Many of us who are not tech related often feel uncomfortable with computer terms. Because having computer or internet knowledge is one of essential skill of today's technology age.
Are you afraid of computer terms?
Do you feel out of place and overwhelmed when your friends or co-workers start spouting reams and reams of technical jargon that you will never understand? Then this article is for you!
486 - The average IQ needed to understand a P.C. State - of - the - art - Any computer you can't afford.
Obsolete - Any computer you own.
Microsecond - The time it takes for your State - of - the - art computer to become obsolete.
Syntax Error - "Hello, I want to buy a computer and money is no object."
GUI (pronounced "gooey") - What your computer becomes after spilling your coffee on it.
Computer Chip - Any starchy food stuff consumed in mass quantities while programming.
Keyboard - The standard way to generate computer errors.
Mouse - An advanced input device to make computer errors easier to generate.
Floppy - The state of your wallet after purchasing a computer.
Hard Drive - The sales technique employed by most computer salesmen.
Portable Computer - A device invented to force business men to work at home, on vacation and on business trips.
Disk Crash - A typical computer response to any critical deadline.
Power User - Anyone who can format a disk from DOS.
System Update - A quick method of trashing ALL of your current software.
Showing posts with label internet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internet. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Effects of internet surfing
Internet access has accelerated the learning and in some ways it boosts creativity among humans. But at the same time this useful technology is producing 'internet addicts'.
Internet surfing becomes a bad habit when you spend hours in front of computer on daily basis and quit other activities. But despite of being a victim of 'internet addiction' is there any good or positive side of internet surfing?
What happens inside our brain when we surf internet regularly for hours?
Gary Small, a neuroscientist at UCLA in California who specializes in brain function, has found through studies that Internet searching and text messaging has made brains more adept at filtering information and making snap decisions.
"We're seeing an evolutionary change. The people in the next generation who are really going to have the edge are the ones who master the technological skills and also face-to-face skills," Small told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"They will know when the best response to an email or Instant Message is to talk rather than sit and continue to email."
In his newly released fourth book "iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind," Small looks at how technology has altered the way young minds develop, function and interpret information.
Small, the director of the Memory & Aging Research Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior and the Center on Aging at UCLA, said the brain was very sensitive to the changes in the environment such as those brought by technology.
He said a study of 24 adults as they used the Web found that experienced Internet users showed double the activity in areas of the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning as Internet beginners.
"The brain is very specialized in its circuitry and if you repeat mental tasks over and over it will strengthen certain neural circuits and ignore others," said Small.
"We are changing the environment. The average young person now spends nine hours a day exposing their brain to technology. Evolution is an advancement from moment to moment and what we are seeing is technology affecting our evolution."
Small said this multi-tasking could cause problems.
He said the tech-savvy generation, whom he calls "digital natives," are always scanning for the next bit of new information which can create stress and even damage neural networks.
"There is also the big problem of neglecting human contact skills and losing the ability to read emotional expressions and body language," he said.
"But you can take steps to address this. It means taking time to cut back on technology, like having a family dinner, to find a balance. It is important to understand how technology is affecting our lives and our brains and take control of it."
Source: Surfing the internet "alters your brain"
Good news is that internet surfing may prevent the age related changes which cause the brain to slow down. (So women start surfing the net!)
New research shows that surfing the web may be a good way of boosting your brain power and preventing age-related changes that cause the brain to slow down.
"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function," University of California's Professor Gary Small said.
Although the study was only small in scale - with 24 volunteers aged between 55 and 76 - the results were considered "encouraging".
The volunteers' brains were scanned while they performed web searches and book-reading tasks.
Researchers found that compared to reading, web searching stimulated areas of the brain which controls decision-making and complex reasoning. This is because it requires people to make choices on what to click on to find what they want.
So next time you catch yourself searching for the latest online bargains, banish those guilty feelings - you may just be doing your brain a favor!
*
Web surfing boosts brain power
Alan Royal believes regularly surfing the internet not only keeps his own mind sharp, but also those of his ageing computer students.
The 75-year-old has tutored hundreds of Wellingtonians at SeniorNet - a volunteer computer training organisation aimed at users over 55 - and said new technology is changing the lives of the elderly.
New research has shown that middle-aged and elderly people can benefit from searching the internet to stimulate the brain.
The study, carried out by scientists at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), was published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
Mr Royal said SeniorNet usually had a membership of about 900 - "but unfortunately at our age, we've got a habit of dying off".
He said learning new things involving the internet, as well as having other interests, meant his students, some of whom were nearing 90, were keeping their brains active.
The UCLA scientists found that browsing the internet triggered parts of the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning - which may improve brain function.
They tested 24 volunteers with normal brain function between the ages of 55 and 76; half were Web-savvy and half had no online experience.
The study participants searched the Web using browsers such as Google while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to record changes in brain circuitry.
All participants showed significant brain activity, but the Net-savvy group showed double the brain activation during Web use compared with those who had had little Internet experience.
The researchers said the Web-savvy group also registered greater activity in the areas of the brain which control decision-making and complex reasoning.
Useful links:
- Surfing the internet keeps old brains active
-
Clues to how blood stem cells become activated
Internet surfing becomes a bad habit when you spend hours in front of computer on daily basis and quit other activities. But despite of being a victim of 'internet addiction' is there any good or positive side of internet surfing?
What happens inside our brain when we surf internet regularly for hours?
Gary Small, a neuroscientist at UCLA in California who specializes in brain function, has found through studies that Internet searching and text messaging has made brains more adept at filtering information and making snap decisions.
"We're seeing an evolutionary change. The people in the next generation who are really going to have the edge are the ones who master the technological skills and also face-to-face skills," Small told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"They will know when the best response to an email or Instant Message is to talk rather than sit and continue to email."
In his newly released fourth book "iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind," Small looks at how technology has altered the way young minds develop, function and interpret information.
Small, the director of the Memory & Aging Research Center at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior and the Center on Aging at UCLA, said the brain was very sensitive to the changes in the environment such as those brought by technology.
He said a study of 24 adults as they used the Web found that experienced Internet users showed double the activity in areas of the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning as Internet beginners.
"The brain is very specialized in its circuitry and if you repeat mental tasks over and over it will strengthen certain neural circuits and ignore others," said Small.
"We are changing the environment. The average young person now spends nine hours a day exposing their brain to technology. Evolution is an advancement from moment to moment and what we are seeing is technology affecting our evolution."
Small said this multi-tasking could cause problems.
He said the tech-savvy generation, whom he calls "digital natives," are always scanning for the next bit of new information which can create stress and even damage neural networks.
"There is also the big problem of neglecting human contact skills and losing the ability to read emotional expressions and body language," he said.
"But you can take steps to address this. It means taking time to cut back on technology, like having a family dinner, to find a balance. It is important to understand how technology is affecting our lives and our brains and take control of it."
Source: Surfing the internet "alters your brain"
Good news is that internet surfing may prevent the age related changes which cause the brain to slow down. (So women start surfing the net!)
New research shows that surfing the web may be a good way of boosting your brain power and preventing age-related changes that cause the brain to slow down.
"Internet searching engages complicated brain activity, which may help exercise and improve brain function," University of California's Professor Gary Small said.
Although the study was only small in scale - with 24 volunteers aged between 55 and 76 - the results were considered "encouraging".
The volunteers' brains were scanned while they performed web searches and book-reading tasks.
Researchers found that compared to reading, web searching stimulated areas of the brain which controls decision-making and complex reasoning. This is because it requires people to make choices on what to click on to find what they want.
So next time you catch yourself searching for the latest online bargains, banish those guilty feelings - you may just be doing your brain a favor!
*
Web surfing boosts brain power
Alan Royal believes regularly surfing the internet not only keeps his own mind sharp, but also those of his ageing computer students.
The 75-year-old has tutored hundreds of Wellingtonians at SeniorNet - a volunteer computer training organisation aimed at users over 55 - and said new technology is changing the lives of the elderly.
New research has shown that middle-aged and elderly people can benefit from searching the internet to stimulate the brain.
The study, carried out by scientists at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), was published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
Mr Royal said SeniorNet usually had a membership of about 900 - "but unfortunately at our age, we've got a habit of dying off".
He said learning new things involving the internet, as well as having other interests, meant his students, some of whom were nearing 90, were keeping their brains active.
The UCLA scientists found that browsing the internet triggered parts of the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning - which may improve brain function.
They tested 24 volunteers with normal brain function between the ages of 55 and 76; half were Web-savvy and half had no online experience.
The study participants searched the Web using browsers such as Google while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans to record changes in brain circuitry.
All participants showed significant brain activity, but the Net-savvy group showed double the brain activation during Web use compared with those who had had little Internet experience.
The researchers said the Web-savvy group also registered greater activity in the areas of the brain which control decision-making and complex reasoning.
Useful links:
- Surfing the internet keeps old brains active
-
Clues to how blood stem cells become activated
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Are you an internet addict?
Do you love to spend most of the time online?
Do you leave yourself logged in twenty-four hours a day, even when you're not home? Is your wpm typing speed higher than your IQ? Are you having trouble seeing things at distances greater than 2 feet? Yes, YOU. You know who you are.
You are an internet addict!
Read these signs and decide for yourself:
"30 Signs That Technology Has Taken Over Your Life"
1. Your stationery is more cluttered than Warren Beatty's address book. The letterhead lists a fax number, e-mail addresses for two on-line services, and your Internet address, which spreads across the breadth of the letterhead and continues to the back. In essence, you have conceded that the first page of any letter you write is letterhead.
2. You have never sat through an entire movie without having at least one device on your body beep or buzz.
3. You need to fill out a form that must be typewritten, but you can't because there isn't one typewriter in your house -- only computers with laser printers.
4. You think of the gadgets in your office as "friends," but you forget to send your father a birthday card.
5. You disdain people who use low baud rates.
6. When you go into a computer store, you eavesdrop on a salesperson talking with customers -- and you butt in to correct him and spend the next twenty minutes answering the customers' questions, while the salesperson stands by silently, nodding his head.
7. You use the phrase "digital compression" in a conversation without thinking how strange your mouth feels when you say it.
8. You constantly find yourself in groups of people to whom you say the phrase "digital compression." Everyone understands what you mean, and you are not surprised or disappointed that you don't have to explain it.
9. You know Bill Gates' e-mail address, but you have to look up your own social security number.
10. You stop saying "phone number" and replace it with "voice number," since we all know the majority of phone lines in any house are plugged into contraptions that talk to other contraptions.
11. You sign Christmas cards by putting :-) next to your signature.
12. Off the top of your head, you can think of nineteen keystroke symbols that are far more clever than :-).
13. You back up your data every day.
14. Your wife asks you to pick up some minipads for her at the store and you return with a rest for your mouse.
15. You think jokes about being unable to program a VCR are stupid.
16. On vacation, you are reading a computer manual and turning the pages faster than everyone else who is reading John Grisham novels.
17. The thought that a CD could refer to finance or music rarely enters your mind.
18. You are able to argue persuasively the Ross Perot's phrase "electronic town hall" makes more sense than the term "information superhighway," but you don't because, after all, the man still uses hand-drawn pie charts.
19. You go to computer trade shows and map out your path of the exhibit hall in advance. But you cannot give someone directions to your house without looking up the street names.
20. You would rather get more dots per inch than miles per gallon.
21. You become upset when a person calls you on the phone to sell you something, but you think it's okay for a computer to call and demand that you start pushing buttons on your telephone to receive more information about the product it is selling.
22. You know without a doubt that disks come in five-and-a- quarter-and three-and-a-half-inch sizes.
23. Al Gore strikes you as an "intriguing" fellow.
24. You own a set of itty-bitty screw-drivers and you actually know where they are.
25. While contemporaries swap stories about their recent hernia surgeries, you compare mouse-induced index-finger strain with a nine-year-old.
26. You are so knowledgeable about technology that you feel secure enough to say "I don't know" when someone asks you a technology question instead of feeling compelled to make something up.
27. You rotate your screen savers more frequently than your automobile tires.
28. You have a functioning home copier machine, but every toaster you own turns bread into charcoal.
29. You have ended friendships because of irreconcilably different opinions about which is better -- the track ball or the track pad.
30. You understand all the jokes in this message. If so, my friend, technology has taken over your life. We suggest, for your own good, that you go lie under a tree and write a haiku. And don't use a laptop.
Source: 'elops'
Take an 'Internet addiction test' for free.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Discover the net with 'Stumble Upon'
People surf the web or internet to get the information and there are number of people around who surf or browse just for fun or interesting stuff. It is very normal to use search engines to find the relevant information or sites, but this hunting process may takes hours, as most of the stuff is ad supported. You can rely on 'StumbleUpon' to discover the net. It is not one of those search engines where you submit your keywords and get the results with millions of pages.
What is StumbleUpon'?
StumbleUpon is a free service that helps you discover and share websites with others who have similar interests.
Stumble Upon has 7,327,087 members.
To get started on StumbleUpon:
• Start Stumbling on our home page using the Web Toolbar to become familiar with our service.
• Create an account to save your favorites and to connect with other members.
• Download the Toolbar to access all the features available and to share sites you Discovered.
About StumbleUpon (In their own words)
StumbleUpon helps you discover and share great websites. As you click Stumble!you see the pages matched to your personal preferences. These pages have been explicitly recommended by your friends or one of 6 million+ other web surfers with interests similar to you. Rating these sites you like () automatically shares them with like-minded people – and helps you discover great sites your friends recommend, you probably wouldn't find using a search engine.
How Does it Work?
- It filters through the vast amount of information on the web to direct Stumblers to high quality web sites which are relevant to their personal interests. An obscure but interesting site can be immediately shared with other like-minded users. The participation of community members helps maintain a database of the most up-to-date and highest quality sites possible.
- StumbleUpon presents only web sites that have been suggested by other like-minded Stumblers. Each time the 'Stumble' button is clicked, the user is presented with a high quality web site based on the collective opinions of other like-minded web surfers.
- Stumblers share their favorite web sites and interact with other users to further improve their web surfing experience.
- StumbleUpon offers nearly 500 topics which users may choose to find relevant contenet of their choice.
* Start discovering the net with Stumble Upon
What is StumbleUpon'?
StumbleUpon is a free service that helps you discover and share websites with others who have similar interests.
Stumble Upon has 7,327,087 members.
To get started on StumbleUpon:
• Start Stumbling on our home page using the Web Toolbar to become familiar with our service.
• Create an account to save your favorites and to connect with other members.
• Download the Toolbar to access all the features available and to share sites you Discovered.
About StumbleUpon (In their own words)
StumbleUpon helps you discover and share great websites. As you click Stumble!you see the pages matched to your personal preferences. These pages have been explicitly recommended by your friends or one of 6 million+ other web surfers with interests similar to you. Rating these sites you like () automatically shares them with like-minded people – and helps you discover great sites your friends recommend, you probably wouldn't find using a search engine.
How Does it Work?
- It filters through the vast amount of information on the web to direct Stumblers to high quality web sites which are relevant to their personal interests. An obscure but interesting site can be immediately shared with other like-minded users. The participation of community members helps maintain a database of the most up-to-date and highest quality sites possible.
- StumbleUpon presents only web sites that have been suggested by other like-minded Stumblers. Each time the 'Stumble' button is clicked, the user is presented with a high quality web site based on the collective opinions of other like-minded web surfers.
- Stumblers share their favorite web sites and interact with other users to further improve their web surfing experience.
- StumbleUpon offers nearly 500 topics which users may choose to find relevant contenet of their choice.
* Start discovering the net with Stumble Upon
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Paticipate in online competitions and win prizes
Taking part in quizzes and competitions is a process of challenging ourselves and it is a creative process of brain storming. Winning prizes of gifts is another factor of taking part in competitions. Awards and gifts encourage us to win the competitions. Many of us love to challenge themselves to take quizzes and for this purpose they search through newspapers, magazines to find competitions. Now internet has provided a good solution for those people as there are many sites which offer the news about quizzes and competitions around the net.
'The prize finder' is one of the biggest and best online resources for competition enthusiasts (compers) anywhere.
We offer a fantastic, regularly updated directory of free to enter competitions, in addition to tips and advice on how to improve your chances of winning and a chat room where you can meet other keen compers.
The website is brought to you by Accolade Publishing Ltd, the UK's leading publisher of competition and publishing magazines including: - Prize Draw Winner and Competitor's Companion.
You can register for free at the site and get the newsletter or offers at your inbox.
'The prize finder' is one of the biggest and best online resources for competition enthusiasts (compers) anywhere.
We offer a fantastic, regularly updated directory of free to enter competitions, in addition to tips and advice on how to improve your chances of winning and a chat room where you can meet other keen compers.
The website is brought to you by Accolade Publishing Ltd, the UK's leading publisher of competition and publishing magazines including: - Prize Draw Winner and Competitor's Companion.
You can register for free at the site and get the newsletter or offers at your inbox.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Learn about internet at 'Learn The Net'
Internet itself provide answer to learn about internet and world wide web. For new net surfers, Learn the net offers many turotial based articles which are interactive.
Learn the Net is privately-held company based in San Francisco, California.
Students, teachers, scholars or people who are new to this amazing online world can learn basics from this site. 'The Animated Internet' tutorial provided information on:
- Connecting to the Internet.
- How the Web works.
- How e-mail works.
- How mailing lists work.
- How search engines work.
- How newsgroups and forums work.
- How streaming media works.
- How online shopping works.
There is a lot more to learn from the site. The easiest way to get informed about the updated feature of the site is to subscribe to their newsletter. 'Free weekly newsletter' is sent every Tuesday to the subscribers.
Learn the Net is privately-held company based in San Francisco, California.
Students, teachers, scholars or people who are new to this amazing online world can learn basics from this site. 'The Animated Internet' tutorial provided information on:
- Connecting to the Internet.
- How the Web works.
- How e-mail works.
- How mailing lists work.
- How search engines work.
- How newsgroups and forums work.
- How streaming media works.
- How online shopping works.
There is a lot more to learn from the site. The easiest way to get informed about the updated feature of the site is to subscribe to their newsletter. 'Free weekly newsletter' is sent every Tuesday to the subscribers.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
How to start your free blog?
You can easily start a blog without spending money. And there is no need to buy any book, tutorial or attend any classes or courses to learn blogging. Because internet itself provides so many useful links and resources (mostly free) for new bloggers. I have provided few basic links and infromation in this post which can enable you to start your own blog for free.
* The first resource which I would recommend is "I want blog" which is in fact a complete package with all useful links, articles and resources to guide you for blogging. They have compiled all the infromation at one place, so take time to browse the site and get ready to start your blog.
Site link: "I want blog"
* Second resource is from 'Newest on the net' suggesting few free blogging platforms:
Aeonity.com
blog.com
blogates.com
blogetery.com
blogger.com
blogr.com
blogsome.com
blogster.com
bravenet.com/webtools/journal/
clearblogs.com
ehow.com
googlepages.com
hubpages.com
iseekblog.com
myspace.com
pbwiki.com
quazen.com
rticlz.com
sampa.com
squarespace.com
squidoo.com
stikipad.com
thoughts.com
tumblr.com
wikispaces.com
wordpress.com
* Blog tutorials
Thursday, January 22, 2009
How to prevent from identity theft?
As internet use is increasing, we need to protect ourselves from the net crimes. In order to keep us safe from online scams we need to learn how to deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.
First learn what is 'Identity theft':
Identity theft is a term used to refer to fraud that involves someone pretending to be someone else in order to steal money or get other benefits.
"Identity theft" refers to crimes in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data (i.e., name, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number, and your financial identity— credit card, bank account and phone-card numbers) in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain (to obtain money or goods/services). Criminals also use identity theft to fraudulently obtain identification cards, driver licenses, birth certificates, social security numbers, travel visas and other official government papers.
Unlike your fingerprints (which are unique to you and can't easily be given to, or stolen by, someone else for their use), your personal data can be used, if it falls into the wrong hands, allowing criminals to profit at your expense. Plus, according to the FTC, —on average, most victims don't even know their identity has been stolen until more than a year later.
Identity theft is the nation's fastest growing crime according to FBI statistics and identity theft/fraud is the fastest-growing category of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints.
Identity theft statistics now show that one in four U.S. households has been a victim of identity theft in the past five years, according to a report, in which the federal government for the first time measures the full extent of the crime wave.
In the last year alone, 10 million people were victimized, according to a survey of 4,000 adults sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission.
Identity theft cost victims $5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses and nearly $48 billion in losses to businesses and financial institutions in 2002.
Identity theft can range from fraudulent charges on an existing credit card account to the use of a person's identity to open a new account, take out a loan, rent an apartment or commit a crime.
"This report serves as a reality check by confirming that millions of consumers each year are falling victim to identity theft," says Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit consumer information and advocacy program.
Measuring the extent of identity theft has been difficult, in part, because people don't always report the crime to authorities. Only about 25% of the victims who participated in the survey said they had filed a report with local police.
"We've been using estimates of 500,000 to 700,000 cases a year," Givens says. "You can toss those out the window."
More Identity Theft Statistics Among the Report's Findings:
Nearly 25% of all victims said their personal information, such as credit cards, checkbooks and Social Security cards, had been lost or stolen, according to the report.
Just 11% of the survey respondents said they were aware that their personal information had been taken before discovering they were victims of identity theft.
The incidence of identity theft was highest in the South and West and lowest in the Midwest.
One-quarter of the victims said the misuse of their information occurred in one day, and 12% said the crime occurred over a period of more than six months.
Many experts and privacy advocates say the FTC report underscores the need for tougher legislation to combat the epidemic.
"Why is identity theft at epidemic proportions?" Givens says. "It's because lenders are making it too easy to get credit, and they're not doing a good enough job of examining applications."
Givens says that credit-reporting bureaus need to alert consumers of possible suspicious activity, such as a change in address. "Early detection is the key to recovery," she says.
Consumers also can report ID theft to the FTC by calling the agency's toll-free number: 877-438-4338.
The secure database can be accessed by local law enforcement agencies.
Tips to Prevent Identity Theft
- Know what’s in your wallet. Avoid carrying your Social Security number in your wallet or purse. This number provides access to personal information, and it should be stored in a safe and protected place. In addition, only carry the credit cards you need. This practice limits access to your accounts in the event that your purse or wallet is lost or stolen. It’s also a good idea to periodically photocopy your cards and keep a record of the customer service phone numbers associated with your financial accounts to speed up the process of cancelling credit cards, if needed.
- Shred, Shred, Shred. Open all mail and read it carefully—even the items that might appear to be junk mail could contain personal offers. Any items with personal information, such as pre-approved credit offers, bank statements or utility bills should be shredded before being discarded.
- Be suspicious of solicitors. You should never give personal information or your Social Security number to people unless you have verified that they are trustworthy. This advice applies to sharing information over the phone, in-store or online.
- Monitor your revolving accounts and credit score. Check your bank, credit card and other financial account information, along with your credit score, once a year to reduce the risk of unauthorized charges or credit applications. If you see a suspicious charge, immediately contact your financial institution.
- Take action against unauthorized actions. If you notice a new account has been opened in your name without your permission, immediately contact one of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian or TransUnion—and ask that a “fraud alert” be placed on your record. Once the alert is placed, the other two bureaus will be notified, and creditors will be required to contact you directly before opening new accounts or making changes to existing accounts. In addition, file a police report and submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. You also might consider enrolling in paid services that monitor your credit report and alert you when someone applies for credit in your name or account information is altered.
- Surf the Internet Safely. Millions of people are online at any given time, some of whom are thieves looking to steal your identity. These hackers can be found collecting information from unsuspecting “pop-ups,” surfing unsecured networks or hacking into retail Web sites. Be sure to always use a secured network, and frequently update firewall protections on your computer. Also limit the amount of personal information you post on networking Web sites.
- Consider purchasing identity theft insurance. Several insurance companies offer identity theft insurance. Although it cannot protect you from becoming a victim of identity theft, this insurance provides coverage for the cost of reclaiming your financial identity, such as the expenses of placing phone calls, making copies, mailing documents, taking time off from work without pay and hiring an attorney. As with any insurance policy, make sure you understand what you are purchasing and compare prices, coverages and deductibles among multiple insurers.
Tips courtesy of: insure u online
Get a Free Copy of "the Identity Theft Protection Checklist" by submitting your e-mail at the provided space.
This checklist will help you sort fact from fiction, and organize your life in a way that helps you stop identity thieves dead in their tracks.
Link to the home page
To know more about identity theft: The University of Oklahoma Police Department site
FTC'S Identity theft site is a national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.
First learn what is 'Identity theft':
Identity theft is a term used to refer to fraud that involves someone pretending to be someone else in order to steal money or get other benefits.
"Identity theft" refers to crimes in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data (i.e., name, date of birth, social security number, driver's license number, and your financial identity— credit card, bank account and phone-card numbers) in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain (to obtain money or goods/services). Criminals also use identity theft to fraudulently obtain identification cards, driver licenses, birth certificates, social security numbers, travel visas and other official government papers.
Unlike your fingerprints (which are unique to you and can't easily be given to, or stolen by, someone else for their use), your personal data can be used, if it falls into the wrong hands, allowing criminals to profit at your expense. Plus, according to the FTC, —on average, most victims don't even know their identity has been stolen until more than a year later.
Identity theft is the nation's fastest growing crime according to FBI statistics and identity theft/fraud is the fastest-growing category of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) complaints.
Identity theft statistics now show that one in four U.S. households has been a victim of identity theft in the past five years, according to a report, in which the federal government for the first time measures the full extent of the crime wave.
In the last year alone, 10 million people were victimized, according to a survey of 4,000 adults sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission.
Identity theft cost victims $5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses and nearly $48 billion in losses to businesses and financial institutions in 2002.
Identity theft can range from fraudulent charges on an existing credit card account to the use of a person's identity to open a new account, take out a loan, rent an apartment or commit a crime.
"This report serves as a reality check by confirming that millions of consumers each year are falling victim to identity theft," says Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a non-profit consumer information and advocacy program.
Measuring the extent of identity theft has been difficult, in part, because people don't always report the crime to authorities. Only about 25% of the victims who participated in the survey said they had filed a report with local police.
"We've been using estimates of 500,000 to 700,000 cases a year," Givens says. "You can toss those out the window."
More Identity Theft Statistics Among the Report's Findings:
Nearly 25% of all victims said their personal information, such as credit cards, checkbooks and Social Security cards, had been lost or stolen, according to the report.
Just 11% of the survey respondents said they were aware that their personal information had been taken before discovering they were victims of identity theft.
The incidence of identity theft was highest in the South and West and lowest in the Midwest.
One-quarter of the victims said the misuse of their information occurred in one day, and 12% said the crime occurred over a period of more than six months.
Many experts and privacy advocates say the FTC report underscores the need for tougher legislation to combat the epidemic.
"Why is identity theft at epidemic proportions?" Givens says. "It's because lenders are making it too easy to get credit, and they're not doing a good enough job of examining applications."
Givens says that credit-reporting bureaus need to alert consumers of possible suspicious activity, such as a change in address. "Early detection is the key to recovery," she says.
Consumers also can report ID theft to the FTC by calling the agency's toll-free number: 877-438-4338.
The secure database can be accessed by local law enforcement agencies.
Tips to Prevent Identity Theft
- Know what’s in your wallet. Avoid carrying your Social Security number in your wallet or purse. This number provides access to personal information, and it should be stored in a safe and protected place. In addition, only carry the credit cards you need. This practice limits access to your accounts in the event that your purse or wallet is lost or stolen. It’s also a good idea to periodically photocopy your cards and keep a record of the customer service phone numbers associated with your financial accounts to speed up the process of cancelling credit cards, if needed.
- Shred, Shred, Shred. Open all mail and read it carefully—even the items that might appear to be junk mail could contain personal offers. Any items with personal information, such as pre-approved credit offers, bank statements or utility bills should be shredded before being discarded.
- Be suspicious of solicitors. You should never give personal information or your Social Security number to people unless you have verified that they are trustworthy. This advice applies to sharing information over the phone, in-store or online.
- Monitor your revolving accounts and credit score. Check your bank, credit card and other financial account information, along with your credit score, once a year to reduce the risk of unauthorized charges or credit applications. If you see a suspicious charge, immediately contact your financial institution.
- Take action against unauthorized actions. If you notice a new account has been opened in your name without your permission, immediately contact one of the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian or TransUnion—and ask that a “fraud alert” be placed on your record. Once the alert is placed, the other two bureaus will be notified, and creditors will be required to contact you directly before opening new accounts or making changes to existing accounts. In addition, file a police report and submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. You also might consider enrolling in paid services that monitor your credit report and alert you when someone applies for credit in your name or account information is altered.
- Surf the Internet Safely. Millions of people are online at any given time, some of whom are thieves looking to steal your identity. These hackers can be found collecting information from unsuspecting “pop-ups,” surfing unsecured networks or hacking into retail Web sites. Be sure to always use a secured network, and frequently update firewall protections on your computer. Also limit the amount of personal information you post on networking Web sites.
- Consider purchasing identity theft insurance. Several insurance companies offer identity theft insurance. Although it cannot protect you from becoming a victim of identity theft, this insurance provides coverage for the cost of reclaiming your financial identity, such as the expenses of placing phone calls, making copies, mailing documents, taking time off from work without pay and hiring an attorney. As with any insurance policy, make sure you understand what you are purchasing and compare prices, coverages and deductibles among multiple insurers.
Tips courtesy of: insure u online
Get a Free Copy of "the Identity Theft Protection Checklist" by submitting your e-mail at the provided space.
This checklist will help you sort fact from fiction, and organize your life in a way that helps you stop identity thieves dead in their tracks.
Link to the home page
To know more about identity theft: The University of Oklahoma Police Department site
FTC'S Identity theft site is a national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Watch how to videos at "expert village"
Internet is a rich source of free information and as more people are getting access to internet, more sites with how to stuff are emerging. There are million of sites with how to articles, tips and free stuff. 'Expert village' is a site where you can watch free videos about 'how to' topics. 'YouTube' is a big name when we talk about videos, and if you search for 'how to' videos there are lots of titles available like 'How to Download YouTube Videos to an iPod?', 'How to Keep a Video Camera Steady?', or 'How to tie a tie: the BEST video on how to tie a tie?' etc.
"expert village" is an addition to those 'how to' sites as it offers educational and informative videos, ranging from simple to complex topics like 'how to dance and to cooking, health, finance, holidays and a lot more. People who don't like to read much would love to watch the videos about any topic of their interest.
More about the site!
- There are more than 120,000 videos available.
- As vidos are researched and professionally created, the content is useful and trusted.
- It is a community based place where visitors can ask questions and submit their reviews about the videos.
"expert village" is an addition to those 'how to' sites as it offers educational and informative videos, ranging from simple to complex topics like 'how to dance and to cooking, health, finance, holidays and a lot more. People who don't like to read much would love to watch the videos about any topic of their interest.
More about the site!
- There are more than 120,000 videos available.
- As vidos are researched and professionally created, the content is useful and trusted.
- It is a community based place where visitors can ask questions and submit their reviews about the videos.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Learn about computers at 'Dux Computer Digest'
I hope that my reviews about useful online recources would help you get free information which is not easily available and in many cases you have to search for hours to get reliable information at the net.
Dux Computer Digest is another free online resource for computer users.
The sections of the site are:
Guides: These guides are about Hard Disk Drives, Motherboards and Chipsets, Networking and Internet Sharing and Processors (CPUs). There is a step by step guide for each topic. This tutorial based guides provide all basic to intermediate level information.
How to: There are many articles covering the topics like 'netwrok, internet sharing, building the computer, printers, softwares and every topics answers many how to questions.
Reviews: These are reviews about computer hardware and softwares.
Forums: Their forum has 20089 members with 106820 posts. This is the place to discuss technical issues, and learn from other member's tips.
Link to register free for the forum.
You cannot subscribe to the newsletter but you can access the back issues 'here'
Dux Computer Digest is another free online resource for computer users.
The sections of the site are:
Guides: These guides are about Hard Disk Drives, Motherboards and Chipsets, Networking and Internet Sharing and Processors (CPUs). There is a step by step guide for each topic. This tutorial based guides provide all basic to intermediate level information.
How to: There are many articles covering the topics like 'netwrok, internet sharing, building the computer, printers, softwares and every topics answers many how to questions.
Reviews: These are reviews about computer hardware and softwares.
Forums: Their forum has 20089 members with 106820 posts. This is the place to discuss technical issues, and learn from other member's tips.
Link to register free for the forum.
You cannot subscribe to the newsletter but you can access the back issues 'here'
Sunday, December 28, 2008
'Computer Hope' - Offering free computer help
Internet has become a rich source of information for computer and internet users. There are many useful links and free resources where you can get help. Computer education has become a favourite subject for students because new generation is fond of computers and internet. I would be reviewing as many useful but free resources for net users as I find them during my online search.
Computer Hope is a free computer related information resource. You get computer support facilities for answering computer related questions at the site. And as far as I have searched for computer related useful links, I could not find better free online resource than it. It is the largest free support center on-line, that most sites cannot offer to everyone.
Some of the services that Computer Hope is able to offer include free technical support, computer product information, free online forum, computer product buying tips, third-party computer company information, computer dictionary, weekly computer newsletter, daily computer news, and much more. Each of these services help make Computer Hope the number one free computer services on the Internet.
Free services from Computer Hope
Technical Support: They provide support in these fields:
- Hardware
- Software
- Computer operating systems
- HTML / web design information and help
- Virus information and listing
- Question and Answer listing
- Free e-mail technical support
Buying Tips - Buying tips for computers or computer hardware. You may get technical support on those products as well as information about how to install those products.Dictionary - This page lists thousands of computer related terms that link to related terms and categories, making it one of the best locations to locate a definition or meaning to a computer related term.
History - A great section for individuals interested in history as well as students looking for the history information on computers. Our history section lists computer related history from the 1500's to today and is an excellent reference point for learning more about computer history.
Company Information -This page is a wealth of company contact information such as phone numbers, e-mail addresses, business addresses, web addresses, and much more. If you are looking for information about a computer company or how to contact them, this is the place to start.
News - Computer Hope has a great new section that is updated at least daily with the latest computer news, and contains an archive of all the old computer news
Newsletter - The Computer Hope Newsletter, issued once every two weeks, includes the following: a new computer term; computer-related news items; virus alerts; "What's New at Computer Hope;" "hot" computer issues, and an All Talk section. We hope you will find the Newsletter informative, useful, and perhaps even, at times, entertaining. You can read the old newsletters at the sign up page given below:
- Link to get their newsletter
Forums - Online forums that enable Computer Hope users to communicate with each other and talk about computers and help each other with their computer related questions.
Chat - Online / IRC chat service that enables users to connect to an IRC chat room, either through the web or their favorite IRC client and talk with Computer Hope and other Computer Hope users live.
Source link: services
Friday, December 26, 2008
Cook Book of Tech Tutorials - 'Rech Recipes'
This site is called cook book of tech recipes, which means it is for the people who are interested in technology. The posts and tutorials are easy to follow, so beginners who are new to computer, interenet and tech stuff, can bookmark this site.According to Alexa it is one of the tops 15,000 sites on the internet. Tech Recipe gets 1.5 million unique visitors and almost two million pageviews per month. There are more than two thousand step by step tutorials on the site. The main catagories you can get information from the site are: Apple Mac, Computer Programming, Database, Entertainment, Internet, Network, Reviews, Unix and Windows.
Top ten and popular tutorials include:
Hacks to Beat Rapidshare Download Limits and Waiting Time
Make XP look like Windows Vista / Longhorn for free!
XP: Small, Free Way to Use and Mount Images (ISO files) Without Burning Them
How Do I Use or Open Bin, Cue, or ISO Files?
MySpace Hack: View Pictures and Comments on a Private Profile
MySpace: Hack to Dowload Any Song on Myspace
Google: Find Free MP3s, WMAs, OGGs, and Other Music Files
SMS through E-Mail: Cingular, Nextel, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon, Virgin Mobile
Vista: Should I Install 64-bit or 32-bit Version? (x64 vs x86)
Google: Search Rapidshare For Free Videos, Music, Archives, and Other Files
These top posts are sample of what you can find at the site, and you are also welcom to post your tips or tutorials.
Site link: Tech Recipe
Best way to keep informed to their latest posts is to subscribe to them.
- The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines 'Technology': "the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area" and "a capability given by the practical application of knowledge"
More useful links:
* Yahoo.Tech provides friendly advice that makes it easy to find, research, compare, buy , and use laptops, digital cameras, cell phones, MP3 players, TVs etc.
* Technology News - The New York Times
* Tech News from CNN.com
* MSN Tech & Gadgets
* The Tech - Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge ( Oldest and Largest Newspaper)
* Definiton of technology at Wikipedia.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
How to protect us against internet frauds and scams?
I have started posting the topics which would hopefully help the internet users like as internet use, fraud, scams and other useful links. Because I remember wasting more than one year with pay per click scams and I wanted net surfers to learn more about the net. There are some sites which can help us protect against internet frauds and scams. I would be reviewing those sites in a series of posts. So keep checking for the updated posts.
Fraud.org is from the National Consumer's League's Fraud Center, which has helped millions of consumers avoid internet scams. The Fraud Center is operated by the National Consumers League, America’s oldest nonprofit consumer organization.
Mission:
'Our mission is to give consumers the information they need to avoid becoming victims of telemarketing and Internet fraud and to help them get their complaints to law enforcement agencies quickly and easily.'
How it works?
You can find the answers of these questions from the link above:
How do I file a complaint?
What if my complaint isn’t about telemarketing or Internet fraud?
What information do I need to make a complaint?
I’m a seller and a buyer has ripped me off. Can I complain to the Fraud Center?
How do I know that the Fraud Center received my complaint?
Can I add more information to my complaint after I submit it?
Why do you ask for my year of birth ?
What happens with my complaint?
How can I get my money back?
Can I check with the Fraud Center about a seller or company?
How can I tell if something might be a scam?
What if I report something and it turns out not to be a scam?
Can I get a lawyer and sue the seller or company?
How do I know if someone who says they want to help me is legitimate?
Someone I know is a victim of telemarketing or Internet fraud. What can I do?
I think I’m a victim of identity theft. Can I report that to the Fraud Center
Fraud.org is from the National Consumer's League's Fraud Center, which has helped millions of consumers avoid internet scams. The Fraud Center is operated by the National Consumers League, America’s oldest nonprofit consumer organization.
Mission:
'Our mission is to give consumers the information they need to avoid becoming victims of telemarketing and Internet fraud and to help them get their complaints to law enforcement agencies quickly and easily.'
How it works?
You can find the answers of these questions from the link above:
How do I file a complaint?
What if my complaint isn’t about telemarketing or Internet fraud?
What information do I need to make a complaint?
I’m a seller and a buyer has ripped me off. Can I complain to the Fraud Center?
How do I know that the Fraud Center received my complaint?
Can I add more information to my complaint after I submit it?
Why do you ask for my year of birth ?
What happens with my complaint?
How can I get my money back?
Can I check with the Fraud Center about a seller or company?
How can I tell if something might be a scam?
What if I report something and it turns out not to be a scam?
Can I get a lawyer and sue the seller or company?
How do I know if someone who says they want to help me is legitimate?
Someone I know is a victim of telemarketing or Internet fraud. What can I do?
I think I’m a victim of identity theft. Can I report that to the Fraud Center
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