As soon as I am done with the full review I will post it for you all.
Review of uCertify product 312-38 prepkit
As soon as I am done with the full review I will post it for you all.
PC Clean Up Techniques
This is a guest post by David Ritchie about PC Clean Up techniques.Cleaning up your personal computer to get it running faster may take a little bit of time to really do it properly, but it will save you time by making your computer run more quickly and efficiently overall. There are various techniques you can use to boost the performance of your computer and get the clutter and cob webs out of your hard drive.
Computer clean up techniques vary and you don't have to do them all. Of course, it's recommended to do a major PC clean-up on a regular basis (perhaps two times a year), but a few techniques may suffice to keep your computer running at a decent speed. In particular, you will want to do defragmentation, spyware detection and elimination, and deletion of duplicate files.
Defragmentation of a computer's hard drive helps your computer run more efficiently by organizing the contents contained therein. Before defragmentation, your computer's hard drive likely has pieces and parts of files stored in multiple locations. Whenever you search for the file, your computer has to locate all of the pieces and reconfigure them, which takes time and hard drive resources. Defragmentation is like all the king's men putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. It gets your hard drive put back together in an orderly fashion that makes it more functional and efficient.
Find reputable software to scan for spyware on your computer and help you get rid of the stuff that it finds. Though you may be remarkably cautious about staying away from places where your computer could fall prey to spyware, it still happens from time to time that you'll end up inadvertently installing spyware on your computer. Scanning for spyware will help you protect your privacy while getting rid of software programs that are making your computer run more slowly. Indeed, a computer that is running slowly is a diagnostic sign indicating that there may be spyware present on the PC.
Finally, find software that will detect duplicate files on your hard drive. Duplicate files are just taking up unnecessary space on your computer, bogging it down. Deleting duplicate files can give your computer more wiggle room as far as hard drive resources, which should make your computer run faster.
Using PC clean-up techniques to keep your computer in fine working order is important if you plan to use your computer for a long period of time without replacing it. Cleaning up your PC can help diminish the wear and tear on your computer over time and increase the likelihood that your computer will last for many years.
Computer clean up techniques vary and you don't have to do them all. Of course, it's recommended to do a major PC clean-up on a regular basis (perhaps two times a year), but a few techniques may suffice to keep your computer running at a decent speed. In particular, you will want to do defragmentation, spyware detection and elimination, and deletion of duplicate files.
Defragmentation of a computer's hard drive helps your computer run more efficiently by organizing the contents contained therein. Before defragmentation, your computer's hard drive likely has pieces and parts of files stored in multiple locations. Whenever you search for the file, your computer has to locate all of the pieces and reconfigure them, which takes time and hard drive resources. Defragmentation is like all the king's men putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. It gets your hard drive put back together in an orderly fashion that makes it more functional and efficient.
Find reputable software to scan for spyware on your computer and help you get rid of the stuff that it finds. Though you may be remarkably cautious about staying away from places where your computer could fall prey to spyware, it still happens from time to time that you'll end up inadvertently installing spyware on your computer. Scanning for spyware will help you protect your privacy while getting rid of software programs that are making your computer run more slowly. Indeed, a computer that is running slowly is a diagnostic sign indicating that there may be spyware present on the PC.
Finally, find software that will detect duplicate files on your hard drive. Duplicate files are just taking up unnecessary space on your computer, bogging it down. Deleting duplicate files can give your computer more wiggle room as far as hard drive resources, which should make your computer run faster.
Using PC clean-up techniques to keep your computer in fine working order is important if you plan to use your computer for a long period of time without replacing it. Cleaning up your PC can help diminish the wear and tear on your computer over time and increase the likelihood that your computer will last for many years.
Technology Blog
Difference between DOS Attack and DDOS Attack
When I started my career as Network Engineer I was not much aware of the difference between DOS attack and DDOS attack. It is because in many sources these two terms used to refer the same/ similar type of attacks where both are using same techniques to shut down victim server. Later when I started learning network security, I realized the difference between DOS and DDOS. To learn more about DOS attack follow the link below.
What is Denial Of Service Attack
What is the Difference between DOS Attack and DDOS Attack
Difference between Denial of Service Attack (DOS) and Distributed Denial of Service Attack (DDOS) lies in the number of participants included in the attack. In DOS Attack one computer is participating but in DDOS attack multiple computers are participating the attack. Both are using the same technique to down the victim like sending too much connection requests to the victim and let the victim crash. The concept of botnet lies with DDOS Attack. Each computer participates in the Distributed Denial of Service Attack is called botnet. Botnet can be either an infected computer or an active computer designed to participates the attack.
Both DOS and DDOS attacks are difficult to stop without hurting the functionality of the victim server. It is because unlike other hacking attempts, DDOS attacks do not utilize the source code vulnerability but over-using the resources of the server. In some recent studies it is revealed that no one is using the traditional methods like sending too many packets (layer 3 attack) to down the victim but they learned many advanced techniques to bypass the Firewall protection against Distributed Denial of Service Attack. Some advanced hacking groups possess the knowledge to attack a victim through various network layers using different vectors. They may first start with sending unlimited number of ICMP messages and later turn to UDP , TCP etc. It makes the attack more complex.
So in a nut shell Denial of Service Attack (DOS) uses one computer to attack a server where DDOS uses multiple computers to complete the mission.
What is Denial Of Service Attack
What is the Difference between DOS Attack and DDOS Attack
Difference between Denial of Service Attack (DOS) and Distributed Denial of Service Attack (DDOS) lies in the number of participants included in the attack. In DOS Attack one computer is participating but in DDOS attack multiple computers are participating the attack. Both are using the same technique to down the victim like sending too much connection requests to the victim and let the victim crash. The concept of botnet lies with DDOS Attack. Each computer participates in the Distributed Denial of Service Attack is called botnet. Botnet can be either an infected computer or an active computer designed to participates the attack.
Both DOS and DDOS attacks are difficult to stop without hurting the functionality of the victim server. It is because unlike other hacking attempts, DDOS attacks do not utilize the source code vulnerability but over-using the resources of the server. In some recent studies it is revealed that no one is using the traditional methods like sending too many packets (layer 3 attack) to down the victim but they learned many advanced techniques to bypass the Firewall protection against Distributed Denial of Service Attack. Some advanced hacking groups possess the knowledge to attack a victim through various network layers using different vectors. They may first start with sending unlimited number of ICMP messages and later turn to UDP , TCP etc. It makes the attack more complex.
So in a nut shell Denial of Service Attack (DOS) uses one computer to attack a server where DDOS uses multiple computers to complete the mission.
Further Readings
1. What is TCP Split Handshake Attack
2. What is Smurf attack and How to prevent it
Technology Blog
Network Security: Advanced Persistent Threat and Dell Coupons
This is a guest post by Margot. Unless you live completely off the grid, network security is an issue relevant to us all. From identity theft and computer viruses to major hacks into national security, we are all in need of the most up to date and constantly advancing security measures to protect our lives and businesses. Sure I use a deadbolt on my front door, but a physical home invasion is the least of my worries in comparison to the serious and permanent damage that can be inflicted online. For small businesses, Dell SecureWorks is one way to go, and you could maybe check out deals using Dell coupons to save some money on their new appliances.
Viruses that evade anti-malware exist, making giants like Apple and McAfee, and even Norway’s National Security Agency vulnerable to hackers in 2011 alone. All kinds of stuff can be sabotaged with online security breaches. In central Illinois this year someone remotely turned a water pump on and off, causing the pump to burn out. Sony’s PlayStation network was hacked this year too; 77 million member’s credit cards were compromised. Hackers stole Citigroup credit card numbers resulting in 2.7 million in fraudulent losses. Remember the DroidDream malware episode? Google had to remove around 50 Android apps for being dangerous to
users and their security. And lets be honest, I don’t go a month without getting a notification from my bank that there are new phishing email or fraudulent scams on the prowl.
The more advanced security gets, the smarter hackers get. There is a never-ending battle for the most valuable and prized of commodities: information. It is hard to hate all hackers though, Anonymous and YGN Ethical Hacker Group are heading movements to expose in ways that help rather than hurt. YGN found holes in the Apple and McAfee security measures and alerted them rather than exploiting them in order to protect consumers. When McAfee didn’t take measures to fix the weak spots that YGN pinpointed, YGN went public with the information. Embarrassing yes, but better than an evil virus infecting everyone’s computers. The only solution is staying vigilant. The second anyone thinks they are invincible is right when they
are most vulnerable.
Viruses that evade anti-malware exist, making giants like Apple and McAfee, and even Norway’s National Security Agency vulnerable to hackers in 2011 alone. All kinds of stuff can be sabotaged with online security breaches. In central Illinois this year someone remotely turned a water pump on and off, causing the pump to burn out. Sony’s PlayStation network was hacked this year too; 77 million member’s credit cards were compromised. Hackers stole Citigroup credit card numbers resulting in 2.7 million in fraudulent losses. Remember the DroidDream malware episode? Google had to remove around 50 Android apps for being dangerous to
users and their security. And lets be honest, I don’t go a month without getting a notification from my bank that there are new phishing email or fraudulent scams on the prowl.
The more advanced security gets, the smarter hackers get. There is a never-ending battle for the most valuable and prized of commodities: information. It is hard to hate all hackers though, Anonymous and YGN Ethical Hacker Group are heading movements to expose in ways that help rather than hurt. YGN found holes in the Apple and McAfee security measures and alerted them rather than exploiting them in order to protect consumers. When McAfee didn’t take measures to fix the weak spots that YGN pinpointed, YGN went public with the information. Embarrassing yes, but better than an evil virus infecting everyone’s computers. The only solution is staying vigilant. The second anyone thinks they are invincible is right when they
are most vulnerable.
Technology Blog
How to Make Your Phone Hacker-Proof
This is guest post by Amanda Tradwick about making your phone hacker free. Smart phones have become like small laptops for many of us: We use them to store pictures and videos, to access our online accounts, and to keep other personal data such as passwords and financial information. Unfortunately, storing so much personal data on our phones makes them bigger targets for hackers trying to steal that data. Just as you would for your home computer, there are steps you must take to secure your phone and protect your information. Here are a few things you can do to make your smart phone more secure:
Use a Strong Password
The first line of defense for your phone is to restrict access to it by setting a strong password. You can set a password to enable the phone, one to access voicemail, and one to access e-mail or other apps. When you create your password, be sure to use a phrase instead of a simple word, a combination of letters and numbers (or other special characters), and upper- and lower-case letters. Do not use a series of sequential or repeating numbers, common personal information such as birth dates or addresses, or simple words that can be found in the dictionary.
Turn of Apps and Features Your Aren’t Using
One common technique that hackers have used to gain access to cell-phone data is to use Wi-Fi connection spots to access open applications that use GPS and link to your phone. Hackers can use these open apps to gain access to information such as call records, texts, photos, and other personal data that be stored on or linked to your phone. You can protect this weakness on your phone by closing any applications or features that you aren’t currently using. Do not assume that you will be logged out once you stop using the app.
Be Alert to Phishing
Phishing has evolved beyond e-mail and is now a common tactic used in text messaging to try to access data. If you receive a text from a number that you do not recognize, do not click on any links within the text and do not reply to it. These texts may be sent in an attempt to access your data. Simply erase the text and block the number.
Install Anti-Virus Software
Apps and software are now available to help protect your phone from viruses and other
malware and spyware. Taking the time to install one of these protective programs will allow you to browse the Web and check your e-mail more securely. Be sure to install a trusted program with a known reputation and to update it often for protection against new viruses.
Install a Remote Wipe App
If your phone is every stolen, you can protect the data on it through a remote application installed on your computer that is connected to your phone. This app will allow you to wipe all the data on your phone through your computer. Of course, to ensure that you don’t lose the data forever, you should back up any valuable information on your computer long before this happens. Keeping your phone and your personal information safe from hackers is as simple as
taking these steps and practicing safe browsing habits. Also be sure to change your password regularly, never to share your data with sites you don’t know and trust, and to only access your data on a secured network.
About the author:
Amanda Tradwick is a grant researcher and writer for CollegeGrants.org. She has a
Bachelor's degrees from the University of Delaware, and has recently finished research on school grants for low income and college grants in new york.
Use a Strong Password
The first line of defense for your phone is to restrict access to it by setting a strong password. You can set a password to enable the phone, one to access voicemail, and one to access e-mail or other apps. When you create your password, be sure to use a phrase instead of a simple word, a combination of letters and numbers (or other special characters), and upper- and lower-case letters. Do not use a series of sequential or repeating numbers, common personal information such as birth dates or addresses, or simple words that can be found in the dictionary.
Turn of Apps and Features Your Aren’t Using
One common technique that hackers have used to gain access to cell-phone data is to use Wi-Fi connection spots to access open applications that use GPS and link to your phone. Hackers can use these open apps to gain access to information such as call records, texts, photos, and other personal data that be stored on or linked to your phone. You can protect this weakness on your phone by closing any applications or features that you aren’t currently using. Do not assume that you will be logged out once you stop using the app.
Be Alert to Phishing
Phishing has evolved beyond e-mail and is now a common tactic used in text messaging to try to access data. If you receive a text from a number that you do not recognize, do not click on any links within the text and do not reply to it. These texts may be sent in an attempt to access your data. Simply erase the text and block the number.
Install Anti-Virus Software
Apps and software are now available to help protect your phone from viruses and other
malware and spyware. Taking the time to install one of these protective programs will allow you to browse the Web and check your e-mail more securely. Be sure to install a trusted program with a known reputation and to update it often for protection against new viruses.
Install a Remote Wipe App
If your phone is every stolen, you can protect the data on it through a remote application installed on your computer that is connected to your phone. This app will allow you to wipe all the data on your phone through your computer. Of course, to ensure that you don’t lose the data forever, you should back up any valuable information on your computer long before this happens. Keeping your phone and your personal information safe from hackers is as simple as
taking these steps and practicing safe browsing habits. Also be sure to change your password regularly, never to share your data with sites you don’t know and trust, and to only access your data on a secured network.
About the author:
Amanda Tradwick is a grant researcher and writer for CollegeGrants.org. She has a
Bachelor's degrees from the University of Delaware, and has recently finished research on school grants for low income and college grants in new york.
Technology Blog
10 Ways to Keep your Computer Running Smoothly
Summary: This article will consider some of the ways you can keep your computer running smoothly for as long as possible.
Computers are in use every day of our lives. Almost everyone uses a computer at work and almost everyone uses one at home; but a large number of people still have no idea how to look after a computer. Seeking computer support will help you to manage your computer so that it does not become damaged and malfunction any sooner than necessary. Computers do have a finite lifespan but it is often far cheaper and easier to seek computer repair than it is to buy an entirely new device. This article will consider some of the ways you can keep your computer running smoothly for as long as possible.
1. Never turn your computer off physically until it has properly closed down. Turning your computer off at the mains each night and over the weekend is a great way to protect the environment. Turning your computer off before it is ready, however, is a frequent cause of computer malfunctions. Ensure that the Operating System is fully shut down before turning the computer off.
2. Invest in an Uninterruptable Power Source. A UPS is capable of protecting your computer from power surges and power shortages. It will stop your computer from failing during any power failure at all and will thus protect you from losing work and protect your OS from corruption.
3. Creating Backups is the easiest way to prevent the loss of anything important. If you would be upset about losing it, then back it up. A backup should really be done on a weekly basis for a work computer so that you can always limit the damage caused by any failure.
4. Run a defragmentation at least once a month. A fragmented hardrive will slow your
computer processes down massively. By carrying out a defragmentation you will be able
to reduce the power and processing power required by your computer to carry out simple tasks. In the long run this will reduce the strain on your computer and increase its lifespan.
5. Keep space free for your Operating System. If your OS does not have enough space then it will start utilising your hardrive and become very slow. When the OS is using the hardrive it will constantly be spinning which puts a lot of strain on it and will reduce the speed at which your machine runs.
6. Carry out regular anti-virus checks. It is essential that you have some kind of anti-virus software installed on your computer. There are countless viruses on the internet which will damage your computer irreparably if they get the chance. Be careful about what you download and make sure you run a scan every couple of weeks.
7. Keep your computer uncluttered. When your computer boots up there should not be a huge number of programs which pop up immediately. This will slow your computer down enormously and put a large amount of strain on the processor at the very start of the period.
8. You need a firewall to protect you. There is so much information sent online now that it is vital to have a firewall. Protect yourself from fraud by installing a firewall.
9. Keep all of the software disks that come with the computer. If anything goes wrong then you will need the disks which came with your computer to restore it back to its former condition. Be sure to keep them in a safe place so that they are easily located when they are needed because a new OS will be very expensive to buy.
10. Set your OS to automatically update. By allowing automatic updates you will always be protected from malware and virus attacks. When they are identified the companies create preventative methods to stop them damaging your computer. Installing the updates will thus protect your computer effectively.
Computers are in use every day of our lives. Almost everyone uses a computer at work and almost everyone uses one at home; but a large number of people still have no idea how to look after a computer. Seeking computer support will help you to manage your computer so that it does not become damaged and malfunction any sooner than necessary. Computers do have a finite lifespan but it is often far cheaper and easier to seek computer repair than it is to buy an entirely new device. This article will consider some of the ways you can keep your computer running smoothly for as long as possible.
1. Never turn your computer off physically until it has properly closed down. Turning your computer off at the mains each night and over the weekend is a great way to protect the environment. Turning your computer off before it is ready, however, is a frequent cause of computer malfunctions. Ensure that the Operating System is fully shut down before turning the computer off.
2. Invest in an Uninterruptable Power Source. A UPS is capable of protecting your computer from power surges and power shortages. It will stop your computer from failing during any power failure at all and will thus protect you from losing work and protect your OS from corruption.
3. Creating Backups is the easiest way to prevent the loss of anything important. If you would be upset about losing it, then back it up. A backup should really be done on a weekly basis for a work computer so that you can always limit the damage caused by any failure.
4. Run a defragmentation at least once a month. A fragmented hardrive will slow your
computer processes down massively. By carrying out a defragmentation you will be able
to reduce the power and processing power required by your computer to carry out simple tasks. In the long run this will reduce the strain on your computer and increase its lifespan.
5. Keep space free for your Operating System. If your OS does not have enough space then it will start utilising your hardrive and become very slow. When the OS is using the hardrive it will constantly be spinning which puts a lot of strain on it and will reduce the speed at which your machine runs.
6. Carry out regular anti-virus checks. It is essential that you have some kind of anti-virus software installed on your computer. There are countless viruses on the internet which will damage your computer irreparably if they get the chance. Be careful about what you download and make sure you run a scan every couple of weeks.
7. Keep your computer uncluttered. When your computer boots up there should not be a huge number of programs which pop up immediately. This will slow your computer down enormously and put a large amount of strain on the processor at the very start of the period.
8. You need a firewall to protect you. There is so much information sent online now that it is vital to have a firewall. Protect yourself from fraud by installing a firewall.
9. Keep all of the software disks that come with the computer. If anything goes wrong then you will need the disks which came with your computer to restore it back to its former condition. Be sure to keep them in a safe place so that they are easily located when they are needed because a new OS will be very expensive to buy.
10. Set your OS to automatically update. By allowing automatic updates you will always be protected from malware and virus attacks. When they are identified the companies create preventative methods to stop them damaging your computer. Installing the updates will thus protect your computer effectively.
Technology Blog
The Future of the Cloud: Why Software Will Become Extinct
This is a guest post by Frank Anderson. Imagine a computing world without files, without external hard drives, without disks or downloads or data to store. It’s a concept called cloud computing, it’s in its early stages, and it will fundamentally change the way we deal with hardware, software and the Internet.
As things stand, most computers still run software and operating systems that were pre-installed, downloaded from a Web site, or installed at home from a disk. Data files created by that software are stored on hard drives and backed up on external storage drives or online storage sites. With cloud computing, all these functions are moved to the Internet.
Cloud computing is a service that delivers computing elements on the model of an electric utility. Services such as software and file storage are delivered online. The programs and data are kept on servers.
An example: Right now, if you wanted to write a Word document, you would open Word
from your hard drive, create a file, and save it on your hard drive when finished. With cloud computing, you would open Word through a Web browser, create a file, and save it to a distant server when finished. If you wanted to open it again later, you would use Word via the Web.
Rather than buying software and an operating system and an external drive, you would pay a nominal fee for access to the services of a cloud provider, which would deliver your computing services.
This not only erases the hassles of installing and removing software, and of managing files. It also makes it possible to access your personal files and software from almost anywhere,anytime. In addition, it reduces the costs of computing and increases its efficiency; currently, most computer networks use only a small portion of their capacity.
The advent of the cloud also raises important security concerns. The presence of personal files on distant servers opens the possibility of unauthorized access, hacking, data destruction,and privacy intrusions by third parties or the government. These concerns have slowed the introduction of the cloud into personal computing, as cloud providers have scrambled to create a new model of online security that can handle the new requirements of data storage and personal information management.
The cloud comes in several different types. It’s possible to establish private clouds, centered on private servers maintained either by the users or by third parties. Public clouds, the traditional model, provide computing services from third-party providers via the Internet. Community clouds are private clouds that share infrastructure between organizations.
The idea of cloud computing dates back at least as far as the 1960s, when early computing visionaries described a future where computers would operate on a utility model. The term “cloud” comes from the telecommunications industry, which used a cloud drawing to illustrate aspects of the telephone industry in the 1990s. Amazon launched Amazon Web Service, a major step forward in cloud computing, in 2006. This has been followed by a handful of other cloud introductions.
Frank Anderson is a software and technology specialist. His primary area of expertise is .net web hosting and other similar hosting solutions.
As things stand, most computers still run software and operating systems that were pre-installed, downloaded from a Web site, or installed at home from a disk. Data files created by that software are stored on hard drives and backed up on external storage drives or online storage sites. With cloud computing, all these functions are moved to the Internet.
Cloud computing is a service that delivers computing elements on the model of an electric utility. Services such as software and file storage are delivered online. The programs and data are kept on servers.
An example: Right now, if you wanted to write a Word document, you would open Word
from your hard drive, create a file, and save it on your hard drive when finished. With cloud computing, you would open Word through a Web browser, create a file, and save it to a distant server when finished. If you wanted to open it again later, you would use Word via the Web.
Rather than buying software and an operating system and an external drive, you would pay a nominal fee for access to the services of a cloud provider, which would deliver your computing services.
This not only erases the hassles of installing and removing software, and of managing files. It also makes it possible to access your personal files and software from almost anywhere,anytime. In addition, it reduces the costs of computing and increases its efficiency; currently, most computer networks use only a small portion of their capacity.
The advent of the cloud also raises important security concerns. The presence of personal files on distant servers opens the possibility of unauthorized access, hacking, data destruction,and privacy intrusions by third parties or the government. These concerns have slowed the introduction of the cloud into personal computing, as cloud providers have scrambled to create a new model of online security that can handle the new requirements of data storage and personal information management.
The cloud comes in several different types. It’s possible to establish private clouds, centered on private servers maintained either by the users or by third parties. Public clouds, the traditional model, provide computing services from third-party providers via the Internet. Community clouds are private clouds that share infrastructure between organizations.
The idea of cloud computing dates back at least as far as the 1960s, when early computing visionaries described a future where computers would operate on a utility model. The term “cloud” comes from the telecommunications industry, which used a cloud drawing to illustrate aspects of the telephone industry in the 1990s. Amazon launched Amazon Web Service, a major step forward in cloud computing, in 2006. This has been followed by a handful of other cloud introductions.
Frank Anderson is a software and technology specialist. His primary area of expertise is .net web hosting and other similar hosting solutions.
Technology Blog
Time to Think about Time
This is a guest post by Isabella. The Millennium Bug seems like a long, distant memory, but in the late 1990s, the Y2K bug was sending fear and panic among network administrators, governments and businesses alike. Cash machines were expected to start dishing out dollars like fruit machines, high interest current accounts would empty, planes would fall from the sky and the world was going to plunge back into the dark ages, as every computer system failed. Okay, things didn’t seem to work out to be that bad. Few if any major computer meltdowns occurred, and the world moved on.
The threat of the Millennium Bug was quite simply caused by a lack of foresight by computer manufacturers and programmers. Many computer programs only bothered to store the year in two decimal places, which meant that come the year 2000, a lot of timestamps would go from 99 to 00, essentially making the computer believe it was the year 1900. The debate was never settled whether the Y2K bug was just a damp squib, propagated by a media panic, or that the threat was real and only due to the actions taken in the run up to the millennium were catastrophes averted. Whatever the truth, one thing the Millennium bug did highlight, was the critical importance of time for maintaining a stable computer network. But all too often, few people give time a second’s thought, and yet it’s perhaps the most fundamental aspect of keeping a network healthy and secure. So perhaps it’s time to look at network time and understand what is going on.
Timestamps
Time is fundamental for computer networks. Time is the only reference point a computer has to complete tasks, save data or know if something has happened, is due to happen, or shouldn’t happen at all. Start messing about with network time and all sorts of problems can occur - data gets lost, systems fail, applications refuse to start and computers crash. Computers rely on time in the form of a timestamp. This is normally the number of seconds from a particular point in time. In Unix systems, the time stamp represents the number of seconds from midnight, 1 January 1970, so the timestamp of 1322657071 represents 12:44 on 30 November 2011.
Because of the fundamental importance of time, all networks need to be synchronized. Network Time Protocol (NTP) or the Windows Time service (W32Time) are the common methods used by most networks to achieve this. These programs take the time from a master computer and spread it around the network, while continuously checking the clocks on all machines to avoid drift. But they are only effective as the time they are using as a source. Computers are lousy at keeping time. While most PCs have an onboard clock built into the motherboard, these can lose several seconds a day. Set your desktop clock on Monday and in a month’s time, you could be several minutes away from the original time source. For this reason, networks need an accurate, reliable and unfaltering source of time to function. And the only machines that can provide such an unwavering time source are atomic clocks.
Atomic Clocks
Computer networks generally use Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) this is a timescale used throughout the world and is generated by a series of global atomic clocks. Because UTC is the same everywhere, it allows computers to communicate across timezones without the problems caused by time differences. Of course, when it comes to setting your desktop clock, the timezone information is added to keep you in local time. Most computer networks hook up to a service such as time.windows.com, time.nist.gov or another online timeserver. These provide the master time that all other machines on a network feed off.
For highly secure networks, external sources of UTC time are used. Often this is done by GPS, using the signals generated by the atomic clocks onboard GPS satellites to synchronize a network. And this isn’t a bad idea. When a connection to a time service gets broken, or worse, an online timeserver gets hacked, those machines hooked up to it become incredibly vulnerable. You only have to think about the perceived chaos of the Y2K bug to realize the potential for a system meltdown if the time being fed to a network has been tampered with. And in the ever-increasing sophistication of modern day hackers, DDoS attacks to timeservers are not uncommon and can expose networks to all sorts of trouble. So perhaps it’s time to start taking time more seriously and securing your time source.
The threat of the Millennium Bug was quite simply caused by a lack of foresight by computer manufacturers and programmers. Many computer programs only bothered to store the year in two decimal places, which meant that come the year 2000, a lot of timestamps would go from 99 to 00, essentially making the computer believe it was the year 1900. The debate was never settled whether the Y2K bug was just a damp squib, propagated by a media panic, or that the threat was real and only due to the actions taken in the run up to the millennium were catastrophes averted. Whatever the truth, one thing the Millennium bug did highlight, was the critical importance of time for maintaining a stable computer network. But all too often, few people give time a second’s thought, and yet it’s perhaps the most fundamental aspect of keeping a network healthy and secure. So perhaps it’s time to look at network time and understand what is going on.
Timestamps
Time is fundamental for computer networks. Time is the only reference point a computer has to complete tasks, save data or know if something has happened, is due to happen, or shouldn’t happen at all. Start messing about with network time and all sorts of problems can occur - data gets lost, systems fail, applications refuse to start and computers crash. Computers rely on time in the form of a timestamp. This is normally the number of seconds from a particular point in time. In Unix systems, the time stamp represents the number of seconds from midnight, 1 January 1970, so the timestamp of 1322657071 represents 12:44 on 30 November 2011.
Because of the fundamental importance of time, all networks need to be synchronized. Network Time Protocol (NTP) or the Windows Time service (W32Time) are the common methods used by most networks to achieve this. These programs take the time from a master computer and spread it around the network, while continuously checking the clocks on all machines to avoid drift. But they are only effective as the time they are using as a source. Computers are lousy at keeping time. While most PCs have an onboard clock built into the motherboard, these can lose several seconds a day. Set your desktop clock on Monday and in a month’s time, you could be several minutes away from the original time source. For this reason, networks need an accurate, reliable and unfaltering source of time to function. And the only machines that can provide such an unwavering time source are atomic clocks.
Atomic Clocks
Computer networks generally use Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) this is a timescale used throughout the world and is generated by a series of global atomic clocks. Because UTC is the same everywhere, it allows computers to communicate across timezones without the problems caused by time differences. Of course, when it comes to setting your desktop clock, the timezone information is added to keep you in local time. Most computer networks hook up to a service such as time.windows.com, time.nist.gov or another online timeserver. These provide the master time that all other machines on a network feed off.
For highly secure networks, external sources of UTC time are used. Often this is done by GPS, using the signals generated by the atomic clocks onboard GPS satellites to synchronize a network. And this isn’t a bad idea. When a connection to a time service gets broken, or worse, an online timeserver gets hacked, those machines hooked up to it become incredibly vulnerable. You only have to think about the perceived chaos of the Y2K bug to realize the potential for a system meltdown if the time being fed to a network has been tampered with. And in the ever-increasing sophistication of modern day hackers, DDoS attacks to timeservers are not uncommon and can expose networks to all sorts of trouble. So perhaps it’s time to start taking time more seriously and securing your time source.
Technology Blog
Motorola Droid 4 – The RAZR with a QWERTY
This is a guest post by Simon about Motorola Droid 4. After a bit of a slump when the first iPhone was launched, Motorola managed to pull itself back from the brink by releasing the Motorola Droid (also known as the Milestone in some markets). This highly popular Android device came with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and has been one of the most popular phone brands in recent years.
Motorola has since produced 3 Droid phones, although only 2 of these made an appearance outside of the US. Now the company is set to launch its fourth Droid, which builds on earlier versions while also sharing many design characteristics with the new RAZR.
Like the RAZR, the Droid 4 is powered by a dual core 1.2GHz chip with 1GB RAM, and comes with full LTE support. The screen is a little smaller than the RAZR's, measuring just 4 inches instead of 4.3, but the phone does come with a physical QWERTY keyboard, a major factor in the popularity and success of earlier Droid phones.
The Droid 4 also sees an improved 8 megapixel camera with 1080p video, much like the RAZR. With the Motorola RAZR being one of the most impressive phones launched in recent months, the addition of what is essentially a QWERTY model is likely to help bolster Motorola's smartphone sales leading up the Christmas.
The Droid 4 will most likely feature a qHD Super AMOLED screen like the RAZR, although no technical details about the screen have been confirmed just yet. It does seem that the Droid will share the RAZR's fate of coming with Gingerbread rather than the new Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android.
It is not clear just yet whether the Motorola Droid 4 will be released outside of the United States, at it seems as though it is just going to get released on the US carrier Verizon. People in Europe who have been eyeing up the Droid 4 may just have to make do with a QWERTY-less Motorola RAZR contract instead.
While the Droid and Droid 2 were released in Europe as the Milestone and Milestone 2, the Droid 3 never made an appearance outside of the US. This was mainly due to lower sales figures outside of the US, which also may have been a direct result of the phone's name. 'Droid' is a registered trademark owned by Lucasfilm (Star Wars), and has been licensed out to Verizon to use in the US. As no other companies have licensed this name elsewhere, Motorola have had to resort to the less appealing brand name for the phone.
Because of this it seems unlikely that the Droid 4 will be making an appearance in Europe. This is a great shame considering that Europe will still benefit from the new RAZR, and there are many prospective phone owners in Europe who would love a QWERTY Android, which seem to be increasingly rare these days.
Motorola has since produced 3 Droid phones, although only 2 of these made an appearance outside of the US. Now the company is set to launch its fourth Droid, which builds on earlier versions while also sharing many design characteristics with the new RAZR.
Like the RAZR, the Droid 4 is powered by a dual core 1.2GHz chip with 1GB RAM, and comes with full LTE support. The screen is a little smaller than the RAZR's, measuring just 4 inches instead of 4.3, but the phone does come with a physical QWERTY keyboard, a major factor in the popularity and success of earlier Droid phones.
The Droid 4 also sees an improved 8 megapixel camera with 1080p video, much like the RAZR. With the Motorola RAZR being one of the most impressive phones launched in recent months, the addition of what is essentially a QWERTY model is likely to help bolster Motorola's smartphone sales leading up the Christmas.
The Droid 4 will most likely feature a qHD Super AMOLED screen like the RAZR, although no technical details about the screen have been confirmed just yet. It does seem that the Droid will share the RAZR's fate of coming with Gingerbread rather than the new Ice Cream Sandwich version of Android.
It is not clear just yet whether the Motorola Droid 4 will be released outside of the United States, at it seems as though it is just going to get released on the US carrier Verizon. People in Europe who have been eyeing up the Droid 4 may just have to make do with a QWERTY-less Motorola RAZR contract instead.
While the Droid and Droid 2 were released in Europe as the Milestone and Milestone 2, the Droid 3 never made an appearance outside of the US. This was mainly due to lower sales figures outside of the US, which also may have been a direct result of the phone's name. 'Droid' is a registered trademark owned by Lucasfilm (Star Wars), and has been licensed out to Verizon to use in the US. As no other companies have licensed this name elsewhere, Motorola have had to resort to the less appealing brand name for the phone.
Because of this it seems unlikely that the Droid 4 will be making an appearance in Europe. This is a great shame considering that Europe will still benefit from the new RAZR, and there are many prospective phone owners in Europe who would love a QWERTY Android, which seem to be increasingly rare these days.
Technology Blog
Finding Home and Wireless Internet Providers by Zip Code
This is a guest post by Blake Sanders about finding Home and Wireless Internet Providers by Zip Code.Many people assume that they need to use a specific local provider to get high speed internet, as certain providers often market themselves very heavily. However, internet coverage options vary greatly from one coverage area to the next.
Due to a number of state and local laws, there are usually only one or two cable companies offering high speed internet, but there are no such restrictions on satellite companies. Even if you live in a small town, there's a fairly good chance that there are a few internet providers offering service for your address. In order to find fast internet speed at a low price, it's important to compare internet providers by zip code.
Comparison Shop
The old ways of finding a good service provider are gone. The fastest way to find one today is by using an online comparison website, as this will allow you to quickly look at prices, download speeds, upload speeds, and information on the other services offered by cable and satellite companies.
Comparison websites require very little information. They usually take your address or your zip code and look for special deals on internet services in your area. All of the choices are then arranged by price, speed or by other criteria.
When you compare internet providers by zip code, you'll get a fast, accurate picture of what costs are for other households near you. You will instantly know your choices when it comes to internet providers, and regardless of whether you're concerned about speed or you're just trying to keep your costs down, you can find a great option in a matter of seconds by using a provider comparison tool.
Pricing and Availability
You can also use comparison websites to find out whether you're paying a fair amount for your current internet plan. It's a good idea to check rates several times each year, as this will ensure that you're never overpaying for your internet.
Internet provider comparison websites are very secure and don't share your personal information. In fact, they usually only ask for your zip code, as they really don't need much info to work. You'll quickly get the information you need to make a knowledgeable decision about your internet spending without wasting your time calling each internet provider individually to ask about rates.
Conclusion
Be sure to know exactly what you're trying to find before you compare internet providers by zipcode. Know whether you need an especially fast connection and you'll find it much easier to curb your costs. By comparing rates before you sign up for a new internet plan, you'll often be able to save hundreds of dollars per year with only a few minutes of simple research.
Not your ordinary tech geek, Blake Sanders writes at broadband comparison site Broadband Expert where he specializes in the areas of high speed internet and how to find Internet providers by zip code.
Technology Blog
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