Early Adopters

Moving!

2006-02-28T15:43:00.000-08:00

After all of the hard work I have put into starting this blog I am moving to a new host.

Here is my new link:

http://www.blogcharm.com/earlyadopters/

I will no longer be posting on this blog.
My main reasons include:

I get an actual .rss feed instead of Atom
There is just as much or even more customization

Get my Blog via Email

2006-02-26T16:46:00.000-08:00

I have added a script on the sidebar that allows you to input your email address and recieve my blog postings via email so you don't have to visit this site as often.

Free Stuff? Lets find out.

2006-02-26T10:07:00.000-08:00

The internet is full of scams and ways for everyone to lose money. Some companies have actually proven themselves legitimate such as the company I would like to talk about today.

Gratis is a part of the better business bureau and has proven to ship free stuff to its customers. It's really simple, you go to one of the free websites and complete an offer for a free trial of one of the listed companies. When you complete an offer you get a credit. Now you must refer a number of friends to do the same, but under your specific link so that you get credit for it. When you get enough friends to sign up under your link your item gets shipped to you.

You can cancel the free trial before you have to pay for it, but if you cancel soon after you get credit then gratis will close your account. Also, your freinds can't live in the same household or use the same internet connection.

How can this be free? Gratis earns comission for each person that signs up for a trial through their website. These comissions can range up to $20, more than enough to pay for these large items. Gratis counts on the people who sign up, but don't complete an offer in order to make money.

Some of the free items include ipod, ipod nano, flat screen monitor, laptop, and xbox360.

The evidence to the success of this program can be found everywhere. I highly recommend Grais Offers Guide Forum because it talks about the process of getting free stuff, it has success stories, and it has representatives from gratis who are willing to help figure out your problems.

Since i'm still unsure about this I would like to test it. If anyone signs up using my link I will update on this site giving credit and thanks and also add your blog to my links if you wish.

Here is my special link for an xbox 360. http://xbox360s.freepay.com/?r=26327024

Remember you just need to sign up for a free trial, not a pay offerunless you want to. This makes it completely free. Just cancel the offer at the end of the trial, NO EARLIER.

Hopefully we can figure out if this is legitimate.

New Age Communication: Skype, AIM

2006-02-22T19:11:00.000-08:00

If you've spent enough time on the internet then you have definitly heard of AIM(Aol Instant Messenger). Any instant message program can be downloaded for free and used to converse with people in real time. It's kind of like email, but you don't have to wait for an answer and you can have more of a conversation because it is live. AIM is by far the most popular of the programs, but companies like MSN and Yahoo are gaining ground.

Instant Messengers have exploded to incorporate all forms of communication. AIM is now offering Voice chat through microphone and Video chat through a web cam. Even with all of these added features I would guess correctly that the majority of the people on my campus only use the text version of AIM either because it requires the least amount of work or because voice and video chatting requires constant attention where with text you can multitask in addition to text messaging.

Features and customization are now the competing factors for Instant Messengers. Icons displaying whatever the user wants are used for personalization and wallpaper as well. Sounds can be set to notify other users when they sign on. In terms of customization companies are combining email, satellite radio, and even phone service into instant messengers.

Skype is a voice over I.P. service that utilizes an internet connection to make and recieve regular phone calls. For a fee relatively smller than that of a normal phone company you can recieve a normal phone number and send or recieve calls to landlines and cellphones. Even better calls to other Skype users is free, so if you convince your friends to sign up you can make free calls to them. Skype is still in beta so 911 service is not availiable, but it hopefully will be soon. The program also acts as a regular instant messenger(for free) with voice and camera capabilities and also recognizes popular instant message programs so you can recieve instant messages from people with other programs.

I soon hope that companies like Skype(owned by Ebay) will soon offer 911 service in order to provide an alternative to normal phone service. I always look forward to things like this because I believe these companies overcharge significantly and Skype is very cheap. People will also be able to utilize wireless phones that I discussed in my wireless article.

Thats all for now. More info on this subject will be on my website. Next time i'll be talking about an interesting company offering free stuff.

Helping Hand

2006-02-20T19:37:00.000-08:00

I will always be here to answer any questions you have. Please email me or leave comments here. You can also suggest a topic of interest or something that you would like explained or commented on.

Don't be afraid to ask!

The danger in trusting your security

2006-02-20T18:23:00.000-08:00

Now that you have read through all three of my articles on PC security I'm going to talk about why it is not enough.

You should never rely on software or hardware to keep you safe and never have a worry in the world. The internet is still a risky place and no software can cure the issues I'll bring up.

Spam flies around the web faster than companies come up with products to stop it from entering your mailbox. Spam filtering can be described as weak at best and there are things you need to know to keep safe. First of all, don't believe any email you receive unless you were expecting it or it is from family or friends. Sometimes viruses can attack family PC's and instant messengers and send the virus to everyone on their address book. It may look friendly, but in actuality it is a virus. If you have anti virus software then you should be safe, but there is no guarantee.

No, you did not win one million dollars. No, you can't easily make a living easily working from home. Period. Especially be on the watch for emails asking for private information, even banks. Banks never ask for personal info via email. If you are unsure you can open a new web browser and navigate to the actual website. Login and see if it asks for your info, or email your bank asking about the email, they will tell you if it is fake or not (don't reply to the email in question).

Speaking of personal information online, it is not 100% safe. Anyone who has had credit card information stolen knows what I'm talking about. To be safe, make sure the page you are entering credit card information has the little lock in the lower right hand corner. This means the information is encrypted to a certain level. Most encryption is 128 bit, the larger the better. Even still information can be stolen over these secure networks, it has happened to me. Don't be afraid of buying online, it is safer than going to a store in most cases and credit card companies are sympathetic (visa has even added security passwords to increase security) and will reimburse you and send you a new card.

I would also like to add that lying is one of the best identity protectors. If you are visiting a site that requires your last name or your address for no reason but to log your name and send you junk mail I would plain out lie. The local forum doesn't need your last name and the latest flash game site doesn't need your address. (Note: I am not advising anyone to lie on their banking, credit, job, or tax information. That would be a VERY bad idea. This is just a suggestion to keep your junk mail low and your identity a little more private.)

Finally: Keep your Anti-Virus software up to date!!!
You can't be protected if you don't update. New threats come about weekly and you could be at risk. Most people I know with a virus problem didn't even know they had to update. They just blew through the internet with the false security of an anti-virus program that hadn't been updated since it was bought or downloaded.

The internet requires some common sense. It is not the Holy Grail, you can't pump the internet for money and anything too good to be true generally is. When entering personal information take each step with caution, make sure it is a trusted source. And finally: UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!

Next I'll be talking about some of the internet trends: Skype, AIM, FREE STUFF! and more

Tier 3: Anti-Spyware

2006-02-17T11:15:00.000-08:00

Tier 3: Anti-Spyware

Spyware is basically software downloaded onto your computer either by entering a website or downloading a program that monitors your internet use and sends it to companies who then sell that information to advertisers.

Spyware can be stopped by: Running an anti-spyware program regularly.

Spyware can: change the startup page for your web browser to any website (many cases a pornography website), pop up advertisements (I have seen as many as 50 popup advertisements appear at once as a result of spyware infection), slow down and eventually stop your computer from being able to run or even boot up, monitor your web surfing such as the type of sites you visit or keywords you put into search engines, install software such as casino games or pornography memberships (in some cases I have seen a pornography program install itself and steal the users credit card information in order to subscribe to the service costing up to $400 a month), install annoying search bars onto your web browser, and generally make your computer experience much more frusterating.

There are many steps you can take to prevent this problem known as spyware. I recommend downloading Firefox, a fairly new web browser. 90% of spyware utilizes Internet Explorer to download onto a computer, simply eliminating the use of Internet Explorer will prevent more spyware than any anti-spyware software. Generally an increase in spyware can be a result of pornographic sites, which are saturated with spyware. So if you suddenly see a surge in spyware know that this could possibly be from yourself or a family member going to pornographic websites. Also, be wary of the “additional” software certain programs offer. Generally they are spyware.

The world of anti-spyware software is endless. In many cases one program will find something that none of the others find, and vice versa. Ad Aware is the best free program on the market, Microsoft Anti-Spyware (now called defender) comes in a very distant second, but could be promising in the future (it is currently in Beta). Many people end up using Ad Aware combined with a pay program such as Webroot Anti-Spyware, another good program and worth the money. I have worked with pay and free programs…none of them get everything, but combined usually get most everything. I personally use Ad Aware, nothing else. I simply stay away from pornography and Warez type sites and use only my firefox browser (this isn’t to say that everyone with spyware watches pornography, that is only one of the places where spyware is the worst). I have helped many friends remove their spyware problem, scanning up to 2000 individual pieces of spyware in one case. An average individual will get by with Ad Aware, but if problems persist then it may be necessary to buy or at least download the free trial of a pay program.

Good luck to everyone with their spyware problems. Links to pay and free programs are now in my additional info site.

Next I will be talking about identity theft and easy ways for my 3 tiered system to fail. Oh NO!!! Stay Tuned.

Tier 2: Firewall

2006-02-15T18:52:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my second tier of security.

A firewall basically stops other computer users from gaining access to your computer. You don’t even need to download information to be at risk, hackers of this type scan for unprotected computers using automated programs.

These hackers can be stopped by: A firewall.

Hackers of this type can: Take control of your entire computer and do what they wish to it, use your internet connection and i.p. address to attack other users (further spreading the attacks), hack into personal information on your computer such as pictures, passwords, credit cards, email, and banking information.

I recommend Zone Alarm because it is free and by far the best firewall I have ever had. Besides that program, a hardware firewall is installed in routers (wireless or wired) and can ASSIST software, but I don’t recommend relying on just a router and many people don’t have one to begin with. Zone Alarm is a hefty program and most users will need to read the users manual to understand the functionality of some things. Basically after install whenever you use a program dealing with the internet Zone Alarm will pop up asking if you want the program to connect. If you trust the program you can check the “remember this action” button and never deal with that popup for that program. Looking at my own install of Zone Alarm the program tells me I have had 32660 intrusions blocked, 7585 of them have been high rated. 97841 access attempts have been made. These numbers may be slightly higher because I am working from a school network and hackers like to target schools because the students are often without firewalls.

More information is now on my website including recommendations of pay software.

Security Alert: How to stay safe with my 3 tiered system

2006-02-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

PC security is one of the most important things that few people know how to do right, especially new computer users. Mind boggling terminology such as Phishing, worms, trojans, viruses, spyware, spam, and back doors can be enough to ward away many computer illiterate individuals.

Following my outline below will allow the best security possible. All of the programs I mention are FREE and just as powerful as programs that cost money in most cases. Each tier will be a separate post throughout the week, just so nobody gets too bored.

Tier 1: Anti-Virus Protection.

Viruses are everywhere on the internet. Viruses can be found by: clicking on a link, going to a website, downloading any type of file, accepting a download from an instant message, and opening an email.

Viruses can be stopped by: Having an anti-virus program and DOWNLOADING UPDATES REGULARLY.

Viruses can: Download your confidential information such as credit cards, remove convenience features like the start menu or desktop icons, keep track of passwords you use, disrupt one or many parts of your computer resulting in crashes and inoperability, use your computer to attack other computers and infect them with viruses, and finally even corrupt all of your data on your computer forcing you to start from scratch.

I recommend AVG antivirus because it works amazingly well and it's free. This is the program that I use on my own computer and have stopped many viruses from damaging my computer. You can set it to auto update and schedule scans when you’re not using the computer. AVG also has a built in email scanner that can be configured with most email clients and a real time protection monitor to delete viruses immediately after they are downloaded. The program is very simple to understand and does all the work for you. You must also remember to download updates at least once a week, not doing so could set your computer up for new attacks not protected by outdated programs.

My website contains more information about paid programs. As always, don't be afraid to ask questions about your problems.

The Wonderful World of Wireless

2006-02-09T19:29:00.000-08:00

I thought I might start off my first post talking about wireless home networks. The objective: cords are annoying, get rid of them.

Wireless home networks can be very useful in some cases, and very useless in others. Basically, you must purchase a wireless router and plug your high speed internet connection into it. Then, provided your laptop or desktop has a wireless Ethernet card, you can connect to the internet, wire free.

Reasons to own a wireless network: if your family uses many laptops at home, if you own several computers and don't want to string cables all over your house, or if you want to utilize other cool wireless gadgets.

The downside to wireless: The signal can only travel so far. If you own a large house or plan on having the signal travel through many thick walls you may have a very low signal. One solution to this problem is to buy a signal booster, available from most of the same manufacturers who sell wireless routers.

Hard to understand lingo: Wireless signals have developed just as any other technology, which means that there are several different types of signal. These days Wireless B and wireless G
are the most common types. Basically, Wireless G routers work with other wireless G and B devices. Wireless B routers do not work with G devices, because B is older and less compatible. The real difference is price; B can be much cheaper, but obsolete in the future.

There are many cool things you can do with a wireless connection these days. Linksys has come out with innovations such as surveillance cameras that can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection, Wireless telephones that work with the fairly new internet phone program Skype, which I will probably talk about in another post, and home entertainment devices that let you record TV as well as display images from the computer to TV or vice versa.

I've done a bit of comparison shopping for those of you interested in purchasing a wireless router. I strongly suggest linksys as they are the most compatible and easiest to install.

Linksys Wireless G router with speed booster (WRT54G) prices:

Buy.com : $49.93 after rebates and FREE SHIPPING

Ebay: I can see prices in the $50's + shipping, but can't guarantee any prices of course

Circuit City: $49.99 + Shipping

Amazon.com: $59.99 + Shipping

Good luck to all you wireless newbies out there. I will be glad to help anyone with their wireless problems.

For your reading convenience I have added a website for added content. You can go here.
Please excuse the crudity, it's still a work in progress.

(Note to everyone: I LOVE buy.com. I will try my best to hold down my bias.)

A brief introduction

2006-02-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Greetings,

I am a Telecommuncations major at Michigan State University and I love to talk about technology because it is related to my future career. I am constatly exposed to new technology every day; some good, some bad. I will be using this space to review new and upcoming technology and try to explain everything as simply as possible. I am hoping this will be a place where people can become informed about new technology.