It has come to my attention that most people do not know what these things are, what dangers they cause, and what to use, or where to get them. So, I must start by expressing that I intend this as an "at home use" article.
ADWARE
Ad ons to software to display ads one way or another to your computer screen. Although not as dangerous as spyware, these ads are potential start points for spyware programs. I recommend using the latest adaware program to detect and remove adware programs. Be careful with this software you may damage some programs you are using that have adware in them that you want to keep. I suggest more research if you are an avid freeware downloader. Otherwise just follow the program through to remove your adware.
SPYWARE
Spyware are programs installed on your computer from randomly surfing upon certian sites and allowing them to install. Most of the time you don't even have to click anything. Just having certian security settings allows the site to automatically download and install them.
Most spyware programs are bad because they are running at all times and slow down your computer. They tend to take up space on your hard drive, even log events like what time your online, and what internet sites you visit, they even log ip address' by area. Sometimes they are a virus, by which they start doing what's called keylogging. They keep track of every letter you pressed on the keyboard and send them back to a source. Usually it is someone you'd rather not have this information.
You can prevent spyware by installing programs that monitor for and extract spyware programs. It is always suggested to run two spyware programs, what one doesn't find the other will. Yes, now you have 2 running in the background, but you no longer have 20 other malicious programs running . Another problem to watch out for if you do run 2 spyware removal programs, they tend to have adware. Programs take a lot of time an energy to create, thus bringing along with them a way to potentially acquire revenue.
ANTIVIRUS
A virus is a program sent to you activated by you opening an e-mail selecting yes on a file or even putting a disk, or flash drive into your computer. Most virus items intend to hinder your computers performance for the sake of hindering it. Trojans, a virus type, tend to go the spyware route but worsening the effect by opening up huge wholes into your system so that the user can take over, get information and screw up your computer live. For home use I personally recomend Avast. Be careful though, there are Phishing sites for Avast. Phishing sites are sites that are made to look like a website you normally go to. These sites log your information in a database so later they can try to hack into your other active accounts on the internet. This is one of the down falls of using 1 or 2 passwords for everything.
FIREWALL
Windows has a firewall setup now in Windows XP and Windows Vista. Window's Vista's Firewall is, in my opinion, superior to Windows XP, that's about all the credit I have given the Vista System though. Firewalls are only needed for broadband connections (DSL or CABLE mostly). I recommend Comodo Firewall for home use. You know you have a decent firewall when it asks if itself can connect to the internet for updates or should be blocked.
You may want to re-read the above information after this. A firewall is a program designed to monitor your computer for incoming attacks, odd activity, and prevent unwanted connections to be made to the internet. Think of the internet as hose between your computer and the outside world. The firewall asks as a valve to adjust the amount of water, or in this case information that is allowed through.
COOKIES?
Cookies, we have all heard of them, but what are they and what do they do? How are they dangerous? I do not want them on my computer, I don't want crumbs all over my computer. Alright so in reality us cheesy programmers do use the terms cookies and crumbs in programming. Cookies are text like files stored on your computer to save us the trouble of logging everything server side (some day I may write something about the difference between server side and client side so check back I guess) What this does is allow us to store information on your computer when you visit our website. Yes, we some use this information to do all of the above, but most use it for useful things like saving the fact that you logged in. Would you like to have to enter your username and password on every single screen you were on? I didn't think so. What it does is allow us to store information and when you come back we know you are you, and we know exactly every link you clicked. Think of it as a marketing study, but you don't have to see the guy with the pencil and paper standing in front of the store when you walk in. He stands behind you watching everything you do, so next time he can make things better for you. (most of the time anyhow) Well there are dangers. For example I remember hearing about how once upon a time amazon was logging exactly what people liked and making everything cheap and then the things you were, or they thought you would be interested in would be slightly more expensive. Not sure if this is true, but this is a small example of what can be done. So what do I do about it? Well Adaware should eliminate them too, but you can also do what most of us do once in a while.
Firefox:
Tools --> Clear Recent History --> Check Cookies and all other data types you wish to delete --> Click Clear Now!
Internet Explorer:
Tools --> Delete Browsing History --> Click Delete cookies and all other types of data you wish to delete
NOTE: Temporary Internet Files will have to be deleted to ensure your cookies are gone. Also, your cookies will be back the moment you return to a site. Unfortunately it may get all the data back because a lot of companies are starting to keep track of things server side too. (on their computers)
Greek?
My friend is currently studying greek for himself. I was working with him on it, but school is starting to get the best of me. If things are still greek to you, feel free to ask questions. I will do my best to answer them.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Version 2.25?
To those who might be interested:
I decided on my version number based on I am in fact a junior or the 2nd, as well as I am 25 years old. I thought of adding .1 because I have a child that is almost 1 year old, but I thought that would be a bit too much.
I decided on my version number based on I am in fact a junior or the 2nd, as well as I am 25 years old. I thought of adding .1 because I have a child that is almost 1 year old, but I thought that would be a bit too much.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Windows Vista/XP Page File (Swap File)
So you want to boost performance huh?
Well, one of my tricks over the years has always been to move the page or swap file onto a drive that isn't used much. For my desktop it happens to be a fairly decent size partition that I cut out of the linux drive. Now when I say partition I mean a division of the drives, when I say a drive, I'm usually talking about a Hard Drive.
What is a page/swap file?
A page file is simply a set of steps that are backed up onto the hard drive to help increase performace of your ram. It even acts as ram in some cases. if you have 10 steps lined up and your ram only allows 8 then about 6 of them will be in the ram and the other four will be in the page file. The page file will then be used with the other 2 parts allowed. Do more research if I'm not explaining it well enough.
Why can't I just use a partition?
You can but it isn't worth it. Think of your hard drive like a record, your needle does both the reading and the writing. Now picture that your partitions are about half the record inwards for the first one and the outside of the record for the second one. You put your partition for the page file on the outside (you really don't get to choose unless you get really techy) Your normal drive partition is on the inside. Alright, so your ready to start doing things. You start a few programs and the needle reads from the inside then has to write to your swap/page file so it moves to the outside.. back and fourth back and fourth. Now lets pretend this is any moving thing in the world, what is going to happen? I hope you guessed it, it's going to wear out, effectively reduce your computer speed, and cause your hard drive to disembark on it's journey prematurely. So you need 2 hard drives to increase performance this way, and you want your page file on the one you use the least.
Is partitioning it best?
I feel it's important to partition out the page/swap file. It helps to limit, and ensure space for the file. I recommend partitioning out the same amount of space for your page/swap file that you have in RAM rounded up. So if you have about 4 gigs of RAM then I'd partition about 5 gigs on average. This gives plenty of room. However if you choose to limit the page file then do so with more research.
Alright, what do I do?
Remember to partition your hard drive ahead of time. You can do this with the system tools. This will be it's own topic soon.
For Vista:
Start->Settings->Control Panel
Double Click System
Click Advanced Tab then on Settings Button under Performance
Click on Advanced Tab then Change Button under Virtual Memory
Select Drive you wish to have the page file on.
Change Settings to liking and click Set
Restart Your Computer
For XP:
Start->Settings->Control Panel
Double Click System
Click Advanced Tab
Click Settings under Performance
In the Performance Options Click the Advanced Tab
Click Change Under Virtual memory
Click the drive you wish to have the page file on
Set the amount of space, or allow the System Managed Size or No page file radio option to be selected.
Click Set
Restart Your Computer
Well, one of my tricks over the years has always been to move the page or swap file onto a drive that isn't used much. For my desktop it happens to be a fairly decent size partition that I cut out of the linux drive. Now when I say partition I mean a division of the drives, when I say a drive, I'm usually talking about a Hard Drive.
What is a page/swap file?
A page file is simply a set of steps that are backed up onto the hard drive to help increase performace of your ram. It even acts as ram in some cases. if you have 10 steps lined up and your ram only allows 8 then about 6 of them will be in the ram and the other four will be in the page file. The page file will then be used with the other 2 parts allowed. Do more research if I'm not explaining it well enough.
Why can't I just use a partition?
You can but it isn't worth it. Think of your hard drive like a record, your needle does both the reading and the writing. Now picture that your partitions are about half the record inwards for the first one and the outside of the record for the second one. You put your partition for the page file on the outside (you really don't get to choose unless you get really techy) Your normal drive partition is on the inside. Alright, so your ready to start doing things. You start a few programs and the needle reads from the inside then has to write to your swap/page file so it moves to the outside.. back and fourth back and fourth. Now lets pretend this is any moving thing in the world, what is going to happen? I hope you guessed it, it's going to wear out, effectively reduce your computer speed, and cause your hard drive to disembark on it's journey prematurely. So you need 2 hard drives to increase performance this way, and you want your page file on the one you use the least.
Is partitioning it best?
I feel it's important to partition out the page/swap file. It helps to limit, and ensure space for the file. I recommend partitioning out the same amount of space for your page/swap file that you have in RAM rounded up. So if you have about 4 gigs of RAM then I'd partition about 5 gigs on average. This gives plenty of room. However if you choose to limit the page file then do so with more research.
Alright, what do I do?
Remember to partition your hard drive ahead of time. You can do this with the system tools. This will be it's own topic soon.
For Vista:
Start->Settings->Control Panel
Double Click System
Click Advanced Tab then on Settings Button under Performance
Click on Advanced Tab then Change Button under Virtual Memory
Select Drive you wish to have the page file on.
Change Settings to liking and click Set
Restart Your Computer
For XP:
Start->Settings->Control Panel
Double Click System
Click Advanced Tab
Click Settings under Performance
In the Performance Options Click the Advanced Tab
Click Change Under Virtual memory
Click the drive you wish to have the page file on
Set the amount of space, or allow the System Managed Size or No page file radio option to be selected.
Click Set
Restart Your Computer
Monday, October 6, 2008
Masters of Orion II
Masters of Orion II
Also typed as Masters of Orion 2, MOO2, and MOOII. This game is on my top ten list. I have been greatly upset because before my time the ten network was down, and I never really got to participate this game multiplayer until recently. For all you fans out there, like me, I have great news.
First, a no CD "crack": All you have to do is copy the cd into the install folder and then change the file orioncd.ini to the path of the cd. I am not promoting this as a method of distribute of this game. I am only promoting this for a way to not have to carry 20 CD's with your laptop. If you need more copies amazon.com has plenty to sell you.
Next, download and install the latest version of DosBox. My version is 0.72 and works just fine. Then you have to edit the dosbox.conf file. I suggest reading through the fine print to help manipulate your configuration file to best suit your computer. The main line we are looking to either uncomment (which every line with a # sign is commented out of the program, as in, won't run) is "ipx=true" if this line cannot be found insert it below all the lines under [dos] it should look something like this...
"
[dos]
# xms -- Enable XMS support.
# ems -- Enable EMS support.
# umb -- Enable UMB support (false,true,max).
xms=trueems=trueumb=true
[ipx]
# ipx -- Enable ipx over UDP/IP emulation.
ipx=true
"
If you copy and paste this, do not include the "s in your paste. Now you boot up your dosbox, mount the folder you wish to use, and start your server or join your host. To start your server type "ipxnet startserver" to stop your server type "ipxnet stopserver" to connect someone else type "ipxnet connect" Example "ipxnet connect 192.168.1.210" Be sure to allow the program through your firewalls and antivirus protections. Be careful on your settings. To start your game just use the simple dos commands to go to the install directory. usually "cd" followed by your folder names. Example "cd mps\orion2" then type orion2.exe or just orion2 to start masters of orion, now you can either start your game to host (if your the server) or join a game (if you connected to someone else).
Please comment on grey areas of this.
Also typed as Masters of Orion 2, MOO2, and MOOII. This game is on my top ten list. I have been greatly upset because before my time the ten network was down, and I never really got to participate this game multiplayer until recently. For all you fans out there, like me, I have great news.
First, a no CD "crack": All you have to do is copy the cd into the install folder and then change the file orioncd.ini to the path of the cd. I am not promoting this as a method of distribute of this game. I am only promoting this for a way to not have to carry 20 CD's with your laptop. If you need more copies amazon.com has plenty to sell you.
Next, download and install the latest version of DosBox. My version is 0.72 and works just fine. Then you have to edit the dosbox.conf file. I suggest reading through the fine print to help manipulate your configuration file to best suit your computer. The main line we are looking to either uncomment (which every line with a # sign is commented out of the program, as in, won't run) is "ipx=true" if this line cannot be found insert it below all the lines under [dos] it should look something like this...
"
[dos]
# xms -- Enable XMS support.
# ems -- Enable EMS support.
# umb -- Enable UMB support (false,true,max).
xms=trueems=trueumb=true
[ipx]
# ipx -- Enable ipx over UDP/IP emulation.
ipx=true
"
If you copy and paste this, do not include the "s in your paste. Now you boot up your dosbox, mount the folder you wish to use, and start your server or join your host. To start your server type "ipxnet startserver" to stop your server type "ipxnet stopserver" to connect someone else type "ipxnet connect
Please comment on grey areas of this.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Knowing My Beliefs (First Post)
Friends, Countryman, Aliens, Galactic Aliens Watching Above, Lend me your time,
For today, and from now on you will be able to witness my writing and ramblings. Yes, I have put together and rendered a blog on blogger.com. The fact that I have been reading them on normal google searches and even commenting back on some made me believe it was time to start writing some propaganda of my own. I feel it will be a great way to improve on my writing, and blow off some steam, or rant, about the normal burblings of my being.
Now that the introduction is off my chest, let us move onto a religous take of my beliefs. Not to scare you, but more to make sure you understand who I am. Those who wish to save my soul please wait in line. I'll be with you as soon as the elevator starts accending.
Jesus, I love you, but not for what most christians would believe. I love the stories in the bible and believe you existed in a time. I believe you touched many people and that you were great in knowledge and experiance. I believe you did what you thought was right and even if I could make people believe that my death would forgive their shames and make others a better person, I would probably take that, especially if I was already nearing the road to death to begin with.
However, I do not completely believe every thing in the bible is to a 'T'. There are many people who have read edited and rewritten the bible in such a way that they did not represent the word of god as a being almighty could. I feel that the bible is more of a system of survival that has been worshipped beyond it's first intention.
Therefore, my beliefs are quite different though much alike those of christian followers. I call it a for of Agnosticism. Though agnostic in definition is: "1: a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience (dictionary.com).", I do have some base for my beliefs and single source of greater power exists. If I'm wrong, I have nothing to loose. If other powers exist, I must repent when I find I'm wrong, or just go to hell depending. However, if I'm right, none of us are in any real danger other than from ourselves.
Afterall, if you were GOD, what would you do for fun? Perfect or not I would be, mind you I am a small ant in comparison, bored. I would have all the answers. Ultimate power for the first 10 seconds might be nice as a human, but then y0u'd get bored as well. Being a God you would be able to do anything know the outcome before hand and then be able to change what you wish. Even furthermore, you have eternity that you must endure. Weather in nothingness or in something. Your existence would be a creation of the universe and without the universe you would not exist, although it might be a great void of nothing or something that existed. God's existence 101: absolute nothing exists. Then something has to exist. If something exists in order for nothing to exist then an operator is needed. Operation is the basis of all power(^) and the ability to create(+) and destroy(-). it also is holding all the answers. So, God, a being of creation is nothing more than a flux in the universe we call an operation.
What? God is nothing more than + - * / ^ - = ? Why not? It makes perfect since. The balance of all equations must exist as defined. Alright, mind blower I know, but that's my opinion. I have a right to my beliefs.
Now for the fun part; Why are we here? We are here to experiance and obtain information and bring that back to source. We are objects much like in a program designed to do what we want. Free will. However, there is a catch. In order for our almighty God to not get bored he wanted to experiance every experiance possible first hand. So, after all the creation of the mineral items of the world, he put himself into all the living things. Just a small sliver. So, when you return, for we all know we must eventually, he has first hand experiance of everything. He has the pain the sorrow the bad the good.
If that's so why bother praying? Prayers are nothing more than another equation for God to balance. If enough people believe in something strong enough the scale tips that way. Eventually your prayers may be met. To some that can be a miracle. To others it's just luck. Remember for every miracle you hear about though, some poor living thing has suffered through the same ordeal with the opposite outcome.
What about the devil? For every good deed there must be a bad deed as well. Weather minor or smaller. The great scale of our God almighty who does evil acts against non-believers and cherishs the ones that do. The devil is just the blame we give when the equation is not in our favor.
In conclusion, Gods existence is a must, a necessity for nothing to exist. He created a world of endless possibilities to be able to experiance life. God could be a He a She but more like an it. God is an operator holding all the values and answers. We ourselves are like Gods, just as the good book states, we can move mountians if we believe we can. I just feel sorry for the people on the other side that suffer the consiquences.
That all makes me feel like I'm worthless... I would find it refeshing, the power inside yourself to do the best you possibly can and move on with life fills me. I am here for the experiance of life itself, to take the bad, with the good and become a soul again within my God. I have the free will and power to either try and defy almighty, or accept things.
-The Rob
For today, and from now on you will be able to witness my writing and ramblings. Yes, I have put together and rendered a blog on blogger.com. The fact that I have been reading them on normal google searches and even commenting back on some made me believe it was time to start writing some propaganda of my own. I feel it will be a great way to improve on my writing, and blow off some steam, or rant, about the normal burblings of my being.
Now that the introduction is off my chest, let us move onto a religous take of my beliefs. Not to scare you, but more to make sure you understand who I am. Those who wish to save my soul please wait in line. I'll be with you as soon as the elevator starts accending.
Jesus, I love you, but not for what most christians would believe. I love the stories in the bible and believe you existed in a time. I believe you touched many people and that you were great in knowledge and experiance. I believe you did what you thought was right and even if I could make people believe that my death would forgive their shames and make others a better person, I would probably take that, especially if I was already nearing the road to death to begin with.
However, I do not completely believe every thing in the bible is to a 'T'. There are many people who have read edited and rewritten the bible in such a way that they did not represent the word of god as a being almighty could. I feel that the bible is more of a system of survival that has been worshipped beyond it's first intention.
Therefore, my beliefs are quite different though much alike those of christian followers. I call it a for of Agnosticism. Though agnostic in definition is: "1: a person who holds that the existence of the ultimate cause, as God, and the essential nature of things are unknown and unknowable, or that human knowledge is limited to experience (dictionary.com).", I do have some base for my beliefs and single source of greater power exists. If I'm wrong, I have nothing to loose. If other powers exist, I must repent when I find I'm wrong, or just go to hell depending. However, if I'm right, none of us are in any real danger other than from ourselves.
Afterall, if you were GOD, what would you do for fun? Perfect or not I would be, mind you I am a small ant in comparison, bored. I would have all the answers. Ultimate power for the first 10 seconds might be nice as a human, but then y0u'd get bored as well. Being a God you would be able to do anything know the outcome before hand and then be able to change what you wish. Even furthermore, you have eternity that you must endure. Weather in nothingness or in something. Your existence would be a creation of the universe and without the universe you would not exist, although it might be a great void of nothing or something that existed. God's existence 101: absolute nothing exists. Then something has to exist. If something exists in order for nothing to exist then an operator is needed. Operation is the basis of all power(^) and the ability to create(+) and destroy(-). it also is holding all the answers. So, God, a being of creation is nothing more than a flux in the universe we call an operation.
What? God is nothing more than + - * / ^ - = ? Why not? It makes perfect since. The balance of all equations must exist as defined. Alright, mind blower I know, but that's my opinion. I have a right to my beliefs.
Now for the fun part; Why are we here? We are here to experiance and obtain information and bring that back to source. We are objects much like in a program designed to do what we want. Free will. However, there is a catch. In order for our almighty God to not get bored he wanted to experiance every experiance possible first hand. So, after all the creation of the mineral items of the world, he put himself into all the living things. Just a small sliver. So, when you return, for we all know we must eventually, he has first hand experiance of everything. He has the pain the sorrow the bad the good.
If that's so why bother praying? Prayers are nothing more than another equation for God to balance. If enough people believe in something strong enough the scale tips that way. Eventually your prayers may be met. To some that can be a miracle. To others it's just luck. Remember for every miracle you hear about though, some poor living thing has suffered through the same ordeal with the opposite outcome.
What about the devil? For every good deed there must be a bad deed as well. Weather minor or smaller. The great scale of our God almighty who does evil acts against non-believers and cherishs the ones that do. The devil is just the blame we give when the equation is not in our favor.
In conclusion, Gods existence is a must, a necessity for nothing to exist. He created a world of endless possibilities to be able to experiance life. God could be a He a She but more like an it. God is an operator holding all the values and answers. We ourselves are like Gods, just as the good book states, we can move mountians if we believe we can. I just feel sorry for the people on the other side that suffer the consiquences.
That all makes me feel like I'm worthless... I would find it refeshing, the power inside yourself to do the best you possibly can and move on with life fills me. I am here for the experiance of life itself, to take the bad, with the good and become a soul again within my God. I have the free will and power to either try and defy almighty, or accept things.
-The Rob
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