Increase Your Computer Performance

This is one tip on how you can increase your computer performance in Windows XP. You can choose either to improve your performance or appearance. In order to do this, you need to go to Control Panel.

From Control Panel, go to System-> Advanced-> Performance->Settings -> Adjust for best performance. This will make your Windows XP looks like Windows 98 because the taskbar and the color of all the windows will turn to grey.

Sometimes, changing to this setting can also solve the Sysfader problem. So, if you're having Sysfader problem or want to improve your computer speed, this tip will help.

Useful Computer and Internet Tips Posts

Today I decided to surf Technorati and find some good blog posts and I found three posts that I like. The first one is Living Open Source - http://www.livingos.com/

I like his post here http://www.livingos.com/2007/09/18/open-source-software-a-big-bucket-of-free-software/

This post tells you about some free open source software to manage your photos, software that can replace MS Office, how to communicate with everyone around the world, and my favourite - free software to fight spyware. The software that in this post are very good. Check it out.

One more blog post that I like is Security Fix - http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix

I like the post "Your Money or Your Email" because it explains about email security. Something that people always neglect. Read that post and learn how his friend's email got locked.

Another blog that I like is the How-To Geek - http://www.howtogeek.com/

It contains lots of useful information. Great site and I like it very much. Tips such as Vista tweaks, how to install Windows XP on pre-installled Vista and so much more.

Check it out.

5 Reasons Why You Need PC Protection Software

The Internet is a place with loads of information. In just one
click, we can find what we need in one place.

As of right now, there are 6,574,666,417 Internet users worldwide
(stats by Internet World Stats) and this number is increasing
everyday. Because of the number of users, security become an issue
for Internet users.

Internet users are faced with many online threats everyday. In the
nineties,the Michaelangelo virus storm through the Internet and in
the year 2000, the ILOVEYOU worm appeared.

Let me tell you five reasons why you should protect your PC and
why I should do the same.

1) Adware

Have you ever wondered why you're getting the same popup everytime
you open your web browser? This software is called adware and it
displays advertisement in your PC. The software will installs
itself in your PC and it's difficult to uninstall it and it also
can slow down your PC.

2) Browser Hijackers

When you open your web browser, your home page has changed.
In this case, it is the browser hijackers that changed your home page.
Other than changing your home page, it can disable your Internet Options
so you cannot change the current home page.

3) Phishing

The hackers can steal your confidential information or personal information
using phishing techniques. Phishers will duplicate trusted websites
and ask you to enter your information. Many people are fooled using
this technique and many has suffered. Therefore, if you don't learn
how to protect your PC, you're risking your confidential information to
other people.

4) Spam

Spam is junk emails or bulk emails aimed to send advertisement
to your inbox. Sometimes, the emails will send virus in its attachment
or a link that will point you to download a virus or Trojan Horse.

5) Spyware

Spyware is software used by the advertisers to gain information
from you such as your browsing habit, which websites that you visited,
and it will send that information to certain people without you knowing.
It also can change your home page.

These are the 5 reasons why you should protect your PC. Leaving your
PC unprotected while using the Internet will make you vulnerable to
these threats. Learn how to protect your PC by reading articles, ebooks,
participate in tech forums and reading books. It can help you to
avoid these threats.

Want to learn more on PC safety? Visit http://www.chuangcomputer.com/pcsafety

Basic Computer Security Tips

Computer security is important and one shouldn't take it lightly. Everytime you go online without taking any security measure, you're increasing the risk of leaking your private information stored in your computer to an outsider. In this article, I will explain four basic computer security tips that you should know.

1. New Computer

When buying a new computer, it is important for you to turn the firewall on. For example, you're buying a Windows XP operating system computer, what you need to do is turn on the Windows Firewall first before going online. Even though it cannot protect you completely, but it is good enough to protect your PC before you buy a new firewall.

2. Email

Attachments in unknown emails are usually a threat. Never open any attachment from an unknown email. Sometimes, the email subject said something about you getting a greeting card and ask you to click the link inside that email. I've opened this type of email and was attacked by a trojan horse. Luckily my antivirus aborted the connection.

If the link inside that email is something like an ip address (http://aaa.bbb.x.y/) instead of a domain name, never click it.

3. Update Your Virus Definition

Installing an antivirus will not be enough. Constant update is needed so you can receive new virus definition. New threats are being created everyday and updating your virus definition on regular basis is crucial to detect newer threats.

4. Don't Surf Suspicious Sites

Opening a porn site or a warez site will also increase your risk of getting a virus. Application such as cracks and patches from warez sites will also increase your risk. Furthermore, it's illegal.

Using these tips will decrease the risk of getting your private information stolen by an outsider. However, these tips are not enough to protect your computer as this is only a basic computer security tips. Learn more so you can create a virtual wall around your computer.

Azwan Asmat is the author of Chuang Computer Tips. http://chuangcomputer.blogspot.com/. Would you like to learn more about PC protection? Visit http://www.chuangcomputer.com/pcsafety/

How To Protect My PC From Online Threat?

This is one question that I often heard people asked. There are many ways on how you can protect your PC. However, in this article, I will tell you five tips on how you can protect your pc from online threat.

1. Antivirus

Antivirus can protect your PC from viruses and can warn you if there are some suspicious activity going on in your PC. Some antivirus have email shield and will scan your email for threat. I personally recommend Avast! Antivirus. If you don't have any antivirus, get one immediately.

2. Firewall

Firewall is a great way to prevent traffic going in and out from your PC. This way, information stored in your PC will never be stolen and you can watch your network for suspicious applications.

3. Never Open Any Unknown Email

Email is a good way of communicating and it is also a good way to send virus attachment. Opening an unknown email will increase your risk of getting a Trojan Horse attack or spyware attack. If you received an unknown email, delete it immediately.

4. Uninstall All The Unwanted Software

Unwanted software could be a spyware or adware and it could slow down your internet connection. Therefore, if there are software that you don't know in your add/remove list, uninstall it.

5. Use Other Web Browser

Many people use Internet Explorer as a web browser, however I suggest you to use other web browser so you can reduce the threat. People tend to hijack Internet Explorer because it is a widely used browser.

Having a PC is not only about using it, protecting it is also important. Therefore, learn more about PC protection so you can protect your PC.

Azwan Asmat is the author of Chuang Computer Tips. http://chuangcomputer.blogspot.com. Would you like to learn more about PC protection? Visit http://www.chuangcomputer.com/pcsafety

Get Into Safe Mode Without Pressing The F8 , Reduce Your Startup Time (Windows XP)

Did you know that you can get into safe mode without pressing the F8? You can actually. However, I only know how to do this in Windows XP.

This can be applied if you have a problem with your keyboard and you cannot press the F8 during the BIOS screen. You can do this using the 'msconfig'. Just go to start->run and type 'msconfig' and you will see the System Configuration Utility



If you want to reduce your startup time, click the startup tab and choose the programs that you want to run during startup and click apply. It will ask you to restart. Choose restart and when you've restarted the computer, it will ask you to configure the 'msconfig' again. Select 'Don't ask this question again'.

That's if you want to reduce your startup time. If you want to enter the safe mode without pressing the F8, just run the System Configuration Utility again and this time click the BOOT.INI tab



Choose /SAFEBOOT and click ok. When you restart your computer, it will restart in safe mode without pressing the F8. To return to normal boot, just run the msconfig again and deselect the /SAFEBOOT by clicking the box again.