Volume 1 - Issue 2
Greetings to all and welcome back for another session of mind numbing terror learning new things on that damn box.
Just kidding !!! I myself find it very satisfying in learning new ways to beat The Box into submission. Originally I started learning how to do my own upgrades and troubleshooting simply because the amount of money charged to fix minor problems became too high. This forced me to either keep up or get out.
So the long journey begins for the young apprentice in understanding the ways of the force. Whoa !!! wrong movie.
This second episode deals with two subjects of importance.
The first in following with the intro deals with keeping up with technology or if you like to think, going back to school .
The Internet or World Wide Web (WWW.) is a wellspring of information. Most info is free if you know where to find it.
Here is a link to free-ed.net
This web site provides free lessons to a variety of subjects like operating systems and other business programs, check out what they have by clicking on the general course catalog when you are browsing their site. Again with most free stuff they may ask that you fill out a simple information form for their records so they can send you free info. If the info they send doesn't interest you just delete it ( it doesn't come that often ). The online courses are well laid out and easy to follow so take advantage of all they have to offer and amaze yourself with your new found knowledge.
As I have said before, explore, use the search engines to find web sites where you can learn free. What is a search engine you ask? A search engine allows you to type in key words, for example type in the most important word first free, then type in a subject word quilt and a secondary subject word patterns and you will be given a million web sites to search that contain free quilt patterns.It's that easy to search for anything.
Here is a link google.com or you can try
this one yahoo.com either of these work very well.
The next subject of importance is Firewalls, what are they and do I need one.
A firewall is software designed to prevent outside users from gaining access to your data in your computer. It can be purchased or it can be free, the choice is yours.
Do you need one? If like myself you are using cable or Broadband which is high speed access over the cable lines and is hooked in all the time. I would recommend that you install a firewall. If you are on a dial up with a modem you can also be a target when you are online. Behind a router is safe as well as long as the firmware is up to date and the settings for security are in place.
You are probably saying "Why would a hacker want to get in my computer, there's nothing in there that's important."
The answer to this question is simple, because they can, if only to say they did it but the amount of damage done to your data can be catastrophic.
Here is a link grc.com where you can do an online test of your computer to see how open your data is to others. This is a reputable company and in no way will cause any damage to your computer. Once at their site click on Shields Up and then scroll down the page to Shields Up and then do the two tests, Test my Shields and Probe my Ports (Hmmm! ). The results may or may not scare you but there is a solution.
Remember to look at the section called Protect My Computer in this web site for links to firewalls for free.
