Terminology, Free Image/Video Hosts, SpyWare, AntiVirus

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Introduction

 

This is just a basic guide to keep your I.T terminology up-to-date, keep your PC safe from spy_ware and viruses.

 

 

 

 

 

Terminology

 

Below I've made a list, of common terms used on Tip.Its, some are abbreviations:

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ DDoS

 

A type of denial of service attack in which an attacker uses malicious code installed on various computers to attack a single target. An attacker may use this method to have a greater effect on the target than is possible with a single attacking machine.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ CPU / Processor

 

Abbreviation of central processing unit, and pronounced as separate letters. The CPU is the brains of the computer. Sometimes referred to simply as the processor or central processor, the CPU is where most calculations take place. In terms of computing power, the CPU is the most

 

important element of a computer system.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ Motherboard / Mobo

 

A motherboard, also known as main board, logic board or system board, and sometimes abbreviated as mobo, is the central or primary circuit board making up a complex electronic system, such as a computer.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ Graphics Card / Video Card / GPU

 

This component is used to transfer data to your monitor so that it can be displayed. Today's video cards have a variety of "3D" capabilities. 3D video cards are only needed for playing games though. When playing 3D games, the video card is the most important component. See my Video Card section for a more in-depth discussion of this.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ BSOD

 

Blue Screen Of Death. This is where your screen goes blue, and you get a pesky error message. In Win XP there is nothing you can do but restart. In older versions of windows, you can normally hold your breath and hit enter, and it might go away.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ FPS / Frames Per Second

 

Fps, or frames per second, is used to describe the speed at which film and video play. Film plays at 24fps, PAL video at 25fps, and NTSC video at 29.97 fps.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ PS / Photoshop

 

A simple definition, meaning the graphics/art program; Adobe Photoshop.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ PSP / Paint Shop Pro

 

Paint Shop Pro, or shortened, 'PSP', is the art program Paint Shop Pro.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ Constructive Criticism / C&C / C+C

 

Constructive criticism is the process of offering valid and well-reasoned opinions about the work of others, usually involving both positive and negative comments, in a friendly manner rather than an oppositional one. In collaborative work, this kind of criticism is often a valuable tool in raising and maintaining performance standards.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ Work In Progress / WIP

 

WIP, or in full; Work In Progress. Artists or Graphics Designers sometimes title there work 'WIP', meaning, it's a piece of work they have, but is not quite finished.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ P2P / Pay-To-Play

 

Usually defining a game that requires you to pay every so often (usually a month) to play the game.

 

 

 

Ãâ÷ WWW / World Wide Web

 

Usually put in front of a website to show that it is a website open to the world-wide.

 

 

 

 

 

HTML & BBCode Linking & Imaging

 

HTML; Also known as Hyper Text Markup Language

 

To put a Hyperlink, web link, URL or link into a webpage, you use the following code:

 

URL TITLE

 

Replacing "URL HERE" with a Link, and "URL TITLE" with the title of the link, to produce the link.

 

 

 

Here is an example, I am going to make a link to http://www.google.co.uk with the title as

 

 

 

"Google.co.uk", therefore I would use the following code:

 

Google.co.uk

 

This would produce this -> Google.co.uk <--

 

 

 

Now, for an image, you simply replace the "IMAGE URL" in the below code to produce your

 

 

 

image, such as this example, we are going to put the Google Logo onto this post:

 

 

Would produce this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

BBCode:

 

Now, for Forums, it's a little bit more simpler, for a link, it would be like this:

 

[url=URL HERE]URL TITLE[/url]

 

Now I'm sure I don't need to go in how this works, as it's self-explanatory if you read the how-to

 

 

 

links for HTML.

 

 

 

For an image on a forum, it is usually:

 

[img=IMAGE URL HERE]

 

 

 

 

 

Free Image & Video Hosts

 

Some good Free Image Hosting websites are:

 

http://www.photobucket.com/

 

http://www.imageshack.us/

 

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/

 

http://www.theimagehosting.com/

 

http://www.tinypic.com/

 

http://www.villagephotos.com/

 

http://www.megashares.com/

 

 

 

Now, some good Free Video hosting websites are:

 

http://www.tinypic.com/

 

http://www.rapidshare.de/

 

http://www.megaupload.com/

 

http://www.sendspace.com/

 

http://www.bigupload.com/

 

http://www.megashares.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Computer Safety - Free Anti-SpyWare & Anti-Virus Programs

 

Now, this part is about safety with your computer. It is highly recommended that you keep your Windows Firewall on at all times, as if you have it down. Your putting yourself at a risk, besides, if anything trys to attempt to make contact with your computer that poses a risk, or is trying to access the Internet, e.g.; MSN, RuneScape, etc; It'll ask if you want to Unlock or Block the site from accessing the internet.

 

 

 

Now, here are some free Anti-Virus programs;

 

 

 

AVG [Free Edition] AntiVirus

 

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

 

 

 

NOD32

 

http://www.nod32uk.com/download/download.htm

 

 

 

KasperSky

 

http://www.kaspersky.com/productupdates

 

 

 

BitDefender

 

~ you want the '8 Free Edition', not Linux, unless your not running Windows, and your using Linux...

 

http://www.bitdefender.com/site/Main/vi ... ducts.html

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some free Anti-SpyWare programs:

 

 

 

SpyBot: Search & Destroy

 

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

 

 

 

Ad-Aware SE

 

http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

 

 

 

Spy Sweeper (download the Trial)

 

http://www.webroot.com/uk/downloads/

 

 

 

Spyware Doctor 3.8

 

http://www.download.com/Spyware-Doctor/ ... 93212.html

 

 

 

Windows Defender (BETA 2)

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

 

 

 

 

 

I recommend you run SpyWare & AntiVirus checks at LEAST once a week each (1 antivirus, 1 antispyware scan a week). If your busy all the time and don't have time for it, just update all your definitions on SpyWare/AntiVirus, on all programs and make sure there all up-to-date, then you could maybe do a scan while your asleep in bed, or while your at work?

 

 

 

The below information I've got courtesy from http://www.cippic.ca:

 

 

 

 

 

What are the kinds of technologies that spyware might use, and what do these technologies do?

 

 

 

Technologies that spyware might use include:

 

 

 

1. Tracking Technologies that monitor user behaviour or gather personal information about the user.

 

2. Advertising Display Technologies that display advertising content.

 

3. Remote Control Technologies that allow remote access or control of computer systems.

 

4. Dialing Technologies that make calls or access services through a modem or Internet connection.

 

5. System Modifying Technologies that modify system and change user's browser and desktop experience.

 

6. Security Analysis Technologies used by a computer user to analyze or circumvent security protections.

 

7. Automatic Download Technologies that download and install software without user interaction.

 

 

 

These technologies are valid and not considered spyware if all of the following three requirements are met: adequate notice, consent, and control. Currently, there is a debate as to what these three elements should entail. However, at the minimum, adequate notice should include notice written in a clear language that describes all the software that will be installed and their functions. Consent means that the user has assented to the notice, by clicking "I agree" to the notice or through some other affirmative action. Control means that the user can start, stop, or uninstall the software when the user pleases.

 

 

 

What are the differences between spyware and viruses?

 

There are a few differences between the broader definition of spyware and viruses. The first main difference is that viruses intentionally harm or damage the computer by corrupting the normal performance of applications, operating systems or files. Spyware does not intentionally harm or damage the computer; however, spyware unintentionally slows down the computer or causes system crashes because of all the spyware programs running. The second difference is that viruses self-replicate and ultimately infect as many computers as possible as quickly as possible. Spyware does not self-replicate. The third difference is that spyware records personal information about a user, which can ultimately cause harm to that user. This is achieved through the installation of surreptitious applications that run unnoticed in the computer's background. Viruses do not record personal information about a user.

 

 

 

How can Spyware affect me?

 

Spyware can negatively impact you in many different ways. Spyware can compromise your privacy because your personal information may be gathered and distributed to others. You may become a victim of identity theft or fraud. Outsiders may start using your credit cards and accessing your banking information. People may know your passwords and start accessing your personal email or documents.

 

 

 

Spyware can cause you to pay long distance calls which you did not authorize. This is done when a dialer application is installed on your computer and it calls long distance or 1-900 hundred numbers.

 

 

 

Spyware can install programs you did not download, change your browser home page, reset your bookmarks, and change your wallpaper. This then affects your control over your personal computer because these programs may be not listed in the add/remove program and consequently, some of these programs are difficult to uninstall.

 

 

 

Furthermore, spyware can affect the available resources and proper functioning of computers by making them slower and/or causing system crashes.

 

 

 

What can I do to avoid spyware?

 

There are many precautions you can take to avoid spyware:

 

 

 

* Update your operating system and web browser software by downloading the latest "patches" available in order to close security holes.

 

* Install a personal firewall to secure your Internet connection from uninvited users, such as ZoneAlarm.

 

* Only download programs from websites you trust.

 

* If you are using Internet Explorer, set the security and privacy setting level to at least medium to avoid unauthorized downloading. For example, on Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options > then the Privacy tab and move the slider to MEDIUM or preferably HIGH.

 

* When closing pop-up ads, click the ("X") icon at the top right hand side of the title bar instead of any button, link or the ad itself. Many times, popup windows are coded to install spyware even if you click "ok", "agree", "cancel", or "no" when you want to close a window. Alternately, you can press Alt and F4 simultaneously for certain browsers, such as Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.

 

* When downloading free software or other applications, such as file sharing programs, be sure you clearly understand all of the software packaged with those programs. Companies often bundle free software with other software including spyware.

 

* Read all security warnings, license agreements, privacy statements, and "opt-in" notices with any software you download.

 

o If you do not understand or agree with the license agreement and/or privacy statement, do not install the software or software feature.

 

o If the notices are hard to understand, think twice before downloading.

 

* Do not open unsolicited email or download anti-spyware tools advertised through spam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- I hope this post was informative and helps you all!

 

- Got any suggestions or more information I could add? PM me or post here and I'll add it!

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Josh

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