Computer Software

According to Wikipedia computer software are collections of computer programs and related data that provide instructions for telling the computer what to do and how to do it. Computer software is designed to perform tasks. Some types of softwares include Microsoft Office, Paint, web-browsers and many more. Software is easy to handle and make work easier. Some software make teachers teach helpful by using a specific program to help them grade and keep their plans organize.

Software like Microsoft Word helps create documents that may contain text and graphics. Microsoft Excel creates spread sheets that can perform calculations and can help teachers for grading. Microsoft PowerPoint helps teachers for teaching lesson to students. They are also helpful for business proposals, for presenting. Microsoft Publisher helps create brochures, calendars and many other things. The Anti-Virus is also a software and it help keeps your computer safe.

HTML Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_software

Wireless Networking Precautions

Wireless networking is ant type of computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind. Wireless networking is also known as Wi-Fi. Wireless networking has many advantages. You can work on anything anywhere around the house including outside and will still be connected to the internet. Even though you can connect to the internet when you are outside it also means that even a stranger can connect to it. It is important to protect yourself at home and yourself at public Wi-Fi areas. Users should follow precautions to protect their information from being taken or hackers into by others. Firewall protects your network against cruel transmissions and unwanted request for data.

Some important precautions users should follow are simple and easy to follow. Users should update their anti-virus frequently. Do not let the anti-virus expire. Get a router with firewall because it reduces the chances of getting hack. It is also extremely important to set a password so that no one can connect to your router. The firewall is enabled by default, it is very important not to disabled the firewall. These guidelines are important to follow because users can be spied on the task that is taking place and invade privacy.  

HTML Links:  http://www.itlist.com/security-precautions-for-wireless-internet-users/

http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/internetfilters-whatis.aspx

http://www.internet-filters.net/info.html 

Virus

According to Microsoft.com a virus is a small software program that spreads from one computer to another computer and that interferes with computer operations. A virus can delete – corrupt data on a computer. Emails programs can be the cause of spreading viruses. If a virus comes across your computer it can delete everything on the hard disk. Symptoms of a virus can include the computer slowing down, the computer stops responding, it can crash several times and restart, and many pop-up at once. There are two major types or viruses, Complied virus and interpreted virus. Complied virus executes by the operating system. Interpreted virus executes by an application.

Ways you can prevent a virus is by purchasing an anti-virus. To keep safe you should only load software from its original disk.  Do not open programs you are not familiar. If you receive an e-mail and it seems suspicious it is best that you do not open it. If you insist on downloading anything from the internet, have the program scanned with the anti-virus that is installed on your computer. Most importantly update your anti-virus frequently.

HTML Links: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129972

Strong Password

It is an important to have a strong password when you create an account on the internet. Strong passwords require, including length and characters so that it difficult for others to solve. If you have a strong password you will not have to worry about attackers from invading your privacy, through nothing you put on the internet it consider private.  Strong passwords can prevent loss, exposure, or corruption of important information.

Good passwords are not written down anywhere, no one knows it, is unique, and not used in other systems. Password must have numbers and letters and have at least eight characters. Make sure it is something you can remember. It is also important that you change your password every month. Do not use a password that is found in a dictionary. Do not use your birthday, social security, nickname or name.

HTML Links: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc875814.aspx

Internet Filters and Parental Control

According Microsoft.com internet filters are software tools that can help monitor web content viewed on a particular computer or network. Internet filters are good because they block certain websites and create less of a distraction when you need to get something done. Parental Control software helps concerned parents to prevent their children from being exposed to adult or oriented websites. Internet filters and parental control are the same to a certain degree. Internet filters allows general surfing to take place with exception of the filtered sites. Parental control is when the browser is allowed only to sites that are known.

Internet filters have many methods when it comes to detecting an inappropriate website. Firstly it compare sites, secondly it scans incoming data and lastly blocks the website if it contains undesirable keywords. All public schools, secondary schools and public libraries are to have internet filters if they want to maintain federal funding for computers and internet access. There are countless software you can purchase to block unwanted websites, some are: cyber patrol, net nanny, cyber snoop and spy agent.

HTML Links:  http://www.microsoft.com/security/resources/internetfilters-whatis.aspx

http://www.internet-filters.net/info.html 

Radio Frequency Identification

According to aimglobal.org, radio frequency identifications is technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from an electronic tag. Another definition is a generic term that is used to describe a system that transmits the identity of an object or person wirelessly, using radio waves. For example, let’s say you lose your phone. Radio frequency identifications can help find your phone if you ever lost it. Radio frequency identifications consist of three components: An antenna or coil, transceiver and a transponder (RFTAG). The antenna sends radio signals to activate the tag. When the RFID tag passes through the electronic zone, it detects the activation signals. Then the information is passed to the computer for processing.  

The Purpose for radio frequency identifications is to enable data to be transmitted by a portable device called a tag, which is read by an RFID (Radio Frequency Identifications) reader and processed according to the needs of a particular application. The RFID (Radio Frequency Identifications) tag consists of a microchip. Radio frequency identification is used by thousands of companies. Current potential uses of Radio Frequency Identification: asset tracking, manufacturing, supply chain management, retailing, payment system, security and access control.

HTML Links: http://www.aimglobal.org/technologies/RFID/what_is_rfid.asp 

Digital Image Steganography

Digital Image Steganography is a difficult concept to understand. It is referred to as a way of hiding a message in an image. To make it easier to understand digital image can be described as a data file or image that is stored electronically. Steganography is defined as to cover up tightly. Steganographic transport layer hiding document files, image files, program or protocol. There are programs that allow you to write messages in digital image files. The advantage of steganography is that messages do not attract attention to the viewer. 

Steganography can be said tp protect both messages and communicating parties.

An example og Digital Image Steganography, a sender might want to conceal a document file and they can adjust the color of a pixel to correspond to a letter or subtle to something someone that is not specifically looking for or is not noticeable. Digital Steganography is said to be used by people who are being censored by governments and government agencies by criminals and other reasons. 

HTML Links: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-digital-steganography.htm

Computer Forensics

What is computer forensics? Computer Forensics is considered to be the use of analytical and investigative technique to indentify, collect, examine and preserve evidence and information which is magnetically stored or encoded. The purpose of computer forensics is to provide digital evidence of a specific or general activity. According to ComputerForensicsworld.com, “forensic investigation can be initiated for variety of reason. The most high profile is usually with respect to criminal investigations or civil litigations.” There are two types of data that are collected in computer forensics.

The first is Persistent data, which is data that is stored on a local hard drive and is persevered when the computer is turned off. The second one is volatile data, which is when any data that is stored in memory that can be lost when the computer is turned off. Computer forensics is important to help you understanding of your network. 

HTML LINKS: ComputerForensicsworld.com