sorting out any email volume you have. Your emails are stored onto your hard drive safely and securely. In the settings options, you can change Thunderbird to update constantly, every fifteen minutes, once an hour, or another range of time. It's very customizable, allows for multiple email addresses (I have four), and I can respond to emails with or without small or large file attachments with ease. Thunderbird can be downloaded at: http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/
=== Google Earth ===
Though this application may prove very useful to some depending on your profession or hobby, it is an all around cool application that deserves its name on the wall. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't. Either way, prepare to be blown away. Google Earth is literally a software replica of our planet (all 197,000,000 square miles of it!). You can browse your neighborhood, look at the nearest large city in a 3-D fashion, or dive underwater and explore the ocean like never before. At the time of this writing, they're out with version 5 (beta) and have some incredible new features in the works. At major historical sites, you can view documentaries and videos that discuss the location you're viewing. There are guided tours available as well. Google Earth doesn't stop there. Are you bored of Earth? We've all been there, and Google Earth has a solution. You can now explore the sky in high definition, or explore our neighbor planet Mars. Both the sky and Mars also have guided tours, endless information about constellations or terrain, and allow you to record your own guided tours. The features on this application are much more extensive, but I'd end up filling out pages of information on it. If you haven't already, go check it out at: earth.google.com (and earth.google.com/mars)
=== OpenOffice.org ===
Would you like to pay $250.00 for some software? How about $550.00? No? Well, here's your answer. OpenOffice.org is a wonderful application that can replace Microsoft Office, which is often viewed as 'way to expensive' to buy. The OpenOffice.org bundle comes with a word processor (Word), spreadsheet (excel), presentation (PowerPoint), database utility (Access), draw utility (Visio), and math equation creator (Equation Editor). If you're use to Microsoft Office, this application may take some getting use to. However, every attempt by the creators has been made to make this an incredible application compared to Microsoft Office. There are features OpenOffice.org has that MS Office does not, and visa-versa. Overall, unless you need something very MS Office specific, OpenOffice.org can save you a few hundred dollars and give you the same results. OpenOffice.org can be downloaded at: www.openoffice.org . At the time of this writing, their website is running a tad slow due to server issues. It'll be fixed soon!
=== Conclusion ===
There's a free alternative for every bit of software out there. As I discover more free useful applications, I'll continue to update you on them. I hope you've found something useful here! If you have, subscribe or add me to your RSS reader.
Thanks for reading,
-Nick
Thursday, March 26, 2009
The Basics of PC Shopping - RAM
Hello!
Today I'm going to tell you about RAM, which is a vital part of every computer. This blog is intended for anyone who is considering buying a computer in the near future or recently bought one and would like to know whether they found a great computer or not.
To start things off, what is RAM? RAM is an acronym and it means Random Access Memory and is typically measured in GB or gigabytes. When a computer is operating, all information currently being worked on is stored in RAM.
Think of it like this: You have a large project due soon and it involves many different sheets of paper, open books for reference, and you're munching on food while you're doing all this. Well, this project will require a lot of desk space. If your desk is 1' x 1' in length and width, you're going to frequently find yourself running out of room. However, if your desk is 5' x 5' you will find that you have adequate space for your papers, books, and food. Think of your available desk space as RAM.
In that sense, you can see how vital RAM is to a computer. If your computer has low RAM, but you're doing multiple tasks at the same time, your computer will have decreased performance because it is constantly switching out information on the RAM.
Two final notes about RAM:
While shopping, you may notice something called DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 used when describing a computers RAM. No, this is not Dance Dance Revolution. These are different types of RAM. They look different, operate differently, and fit into different slots inside of a computer. You can not build a computer that requires DDR2, but substitute it with DDR or DDR3 instead. Don't worry, though. Most computers in today's market have DDR2 and you won't even have to locate and recognize them at all.
RAM also has something called processing speed. This is the speed at which the RAM is capable of dealing with information. This speed is typically measured in megahertz, or MHz. DDR comes in speeds of 100, 133, 166, and 200 MHz. DDR2 comes in speeds of 200, 266, 333, 400, and 533 MHz. Finally, DDR3 comes in speeds of 400, 533, 667, and 800 MHz. In any case, the higher the processing speed and storage space (the GB I mentioned), the better your RAM is.
=== Shopping ===
So, how much RAM do you need? Well, that depends on the OS (Operating System) your computer comes with. If you've managed to find a computer that comes with Windows XP, your required RAM is much lower compared to if you were running Windows Vista or Mac OS X. I'll give you a break down of what OS needs what amount.
=== Windows XP ===
If you're running Windows XP and use your computer in a very generalized form, such as music, internet, and social media messengers (AIM, YIM, MSN, etc.) you could get away with 1 GB of RAM (whether it's DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 won't really matter). If you are constantly multitasking on your computer, and typically have 5 - 10 windows or more open at once, you will want 2 GB of RAM (again, type doesn't matter). For very high end users like intensive audio or video editing, photoshop hobbyists, and high-end gamers, you'll want 3 GB, which is the maximum capacity for Windows XP.
=== Mac OS X ===
Most Macintosh computers come with an appropriate amount of RAM for general use. However, if your requirements include heavy multi-tasking or you work with Aperture, Final Cut, Photoshop, high definition games, Logic, or some other process-heavy application, you can request to get more. The maximum amount of RAM ranges per model of Macintosh, but in today's market you can potentially reach up to 8 GB of RAM on an iMac or MacBook(Pro). If you have a Mac Pro, you can reach up to 32 GB of RAM if necessary. Speak to a Mac Genius and they should be able to tell you how much you need based on what you'll be doing.
=== Windows Vista ===
Although Vista brings many excellent features into the tech world, it is very energy intensive. If you're buying a computer with Windows Vista, make sure it has DDR2 or DDR3 RAM. DDR2 is much more common at the moment, and I doubt you'd even find a computer with Vista and DDR RAM on it. No matter what type of RAM you find, and no matter what you will be doing, you will want at least 2 GB of RAM for Vista. If you're fortunate enough to have a x64-bit version of Vista (should be noted in the computer description sales page or display model) then you practically have no limit for RAM. In this case, if you're an intense computer user, have many windows open at once, or run very intense programs like games and audio and video editors, you will want 3 or 4 GB of RAM. If you have this and still find that you'd like a faster response from Vista, you'll probably need to upgrade something else on your computer. The maximum amount of RAM any general user should need on a Windows Vista computer is 6 GB, but that's rare.
=== Windows 7 ===
At the time of this writing, Windows 7 is in closed beta and no computers are sold with Windows 7 pre-installed. Windows 7 is estimated to release in 2010, but this is a simple estimation. If you happen to have the released beta on a computer, here's a run down of how much RAM you'll want. Windows 7 is not as energy intensive as Windows Vista. A general user can get away with 1 GB of RAM. Moderate users will want 2 or 3 GB of RAM. And finally, high end users will want 4 to 6 GB of RAM.
=== Conclusion ===
In the end, it all depends on what you're doing and how much you're doing at once. If you bought a computer and play minesweeper, you shouldn't concern yourself with details like this. If you want a computer that won't cause you to pull your hair out down the road, I hope this blog has helped you!
Thanks for reading,
-Nick
Today I'm going to tell you about RAM, which is a vital part of every computer. This blog is intended for anyone who is considering buying a computer in the near future or recently bought one and would like to know whether they found a great computer or not.
To start things off, what is RAM? RAM is an acronym and it means Random Access Memory and is typically measured in GB or gigabytes. When a computer is operating, all information currently being worked on is stored in RAM.
Think of it like this: You have a large project due soon and it involves many different sheets of paper, open books for reference, and you're munching on food while you're doing all this. Well, this project will require a lot of desk space. If your desk is 1' x 1' in length and width, you're going to frequently find yourself running out of room. However, if your desk is 5' x 5' you will find that you have adequate space for your papers, books, and food. Think of your available desk space as RAM.
In that sense, you can see how vital RAM is to a computer. If your computer has low RAM, but you're doing multiple tasks at the same time, your computer will have decreased performance because it is constantly switching out information on the RAM.
Two final notes about RAM:
While shopping, you may notice something called DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 used when describing a computers RAM. No, this is not Dance Dance Revolution. These are different types of RAM. They look different, operate differently, and fit into different slots inside of a computer. You can not build a computer that requires DDR2, but substitute it with DDR or DDR3 instead. Don't worry, though. Most computers in today's market have DDR2 and you won't even have to locate and recognize them at all.
RAM also has something called processing speed. This is the speed at which the RAM is capable of dealing with information. This speed is typically measured in megahertz, or MHz. DDR comes in speeds of 100, 133, 166, and 200 MHz. DDR2 comes in speeds of 200, 266, 333, 400, and 533 MHz. Finally, DDR3 comes in speeds of 400, 533, 667, and 800 MHz. In any case, the higher the processing speed and storage space (the GB I mentioned), the better your RAM is.
=== Shopping ===
So, how much RAM do you need? Well, that depends on the OS (Operating System) your computer comes with. If you've managed to find a computer that comes with Windows XP, your required RAM is much lower compared to if you were running Windows Vista or Mac OS X. I'll give you a break down of what OS needs what amount.
=== Windows XP ===
If you're running Windows XP and use your computer in a very generalized form, such as music, internet, and social media messengers (AIM, YIM, MSN, etc.) you could get away with 1 GB of RAM (whether it's DDR, DDR2, or DDR3 won't really matter). If you are constantly multitasking on your computer, and typically have 5 - 10 windows or more open at once, you will want 2 GB of RAM (again, type doesn't matter). For very high end users like intensive audio or video editing, photoshop hobbyists, and high-end gamers, you'll want 3 GB, which is the maximum capacity for Windows XP.
=== Mac OS X ===
Most Macintosh computers come with an appropriate amount of RAM for general use. However, if your requirements include heavy multi-tasking or you work with Aperture, Final Cut, Photoshop, high definition games, Logic, or some other process-heavy application, you can request to get more. The maximum amount of RAM ranges per model of Macintosh, but in today's market you can potentially reach up to 8 GB of RAM on an iMac or MacBook(Pro). If you have a Mac Pro, you can reach up to 32 GB of RAM if necessary. Speak to a Mac Genius and they should be able to tell you how much you need based on what you'll be doing.
=== Windows Vista ===
Although Vista brings many excellent features into the tech world, it is very energy intensive. If you're buying a computer with Windows Vista, make sure it has DDR2 or DDR3 RAM. DDR2 is much more common at the moment, and I doubt you'd even find a computer with Vista and DDR RAM on it. No matter what type of RAM you find, and no matter what you will be doing, you will want at least 2 GB of RAM for Vista. If you're fortunate enough to have a x64-bit version of Vista (should be noted in the computer description sales page or display model) then you practically have no limit for RAM. In this case, if you're an intense computer user, have many windows open at once, or run very intense programs like games and audio and video editors, you will want 3 or 4 GB of RAM. If you have this and still find that you'd like a faster response from Vista, you'll probably need to upgrade something else on your computer. The maximum amount of RAM any general user should need on a Windows Vista computer is 6 GB, but that's rare.
=== Windows 7 ===
At the time of this writing, Windows 7 is in closed beta and no computers are sold with Windows 7 pre-installed. Windows 7 is estimated to release in 2010, but this is a simple estimation. If you happen to have the released beta on a computer, here's a run down of how much RAM you'll want. Windows 7 is not as energy intensive as Windows Vista. A general user can get away with 1 GB of RAM. Moderate users will want 2 or 3 GB of RAM. And finally, high end users will want 4 to 6 GB of RAM.
=== Conclusion ===
In the end, it all depends on what you're doing and how much you're doing at once. If you bought a computer and play minesweeper, you shouldn't concern yourself with details like this. If you want a computer that won't cause you to pull your hair out down the road, I hope this blog has helped you!
Thanks for reading,
-Nick
Monday, March 23, 2009
Windows 7 Review
(Sorry for the delay in blogging! Won't happen again.)
I've recently installed Windows 7 onto my main computer, replacing the frustrating Vista that was there before. Since then, I've been quite the happy camper.
Windows 7 combines the energy efficiency of Windows XP and the gorgeous graphics of Vista into one clean, smooth operating system.
Cool features I've discovered:
- Holding the Windows key + up/down arrow will maximize/minimize/hide/restore the active window.
- Holding the Windows key + left/right arrow will fit the active window to the left/right side of the screen so that it takes up exactly 1/2 of the screen. No more manual stretching of windows!
- Clicking at the top of a window (as though you were going to drag it) then shaking the window with your mouse will minimize all other windows, leaving you with the one you selected.
- There is a button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Click it, and all Windows will be minimized. This is basically a "Show Desktop" button.
- Windows combines the wonderful idea of a quick launch tray and windows tab grouping. What does this mean? Well, on the task bar at the bottom of the screen, you can pin icons to it as though it were the quick launch tray from Vista, XP, etc. But, when you click the icon and the application opens up, the icon is simply outlined and highlighted a bit to show that it's active. There is no longer an entire new tab that pops up at the task bar. Instead, you use those quick launch icons to sort through all open windows of that application.
- System Repair Disc: Unfortunately, Windows is notorious for eventually crashing on the user. There are even problems that prevent Windows from booting into Safe Mode, which is designed to help the user or a technician repair the system. Microsoft saw this and now has a great backup plan. In Windows 7, you can make a "System Repair Disc" for when your computer doesn't start successfully. You can boot off the disc and potentially fix the majority of any problems that might come up without the need for a technician or paid assistance.
There are 100's if not 1000's of new features that I could go over, but these seemed to appeal to me the most as far as usefulness goes.
My overall ratings for Windows 7:
Energy Efficiency:-----------------------****
New Features:----------------------------*****
Task-Management Capabilities:------------*****
Graphics and UI Appeal:------------------*****
Stability:-------------------------------*****
Integration with 3rd Pary Applications:--**** (1)
Speed:-----------------------------------*****
Security:--------------------------------*** (2)
User-Friendliness:-----------------------*****
Simplicity:------------------------------*****
Overall:---------------------------------*****
(1. I can't get Google Chrome to work on W7 yet.)
(2. Windows needs to come with an Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware in m opinion.)
Overall, I'd say this is the best thing since Windows XP. Vista was clearly an unfortunate mistake on Microsoft's part, but I'd say they're actively on their way to making up for it. If you're planning on buying a computer, I'd suggest trying your best to wait until Windows 7 is on all computers. Unfortunately, I don't know how long that will be. It could be a few months or a year or more.
I hope you found this blog useful. If you'd like, feel free to subscribe or add me to your RSS feed reader. If you have questions, comments, suggestions or requests, shoot me an email.
Thanks for reading,
-Nick
I've recently installed Windows 7 onto my main computer, replacing the frustrating Vista that was there before. Since then, I've been quite the happy camper.
Windows 7 combines the energy efficiency of Windows XP and the gorgeous graphics of Vista into one clean, smooth operating system.
Cool features I've discovered:
- Holding the Windows key + up/down arrow will maximize/minimize/hide/restore the active window.
- Holding the Windows key + left/right arrow will fit the active window to the left/right side of the screen so that it takes up exactly 1/2 of the screen. No more manual stretching of windows!
- Clicking at the top of a window (as though you were going to drag it) then shaking the window with your mouse will minimize all other windows, leaving you with the one you selected.
- There is a button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Click it, and all Windows will be minimized. This is basically a "Show Desktop" button.
- Windows combines the wonderful idea of a quick launch tray and windows tab grouping. What does this mean? Well, on the task bar at the bottom of the screen, you can pin icons to it as though it were the quick launch tray from Vista, XP, etc. But, when you click the icon and the application opens up, the icon is simply outlined and highlighted a bit to show that it's active. There is no longer an entire new tab that pops up at the task bar. Instead, you use those quick launch icons to sort through all open windows of that application.
- System Repair Disc: Unfortunately, Windows is notorious for eventually crashing on the user. There are even problems that prevent Windows from booting into Safe Mode, which is designed to help the user or a technician repair the system. Microsoft saw this and now has a great backup plan. In Windows 7, you can make a "System Repair Disc" for when your computer doesn't start successfully. You can boot off the disc and potentially fix the majority of any problems that might come up without the need for a technician or paid assistance.
There are 100's if not 1000's of new features that I could go over, but these seemed to appeal to me the most as far as usefulness goes.
My overall ratings for Windows 7:
Energy Efficiency:-----------------------****
New Features:----------------------------*****
Task-Management Capabilities:------------*****
Graphics and UI Appeal:------------------*****
Stability:-------------------------------*****
Integration with 3rd Pary Applications:--**** (1)
Speed:-----------------------------------*****
Security:--------------------------------*** (2)
User-Friendliness:-----------------------*****
Simplicity:------------------------------*****
Overall:---------------------------------*****
(1. I can't get Google Chrome to work on W7 yet.)
(2. Windows needs to come with an Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware in m opinion.)
Overall, I'd say this is the best thing since Windows XP. Vista was clearly an unfortunate mistake on Microsoft's part, but I'd say they're actively on their way to making up for it. If you're planning on buying a computer, I'd suggest trying your best to wait until Windows 7 is on all computers. Unfortunately, I don't know how long that will be. It could be a few months or a year or more.
I hope you found this blog useful. If you'd like, feel free to subscribe or add me to your RSS feed reader. If you have questions, comments, suggestions or requests, shoot me an email.
Thanks for reading,
-Nick
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Basics of PC Shopping - Processors
This blog is intended for anyone looking to make a smart purchase in the computer world some time soon.
There are five basic things to look out for when buying a computer. A processor, RAM, HD space, warranty and type. Today, we'll talk about the processor.
=== Processor ===
The two main processor manufacturers are Intel and AMD. Intel seems to have more appeal simply because they're the most advertised. In the end, Intel and AMD both put out very powerful chip. So, if you see Intel or AMD, you can be satisfied knowing you have a good brand. Unfortunately, brand isn't everything.
You will want to make sure the computer you're buying has either two or more cores. For Intel, this is called "Core 2 Duo". For AMD, it's typically called either "x2" or "dual core". The processor is like the brain of a computer, and having more is always better.
For processing speed, you'll want 2.0GHz or higher for a desktop. For a laptop, 1.5GHz is reasonable. It is worth nothing that a "Core 2 Duo" that runs at 2.0 GHz could actually run at 4.0 GHz.
Well, that's about it for the basics of a processor! Of course there is much more to learn, but for simple shopping having this knowledge could get you a better deal! There's nothing worse than buying a computer and having it give you performance issues within the first few months.
I hope you've found this blog helpful. Feel free to subscribe or add me to your RSS reader!
Thanks for reading,
- Nick
There are five basic things to look out for when buying a computer. A processor, RAM, HD space, warranty and type. Today, we'll talk about the processor.
=== Processor ===
The two main processor manufacturers are Intel and AMD. Intel seems to have more appeal simply because they're the most advertised. In the end, Intel and AMD both put out very powerful chip. So, if you see Intel or AMD, you can be satisfied knowing you have a good brand. Unfortunately, brand isn't everything.
You will want to make sure the computer you're buying has either two or more cores. For Intel, this is called "Core 2 Duo". For AMD, it's typically called either "x2" or "dual core". The processor is like the brain of a computer, and having more is always better.
For processing speed, you'll want 2.0GHz or higher for a desktop. For a laptop, 1.5GHz is reasonable. It is worth nothing that a "Core 2 Duo" that runs at 2.0 GHz could actually run at 4.0 GHz.
Well, that's about it for the basics of a processor! Of course there is much more to learn, but for simple shopping having this knowledge could get you a better deal! There's nothing worse than buying a computer and having it give you performance issues within the first few months.
I hope you've found this blog helpful. Feel free to subscribe or add me to your RSS reader!
Thanks for reading,
- Nick
The Awesome Prefetch Folder
This blog is intended for Windows users.
Here's a quick tip that can do a number of things. I will tell you about the "prefetch" folder that comes on most Windows computers.
=== Location ===
The "PreFetch" folder is located in the following directory:
C:\Windows\Prefetch
(Note: May be all lower case, all capitalized, or a mix of the two. It's all the same thing)
=== Purpose ===
What does this prefetch folder do, anyways? Well, I'm glad you asked! Simply put, the prefetch folder contains many different processes, tasks, or applications Windows has to run in order to start up. Over time, this folder can get cluttered with pointless stuff that doesn't need to run. Also, a lot of malicious software tries to sneak into this folder. Malicious software can lead to identity theft or a virus! This leads me to what we're going to do with it!
=== What do we do?! ===
We delete the contents! That's right. Go into the Prefetch folder and select all the files and folders INSIDE. Do not delete the actual folder labeled "Prefetch". Now, restart your computer!
Depending on how cluttered it is, deleting the contents may or may not give you drastic improvements. When I do this, I hardly notice a different. However, I recall a six year old computer that booted in about four minutes. After I deleted the contents of the Prefetch folder, this boot time went down to a minute and a half.
There's a lot of debate as to whether or not doing this actually helps a computer. I've noticed nothing but improvement on the computers I've worked on. This is one of thousands of quick "Windows Tips & Tricks" that I know of. I'll be sure to keep blogging about them as they come to mind!
I hope you've found this blog useful or helpful. If you'd like, feel free to subscribe to this blog or add it to your RSS reader!
Thanks for reading!
- Nick
Here's a quick tip that can do a number of things. I will tell you about the "prefetch" folder that comes on most Windows computers.
=== Location ===
The "PreFetch" folder is located in the following directory:
C:\Windows\Prefetch
(Note: May be all lower case, all capitalized, or a mix of the two. It's all the same thing)
=== Purpose ===
What does this prefetch folder do, anyways? Well, I'm glad you asked! Simply put, the prefetch folder contains many different processes, tasks, or applications Windows has to run in order to start up. Over time, this folder can get cluttered with pointless stuff that doesn't need to run. Also, a lot of malicious software tries to sneak into this folder. Malicious software can lead to identity theft or a virus! This leads me to what we're going to do with it!
=== What do we do?! ===
We delete the contents! That's right. Go into the Prefetch folder and select all the files and folders INSIDE. Do not delete the actual folder labeled "Prefetch". Now, restart your computer!
Depending on how cluttered it is, deleting the contents may or may not give you drastic improvements. When I do this, I hardly notice a different. However, I recall a six year old computer that booted in about four minutes. After I deleted the contents of the Prefetch folder, this boot time went down to a minute and a half.
There's a lot of debate as to whether or not doing this actually helps a computer. I've noticed nothing but improvement on the computers I've worked on. This is one of thousands of quick "Windows Tips & Tricks" that I know of. I'll be sure to keep blogging about them as they come to mind!
I hope you've found this blog useful or helpful. If you'd like, feel free to subscribe to this blog or add it to your RSS reader!
Thanks for reading!
- Nick
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Google Seeking!
This blog is intended for anyone with internet access.
Many people are not aware of the act known as seeking. In the professional world, this is called Information Gathering. On a personal level, it has been dubbed 'seeking', and can be done by anyone with access to the internet.
=== Problem ===
Can't seem to find that file you've been scouring the internet for? Do you remember the title, and the type of file it is? Well, I have your answer!
=== Theory ===
Google has much more capabilities than just basic "" commands. If you type a certain bit of easy to remember code, you can narrow down your searches very easily.
=== Solution ===
Open up your internet browser (hopefully not Internet Explorer) and navigate to www.google.com. In the search field, type the following command:
"intitle:index of"
Unlike most examples, I want you to include the quotation marks (" "). This tells Google to ONLY search for sites that have "index of" in the title. "Index of" is basically a VIP back-stage pass to most websites. It doesn't give you all the fluff and pretty graphics and confusing layout. Instead, this gives you the hard-core data of the website. You could find practically anything with this basic command. Let's say we wanted to solve a Rubik's Cube. Type this in:
"intitle:index of" rubik's cube solving pdf
Type it exactly as I've put it. At the time of this writing, the first result is this website, which is exactly what we're looking for. Now, you can click on the pdf and view it. You can even download it to save onto a flash drive for later viewing.
The possibilities with this are endless, but I'll let you experiment and see what you can find. Get creative!
=== A word of caution ===
Some of the websites that come up in this search can lead to malware or virus infiltration. Be cautious of the sites you pick. If you go to a site with a lot of advertising and flashing windows, hit the back button and try another one. Always make sure your Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware are running, because the file you download could also contain something harmful. The individual who put the file on their website may not know about a virus lurking inside their .pdf's (yes, they can hide inside a .pdf).
Best of luck and happy seeking! I hope you have found this blog helpful. If you'd like, feel free to subscribe or add me to your RSS reeder! If you have questions or would like for a specific topic to be covered, please feel free to email me.
Thanks for reading,
- Nick
Many people are not aware of the act known as seeking. In the professional world, this is called Information Gathering. On a personal level, it has been dubbed 'seeking', and can be done by anyone with access to the internet.
=== Problem ===
Can't seem to find that file you've been scouring the internet for? Do you remember the title, and the type of file it is? Well, I have your answer!
=== Theory ===
Google has much more capabilities than just basic "
=== Solution ===
Open up your internet browser (hopefully not Internet Explorer) and navigate to www.google.com. In the search field, type the following command:
"intitle:index of"
Unlike most examples, I want you to include the quotation marks (" "). This tells Google to ONLY search for sites that have "index of" in the title. "Index of" is basically a VIP back-stage pass to most websites. It doesn't give you all the fluff and pretty graphics and confusing layout. Instead, this gives you the hard-core data of the website. You could find practically anything with this basic command. Let's say we wanted to solve a Rubik's Cube. Type this in:
"intitle:index of" rubik's cube solving pdf
Type it exactly as I've put it. At the time of this writing, the first result is this website, which is exactly what we're looking for. Now, you can click on the pdf and view it. You can even download it to save onto a flash drive for later viewing.
The possibilities with this are endless, but I'll let you experiment and see what you can find. Get creative!
=== A word of caution ===
Some of the websites that come up in this search can lead to malware or virus infiltration. Be cautious of the sites you pick. If you go to a site with a lot of advertising and flashing windows, hit the back button and try another one. Always make sure your Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware are running, because the file you download could also contain something harmful. The individual who put the file on their website may not know about a virus lurking inside their .pdf's (yes, they can hide inside a .pdf).
Best of luck and happy seeking! I hope you have found this blog helpful. If you'd like, feel free to subscribe or add me to your RSS reeder! If you have questions or would like for a specific topic to be covered, please feel free to email me.
Thanks for reading,
- Nick
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Notorious XP Anti-Virus 2007/2008/2009
Though this is old news, I still see this virus flooding computers on a regular basis. The deception involved is very well made, which is why it was such a successful virus.
Do you currently have an icon on your desktop saying "XP Anti Virus 2007" (or 2008, 2009, or even 2010)? Well, you're infected with a very common virus. XP Anti Virus is not trying to help you. It is, in fact, hurting your computer and possibly stealing your information. It is NOT an Anti Virus software. Fear not, though. This is not that difficult to remove.
Before we move on to the removal process, here's a quick side note. Viruses like this come in many forms. I'd love to give out a list of all the 'Fake Anti Virus' software out there, but more forms of it are popping up daily. So, here is an easy way to tell if you have a virus or a real Anti Virus program.
Does your program keep pestering you to buy it? Is it a program you do not remember installing? When the program opens, does it tell you to either "Buy" it or "Continue Unprotected Against Viral Harm"? Well, if you still can't tell whether you have a fake or real program, here's an easy way to tell.
The following names are trusted Anti-Virus brands:
- Trend Micro
- Kaspersky
- Norton (AKA Symantec)
- McAfee
- AVG
- Avast!
- BitDefender
- Webroot
- F-Prot (F-Secure)
- Computer Associates (CA) AntiVirus / AntiSpyware
- NOD32
- Sophos
- Panda
These are simply the most common, but are not the only ones. Check out the list on WikiPedia here (Anti-Virus List) and here (Anti-Spyware Review) if you didn't see your program listed here. Also, this a list of the 'Fake Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware' software.
Removal process for each of these differs greatly. In the end, you need legitimate software to protect yourself from the threats of the online world. If you haven't already, either download a free Anti-Virus of some sort from the given list, or go to your nearest electronics store and pick something. You can be confident anything in the stores is safe. This is your identity and personal security we're talking about. Neglecting it could cause damage such as losing important files (or pictures, music, videos) or even financial losses because someone knows your account number and password.
Also, if you currently have legitimate software, open it up and make sure it's up to date and that your subscription hasn't expired. If you have something with a year on it (2006, 2007, etc) then make sure it's the current year. If not, you should look into picking up a fully updated application.
I hope you've found this blog helpful. If you'd like, feel free to subscribe or add to your RSS reader. If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.
Do you currently have an icon on your desktop saying "XP Anti Virus 2007" (or 2008, 2009, or even 2010)? Well, you're infected with a very common virus. XP Anti Virus is not trying to help you. It is, in fact, hurting your computer and possibly stealing your information. It is NOT an Anti Virus software. Fear not, though. This is not that difficult to remove.
Before we move on to the removal process, here's a quick side note. Viruses like this come in many forms. I'd love to give out a list of all the 'Fake Anti Virus' software out there, but more forms of it are popping up daily. So, here is an easy way to tell if you have a virus or a real Anti Virus program.
Does your program keep pestering you to buy it? Is it a program you do not remember installing? When the program opens, does it tell you to either "Buy" it or "Continue Unprotected Against Viral Harm"? Well, if you still can't tell whether you have a fake or real program, here's an easy way to tell.
The following names are trusted Anti-Virus brands:
- Trend Micro
- Kaspersky
- Norton (AKA Symantec)
- McAfee
- AVG
- Avast!
- BitDefender
- Webroot
- F-Prot (F-Secure)
- Computer Associates (CA) AntiVirus / AntiSpyware
- NOD32
- Sophos
- Panda
These are simply the most common, but are not the only ones. Check out the list on WikiPedia here (Anti-Virus List) and here (Anti-Spyware Review) if you didn't see your program listed here. Also, this a list of the 'Fake Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware' software.
Removal process for each of these differs greatly. In the end, you need legitimate software to protect yourself from the threats of the online world. If you haven't already, either download a free Anti-Virus of some sort from the given list, or go to your nearest electronics store and pick something. You can be confident anything in the stores is safe. This is your identity and personal security we're talking about. Neglecting it could cause damage such as losing important files (or pictures, music, videos) or even financial losses because someone knows your account number and password.
Also, if you currently have legitimate software, open it up and make sure it's up to date and that your subscription hasn't expired. If you have something with a year on it (2006, 2007, etc) then make sure it's the current year. If not, you should look into picking up a fully updated application.
I hope you've found this blog helpful. If you'd like, feel free to subscribe or add to your RSS reader. If you have questions, don't hesitate to email me.
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