Protecting Yourself From Spyware

If you practice diligence and follow some basic rules then you will have a much better chance of preventing the ability of a malware application from infecting your computer. Most computer spyware today is installed without your knowledge when you visit a website or download an application that will place the application on your hard drive. So one way to prevent the installation by not visiting unscrupulous web sites when you surf the web.

 

There has been a strong increase in the number of computer malware / spyware out on the net the past few years. Many experts in the field expect the number of infections to only increase as time goes along. Spyware are actually programs that are installed on your computer but you usually do not know of the installation and many times you did not even approve the installation. These programs can cause all types of problems for your computing experience, which range from annoying popups to someone actually stealing your personal data and impersonating your identity. You may also experience a reduction in performance of your system, since many times these programs will consume a lot of computing power as the program performs its tasks.  Even though the number of computer spyware infections are increasing exponentially does not mean all is lost and you should just throw your hands up and turn off your computer forever.

 

Since most spyware is installed because of security holes in your browser always ensure you have the latest version of updates for your Operating System and Browser. You can also switch your Web Browser to something like FireFox which is targeted less than the more popular Browsers.

 

Also ensure you have a spyware protection and remover application installed. This is one of the most important items you can do to protect yourself from these infections and help to minimize the chance that you will be come infected with these types of applications

 

Author Bio

Bruce Hopkins is an Information Technology Director over a large multi campus network and is a avid DotNetNuke Open Source Supporter. If you do not currently have spyware protection then get it now 

 

 

 

Wisconsin CIO gets slammed on Oracle e-mail debacle

Iran accross and interesting story today about how the state of Wisconsion is scrapping an oracle collaboration project which was supposed to spend an enormous amount of funds on the projec tot date. It would seem the project jsut will not scale to accomendate their users. Below is an excerpt from the story and you can read the full article on SearchCIO.com

WISCONSIN CIO GETS SLAMMED ON ORACLE E-MAIL DEBACLE
By Linda Tucci, Senior News Writer

03.08.2006 | SearchCIO.com





MADISON, Wis. -- After spending $2.1 million on Oracle Collaboration Suite (OCS) software to integrate the state's 44,000 e-mail boxes, Wisconsin CIO Matt Miszewski told state workers Feb. 24 he was scrapping the project.
The goal was to consolidate the state's 222 servers to 19. But a three-month trial run of the OCS system on 1,200 mailboxes in Wisconsin Governor's Jim Doyle's administration unveiled serious problems, including e-mails that vanished from "sent" folders, meeting invitations that never showed up in Outlook calendars, and distribution lists that failed to distribute.
The state was going back to Microsoft.

Wisconsin CIO gets slammed on Oracle e-mail debacle.

Hard Drive Data Recovery

If you suffer a computer crash or virus and consequently lose some, or all, of the data on your hard drive, then you may have to consider what is the best option for hard drive data recovery. Very often your time is limited, as you need access to the work that is on your computer and this may mean that you need to get the fastest solution possible to the problem.

 

You can even possibly avoid the need to buy a hard drive data recovery solution. If you can find the gap in the hard drive that was left by the loss of your files, it may be possible to simply undo it, as the computer will not necessarily have deleted the information, but might have just made unavailable.

 

Although this is a good option for hard drive data recovery, if it is possible you need to do it quickly and without starting any other applications or doing any other work, as this may cause the computer to overwrite what it then sees as the gaps in the hard drive and your work may be lost.

 

A good hard drive data recovery software can be the best option if you cannot restore the data yourself. There are many types available and it is best to seek advice on which may be the most appropriate for you. Although it is not always necessary to use the most expensive option, it is probably best to avoid the lower end of the market, as some of these systems are not comprehensive enough and can have problems with specific applications.

 

If the problem is logical rather than physical, then good quality hard drive data recovery software will usually be able to restore most, if not all, of the data that has been lost and is still a relatively inexpensive and practicable solution.

 

If the hard drive has been damaged or if the problem is simply too difficult, or complex for the hard drive data recovery software to cope with, then it may be necessary to take, or send the hard drive to a hard drive data recovery service. Of course this option is much more expensive and also more time-consuming, as you will have to wait for them to complete the work before you can access your data. But it does give you a good option for when you cannot recover the data yourself.

 

Although it can be very worrying when some or all of the data on your computer is inaccessible, there are many options for hard drive data recovery that can restore your files and prevent you from losing all the work that you have stored on your computer.

Disk Data Recovery

 

 

If you have lost some or all of your data due to a computer crash or virus, before attempting to retrieve the lost files and data, you should try to ascertain whether the data loss was caused by a logical or physical malfunction. If it is a logical problem, whether from a personal mistake or a virus, then it is entirely possible that you can retrieve the information through the use of the appropriate software.

 

This can save you great deal of money and if you can avoid the need for hiring a technician, it is obviously preferable to do so. One of the most obvious signs that the hard drive has suffered some physical damage is that it may be making some unusual noises. Although hard drives usually make some noise, you should listen carefully to see if you can hear any different or unusual mechanical noises that may indicate that the problem is not merely with the data.

 

If the hard drive is making some unusual noises, it may be that you need somebody that specializes in hard disk data recovery. Although it can be a more expensive option, hard disk data recovery is not really something that should be attempted by the uninitiated.

 

Hard disc data recovery is something that you need a qualified technician for, who is familiar with the processes and has a better chance of being able to affect a quick and complete solution.

 

There are many reasons why hard disks can break down with mechanical problems. The motors, as is true of anything with moving parts, can simply wear out or fail. This can lead to total inability to access any of the data that is stored and it may mean that a hard disk recovery technician is your only real option.

 

Even if you think that you have a good technical ability and are inclined to have a go at repairing most things, bear in mind this is not a good idea with hard drives. Even removing and taking apart the hard drive can allow dust to come into contact with the workings and cause even more damage to it. Hard disc data recovery technicians usually use a dust free clean room to effect repairs on hard drives and thereby avoid this problem.

 

If the hard drive has suffered physical damage, your only real option is to employ a hard disc data recovery technician to repair it. This can make sure that you have the best chance of restoring your data and getting all the information stored on it transferred to a new disk or drive. Bear in mind though, that it is always a good idea to have a separate back up of all the files on your hard drive. This way you can carry on working without having to wait for your data to be recovered.

Data Recovery Tips

 

Losing data can be a nightmare, with days or weeks of work just disappearing before your eyes. Although data recovery operations can be very successful in retrieving your lost data, if it is not a simple logical problem or a unintentional deletion that can be fixed by a software application, then it can take days and a lot of money before you get your data back. That's a lot of money lost, both in what the data recovery costs and also in the amount of time that you do not have the data. It can literally bring your business to a halt. But with a few sensible precautions you can limit the possibility of this ever being a problem.

 

Back up's are the one fundamental in avoiding data recovery that you cannot do without. Then even if you ad have a crash then your data will be safe and you can just transfer it to a new computer or drive while yours is being fixed. It is better to have a back up running that automatically backs up your work at a predetermined interval without you having to remember to do it.

 

You should also consider having a secondary back up at a remote location, so that if there is a disaster at your workplace, then you will still have an additional back up. Having good back ups is one of the most efficient ways to avoid the need for data recovery services.

 

It is also a good idea to use software that gauges the efficacy of your back up system. This can make sure that you are not just backing up the same problems that caused you to lose that data in the first place. This is a good way to make sure that your back ups are as efficient as possible so that in a data recovery situation, you can be sure that you have one good set of data.

 

Regularly run checking software to assess the condition of your hard drive. It's always better to know that there are problems first, rather than having to find as good data recovery solution after your data is gone. Defragging your hard drive regularly is a good idea. It makes sure that the drive is well organized and helps it to run in a smooth and efficient way. It does not take long and can be running while you are doing other things.

 

Many people forget that it is necessary to have a good back up plan until they have a crash. And although it is often possible to recover lost data with a good data recovery service, it is a lot easier to take a few sensible precautions that can keep your data safe in the event of a crash or virus and make your business a lot more stable.

Data Recovery Software

 

 

Data recovery software, like anything else, can be both good and bad. But you have to choose carefully to make sure that you get the best the out of it. It is not something that you want to save money on. If your hard drive has crashed or been infected with a virus, and all your data has gone, then you need to make sure that the software that you are using, is up to the job of retrieving your work.

 

There is no point in trying to save money on data recovery software, when you can put at risk months, if not years of hard work and possibly even your business itself. You need the best software for the problem that can give the best rates of data recovery.

 

There are different types of data recovery software, depending upon the source and origin of your problem and the type of operating system. If you have simply deleted something inappropriately, then it is probably possible to restore it through the normal Windows operating system.

 

But if the problem is more complex, or cannot be resolved through your own means, then you'll probably need to buy some sort of data recovery software. Although there are many general types of data recovery software, there are also some that are targeted to more specific applications, such as public document formats files and zipped files.

 

Data recovery software is much more effective if, after a crash or virus attack, you do not use the computer for anything else until you install the software. This way the files are not usually overwritten by the computer and are much easier to restore. If you use the computer, even just to restart it, after your data has been lost, then there is a chance that the computer will see the gaps in the program where your information was, as empty space.

 

Then if you are surfing the net or downloading anything, then it could use this space to store other things and thus make it much more difficult, if not impossible, for the data recovery software to find and restore the data that you have lost.

 

It is always a good idea, before any problems arise, to backup on a regular basis, all of your important files and documents and then you can usually avoid the need for data recovery software in the events of a crash or virus attack.

Data Recovery Service

 

 

If you have lost, or are unable to access, data due to a virus or computer crash, then probably your best and most affordable option is to try to use data recovery software. Sometimes however this is just not a powerful enough solution, or is inappropriate for the type of loss that your computer or hard drive has suffered. Then probably your only option, if you're not a computer whiz yourself, is to look for a good data recovery service.

 

A reputable data recovery service will very often offer a free assessment. In general you should not have to make an upfront payment for a company to assess the drive and tell you the options available to you for the recovery of your data. Although if it is a much more complex problem than you may have to pay for an assessment.

 

Although you will want to get the work in progress as quickly as possible it is not always a good idea to go for the first data recovery service that you see. Some data recovery services

are much more expensive than others and do not necessarily offer a better service, but if you can get a good recommendation, then this is probably the best way to go.

 

Make sure that the data recovery service gives you a quote before they start work. You do not want to be worrying about the cost of the work as well as the potential loss of your data. A good data recovery service should be able to give you fairly firm quotes when they have assessed the hard drive and are able to see the work that needs to be done.

 

You may get two different prices from the data recovery service. This depends on whether the fault with the drive is a physical problem or a logical problem. This is not unusual, as the company cannot always know exactly what they will find when undergoing the process of data recovery, and physical data recovery is a much higher cost operation.

 

Make sure, if you have two quotes from the data recovery service that it is for the two different procedures and not just a rough guess at what the costs may go up to in the end.

 

When you first contact the data recovery service, make sure that you give them as much information as possible about the drive, any applications that you were running and the type of setup and operating system that was being used, when the data was lost. Especially if you are contacting them by e-mail, this can save a lot of time and allow them to get you a quote and start your data recovery as soon as possible.

Go Daddy plans initial public offering, sources say - MarketWatch

Go Daddy plans initial public offering, sources say - MarketWatch.

This is an interesting article I came across today. Seems like GoDaddy is on its way to becoming a publiically traded company. I really hope this new change does not affect the way GoDaddy has always offered exceptional products for a very low price.

Recovering your data with Data Recovery

Looking for the best data recovery software can be a real nightmare when you have just lost, seemingly irretrievably, much of your work. But if you don't panic and look carefully for the best solution, than very often it is possible to retrieve much if not all of your lost data. There are many software packages out there that can help with this process as long as you take the correct steps initially The right software can enable you to not only retrieve files that you have unintentionally deleted, but also, in some cases, data that has been lost due to a virus attack. The key for most of these programs to work is to not allow any more writing to the disk in question. A good program for data that has been accidentally deleted is undelete. It has been used hundreds of times to recover data that has been deleted by the act of a person.

One of the key things in choosing the right software, is to know how the data was lost. Whether it was due to a virus, a mistake on your part, or even a hardware failure, so that you can decide which is the best data recovery method to use.

If you are quick enough, it is possible that you will not even need the data recovery software. When data is deleted it is not always trashed straight away. The operating system will change the file so that it won't be displayed when you're looking for it.

If you can find this gap in the system before the computer uses it for something else, then it is possible to simply undelete it and the file will reappear with all your data. This way you can avoid the need for data recovery software and you should be back in business.

The trick is to be very quick and find the gap in the system before doing too much other work, as this, especially if your hard drive has got very little unused space, may cause the computer to use the gap for something else. If you have not noticed the loss, and the computer has used it, then probably your best chance is in using some good quality data recovery software or service.

Another problem can arise if you decide to repair the drive by defragging the computer, before you have a chance to try any data recovery. You probably will not lose all of it, but it is possible to lose some of it, as when you defrag it can cause some of the files to be overwritten.

Of course even if you only use one or two small files by doing this, chances are they will be the most important ones! So it is best to try to get to grips with your data recovery before doing any defragging. Even if you are not actively running this application, you should think whether you have preprogrammed to defrag the disc at specific intervals.

So if you think you have lost any data, it is always best to try and recover it before doing anything else. That way you have a much better chance of success with your data recovery.