Another Day With My PC

Programming is not that esoteric. While applications are made up of ones and zeroes, modern programming tools or languages already allow us to create software using words that do not compete with Morse codes as far as understandability is concerned.

Many of today’s viruses or spyware infect programs by inserting seemingly meaningless words or series of characters into the lines that make up the application. If you want a hands-on experience in removing malicious codes, then you could do so by opening up the program into its bare essentials. All you have to do thereafter is to look for the line that is not included in the original make up of the software. This may seem easy if the lines or codes are just a page long. However, most applications nowadays contain kilometers of programming sentences.

Malware that strikes Windows registries also perform their pernicious act in similar fashion. You may remove the malicious line or instruction by yourself without the aid of any tool, but this is very dangerous as any erroneous alteration could lead to a system crash. This is the reason why you should leave Windows registry cleaning to RegCure. RegCure eliminates unwanted instructions inside your system’s registry, thereby enhancing your PC’s performance and ensuring the integrity of your operating system.

Do you know what endorphins are?

Endorphins are euphoria-inducing neurotransmitters that act as natural anesthetics. They’re also considered as happy hormones or chemicals produced by the brain that make us feel good. So whenever we smile and feel good about something, chances are is that endorphins are being mixed in our system.

So what do endorphins have to do with computers?

Feeling Good

We all want to feel good and safe whenever we turn our PCs power button on. We definitely want to double that sense of security whenever we hit the power button of our modem. There are hundreds of ways by which our PC could get mangled when it’s running, so it could be surmised that our endorphin levels are dipping dangerously to the bottom whenever we’re using it, especially when we’re connected on the Internet.

Whether you’re PCs holding sensitive information or just plain old games that you could easily install if it gets corrupted, you would definitely want your system to be able to fend off attacks from malware. I know, we’ve all heard of back ups, but reinstalling data back into a freshly reformatted hard drive consumes time. And even if data back up is already as common or popular as sliced bread, not everybody eats bread.

Additional Troops

An average PC user usually just depends on an antivirus and his operating system’s firewall for security. Ordinarily, this may already be enough. However, we’re all aware of the growing threat both on software and hardware. Viruses and spyware are being manufactured everyday from different points of the globe. Hence, one might say that it’s only a matter of time before an infiltration becomes successful.

I’m fully aware of the possibility that my system would eventually succumb to an attack. However, I also know that I could beat or go against the odds or predictions by encircling my PC with barbed wire. There’s this unexplainable feeling of joy, pride, and relief whenever I could tell myself that my PC is somewhat impregnable. I usually boast to my officemates that my laptop can withstand malware attacks, even some harsh ones, considering the sentinels that I’ve installed in my system. Aside from my antivirus and the built-in firewall in my OS, I also have RegCure since many malware targets system registries.

e-endorphins

The one thing that many of us value is peace of mind. I hate worries. I always want to do things with the assurance that when something goes wrong, I could still recover what have been lost. Or better yet, I want to do things with the thought that I won’t be disrupted therefrom. This goes double whenever I’m using my PC. I relish at the assurance that I’ll be able to recover what I would lose in case my system crashes. But the very thing that makes me feel secured is the thought that my computer would be able to withstand any attack against it.

Life is stressful enough to make room for a couple of more worries. Insurance companies often make this point in order to sell their products. And believe me, they do have a point. In the same manner, makers of security software and system tools assure people a considerable degree of confidence and assurance whenever they put their life in the hands of their PCs.

Inject a good amount of endorphins in your system by injecting a registry cleaner and an antivirus in your PC. These applications are not just mere placebos. They are up to the task of ensuring that the smile plastered on your face whenever you venture into cyberspace is justified.

New Year’s fast approaching. In fact, I could already see fireworks challenging the moon outside my window at this very instance. The sight is a treat. It’s not everyday that I see something new or spectacular whenever I peek out on the window.

Speaking of windows, do you expect to see something new and exciting on your desktop this coming New Year? If you’re using an operating system other than Vista, then chances are, you couldn’t or shouldn’t expect much. I still haven’t discarded XP on my old PC, and honestly I’m starting to get tired of looking at the same old desktop themes and menus.

Vista for Less

Of course, there’s a quick fix to that eyesore. I think I’ve already provided a solution to this problem on my December 26 post (Skin-Deep). There are many available Windows themes on the Web. The one that I’ve featured in the said article is a freeware by OrdinarySoft. Like most freebies on the Net, it doesn’t pack all the features of the program. You have to buy the full version. But the limited/trial version doesn’t expire. And if you’re just after the skin, then you don’t have to skin your wallet to get what you want from the program.

If you’re not a Vista fan though, or if you think that the new Microsoft OS is still aesthetically challenged, then OrdinarySoft’s mimicry of Vista would obviously just spoil your New Year. So let’s check on another alternative in cyberspace.

Willingly Deceived

Stardock provides a library of Windows themes that would surely make you look forward to opening your PC (except if you’re doing the same at the office and you’re up against a deadline). The program, called WindowBlinds, changes every perceivable detail of your desktop, be it the start menu, task bars, and even the buttons. I tried installing the trial version and it was great. My old PC suddenly seemed to have been rejuvenated. Well, not really. I mean it’s still slow, but the new theme makes the wait quite bearable.

WindowBlinds makes you feel and think that your PC is running on an entirely new OS. You may argue that the program is just a foolish superficial deception. Maybe. But the fact that many purchased Vista just for its skin makes theme programs very good alternatives. Nobody’s complaining about XP’s performance. In fact, it’s more reliable than Vista. The only complain that XP owners have about their OS is that it looks old.

Camouflaged

Installing programs like WindowsBlind may seem harmless, especially since it’s only skin deep. But be very careful when introducing any application that you’ve downloaded on the Internet, especially if the author of the same is unknown. Spyware are sometimes disguised as legitimate programs, and in most cases, they do seem to be genuine apps since they look like and perform the functions of the application that they purport to be. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye because the spyware is running simultaneously with the installed application and is camouflaged by the latter.

Make sure that you’re security suite is updated whenever you download and install programs from the Net, especially if the source is unknown or dubious. Many spyware focus on system files, including the operating system’s registry. So be sure you have a registry cleaner installed in order to protect your PC from veiled intruders. Start your New Year right by keeping your life (I mean your PC) safe and secured. Install RegCure and make 2008 a trouble-free and efficient year for you Happy New Year!

If you’re in the habit of using your Web cam as a mirror (through the Web cam window, of course), this worrying piece of fact might encourage you to go back to the more traditional way of looking at your reflection.

PC security analysts have confirmed that it is possible for a third person to take control of your camera and see everything that it’s focused on. While this fact may seem quite far-fetched, it isn’t exactly a scene taken out of Star Wars or Star Trek.

As Long as it’s Connected

Many harbor the misconception that hackers cannot access the peripherals that are appended on a PC. Indeed, many malicious attacks mainly centers on taking over one’s unit by injecting various forms of malware into the hard drive or altering the system registry so that the operating system would perform functions or instructions that could seriously compromise the performance of the system.

The erroneous perception may seem illogical, considering that a device attached to the PC is very much a part of the PC. Hence, one should not be surprised if a college geek could print out his report on his dean’s printer located a few buildings away from his dormitory. Peripherals are the limbs of a computer. Hence, if you’re able to control central nervous system of a PC, then every device that is connected to it is at your every beck and call.

Building Gates

Securing your system from external threats is not that difficult. The task of barricading your PC with barbed wires is easier than trying to form a commando unit of malware for the purpose of attacking a computer. This is probably the reason why many are not aware of the possibility that their Web cam could very well become another man’s eye. Spy software such as those which exploit Web cams are easily crushed by antivirus and anti-spyware software. Hence, malicious program authors don’t devote that much time and attention in getting themselves a third eye.

Isolating the Problem

For those who are not comfortable in entrusting their privacy to security suites, the easiest way of protecting your PCs from external threats is by disconnecting it from the outside world. An isolated PC is as safe and secure as a house built on top of the moon. However, this drastic approach to PC security is impractical and unproductive. Unless you intend your computer to be just a mere household furniture for display, it wouldn’t be wise to divorce it from the rest of the world.

Everybody should know by now that PCs are portals to every perceivable nook around the globe, and maybe even beyond. To shut it out by castrating the LAN port or wireless Internet antenna would be a sin that is too unforgivable in an era where information is vital and interdependence is necessary for survival. The malware problem that everybody’s experiencing is not that insurmountable. In fact, the odds are against those who are trying to barge through the gates that we’ve set up against them. Just make sure that you have a registry cleaner and antivirus installed in your system. These sentinels are usually enough to thwart any attack that could compromise your PCs security and privacy.

Have you read PC World’s take on the various external hard drives in the market? It featured ten of the best, ranking them based on speed, price, and reliability.

External hard drives are great devices for back ups. In fact, it seems that it had already pushed the tape drive on the brink of extinction. If manufacturers would further improve on the peripheral’s reliability and portability, it might send many external back up products or solutions to the museum!

It’s still not a good alternative to the internal hard drive as far as using it as a primary storage device is concerned, though. Some are even questioning its practicability as a back up option. Many users are using DVD disks as secondary repositories of their data. While DVDs pale in comparison to external hard drives in terms of size, the former is believed to be more reliable in maintaining the integrity of the files burned to it. It is also more practical since many of the data files that are saved on back up devices are not that big, even collectively. Applications need not be saved since they can be reinstalled using the set up disks.

Despite the doubts that are being cast upon it, external hard drives are still great storage or back up devices. While it would seem too impractical to use it to create a mirror image of your primary storage device, such a move would definitely be very rewarding when the internal hard disk crashes due to viruses or problems with the system registry. While others would be spending a day reformatting and reinstalling programs after a crash, those who took a snapshot of their primary hard drive using their external hard drive could continue on with their tasks as if nothing had happened.

Don’t you just love the “undo” function or feature in some programs?

We’ve all been careless at some point when we were writing a report, filling the cells in a spreadsheet application, or writing a C or Visual Basic program. Committing a mistake or making a simple typographical error in Microsoft Word won’t spell disaster to your article. Just press Ctrl+Z to get your word processor do that back-to-the-future thing.

Committing a mistake in writing a news or feature article is not devastating. All you have to do is make the necessary changes. However, committing an error while editing or modifying a critical system file, such as the Windows registry, could have a drastic and irreversible consequence on your system.

Some people want to do things by themselves. For example, programmers would rather debug program themselves than delegate this task to an application that is specially made for that purpose. While a hands-on approach to PC problems is commendable, it is sometimes undesirable. Take, for example, the need to clean up the system registry. Those who know a lot about registries could do this with their eyes closed. However, as many PC users are not that knowledgeable or familiar with the intricacies of an OS or of the hardware itself, it is imperative that they leave these tasks to programs that are designed to handle these problems.

If you’re not that well-versed in PC operations or applications, don’t tinker with system files, especially with the Windows registry. Invest in system utilities, such as a registry cleaner. This would prevent you from causing havoc to your unit.

With the advent of the digital camera, one could not certainly help but advance the opinion that the days of photo-developing shops or labs are already numbered. Ever since I bought my Canon Powershot 430, I gradually ceased to be a customer of the photo studio near our workplace.

It doesn’t take much to learn how to edit a photo on a computer. Nowadays, even a kid could make his freckles or pimples disappear with just a few clicks of the mouse button. I’m quite ashamed to admit that I’m one of those who conduct retouches on his photos before publishing or printing them.

The program that I use to make my photos clearer (and deceivingly beautiful) is Adobe Photoshop. This application packs all the features or functions that one needs in editing or processing photos. Of course, the snapshots should come from digital cameras. However, images coming from traditional cameras could also be modified by Photoshop. All you need to do is scan the photo and save it in JPEG or other image file format.

Needless to say, Photoshop is a powerhouse when it comes to editing pictures. However, if your image-editing need is usually just confined to resizing photos or conducting slight modifications, then you don’t need the Adobe program. There are plenty of photo-editing software on the Internet that costs less. Some are even given for free. Try these programs and see if they suit your needs. However, be careful when downloading them. There are times when these programs serve as cocoons for malicious software. Check them out first so that you’ll be sure that they won’t mess up your system’s registry or trash the other files in your hard drive.

Could you survive a day in cyberspace without an anti-virus?

For those of you who haven’t experienced a nasty malware attack yet, you might probably tinker with the thought of answering in the affirmative. I mean, how harmful can surfing at Yahoo! or Google be?

I supported such a theory a few years ago when my Norton Anti-virus licenses expired. I was kind of short back then since I poured a bulk of my savings on a gorgeous NEC LCD. Installing a pirated copy of NAV or McAfee’s Virus Scan was definitely a no no, so I tried running a newly installed XP without the protection.

I haven’t even stretched my fingers yet to type in some of the URLs which I deemed to be virus-free when a message prompted me that my computer is infected with spyware. I was quite shocked at reading the message considering that I’ve been only online for about 10 minutes.

I was so disgusted at the incident that I almost pounded my desktop’s casing. Imagine, just 10 minutes online and my computer is already infected. That meant reformatting my harddrive again and reinstalling XP. Although I could install an anti-virus to get rid of the adware, the obsessive-compulsive side of me forced me to just wipe everything off my hard drive to ensure that the malware has been eradicated. I guess that’s the best thing that anybody could do in such a situation. I’m sure the malicious application has already modified my system’s registry and other critical files.

If you don’t have an anti-virus or a registry cleaner installed on your PC, do not go online. Save yourself from having to reformat and reinstall your OS. Trust me, the headache’s definitely not worth it.

I know it’s already quite late to be talking about Christmas presents, but I can’t help telling everybody that I got an Acer laptop from my mom

It’s not the latest model though, but it’s not a Celeron either. It’s a Pentium M Centrino. It doesn’t boast much in terms of graphics, but the screen resolution is something to brag about.

There are many things to like about the Acer Aspire 3620. For one thing, it’s pleasing to the eyes. It doesn’t look like a brick like some laptops do. You won’t feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders either when you put it in your backpack.

Don’t get carried away by my review. It’s not the perfect notebook. It has no dedicated video memory. To make matters worse, it only comes with 256MB of RAM. It could be upgraded to 1GB, but for those who don’t have the extra bucks, you’re virtually stuck with a unit that constantly has amnesia.

I got my laptop to run faster without having to burn my savings for memory. It turned out that my system registry has been cluttered and modified by certain applications. They are not exactly viruses or malwares. However, these programs usually complicate the registry which, in turn, makes the overall system performance slow.

The screen still freezes sometimes even if I got some errors fixed. However, it now performs much better than it did before I got my system registry checked and fixed.

I sometimes long for the time when everything about the personal computer was simple. Upgrading your Operating System back then was just as simple and uncomplicated as replacing the floppy disk inside the 5-inch drive. The only system optimization tools back then were the Disk Defragmenter and the Disk Doctor, which checked for bad sectors. Having a colored monitor during the 1970s was quite inconsequential, too. Prior to the advent of Windows, the OS of choice was the MS-DOS. In case you didn’t know, DOS didn’t offer any GUI or graphical user interface. Everything was just plain text in black and white. In fact, the only thing that differentiated the PC from the typewriter is the monitor.Everything has changed rapidly since then. Programs have become more complicated and demanded more from the system. Faulty software design has also cluttered the system registry. In short, everything became… well, somewhat of a mess.

Ok, so my nostalgia may be misplaced. After all, who would really want to go back to the time when the PC was just a word processor? What I do want to experience again though, is a faster and uncomplicated PC that is not beset by faulty hardware and software design. I’m sure you feel the same way too… Right?

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