Tips and Tricks

We have all been there. You finally carve out some time to work on that project, to locate and e-mail some files, or just to browse the internet in order to conduct some research into a possible purchase. But you can’t. Your PC simply will not cooperate. It fights you at every turn. You go right, it goes left. You end up chasing your machine around in circles until, finally, you are left just staring at a circling wait icon, a stack of error dialog boxes, or worse even, a blank screen. The next step seems to be crawling under your desk and fighting the dust bunnies to unplug dozens of cables before packing the whole thing up to be taken to an expert. Stop. That might not be necessary. These are the things you need to know before taking your PC to a computer repair shop. Five Easy Fixes You Can Do at Home Before Paying for Computer Repair Before you spend time, energy, and money, sending your computer out, try a few easy fixes. These do not require any technical expertise, so don’t worr...

The good news is that it's really easy to beef up your online security. These quick and simple steps will considerably strengthen your systems against criminals and snoops. 1. Get a quality VPN service The quickest and easiest way to improve your online privacy is to get a quality VPN provider. The best services, like ExpressVPN, will secure your internet connection from prying eyes. A VPN will make your internet connection completely private and will keep no record of your internet activity. 2. Use a password manager It goes without saying that a strong password will protect you more. You should also always use a different password for each account you have online. The best way to do this is with a password manager. It will encrypt and store all of your credentials for every site, so that you don't have to remember them all. Logins will fill out automatically, which means you'll spend less time frantically trying to remember your pet's birthday. Pick a strong master pa...

With the increase in the number of users of internet globally cyber crimes have also increased remarkably and people should try to be more careful while using the internet than ever before. In the age where almost everyone has access to the internet privacy is one of the most important things that you should worry about while browsing on the internet. If you are using a public computer for general search like for the schedule of the football world cup fixtures or look for the weather report, privacy is not entirely necessary. But if you are booking a table in a restaurant online, shopping online by using your credit card, checking your bank account, logging into your social media profile or checking your email you need your browsing to be private. If you are browsing in a public computer you need to be aware that the data you search can easily be accessed by someone else who uses the same computer after you. Mostly people who want their browsing to be private and don’t want anyone to s...

Computer viruses are manifested through software programs that replicate and infect other computers. Normally these are spread through emails and data transfer devices such as flash disks. Other than infecting your computer or laptop, viruses can be transferred to your cell phone, e-reader or tablet. So long as these gadgets can get into contact with the internet, they are always at risk. A viral attack can lead to a malfunction or expose your personal data such as the passwords you use. If an intruder gets hold of your password he/she can hack into your phone or emails. There are three basic ways to steer clear of viruses: Avoid opening email attachments from people you don’t know Always use sites that are trusted when downloading files Scan suspect documents or devices that you use Below are some measures you can take to prevent viruses from getting into your personal data: 1. Exercise caution when opening email attachments either from your phone or tablet. The same way ...

When you are on the chase for a great good deal, shopping online can present some eye-catching savings opportunities you will not find at your next-door department store. Shopping online is a suitable way to start your commodity search even if you eventually buy from a retailer in your region. Knowing the rate range from manifold sources on like products is a superior way to be familiar with a deal anywhere you find it. Formerly you begin looking at the choices, you might be amazed at how much you can put aside when purchasing goods online. With a number of clicks in addition to a well-informed strategy, you may be capable to hit the in-store rates around you as well as score a small number of bonus rewards addicted to the bargain. You must explore fast along with easy ways to find or less build huge online shopping deals . When it appears that, the entire globe is making it online be it advertising or contact, online shopping stays no behind. Be it for business or for personal self-...

Samsung releases the mini version of its flagship devices with a flagship S device. The Samsung Galaxy S5 mini will be coming here soon and has already been teased by Samsung for the Indian market. Like the previous mini versions, this one has watered down specifications. It comes with a 4.5 inch semi HD display and runs a quad core processor with 1.5 GB of RAM. While this device offers decent set of specs, there are a lot of devices in this price band. Many of these devices come with even better features and specifications. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact This is one of the best compact versions we have seen. While most mini or compact versions come with low end specifications, the Z1 compact came with same hardware as the original Z1 except for the display, which is smaller and has got lower resolution. The device has got the same design as the Xperia Z1 and is waterproof and dustproof like the Z1. It gets a 4.3 inch display with 720 p resolution. You get an impressive pixel density of 342 ...

Shopping online has become a modern trend as it eliminates the need for waiting in long queue for purchasing a product online. Some worry that their credit card details may be given to a wrong person. Some believe that shopping online is better and safer than shopping in person or over the telephone. With the e-stores offering Free home delivery, Product replacement, etc., Online shopping has become a most preferred way of shopping nowadays. Here are some tips for a better shopping experience online. Be Secure: Millions of dollars are spend everyday in online shopping over the world. There are people who are trying to steal some from it, Be sure you are not a victim to them. When visiting a site to purchase anything online, ensure that the site is secure. Nowadays Phishing attacks are getting popular as shopping online is getting popular. So to ensure that the page you are visiting is secure, look for a tiny padlock icon over the beginning of the url in your browser's address bar. ...

Whether it is the latest tech gadget, new clothes, your next holiday trip, or car insurance - there are few things that you cannot buy online. But as great the pleasure of having everything delivered to your door step may be, the hard is the awakening once you realize you've become a victim of online shopping fraud. During the past five years, every third online shopper has experienced fraud while shopping online according to a recent global consumer study. Beyond that, about USD 3.4 bn are lost each due to online shopping fraud - money from consumers like you and me! Fortunately, there are a few simple rules that can help you to stay safe from becoming a victim of online shopping fraud and save a lot of money. The below infographic will show you how! Courtesy of: TrustedCompany.com

I am sure that you would have heard about keylogger. Many of you might be of the notion that keylogger is a software, but this is not so. Keylogger could be hardware or software. It is meant for both legitimate and illegitimate jobs, but most of the times, it is used by the bad guys to spy on other's information. If you do not want anybody to have an illicit access to your information, you need to know to catch hold of this kind of process that might run in your system without your knowledge. Here is how, you can have a check on this process. Hardware keylogger: Hardware keylogger is the device that needs to be connected to the keyboard port. If you happen to locate it, you can have it disconnected, so that the keystrokes are not traced.  An alternate method of having the hardware keylogger installed is by soldering it into the circuit of the keyboard. To make sure that you do not have it soldered into the keyboard, you need to disassemble the board and find if there is any such t...

Computers are usually bought in top notch conditions bringing maximum performance to their users when they are new. Most users ignore the fact that their computer is bound to get slower by the day. The majority of computer users disregard proper maintenance as required. Hence, their computers gradually decline in performance. Windows newest Operating System, Windows 8 has slowly grown as it takes up the market share. Step by step procedures have been written down to ensure computer users receive the best from their money over time. 1. Remove programs from startup When programs are installed, a shortcut is created in the startup. This enables services from the program to be launched once a computer is booted. With time, the computer has many services set to be running on startup. This consumes the primary memory of the computer and exhausts the processor as unused programs are also in operation. The following steps are used to remove unwanted programs from the startup and ensure the...

Have you been receiving a lot of junk mail lately ? Have your email contacts reported receiving an email from you that you have absolutely no recollection of sending ? Or have they reported getting an instant message from you which you have never sent ? If the answer to any of these questions is a 'yes', then it is very likely that somebody has hacked your Hotmail account or stolen your Hotmail password. This is a very serious situation, and it is possible that this hacker may make use of your Hotmail account for illegal and even criminal purposes. Steps To Be Taken By You Once You Find Out Your Hotmail Account Is Hacked : Now that you have a strong idea that your Hotmail account has been hacked, you shall need to take immediate steps to retrieve the situation. We present a list of immediate actionable steps to be taken by you. However, before we go into the details, in case of any confusion in following the instructions given by us, we advise you to please use the Hotmail cus...

USB drives are a fantastic way to share information from computer-to-computer. While many people use email to send documents, USB drives can take just about anything that your computer has and move it to another system with minimal effort. Plus, USB drives can be used to share information without actually putting it in someone’s possession. Doing so can keep sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands. If you have a USB drive, though, there are still extra measures you should take to secure its contents. Continue reading for 10 easy steps that you can take to safeguard your USB drive. Proper Password Management Protects Your USB Drive First, let’s make sure that if anyone gets a hold of your USB drive, they won’t be able to use it. Insert your USB drive into your computer. Find the USB drive in your computer’s “Devices with Removable Storage” section or similar area. Right click on it and choose, “Turn on Bitlocker.” Once you choose this, Wizard will open up, and you’ll see the ...

Is your PC under par? Does it take longer to log on and load websites then it used to? Are your programs crashing more often then Evil Knieval used to? If the answers yes to all of these questions, then it’s time to give your computer a new lease of life. But we’re not talking drastic measures like buying a new one, as there are a few fixes you can do yourself (or with the help of an expert) that will restore your computer to its former glory. Here’s how you can perk up your PC. 1. Install tune-up software The quickest and easiest way to restore your PC to health is to install a free registry cleaner that’ll tune things up. In fact, some programs won’t just return your computer to its regular speed; they’ll even turbo-charge it for you so you’ll have a boost of power when you need it the most. As well as running at normal speed, your system will crash less and have more disk space available. You’ll probably even notice improvements in battery life too. 2. Back up your computer Before...

A site of programming languages has made its way into the tech world in last 2 decades. And each of these trumps others riding on its glorious capabilities. While working on them is not fun by any stretch, the final product as a result of logical thinking and application of extensive skills is something web users around the world cherish. And all these factors has lead to a huge boom in the software development sector. Students around the globe are more than willing to learn programming languages in order to stand better chances of grabbing a job when they graduate. There are various training institutes for getting trained on different programming languages. While these institutes are greatly equipped to help students grab the most important concepts an a most effective manner, trainees also need to do their bit on their own end. There are various sources on the Internet that can help them in learning different programming languages like PHP, Java, .NET, C#, etc. These websites either...

When it comes to studying the thought of it is enough to make us want to give up before we've even picked up a book! The key to studying is balance – remember to take regular breaks and reward yourself for all the hard work you are doing! The International Association of Book-keepers has worked closely with the digital marketing agency Reflect Digital to produce a fantastic info graphic for people studying any subject.

Despite advances in cyber security, passwords are still the best first line of defense against account infiltration because of their fluid customization. If an account becomes compromised, it is relatively easy for users to reestablish their defenses by changing how it is protected. News outlets are regularly reporting tales of hacker devastation due to inefficient passcode strength. Although it is simple for users to change their passwords and optimize their security measures, according to PCWorld, there are simple strategies that businesses and consumers alike can consider in order to optimize their defenses from the start. Tips for password fortification Business 2 Community reported that password management software can do the work of creating complex and hard to hack passcodes without forcing the end user to memorize long strings of characters, across multiple accounts. With this cost-effective solution, the software will do this work for the customer, requiring minimal setup ...

Just as fun as it can be to shop online, it can equally be risky at times. Not because you might just end up ordering the wrong size (thank god to the fact that there’s always an exchange window and you can courier it back) but because there are some safety issues that you need to keep in mind while swapping that plastic card of yours. With a dramatic increase in numbers of online purchasing portals, online flick stores, shopping windows, etc. it is becoming more and more crucial to keep a watch on where exactly you are stashing your card numbers in. There are scammers flopping in the online world like never before. So it helps to keep an eye before you decide to lay your hands on that beautiful dress or shoe you just spotted on the screen. Here we lay down few safety procedures which once you ensure will make your experience equivalent to one that you have while visiting your nearest mart for picking stuff up. 1) Your computing environment should be very secured Almost a no-brainer y...