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Convert Document To PDF

Posted on 04 October 2009 by admin

Introduction

There are several ways to create a PDF from a Microsoft Word document. PDF, or Portable Document Format, is used worldwide as a standard in publishing documents on the Internet. This article will briefly look at the origins and use of PDF and detail a document conversion solution that anyone can use.

Background
PDF has become the de facto standard in sharing documents and publishing on the Internet. For a complete look at the origins of PDF, see history of PDF at http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/history/history01.htm
Documents are created using a variety of applications. Some of the most popular are Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher, plus many other kinds of applications. Sharing and publishing those documents becomes difficult when not everyone uses the same software.
Anyone can download and install the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader and view PDFs. However, the Acrobat Reader cannot create a PDF. To create a PDF from your document you will need additional software or you can use an online conversion service.
Options
1. Buy full verion of Adobe Acrobat.
2. Buy software from another vendor that needs to be installed.
3. Use an online conversion service.
Buying a new version of Adobe Acrobat will cost over $200. If you have a licensed copy of Adobe Acrobat, you are set and ready to convert.
Purchasing another vendor’s software is a bit of a guessing game on what to buy and whom you are buying from. Most companies will offer you a free trial version. Install it and try it out before committing to buying the software. When using either Adobe Acrobat or another conversion software product can be a good option, if you can afford the initial cost. However, buying software means you’re ethically limited to using it on only one computer. You will also need to purchase upgrades as they become available.
Online conversion services are another option. With most, you simply upload your document to their site, it is converted and returned to you, either by email or a link back to the site. Some companies provide free conversions with limitations, which can include document file size, number of pages, or restricted ability to print or change your PDF. This option usually gives you a quick and easy way to find out if the service will meet your needs. The advantage to using an online service is that the cost is lower and the service is accessible from anywhere you have an Internet connection. You also avoid upgrade costs when newer software becomes necessary.
Solutions
A closer look at one PDF conversion option reveals just how easy the process really is. pdf4u is an online document conversion service that can be found on the web at http://www.pdf4u.com.
This particular service offers two ways to convert a Word document to PDF: submitting the document using their site or installing their printer and using it for your conversions. We’ll walk through both methods.
Converting Native Word Document
1. Go to http://www.pdf4u.com. Enter your email address. This automatically becomes your user name and will be the address used to return your PDF via attachment. If you have a Hotmail, Google, or Yahoo email account, you’ll be able to use this solution anywhere you can access the Internet.
2. Select the Word document to be converted to PDF by using the browse button.
3. If you have a subscription you can change any of the Document Settings. The only one that has any effect on the quality of the PDF is the PDF Quality option. The PDF Quality option defines the resolution of the PDF document. If you have a lot of graphics you might need the prepress option.
4. Click on the Convert button.
You should be taken to a new page on the browser that tells you if the document was submitted and accepted successfully. If successful it will display the Document Settings your new PDF will have when you receive it as an attachment via email.
pdf4u Printer
Installing the printer requires an extra step but once installed is easy to use and you won’t need to start a browser session to submit a document for conversion to PDF.
1. Go to the web site and click on the Printer Download menu item. that is displayed on the left menu. Download the pdf4u printer and install using the default options.
Open up your Word document to be converted and select the pdf4u printer as your printer.
2. Review your document and print using the pdf4u printer.
3. Once printing is completed a Document Submission Software screen will appear. On this screen enter the email address to send the converted PDF. Make any changes to the document name as desired and click the Next button.
4. The next screen is for setting the Document Settings and display resolution. Set the Document Settings to be placed on the PDF and the PDF display resolution. For best display results select the pre-press option for the PDF Display Resolution field. Click the Next button and your document will begin transferring to the pdf4u web site.
5. When the document has completed uploading you will get a File Transfer Completed screen to indicate the status of your file transfer operation. If you do not have a subscription to pdf4u the settings on the Document Settings screen will be ignored and the maximum file size (as of this writing) that can be uploaded is 50K.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 6 for each document to be converted to PDF.
Whichever option you choose, document conversion to PDF should be relatively painless. And since it appears as though PDF is here to stay, everyone should make certain they have this capability at their fingertips.
Introduction
There are several ways to create a PDF from a Microsoft Word document. PDF, or Portable Document Format, is used worldwide as a standard in publishing documents on the Internet. This article will briefly look at the origins and use of PDF and detail a document conversion solution that anyone can use.
Background
PDF has become the de facto standard in sharing documents and publishing on the Internet. For a complete look at the origins of PDF, see history of PDF at http://www.prepressure.com/pdf/history/history01.htm
Documents are created using a variety of applications. Some of the most popular are Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Publisher, plus many other kinds of applications. Sharing and publishing those documents becomes difficult when not everyone uses the same software.
Anyone can download and install the free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader and view PDFs. However, the Acrobat Reader cannot create a PDF. To create a PDF from your document you will need additional software or you can use an online conversion service.
Options
1. Buy full verion of Adobe Acrobat.
2. Buy software from another vendor that needs to be installed.
3. Use an online conversion service.
Buying a new version of Adobe Acrobat will cost over $200. If you have a licensed copy of Adobe Acrobat, you are set and ready to convert.
Purchasing another vendor’s software is a bit of a guessing game on what to buy and whom you are buying from. Most companies will offer you a free trial version. Install it and try it out before committing to buying the software. When using either Adobe Acrobat or another conversion software product can be a good option, if you can afford the initial cost. However, buying software means you’re ethically limited to using it on only one computer. You will also need to purchase upgrades as they become available.
Online conversion services are another option. With most, you simply upload your document to their site, it is converted and returned to you, either by email or a link back to the site. Some companies provide free conversions with limitations, which can include document file size, number of pages, or restricted ability to print or change your PDF. This option usually gives you a quick and easy way to find out if the service will meet your needs. The advantage to using an online service is that the cost is lower and the service is accessible from anywhere you have an Internet connection. You also avoid upgrade costs when newer software becomes necessary.
Solutions
A closer look at one PDF conversion option reveals just how easy the process really is. pdf4u is an online document conversion service that can be found on the web at http://www.pdf4u.com.
This particular service offers two ways to convert a Word document to PDF: submitting the document using their site or installing their printer and using it for your conversions. We’ll walk through both methods.
Converting Native Word Document
1. Go to http://www.pdf4u.com. Enter your email address. This automatically becomes your user name and will be the address used to return your PDF via attachment. If you have a Hotmail, Google, or Yahoo email account, you’ll be able to use this solution anywhere you can access the Internet.
2. Select the Word document to be converted to PDF by using the browse button.
3. If you have a subscription you can change any of the Document Settings. The only one that has any effect on the quality of the PDF is the PDF Quality option. The PDF Quality option defines the resolution of the PDF document. If you have a lot of graphics you might need the prepress option.
4. Click on the Convert button.
You should be taken to a new page on the browser that tells you if the document was submitted and accepted successfully. If successful it will display the Document Settings your new PDF will have when you receive it as an attachment via email.
pdf4u Printer
Installing the printer requires an extra step but once installed is easy to use and you won’t need to start a browser session to submit a document for conversion to PDF.
1. Go to the web site and click on the Printer Download menu item. that is displayed on the left menu. Download the pdf4u printer and install using the default options.
Open up your Word document to be converted and select the pdf4u printer as your printer.
2. Review your document and print using the pdf4u printer.
3. Once printing is completed a Document Submission Software screen will appear. On this screen enter the email address to send the converted PDF. Make any changes to the document name as desired and click the Next button.
4. The next screen is for setting the Document Settings and display resolution. Set the Document Settings to be placed on the PDF and the PDF display resolution. For best display results select the pre-press option for the PDF Display Resolution field. Click the Next button and your document will begin transferring to the pdf4u web site.
5. When the document has completed uploading you will get a File Transfer Completed screen to indicate the status of your file transfer operation. If you do not have a subscription to pdf4u the settings on the Document Settings screen will be ignored and the maximum file size (as of this writing) that can be uploaded is 50K.
6. Repeat steps 2 through 6 for each document to be converted to PDF.
Whichever option you choose, document conversion to PDF should be relatively painless. And since it appears as though PDF is here to stay, everyone should make certain they have this capability at their fingertips.
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Computer Viruses: The Nasty Truth

Posted on 04 October 2009 by admin

The term, “virus”, in computer technology, refers to a self replicating application that spreads by making copies of itself by inserting into other programs, other executables or documents, and when executed begins to perform harmful actions on the system. All computer viruses are deliberately created, not always malicious and some of them may be benign and simply annoying.

Non-Memory Resident and Memory Resident Viruses:
Non-Memory resident viruses, when they are executed, immediately look for other hosts that can be infected. When they infect these targets, they transfer control to the application program they infected. A non-resident virus has a finder module and a replication module. The finder module, once it finds a new file to infect, calls upon the replication module to infect that file.
Memory-Resident virus stays in the memory and do not look for hosts to infect when they are executed. It stays active in the background after its host program is terminated, and infects files as soon as they are opened or accessed by other programs or the operating system. It does have the replication module like the non-memory resident virus, but without the finder module.
Types of Computer Viruses:
File Viruses: These types of viruses are the most common, and mostly infect open files and program libraries on an operating system. The virus functions by inserting itself into a host file, modifies it in such a way that the virus is executed when the file is opened. They are also known as left viruses. Today, there are known viruses infecting all kinds of executables of standard DOS: batch command files (BAT), loadable drivers (SYS, including special purpose files IO.SYS and MS- DOS.SYS) and binary executables (EXE, COM). There are also viruses targeting executables of other operating systems – Windows 3.x, Windows95/NT, OS/2, Macintosh, Unix, including the VxD drivers of Windows 3.x and Windows95.
Macro viruses: Macros are used in most word processing programs such as Microsoft Office in order to automate or simplify recurring tasks in documents. Macro viruses are those viruses that use the application’s own macro programming language to distribute themselves, in which an unwanted sequence of actions is performed automatically when the application is started or something else triggers it. These macro viruses may inflict damage to the document or to other computer software but are relatively harmless, and are often spread as an e-mail virus.
Boot Viruses: These were one of the most common viruses prevalent during the early and mid 1990s, when the use of diskettes was popular. These viruses infect or substitute their own code for either the DOS boot sector or the Master Boot Record (MBR), which controls the boot sequence of the PC. The MBR is executed every time a computer is booted so the virus will also be loaded into memory on every startup and spreads to every disk that the system reads. They are typically very difficult to remove, and most antivirus programs cannot clean the MBR while Windows is running. So, bootable antivirus disks are needed to fix boot sector viruses.
Script viruses: They are a division of file viruses, written in a variety of script languages such as VBS, JavaScript, BAT, PHP, HTML etc. They can form a part of multi-component viruses or infect other scripts such as Windows or Linux command and service files. If the file format, such as HTML, allows the execution of scripts, they can infect it.
The term, “virus”, in computer technology, refers to a self replicating application that spreads by making copies of itself by inserting into other programs, other executables or documents, and when executed begins to perform harmful actions on the system. All computer viruses are deliberately created, not always malicious and some of them may be benign and simply annoying.
Non-Memory Resident and Memory Resident Viruses:
Non-Memory resident viruses, when they are executed, immediately look for other hosts that can be infected. When they infect these targets, they transfer control to the application program they infected. A non-resident virus has a finder module and a replication module. The finder module, once it finds a new file to infect, calls upon the replication module to infect that file.
Memory-Resident virus stays in the memory and do not look for hosts to infect when they are executed. It stays active in the background after its host program is terminated, and infects files as soon as they are opened or accessed by other programs or the operating system. It does have the replication module like the non-memory resident virus, but without the finder module.
Types of Computer Viruses:
File Viruses: These types of viruses are the most common, and mostly infect open files and program libraries on an operating system. The virus functions by inserting itself into a host file, modifies it in such a way that the virus is executed when the file is opened. They are also known as left viruses. Today, there are known viruses infecting all kinds of executables of standard DOS: batch command files (BAT), loadable drivers (SYS, including special purpose files IO.SYS and MS- DOS.SYS) and binary executables (EXE, COM). There are also viruses targeting executables of other operating systems – Windows 3.x, Windows95/NT, OS/2, Macintosh, Unix, including the VxD drivers of Windows 3.x and Windows95.
Macro viruses: Macros are used in most word processing programs such as Microsoft Office in order to automate or simplify recurring tasks in documents. Macro viruses are those viruses that use the application’s own macro programming language to distribute themselves, in which an unwanted sequence of actions is performed automatically when the application is started or something else triggers it. These macro viruses may inflict damage to the document or to other computer software but are relatively harmless, and are often spread as an e-mail virus.
Boot Viruses: These were one of the most common viruses prevalent during the early and mid 1990s, when the use of diskettes was popular. These viruses infect or substitute their own code for either the DOS boot sector or the Master Boot Record (MBR), which controls the boot sequence of the PC. The MBR is executed every time a computer is booted so the virus will also be loaded into memory on every startup and spreads to every disk that the system reads. They are typically very difficult to remove, and most antivirus programs cannot clean the MBR while Windows is running. So, bootable antivirus disks are needed to fix boot sector viruses.
Script viruses: They are a division of file viruses, written in a variety of script languages such as VBS, JavaScript, BAT, PHP, HTML etc. They can form a part of multi-component viruses or infect other scripts such as Windows or Linux command and service files. If the file format, such as HTML, allows the execution of scripts, they can infect it.
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Clean Up Windows Registry without Downloading Anything

Posted on 28 September 2009 by admin

What’s the fuzz about Windows registry cleaners? They are everywhere, claiming to clean up your PC and make Windows run faster. Are these claims sustained? In order to answer that question, a bit of theory is necessary to better understand what’s going on when a registry cleaner application applies all sorts of optimizations.

Windows Registry is an essential part of an operating system. Storing all kinds of information from vital system and hardware configuration settings to completely unimportant stuff such as list of your latest searches, keeping Windows Registry clean and tidy makes Windows happier, and gives a significant boost to the performance of your PC. On the contrary, frequent tasks such as the installation and de-installation of various programs bloat the registry make it fragmented and littered with data that is no longer used.

Commercially available Windows Registry cleaners keep your Windows Registry tidy by cleaning up the clutter, removing obsolete entries, fixing invalid links and deleting shortcuts to non-existent files. A tidy registry means better performance. In a word, Windows Registry cleaners attempt to make your computer run as new.

It seems that the claims are substantiated. But why paying for a registry cleaning product that you have to install to the PC, thus increasing the bloat, when you can get a cleaning service for free and without installing anything?

Online Registry Cleaner makes cleaning a snatch. By removing the litter, Online Registry Cleaner makes accessing the registry faster to Windows and applications, thus greatly improving their performance. There is no need to pay, and there is no need to download or install anything. Simply point your Web browser to http://smartpctools.com/free_registry_cleaner to receive a perfect cleaning.

Online Registry Cleaner is free, small and blazing fast. It scans your Windows Registry to find obsolete and invalid information, optimize and defragment the registry file and improve the performance of your PC. By removing pieces of information that no longer belong to a valid application, Online Registry Cleaner makes your PC not only faster, but also more secure.

Do you have a personal blog? Feel free to pass a word and offer the essential registry cleaning service to your visitors! Link or install an ActiveX component from http://smartpctools.com/free_registry_cleaner to your blog or Web site, and offer your visitors a free performance boost!

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Choosing A Free Spyware Remover

Posted on 28 September 2009 by admin

These are some of the most powerful and popular spyware removers which are widely available. All of them are completely free for download from their official websites and for personal use.

Advanced Spyware Remover (ASR): This software from Evonsoft protects your system against and removes numerous malwares such as stealthy spyware, aggressive adware, system hijackers, tracking cookies, keyloggers, dialers, etc. It also scans and lists the contents of key areas of the Registry and System. The new version even includes a Quarantine Manager. Available for download free of cost at www.evonsoft.com/download.htm/
STOPzilla (http://www.stopzilla.com/): STOPzilla is very powerful in protecting against phishing and ID Theft. It features Real-Time Spyware and Adware protection, Integrated Cookie and History cleaning, Integrated Home Page Hijacker protection and a Popup protection. The ZILLAsmart technology automatically checks for updates on a daily basis, and support is free 24/7 via live chat, email or a toll free number.
AD-aware Personal (http://www.lavasoft.com/): A product from Lavasoft, this spyware removal software provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components b detecting known and unknown variants of malware by using the Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology. It scans fixed and removable drives, memory and Windows registry.
Spy Cleaner Lite (http://www.spycleaner.net/): Programs and applications that automatically install themselves on your system are identified and removed by Spy Cleaner. It scans for traces of recognized adware modules in the DAT files, registry and temporary Internet files. After the search, it provides you with a log file.
Spy-Ad Exterminator Free: The software scans for and deletes, ignores, or quarantines your system’s memory, hard drives, and registry for spyware, adware, worms, hijacks, keyloggers, IE Toolbars, etc. Has up to 20,000 malwares in database, which can be updated online.
Disspy Lite: The Disspy Lite scans memory, registry, cookies, files and folders and removes all detected malwares such as keyLoggers, Hijackers, Dialers, Spyware, Adware, Browser Helper Objects, Spyware cookies, aggressive advertising and other malware. All removed files are quarantined for restoration when needed, and users can choose to be alerted whenever a newer database version is available for download. Download available at http://www.h-desk.com/new/Download.12.0.html/
Free Spyware Scanner (www.spyscanner.net): This spyware remover has a huge database of spy components which infects the system, and offers remarkable features such as options for scanning your drives and Registry, updating online, and saving the last, best system set-up as a backup, and the option of saving log file of the scan result and file deletion for future reference.
AdDriller (www.cdmworld.com): AdDriller scans and cleans over 30,000 now malwares. It also includes features such as like active monitoring and HEX Viewers besides removing adware, spyware, malware, Trojans etc, and new features such as scheduling, scan depth, messenger services enable and disable.
Malware Sweeper (http://www.malwaresweeper.com/): This remover not only scans your registry and drives for known adware modules and Spywares, but for your active memory ad components, which are not stored on your hard drive and last only as long as the computer is powered up. It also removes bundled spyware components from Kazaa, Morpheus, audiogalaxy, grokster, Limewire, Imesh, Gnutella.

These are some of the most powerful and popular spyware removers which are widely available. All of them are completely free for download from their official websites and for personal use.

Advanced Spyware Remover (ASR): This software from Evonsoft protects your system against and removes numerous malwares such as stealthy spyware, aggressive adware, system hijackers, tracking cookies, keyloggers, dialers, etc. It also scans and lists the contents of key areas of the Registry and System. The new version even includes a Quarantine Manager. Available for download free of cost at www.evonsoft.com/download.htm/

STOPzilla (http://www.stopzilla.com/): STOPzilla is very powerful in protecting against phishing and ID Theft. It features Real-Time Spyware and Adware protection, Integrated Cookie and History cleaning, Integrated Home Page Hijacker protection and a Popup protection. The ZILLAsmart technology automatically checks for updates on a daily basis, and support is free 24/7 via live chat, email or a toll free number.

AD-aware Personal (http://www.lavasoft.com/): A product from Lavasoft, this spyware removal software provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components b detecting known and unknown variants of malware by using the Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology. It scans fixed and removable drives, memory and Windows registry.

Spy Cleaner Lite (http://www.spycleaner.net/): Programs and applications that automatically install themselves on your system are identified and removed by Spy Cleaner. It scans for traces of recognized adware modules in the DAT files, registry and temporary Internet files. After the search, it provides you with a log file.

Spy-Ad Exterminator Free: The software scans for and deletes, ignores, or quarantines your system’s memory, hard drives, and registry for spyware, adware, worms, hijacks, keyloggers, IE Toolbars, etc. Has up to 20,000 malwares in database, which can be updated online.

Disspy Lite: The Disspy Lite scans memory, registry, cookies, files and folders and removes all detected malwares such as keyLoggers, Hijackers, Dialers, Spyware, Adware, Browser Helper Objects, Spyware cookies, aggressive advertising and other malware. All removed files are quarantined for restoration when needed, and users can choose to be alerted whenever a newer database version is available for download. Download available at http://www.h-desk.com/new/Download.12.0.html/

Free Spyware Scanner (www.spyscanner.net): This spyware remover has a huge database of spy components which infects the system, and offers remarkable features such as options for scanning your drives and Registry, updating online, and saving the last, best system set-up as a backup, and the option of saving log file of the scan result and file deletion for future reference.

AdDriller (www.cdmworld.com): AdDriller scans and cleans over 30,000 now malwares. It also includes features such as like active monitoring and HEX Viewers besides removing adware, spyware, malware, Trojans etc, and new features such as scheduling, scan depth, messenger services enable and disable.

Malware Sweeper (http://www.malwaresweeper.com/): This remover not only scans your registry and drives for known adware modules and Spywares, but for your active memory ad components, which are not stored on your hard drive and last only as long as the computer is powered up. It also removes bundled spyware components from Kazaa, Morpheus, audiogalaxy, grokster, Limewire, Imesh, Gnutella.

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Block websites on your computer

Posted on 28 September 2009 by admin

Broadband Internet connectivity is so common these days that almost no one has a second thought about connecting to the Internet. Connecting is easy, but what if you need to control or restrict the ways in which the Internet connection is to be used? Sure enough, widespread availability of unlimited, unmetered Internet connections has its pros. But what about the contras?

Everybody is talking about nowadays how fast their connection is. Fast and unlimited maybe fine for the most home users, but this is not necessarily the same for work or study environments, public places, or specific age groups. The Internet contains enough threats such as spyware and viruses to make you wish to restrict access to certain resources. A virus can corrupt or destroy information on your PC, causing you spending days to recover data. Spyware steals your personal information and slows down your computer’s performance, making it a pain to work on. While it is usually possible to fix a PC contaminated with spyware and viruses, it is much safer and easier to prevent the infection in the first place – by restricting the browsing to the list of known, safe Web sites.
Restrict Internet browsing in Internet Explorer to the defined list of safe Web sites with Ashkon Software WebAllow http://www.weballow.com! WebAllow prevents electronic infections by block access to all but selected preapproved Web sites in Internet Explorer, effectively protecting your computer from spyware and viruses. If a user on your computer tries to access a website that is not on the list of allowed sites, she is redirected to a Web page of your choice to inform her about your access restriction policy.
While viruses and spyware sound familiar enough, Internet threats are not limited to those. The Internet offers a great variety of resources that are not always appropriate for your audience. Online computer games may be fine for the kids, but they can occupy the employees’ attention in an office. Online chats, forums and blogs are popular among students and office employees, occupying their time and taking away from their study or work – wasting valuable time. Finally, while certain Web sites may be appropriate for adults, these same sites are not likely to make you smile when accessed by your children due to coarse language or adult content.
Use WebAllow at home to block all but kid-safe Web sites on your home PC. Use it in the office to prevent your employees wasting their time playing computer games, chatting on the forums or reading breakdown news. Use the same product in the school, college or university to concentrate students’ attention on their study by only allowing access to their online class materials. Install WebAllow in a store or in a library and allow your customers to access your book or product catalog and nothing else. Do not let your computer users misuse Internet connection with WebAllow!
When installed, WebAllow is easy to configure by the administrator, and impossible to disable or uninstall by the regular users. It embeds into Internet Explorer and makes it impossible to visit Web sites other than defined. WebAllow is light on memory and disk space, and is perfect to be used on any computer type from powerful workstations to public computers with small memory and hard drives.
Once configured, WebAllow requires absolutely zero administration and runs completely unattended. WebAllow will improve your personal privacy and computer security, protect your kids, increase employee performance and motivate students. Download evaluation copy for free at http://www.weballow.com/

Broadband Internet connectivity is so common these days that almost no one has a second thought about connecting to the Internet. Connecting is easy, but what if you need to control or restrict the ways in which the Internet connection is to be used? Sure enough, widespread availability of unlimited, unmetered Internet connections has its pros. But what about the contras?

Everybody is talking about nowadays how fast their connection is. Fast and unlimited maybe fine for the most home users, but this is not necessarily the same for work or study environments, public places, or specific age groups. The Internet contains enough threats such as spyware and viruses to make you wish to restrict access to certain resources. A virus can corrupt or destroy information on your PC, causing you spending days to recover data. Spyware steals your personal information and slows down your computer’s performance, making it a pain to work on. While it is usually possible to fix a PC contaminated with spyware and viruses, it is much safer and easier to prevent the infection in the first place – by restricting the browsing to the list of known, safe Web sites.

Restrict Internet browsing in Internet Explorer to the defined list of safe Web sites with Ashkon Software WebAllow http://www.weballow.com! WebAllow prevents electronic infections by block access to all but selected preapproved Web sites in Internet Explorer, effectively protecting your computer from spyware and viruses. If a user on your computer tries to access a website that is not on the list of allowed sites, she is redirected to a Web page of your choice to inform her about your access restriction policy.

While viruses and spyware sound familiar enough, Internet threats are not limited to those. The Internet offers a great variety of resources that are not always appropriate for your audience. Online computer games may be fine for the kids, but they can occupy the employees’ attention in an office. Online chats, forums and blogs are popular among students and office employees, occupying their time and taking away from their study or work – wasting valuable time. Finally, while certain Web sites may be appropriate for adults, these same sites are not likely to make you smile when accessed by your children due to coarse language or adult content.

Use WebAllow at home to block all but kid-safe Web sites on your home PC. Use it in the office to prevent your employees wasting their time playing computer games, chatting on the forums or reading breakdown news. Use the same product in the school, college or university to concentrate students’ attention on their study by only allowing access to their online class materials. Install WebAllow in a store or in a library and allow your customers to access your book or product catalog and nothing else. Do not let your computer users misuse Internet connection with WebAllow!

When installed, WebAllow is easy to configure by the administrator, and impossible to disable or uninstall by the regular users. It embeds into Internet Explorer and makes it impossible to visit Web sites other than defined. WebAllow is light on memory and disk space, and is perfect to be used on any computer type from powerful workstations to public computers with small memory and hard drives.

Once configured, WebAllow requires absolutely zero administration and runs completely unattended. WebAllow will improve your personal privacy and computer security, protect your kids, increase employee performance and motivate students. Download evaluation copy for free at http://www.weballow.com/

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Avast Antivirus Home Edition

Posted on 27 September 2009 by admin

Prior to trying the Avast 4.6 Home Edition, I was very much a Norton user. I knew there were a lot of free antivirus software out there but I wanted to be on the safe side and use something tried and true. However, with the increase of spyware and virus attacks, my computer was not always spared and there were times I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. That’s when I thought that it was time to try something new – and free.

Installation is very easy. Just download the software from the Avast website, free of charge. The only catch – if you can consider it that – is that it is for personal, non-commercial use only. The installation process is mostly automatic. You can choose to register it after installation in order to access free updates for one year. If you do not choose to register it then you can use it for 60 days free. Since the registration is free as well, there is no reason not to do that.
The user interface is simple and easy to use. Some people might not find that it doesn’t suit their taste as it looks something like Winamp – it looks fun, not very serious. However, that doesn’t take away its functionality. It actually adds to the experience as you can change the skin if you want to.
It gives you the option to run 7 providers. You can choose which ones you want to run. I use the following shields: Instant Messaging, Internet Mail, Network Shield, P2P Shield, Standard Shield, and Web Shield. If you use Outlook then you can opt to use that provider as well. The above-mentioned shields pretty much cover everything you do on your computer, providing extensive protection. The Web Shield is by far the latest impressive addition to this release. It monitors all internet traffic including spyware. It is also compatible with most internet browsers. If you are worried about the effect on speed, your worries are unfounded.
A drawback of this software is that it takes too much time to load up when you first turn your computer on. It may take several minutes. In the meantime, it would be difficult for you to run applications.
I think that is a minor inconvenience you can put up with. For something that is free and works effectively, I wouldn’t mind waiting for a couple of minutes.
Prior to trying the Avast 4.6 Home Edition, I was very much a Norton user. I knew there were a lot of free antivirus software out there but I wanted to be on the safe side and use something tried and true. However, with the increase of spyware and virus attacks, my computer was not always spared and there were times I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. That’s when I thought that it was time to try something new – and free.
Installation is very easy. Just download the software from the Avast website, free of charge. The only catch – if you can consider it that – is that it is for personal, non-commercial use only. The installation process is mostly automatic. You can choose to register it after installation in order to access free updates for one year. If you do not choose to register it then you can use it for 60 days free. Since the registration is free as well, there is no reason not to do that.
The user interface is simple and easy to use. Some people might not find that it doesn’t suit their taste as it looks something like Winamp – it looks fun, not very serious. However, that doesn’t take away its functionality. It actually adds to the experience as you can change the skin if you want to.
It gives you the option to run 7 providers. You can choose which ones you want to run. I use the following shields: Instant Messaging, Internet Mail, Network Shield, P2P Shield, Standard Shield, and Web Shield. If you use Outlook then you can opt to use that provider as well. The above-mentioned shields pretty much cover everything you do on your computer, providing extensive protection. The Web Shield is by far the latest impressive addition to this release. It monitors all internet traffic including spyware. It is also compatible with most internet browsers. If you are worried about the effect on speed, your worries are unfounded.
A drawback of this software is that it takes too much time to load up when you first turn your computer on. It may take several minutes. In the meantime, it would be difficult for you to run applications.
I think that is a minor inconvenience you can put up with. For something that is free and works effectively, I wouldn’t mind waiting for a couple of minutes.
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Adware / Spyware

Posted on 18 September 2009 by admin

Adware and Spyware have become familiar terms in the lexicon of Internet jargon. Their definitions range from helpful cookies that many people choose to have on their computer to programs that can actually steal your identity. That’s a pretty big area. That’s why any information of these important subjects needs to include definitions of exactly what actually encompasses both adware and spyware.


When adware is expanded to use your computer’s resources to steal information, it becomes spyware. Spyware is like the Trojan horse that is discussed on our Virus article. Computer users who are installing a program or swapping files (i.e. music downloads) may also be installing a spyware program whose purpose is to monitor your computer activity and gather your private and confidential information. This includes e-mail addresses, user passwords and certainly any credit card numbers you enter when making a purchase on-line. They can also happily install other spyware programs, hijack your web browser by changing your home page and your browser’s search engine. All the time it is sending back information to the bad guys, who will use it for their own advertising purposes, sell it to other bad guys or use it to steal your identity. To do all this, spyware uses your computer’s memory resources and bandwidth. This can slow your computer to a crawl, especially if you use memory intensive programs. Spyware is not good.
Do you have adware and/or spyware on your computer? The chances are absolutely outstanding that you do. This may not be a problem, but sometimes it could be disastrous. Some of the signs that your computer may be infected are:
1. Your web browser looks a little different. New toolbars suddenly appeared. The search engine you use is different. A brand new home page suddenly appeared.
2. Pop up advertisements that aren’t related to the web site you are viewing are appearing with disturbing regularity. You click on links that go to nowhere. Ads for pornographic web sites start popping up on your computer. Your “new” search engine produces web sites unrelated to your query.
3. Your Windows desk top takes longer to load than it did in the past. This is because lots of spyware programs have added themselves to the Windows start up procedure and load every time you turn on your computer.
4. Your computer is running slower than normal.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you probably are infected and need to take some action.
There are hundreds of Spyware programs on the market. Most offer a free on-line inspection of your computer to see if any spyware is present. Since their scans always find something, it’s a great way to market their product. However, it’s probably a good idea to dig a little deeper before making a buying decision.
Some anti-virus programs include adware and spyware elements as part of the basic program. Check yours and see if you have a spyware feature and if it is activated. If it is, and you still are experiencing problems, make sure you have downloaded the latest updates.
At Jamison Software, we look at viruses and spyware as two different problems and have chosen to attack them with two different programs. When selecting a spyware program we looked at numerous reviews and tested several (they all have 30 day free trials) on different computers before making a decision. Spyware and anti-virus programs work basically the same way. They develop large data bases or encyclopedias of known adware and spyware. The computer is scanned against these data bases and the culprits are identified and deleted or placed in a quarantine folder where they can’t continue to cause trouble. These data bases are constantly updated in order to keep up with the spyware developers. Good Spyware programs should do two things well. They should maintain great data bases and provide fast, proactive customer service.
Why do we like two programs? Viruses and Spyware are cousins and sometimes there is a gray line between the two. With two data bases, we can sometimes stay ahead of the curve, finding a problem in one program that is actually solved by the other. Here’s an example.
We use and highly recommend Spysweeper by Webroot software. One feature of Spysweeper is that it identifies new programs that will start when Windows starts. If no new programs are being installed, this means only one thing-spyware. When that happens, an alert screen appears and there is an option to remove the offending program. Sometimes that procedure is successful and the problem is resolved. However, occasionally the program reappears all by itself in a second or two. We have a virus. That information can be passed on to AVG Anti-virus Systems, our Anti-virus software provider, and within hours an update removing the offender is downloaded and implemented. This happened several times on our test computer (we did not use a firewall to attempt to create just this scenario) and we were very pleased with the results. We also found that Trojan horse files with a .pif suffix were the main culprits.
If you are concerned about spyware, we recommend Spysweeper. We found the data base very thorough and up to date and their customer service team responsive. When we had to upload suspected spyware for their review, they provided detailed, easy to follow instructions.

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10 Tips To Buying Software Online

Posted on 12 September 2009 by admin

Buying software online can be tricky, especially if you are new to shopping via the internet.  Whether you are upgrading an existing software package or looking for a specific program to install, the process will be a lot less complicated if you know what to look for.

Software Buying Tip # 1
Read customer reviews.  Many popular online stores, such as Amazon, allow users to leave their comments about a particular product.  Reading other customer reviews may help to make your decision easier because it gives you an idea of others who have experienced the product firsthand.
Software Buying Tip # 2
When considering any type of software, make sure that it is compatible with your computer.  Most software requires a specific processor type, such as Pentium or Celeron, and a certain amount of free hard drive space.  The reason is because, in order for software to function properly at quickly, the computer must be able to handle the application.  By being familiar with your computer’s configuration, you will be able to select the right software.
Software Buying Tip # 3
Become familiar with the software by reading it’s description and capabilities.  Before purchasing any type of software, you should make sure that it is exactly what you want or will enjoy learning.  Often times, after software is opened, there is no refund policy for buyer’s remorse.
Software Buying Tip # 4
Purchase software from a reputable company.  This will ensure customer service, reliability, quality products and timely shipment.  By purchasing software from a reliable source, you will also ensure that the title is authentic and not an illegal copy.  The best way to check out a business’s reputation is through the Better Business Bureau.
Software Buying Tip # 5
The best part of shopping for software online is the competition.  Because there are so many retailers, prices are more competitive than if only one store had the software that you want.  Shop around and compare prices before making a final decision.
Software Buying Tip # 6
When making a purchase online, consider using a credit card.  Most credit card companies provide a dispute resolution process, which is beneficial if the product is not delivered, is not as advertised or is damaged and the company will not stand behind the transaction.
Software Buying Tip # 7
If purchasing from another individual, such as often the case with online auctions, confirm that the software has all manuals and/or product keys to ensure proper installation.
Software Buying Tip # 8
Learn about the company’s return, refund and/or exchange policy.  In many cases, especially with software, the company may refuse to accept the product back for a refund.  However, there is always the possibility that a program is damaged or doesn’t function properly, in which case the store should honor the purchase with an exchange for the same title.  When buying software online, it’s best to purchase from a store that is reasonable when it comes to exchanges if not refunds.
Software Buying Tip # 9
When purchasing software online, take a moment to look at the company’s shipping costs, methods and availability of a way to track the package following shipment.
Software Buying Tip # 10
Common payment methods include credit cards, checks and/or money orders.  If you want to purchase software online, you will need to do so from a company that accepts a convenient payment method.  If you do not have a credit card, most companies will accept a mailed payment.  Most companies, however, recommend not sending cash.
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