Posts by admin_name

By admin on Nov 9, 2012 in Geek Stuff | 0 comments

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that provides secure tunnels for data transmission over the Internet. Many users are discovering the full benefits of VPNs. Internet users on a wireless network are exposed to serious threats, from hackers to malicious code and malware. A UK VPN protects users from these threats and provides them with freedom to browse the Internet without being monitored. A user can connect to a UK VPN service from anywhere in the world, as long as they have access to the Internet. It is simple to set up a VPN connection. Frequent access to payment portals and banking interfaces requires the best possible security, which means the user should select a protocol with the highest encryption level. On the other hand, casual Internet usage involving access to non-sensitive websites only requires basic security implementation. Windows 7, XP, and Vista all natively support the Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and the Level 2 Tunneling Protocol with IP Security (L2TP/IPsec). Other protocols may be supported, but require the installation of a specially built and pre-configured VPN client application. Most versions of Windows 98 (running Internet Explorer 5.01) natively support PPTP and L2TP/IPSec. Versions of Windows earlier than Windows 98 do not support these VPN protocols.  Setting up a UK VPN connection on Windows for PPTP and L2TP/IPSec is very easy. There’s no need for additional client software. Setting up PPTP on Windows 7, XP, or Vista The setup for PPTP is essentially the same on all the three Windows versions, although slightly different interfaces are used. Below are the instructions for XP: Browse the menu as follows: Start > Control Panel > Settings > Network Connections, then click ‘Create a New Connection’ under ‘Network Tasks’.  The ‘New Connection’ wizard will be launched. Click ‘Next’. The next selections are: ‘Connect to the network at my workplace’ > ‘Virtual Private Network Connection’ and then ‘Next’. Input the name of the server you wish connect to. This information is provided by the UK VPN service provider upon registration. The connection is now configured. To establish the initial connection, the user may click on the connection shortcut on the desktop. The user can configure connection properties here, such as the...

By admin on Nov 8, 2012 in Computer repair, Geek Stuff | 0 comments

Most of us can’t get through the day without getting on a computer for one reason or another. Some of us make our living sitting behind a computer screen; others simply unwind after a busy day by surfing the web or playing games. While computer are cheaper than ever, and tend to last longer than they did in the past, they are still computers and they are still susceptible to breaking. What Causes a Computer to Break? There are a few things that can happen to a computer that cause them to stop function. First, hardware can burn out and cause problems as it goes through its death rattles. For example, a graphics card (the piece of hardware that handles high end graphics processing) may start to exhibit strange things on the screen. It may be very minor at first, but over time it will get worse until it gets to a point that the card no longer works. The most common issue is often caused by software problems and viruses. These issues can be thrown together into the same generalization because they can be fixed in a similar way. Online computer repair companies are out there to ensure that you have access, sometimes around to clock, to computer technicians that can fix the problems with your computer without having to visit your home. Generally this is done by connecting to your computer and taking control of all the functionality that you are used to. This allows a highly trained professional to go over all of the files and issues that are occurring and work on finding the root issue. Sometimes they need to make a minor fix, other times they will need to spend hours at a time on the computer. Fortunately, in most cases, you won’t need to sit there for the entire time while the computer is worked on. How Do They Access the Computer? Depending on the company you use, you may find that you’ll need to download some specific software which will act as a virtual desktop for your online computer repair technician. They will guide you through the entire process and since you don’t lose the view of your computer screen, you can...

By admin on Nov 5, 2012 in Virus | 0 comments

No matter how advanced and ‘smart’ mobile phones get, you computer will always be your tech home front. And not just because of its sentimental value (the fact that before your Blackberry, iPhone, Android, and tablet, there was the stand alone home computer) but because your PC or laptop is ideal for long hours of work and study, something no phone or tablet can compete with. Ensuring that your computer stays secure is imperative – if you can’t keep it safe from malware you’re risking a lot more than random strands of data. Unfortunately, people tend to take care of their phones but fail to do the same when it comes to computer security, and hence end up losing important data to viruses, Trojans, and spyware such as computer monitoring software and computer and internet monitoring software. Having a well-protected computer system is not as hard as one might think. Here are five simple ways to go about securing your computer from threats. 1.Use Anti-Virus Software. Trying out different versions of various Antiviruses is fine but users should remember that 30 day trials last only as long as they say they would, meaning 30 days. After that they expire and your system is open to attack once more. You need to pull out your wallet and purchase one to avoid this and also need to regularly update the anti-virus so that it does not lag behind when it comes to blocking the latest advancements in viruses. 2.Be Careful of Email. Asides spamming and annoying adware, emails are the main carriers of viruses, bugs, and PC monitoring software. Never open any email attachment that has been sent to you by anonymous persons. If someone from your contact list has sent you something via email attachment be suspicious of opening those as well. Instead, save and run all email attachments through virus checkers before opening them. If nothing comes up yet your suspicion is still aroused, do away with the file and the email and delete them. 3.Use a Firewall.  Many people forego creating a firewall for their computer thinking that installing an Antivirus is sufficient when it comes to protecting them from corruptive programs. This is obviously not the case....

By admin on Oct 31, 2012 in Tech Talk | 0 comments

Anyone who pays attention to technology has noticed a dramatic shift toward smart phones and tablets in recent years, and smart phones have now become the most popular form of computers around. The transformation is staggering, and it has changed the Internet and software. This growth has caused some to proclaim that the PC is dying; according to them, everyone will be using tablets and smart phones in the future. Further, technological developments will focus on this new breed of devices instead of traditional computer hardware. Are these prognosticators correct? – The merits of their argument Smart devices will undoubtedly become more common in coming years, and many people will use tablets instead of PCs for a number of tasks. In addition, these devices are useful for managing information, reading analyses and even creating certain types of content. Further, the prices of the components that make these devices are dropping, and the low costs of future devices will attract an even larger segment of the market. When it comes to consuming media, smart devices have a major advantage over desktops and laptops. – Where the argument falls apart Some activities, however, simply cannot be done on smart devices. No matter how advanced touchscreens and on-screen keyboards become, they cannot match the speed, accuracy and feel of physical keyboards. Those who type documents will continue to use PCs. In addition, touchscreens cannot match the accuracy and reliability of a mouse or track pad. The same components that drive the adoption of smart devices will come to PCs as well. Ultra-thin notebooks are selling well, and touchscreens can easily be installed on a laptop or desktop monitor. – How will PCs change? Many of the advances that come to mobile devices will be available on PCs as well. Notebooks have become considerably smaller in recent years, and PCs will be able to rival the portability of laptops while retaining the power of having a full-fledged computer. The slightly larger footprint of laptops will be used to install longer-lasting batteries. With efficient electrical components, users will likely be able to use their PCs longer than tablets. There have been a number of hybrid devices in recent years that function as laptops with...

By admin on Oct 9, 2012 in Security | 0 comments

It wasn’t until a few years ago that we had to start really worrying about hackers. As the Internet age evolved, numerous individuals started working hard to break into home computers and install harmful viruses and controls. At first, there weren’t many ways consumers could protect themselves from these hackers, but over the years, tech-savvy individuals have learned efficient ways to combat these malicious hackers and their viruses. In order to stop by viruses and hackers dead in their tracks, it’s best to be aware of how to protect your computer from intrusions. Read on to learn four simple ways you can protect your computer from hackers. Update your software on a regular basis I know how annoying it is to have a pop-up message remind you that it’s time to update your computer, but keep in mind, updating your computer is one of the most effective ways to protect your computer from viruses. In fact, there are many new hacking tricks that are created every day, and your computer must be updated on a regular basis to know how to manage these up-and-coming threats. Update your computer whenever your computer reminds you to and make sure an anti-virus program is set to automatically update itself. If you regularly update your computer, the chances of it getting infected will go down significantly. Install anti-virus protections This goes without saying, but then again, it must be emphasized: If you don’t already have anti-virus software installed on your computer, you’re basically asking a virus or hacker to come along and infect your computer. There are a lot of anti-virus programs out there, so it’s best to do some research into the right ones for you and your computer. Don’t worry about the anti-virus programs being too expensive, either. There are a number of free anti-virus programs that are worth a consideration. As I’ve already said, make sure to do your research before you settle on one. Automatically delete strange-looking emails I get hundreds of emails a day and sometimes those emails come from weird email addresses or contain awkward subject lines. If you receive a strange email, don’t even bother to open the email; do yourself and your computer a favor...