Another Day With My PC

The Internet has definitely revolutionized the way files are being shared or transferred. Gone are the days when you have to rely on FedEx or DHL to send important files or programs to another person who’s residing on a different continent.

While the process has indeed become much simpler and easier, it has also become less secured. File repositories don’t usually check the data that are being sent to them for storage. The task of ensuring that they are clean, then, falls upon those who will be downloading them.

Don’t just download anything on the Web even if the link or file comes from a trusted friend. Who knows, that friend of yours might have gotten the file from somebody who has 10 for an IQ on PC security, or worse, has an IQ 150 for malware dissemination. Always scan the files or programs that you hoard from the Net. If the program that you’ve downloaded doesn’t do anything when you click on its icon but your hard drive lamp is flickering like crazy, then that’s a sign that something fishy is going on. Conduct a full system scan right away.

As computer literacy continues to rise among kids ages 7 and below, I can’t help but wonder if we’ll still see kids playing out on the lawn this summer. Many children are now into online games, preferring to play with other kids on the Internet rather than on the streets.

I’m not sure if this trend could be immediately curbed. The fact that everything can be or is already being done on the Internet makes parents quite adamant in slowing down their children’s curiosity towards the PC. I agree.

While it is indeed wise to allow our kids to explore the Internet, we must ensure that their online time or experience is not hampered by bothersome pop ups or computer hiccups. Kids do have very short patience and a little glitch could make them shun the PC and hit the TV instead. Install PC safeguards, such as an antivirus program and a registry cleaner. This would definitely make their surfing time safe and seamless.

Don’t you find it amazing that kids as young as 3 years old are already tapping their fragile fingers at keyboards? Let’s face it, generation X, Y, and the coming Zs will be exposed to computers as early as their first year outside the womb.

Time will come when kids at primary school will be more literate than us when it comes to computers. Whether or not their first experience with the PC will be pleasant or frustrating depends largely on us adults. We all know that malicious and pernicious materials abound in the Web, and we can’t monitor or filter everything that they read, see, or download in cyberspace.

One of the best ways by which we could ensure that they won’t stray to forbidden Web sites is by installing applications that restrict child movement in cyberspace. This also protects them from logging on to Web sites that disseminate files that are infected with malware.

Invest in programs that put virtual barb wire around your PC whenever it’s connected to the Internet. Antivirus and registry cleaners are must haves. As for Web site filters, there are various applications available in the market. Check your Web browser’s maker if they’re offering a free add-on or built-in filter. This could save you a few bucks. But don’t scrimp on security software, though. They are very good investments.

I guess it’s safe to say that all of us have already experienced some sort of connection problem. If you still haven’t, then you either have an ISP that’s made in heaven or you don’t have one at all.

In case your browser doesn’t transport you to your homepage, or to any Web site, then you’re most likely having a connection problem. The first thing that you have to check is if all the lights on your modem are turned on. If it isn’t, then the solution lies with your ISP’s customer service hotline. If they’re all lit up, then the answer to your problem might just be a few mouse clicks away.

The most common solution to network or connection dilemmas is by right-clicking on the network icon located in the system tray. Select Repair and wait for a few seconds. Normally this should do the trick. However, in case Windows cannot automatically give you a new IP address so that you could connect to the Internet, you have to do it the old fashioned way. And when I say old, I mean DOS old.

Go to the command prompt and type ipconfig/release. This discards your old IP address. After a few seconds, you should see zeroes in the IP address and subnet mask. Type ipconfic/renew. A new IP address would then be issued to your system. Check if you’re connection is already up and running by trying to access any Web site.

Microsoft’s announcement that it will release the public beta version if Internet Explorer 8 during the third quarter of this year drew mixed reactions from both fans and foes of the most widely-used browser in the world.

Redmond has already released a beta version several months ago for developers. Unfortunately, it drew flack on many of those who tested it. But that’s not surprising though, considering that IE8’s authors precisely released it to the experts so that they could put a few cents on it.

Of course, the public beta version would already be about a mile and a half better than the previous test release. While Microsoft’s purpose of releasing the unpolished product is for people to be bugged by it and for them to report the annoyances that they’ve experienced when using it as a surfboard on the Internet, still many welcome this pass-the-responsibility-of-detecting-the-bugs move or policy of Microsoft. I guess many are of the opinion that it’s better to be bugged now when we’re ready with the repellants.

I just hope that IE8 would be a lot faster and more secure than the current one that we’re using. Sometimes, a quad-core, spyware-free PC still seems to be a laggard due to the sloth-y Web browsers that we’re using. Security is also a main concern. Take note that many of the malware that we inadvertently welcome in our systems come from the Internet. Gone are the days when viruses get introduced to our PC by carelessly exchanging floppy disks or other storage media from friends or officemates. Everything is done online now, and our browsers are our primary gateway to cyberspace.

Have you noticed that it’s been quite a while since Microsoft has released a new browser? Whenever I see IE 7’s icon on my desktop, I sometimes feel that it has been installed there for almost a decade already.

Everybody wants to see something new on their computer. Why do you think people mobbed the stores when Vista was first released? The fact that the first program that we always see on our computer is the operating system makes us all the more eager to try new ones in order to break the monotony. Many indeed decided to change despite the fact that many analysts stressed at that time that XP is more secured than its successor.

The second most used program in your PC would most likely be the browser. Naturally, you would want a new one to spice up things when you teleport yourself into cyberspace. Seeing the same old interface day after day would, after all, cause undue fatigue to your eyes.

I think the guys at Redmond have already noticed that they’ve been using the same old browser for Bill knows when. Hence, the release of Internet Explorer 8.

But don’t jump to Microsoft’s download site just yet. The fact that it’s free doesn’t mean that it’s ok to try it out without giving other things a thought. Take note that while the browser is your primary portal to the Internet, it is also the door most commonly used by hackers to take control of your PC.

IE 8 is still in its beta stages. Although Microsoft has already released a copy of it, it’s still far from being the finished product. The fact that it’s a beta version should clip your eagerness in trying the application. You could be sure that there are a variety of issues that are hounding the new browser, foremost of which is security.

If you’re bent on introducing the new Microsoft browser in your system, make sure that all your security apps are up and running. Be sure to have RegCure installed so that your Windows registry will not be compromised. Of course, an antivirus is also indispensable. Although it might be ok to try IE 8 beta, you shouldn’t use it as your primary browser. Doing so would be like putting up a door with a broken lock.

One of the reasons why I hate cleaning my desktop is because of the multitude of wires attached to it. Looking at the back of my PC’s casing reminds me of Rapunzel’s golden locks. If my memory serves me right, around 5 wires or cables entangle each other for accommodation at the various port sockets. Aggravating this eyesore are their lengths which could definitely strangle your patience when the time to clean and untangle them arrives.

Haircut

While you couldn’t dispense with the wire that connects your PC to the power outlet, there is one that you could do away with – the DSL cable. Ever since laptops started threatening the existence of desktops, wireless routers sprouted like mushrooms. Indeed, the very essence of mobile PCs would be defeated if it is nailed to the table next to where the DSL cable is. By setting up a wireless router in your home or at the office, you could unshackle your notebooks and other electronic gadgets that can connect to the Internet.

Share the Wealth

It’s not only laptops that catapulted the wireless router to the pedestal of Internet connectivity. High speed DSL connection also made wireless access viable. Take note that a router’s main task is to enable multiple users to share one common Internet source or access. Sharing a 10mbps connection is a must. I mean, what do you need the extra 9MB for? However, if you’re still stuck in dial-up, then sharing that 56kbps that your ISP is giving you is like sharing a single spaghetti strand with just one meatball on it.

You don’t need a Computer Science degree at Princeton or NYU in order to be able to set up a wireless network right at your own home. Most of the routers that are available in the market today are like RTWs. In case you haven’t noticed, the user’s part in installing a PC peripheral is usually just confined to connecting the power or the USB cable on the component.

Before Buying a Router…

There are a few things that you have to consider before opting to blanket your house with wireless Internet. First and foremost is security. If you don’t intend on sharing your wireless Internet with your neighbor, then I suggest that you buy a router with a limited range. Of course, you could always secure your network by using passwords, but it’s better to nip the problem in the bud.

Another thing that you have to consider is viability. You may have a fast Internet connection, but if you have a dozen family members living under one roof, then your generosity might just frustrate you in the end. Before setting up a wireless network, consider the number of people who would be using it. If they’re many, or a few but would be downloading megabytes or gigabytes of files, then I suggest that you upgrade your DSL plan first before even trying to share the blessing.

There are many risks in connecting to the Internet. Make sure that you have the necessary system and security tools, such as a registry cleaner and an antivirus, before warping into cyberspace.

I was browsing for something the other day when I heard my sister throw out a series of profanities on her computer. I jokingly told her that her PC might answer back. She just smirked. She then vented her anger on me and asked why is her Internet connection is so slow. I was quite surprised considering that we’re using the same DSL connection via a wireless router.

I checked her PC and ran a series of bandwidth tests. Everything seems ok. In fact, her PC seems to warp around cyberspace a lot faster than my laptop. I also explained to her that bandwidth is not usually the culprit in slow chat response time since IRCs or IMs don’t require a 1mbps connection in order to relay messages on time. In fact, even a dial-up connection would do, unless you’re having a teleconference.

Before cursing your ISP, check your connection stats first. The Web site that you’re browsing might just be having a down time, or the person you’re chatting with might have just taken a few winks.

Do you think that human interaction is getting too impersonal?

Teleconferencing used to be a fixture in sci-fi flicks. Of course, this is anything but science fiction today. In fact, you’re probably having a cam-to-cam conversation right now with somebody who’s several states or continents away.

I have no qualms in conversing with somebody electronically, be that through e-mail, instant messaging programs, or even bulletin board systems (I know, I know, too passé). However, nothing beats talking with somebody face to face while having a good cup of coffee, especially if that somebody is someone very dear to you. But if it’s your boss, then I guess you would agree with me that you’d rather communicate with him through BBS :)

Technology will definitely change the way we communicate, if it hasn’t already. It will most likely make the same all the more impersonal, but it will definitely make it more convenient.

Instant messaging or internet relay chats were not yet popular during my high school days. Although I was able to communicate with a few people who I don’t know from Australia and New Zealand, I have our school’s pen pal program to thank that for. But don’t get me wrong, though. The thought of speaking with somebody who’s from another continent isn’t exactly considered a Michael J. Fox movie even when I was still in kindergarten. Unless you’ve already forgotten, a sort of instant messaging service was already in existence even during our grandparents’ time in the form of telegram services.

Small, Small World

The world shrank further a few years later when the Internet’s popularity increased exponentially. Web sites were not yet widespread back then, and people were not that reliant on the same for information. What many appreciated the Internet for during that time was for the messaging services. Yahoo! or Windows/MSN Messenger was not yet available. The first communications tool or application that I remember using was mIRC.

Internet relay chat programs allow users to exchange messages in real time. It’s no different than with the instant messengers that everybody’s using nowadays, well except that the former’s GUI is a bit prehistoric, and the smileys are still “cro-magnic.” Oh and of course, Web cams were unheard of back then.

Exploiting for Exploits

As with anything on the Internet, hackers soon found a way to use IRCs to infect PCs with their creations. While IRCs primarily process messages and send them to their intended recipients, they also have the ability to send files.

It’s very easy to spread malware through IRCs or IMs. Almost all people who have Internet access use them, unless the persons that he needs or intends to communicate with all live in his house. Hackers usually open up accounts and pose as chatters who pretend to be interested in befriending you. During the course of your conversation, he will ask you to receive a file from him, purportedly a picture of him or something that might be interesting to you. If you’re too trusting (or gullible), then chances are is that you’ll be reformatting your hard drive the next day due to a hopeless case of registry infestation.

Surfing With Bodyguards

We’re always told to never talk to strangers. While you may think that such warning doesn’t apply in the virtual world, think again. The admonition is actually more relevant, or at least equally applicable in cyberspace. Don’t underestimate the cunningness of con artists lurking around the chat rooms. Many have already been victimized personally and virtually. The danger is real. You could be robbed or maligned in cyberspace. While you may escape physical harm when entertaining strangers in IRCs or IMs, the virtual or electronic injury can be likewise equally painful.

Protect yourself and your computer from being mugged in cyberspace. Make sure that you have electronic sentinels before taking a trip in cyberspace. Two bodyguards in the form of an antivirus and registry cleaner programs should already be enough to ward off malicious attacks.

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