Computer Spot

Monitoring your kids’ use of the internet by sitting with them is the most ideal way to keep them away from all the threats possible online. But this isn’t possible all the time.

So, to make sure that your kids are safe using the internet when you aren’t around, there are a number internet safety rules that your kids should know.

1.    Follow the specific time to use the computer. Explain to them why there is a need to set internet time. Let them develop obedience as a virtue and a sense of responsibility for their actions.

2.    Never share personal information to strangers you meet online. These include: name, home address, phone number, email address, password, school information, bank account information, and credit card numbers. Online predators are everywhere and their main targets are your kids who are innocently giving their personal information that can put their safety on the line. Read the rest of this entry →

Your kids are the primary target of internet-based threats like computer viruses, adware, and spyware through the websites they frequently visit and misleading information they receive.

This is the reason why, as parents, it is important to discuss with your kids how to surf the net safely and away from any internet-based threats.

Downloads

Downloading files from unknown source is one of the most common reasons why the computer is infested with viruses and spyware.

Free games, flash animations, bundled emoticons, jokes, screen savers, and even free spyware removal downloads are potentially unsafe. Read the rest of this entry →

Peer-to-peer file-sharing is very popular among kids. But using this may involve illegally downloading, sharing or copying copyrighted files which is considered piracy and punishable by law.

So to keep your kids away from the possible risks of p2p file-sharing program, here are the things you can do:

1. Inform your kids about the impending risk.

Piracy is considered stealing. And any civilized society imposes penalty on those who steal files from other people.

Also, p2p file-sharing is a venue for spyware and viruses to enter your computer and infest the files on it.

You may experience that it isn’t enough to tell your kids that it’s bad so it will help if you discuss further the consequences of doing such things.

•    P2P file sharing can put your computer at risk from viruses and other internet-based threats like spyware and adware.
•    The computer and other files associated with illegal downloads such as disks and flash drives can be confiscated.
•    A fine of $30,000 can be imposed to the pirate according to the U.S. copyright law. Read the rest of this entry →

Your kids’ email addresses may be bombarded by unsolicited junk emails or spam everyday. So it is very possible that they open emails and download attachments from unknown senders.

Since spam is known to be a growing source of computer viruses, your kids may be inviting internet-based threats unknowingly.

Thus, it is very important that they know what to do to avoid attracting junk mails and keep their computer free from viruses.

Teach your kids to protect their email addresses. Make sure they know that it is dangerous for them to share their email addresses to someone they don’t know through instant messaging, online chatting, and signing up to websites for access. Read the rest of this entry →

Internet addiction isn’t common to parents and teachers; and it isn’t that widely recognized in the medical community as well. But it doesn’t mean that you can ignore it as a serious health condition.

Here are the things you should know about Internet addiction…

Internet Addiction Symptoms

There are several symptoms visible to kids with internet addictions. Physical symptoms include headaches and migraines associated with the use of the computer, carpal tunnel syndrome, backaches, neglect of personal hygiene, lack of sleep and inconsistent sleeping patterns, and dry eyes. Read the rest of this entry →

Our access to information has never been as convenient. In ancient times, only young men were allowed to go to school and learn about philosophers and literature.

When the ultra-conservative Middle Ages came along, knowledge was left in the hands of the religious, and wouldn’t see a renewal until the Renaissance.

As the centuries passed, people were granted greater access to information, until our modern day scholars decided to make things easier for everyone.

From libraries stocking books in order, we moved to databases that stored information in a way that it could be stored, searched through, and retrieved. Read the rest of this entry →

When you store important information on a USB device, you take the chance of losing that information. Losing data on a USB can be kind of a mystery, but there are companies out there that can help you get that data back.

These companies use engineering that can recover your lost data over ninety six percent of the time. These companies can even recover data that has been stored on a damaged USB device.

So when you find yourself in a situation where you have lost valuable information you should not assume that this data can not be retrieved.

There are some companies that specialize in repairing damaged USB memory devices. In the process of retrieving your data, companies can also repair your device. Types of the problems they can repair broken solders, loose plugs, and broken internal connections. Read the rest of this entry →

Do you recall the first time you ever used the Internet? You might have wondered where in the world you could find information about computers without having websites to go to. And this might still be an on-going dilemma for many people.

How do you really search information on the Internet? The answer is fairly simple – use a search engine. An example of a search engine is Google and Yahoo.

When you go to their website, you will notice that there’s a long bar where you can type something. It also has a search button at the end. That’s what a search engine looks like. Read the rest of this entry →