Online Reservation Software

Online Reservation Software can make the difference in travel agency growth or decline. Travel companies work on small margins and efficient online reservation software is the lifeblood of travel companies. While tourists have visions of up, up and away, travel agencies have their eyes on the bottom line and how online reservation software can increase profits.

 

Improved Productivity - Online Reservation Software
Improved productivity is the key benefit online reservation software offers travel agencies. The airlines, hotels and tour operators set prices and the agency commission is fixed. How can a travel agency earn more money? By streamlining the booking process to increase sales per agent per day with industry leading online reservation software

 

Enhanced Client Management - Online Reservation Software Online
Reservation software cuts operating costs by automating the travel booking process. A key feature of online reservation software is the creation of a unique passenger record that ties the passenger the travel agency. When an agent knows the client's travel history, preferences, spending habits and more, it's a powerful incentive for the client to book future travel with his or her agent.

 

Online Availability - Online Reservation Software
A sharp agent using online reservation software which offers online availability can close a client's travel bookings in minutes. Referrals are the life blood of the travel industry. Travel agents using online reservation software offering immediate confirmation have become the standard by which all travel agents are judged. Combined with the growing travel destinations and packages, an agency's online reservation software provides agents every possible travel service that might interest the customer at a glance.

 

Back Office Issues - Online Reservation Software
Do you know anyone that enjoys paper work? The client, on the other hand, is keenly interested in a convenient record of travel outlays for tax purposes. An agency�s online reservation software automates the tedious process of creating receipts, invoices, confirmations, vouchers and more. The same goes for tracking the many wholesalers, airlines, and tour operators a travel agency deals with each year.

 

Travel Agency Expansion - Online Reservation Software
While generating more revenue is the goal of expansion - online reservation software is the vehicle. Today, every travel agency owner asks "How can I survive today and grow in the future? " While the answer varies from agency to agency, those without fast, efficient and cost cutting online reservation software won't have to worry for long, they will be "Up, up and Away" and out of the travel business for good.

Automate system deployment

MultiSet Unattended Installation automates installation of any version of Windows, complete with all the latest service packs, patches and security updates.

It installs a pre-configured, ready-to-use operating system to all computers in your organization. Save weeks of monotonous work by installing and configuring all required applications completely unattended!

 

Are you a system administrator, and need to upgrade your company's computers to Windows Vista or Windows XP? Have you no time to develop, test and debug unattended installation scripts that come with Windows resource kit? Don't want to answer the same setup questions on multiple computers? Look no further! MultiSet Unattended Installation automates the installation of any version of Windows, complete with all the latest service packs, patches and security updates. You will only have to answer setup questions once. Installing Windows is a time-consuming task, but configuring and updating the system with the latest service packs and security patches seems endless when you have to do it on not one, but on many PCs. Forget about this hassle! MultiSet Unattended Installation allows you to create unattended installation disks that integrate all the latest system updates, and install a pre-configured, ready-to-use operating system to all computers in your organization.

 

If you are installing Windows on a number of workstations, chances are that these workstation users require the same applications for their work, probably Microsoft Office or Adobe Acrobat Reader. MultiSet Unattended Installation will save weeks of monotonous work by installing and configuring all the required applications completely unattended. No need to click on pop-up dialogs, enter lengthy serial numbers or specify where exactly you'd like to install the product.

 

Unlike the competition, MultiSet Unattended Installation does not require you to learn cryptic languages to create an installation script. Convenient, simple graphical wizards will walk you through the entire process. As a result, it creates a bootable CD or DVD that installs a pre-configured operating system complete with all the necessary Microsoft and third-party applications completely unattended.

Automate system deployment and create stand-alone unattended installation disks.
Download Almeza MultiSet: http: //www. almeza. com/download/multiset. exe

Information Rights management (IRM) Company, ERM Solutions provider

Seclore: Information Rights management (IRM) Company, ERM Solutions provider

 

Seclore Information rights management provides information security for securing and tracking usage of sensitive information stored in distributed documents or shared with vendors for outsourced processing. Seclore controls usage of your data, wherever it is. Seclore recognizes the importance of securing intellectual property and provides effective solutions to address all information rights management needs of an enterprise.

 

Seclore has expertise in following areas

1. Info usage control
2. Info rights management
3. Business DRM

It protects data that is contained in files, folders or provided to a vendor for outsourced processes.

 

Seclore offers IRM solutions namely: -

 

1. Seclore InfoSource

Seclore InfoSource helps to protect sensitive information outsourced to business partners for further processing. Seclore InfoSource protects the data to be shared with the service provider upon its creation, by encrypting it and applying pre-defined usage policies. The usage policies ensure that that the information is used only for the specific purpose defined at the service provider's location by a specific application on a specific set of computers within a specific time period.

 

2. Seclore FileSecure

Seclore FileSecure empowers individual users to be in full control of the documents' usage for documents owned by them. After creating the document, the owner can set specific usage rights for specific users and distribute the document with full confidence that the usage rights will be applied on the document every time it is accessed, regardless of where the document or its copy is physically present.

 

3. Seclore WebProtect

Sensitive information is available on the web, which if downloaded or distributed outside a closed group could result in huge losses. Seclore WebProtect addresses this by providing end-to-end protection for web content.

 

Seclore Information Rights Management uses encryption to widen the information management beyond the boundaries to every document of an organization containing sensitive information which is stored and accessed everywhere - on end user desktops and laptops or outsourced business partner.

 

Seclore Information Rights Management enables enterprises to be in full control of usage of its sensitive information regardless of how it is shared / distributed and where it physically exists.
For further information you can log on to http: //www. seclore. com

How to Choose Adware Removal Spyware Program

How not to get spyware Finally you need to install and run a good spyware/adware removal program. The results displayed by a spyware/adware removal program can be disheartening.

Step 1:

The first thing to do is download a free and trustworthy adware and spyware removal program. Obtain and run an adware or spyware removal program. THE dictionary suspicious adware removal winfixer behavior consists of the replacement of the adware removal winfixer spyware program designs came. Obtain and run an adware or spyware removal program. Farewell Spy is a multi-adware removal program, which supports the removal of spyware, adware, Brotherware, and more. private headers, program adware removal, program to remove spyware, project insomnia, psyware, pyware, redsheriff, ref update, reffile.

 

There are some utilities specifically designed for adware and spyware removal from your computer. Fortunately, there are many options for prevention and the safe removal of Spyware/Adware from your computer. Seek advice from their websites and especially the Help sections for details on how to use these spyware/adware removal tools to scan your computer. Just about all spyware/adware removal software will require periodic updating, similar in concept to updating virus definitions, so always check for updates before scanning your computer. The actual easiest and best way to fully detect and remove spyware/adware from a computer is to use adware removal software like Ad-Aware or PestPatrol. Computer repair support for removal of adware and spyware.

 

and protect yourself from scumware and all sorts of adware spyware, a super adware spyware removal tool for your! If you would rather not peruse endless folders or risk re-infection, a trusted tool such as Spyware Doctor should be used for adware removal. Best free adware and spyware removal tool downloads. The actual removal tool will eliminate any adware or spyware that you have in your machine for good. This particular spyware and adware removal tool detects and removes of security threats such as spyware, adware, keyloggers, browser hijackers, tracking cookies, and trojans.

 

Choose among the listed applications to cover these bases: adware, spyware, detection, removal, protection. SUMMARY MyCleanerPC Enterprise is a comprehensive spyware/adware detection and removal system for small, medium and large enterprises. Detection, prevention and removal of spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, and tracking cookies. Malware, adware, spyware, trackware, thiefware, and Big Brotherware detection and removal utility with multilanguage support. SpyBuster 3. 0 has been rebuilt from scratch to give users the ultimate in detection and removal of spyware and adware components.
http: //www. adware-removal-spyware-tool. com/adware-removal-spyware/

x64 for Imaging Purposes: What's the Catch?

Long gone are the times when 64 bit memory addressing was the prerogative of Itanium, SPARC, RISC processors, PowerPC, etc. Now almost every desktop PC is built on the x86-64 architecture, let alone servers. x64 has become cheap, opening new horizons for a variety of applications.

Surely, those who already run (or are about to run ) x64 platforms have long-term thinking: taking the pains to migrate to x64 today will pay off manifold in the long run.

Migrating to x64 becomes an especially sensible issue when it comes to image processing. If you haven't dealt with anything larger than 5000x5000 pixels, you would not probably be reading this article.

 

Otherwise, you might witness your applications throw out of memory errors from time to time  and think about lifting the 2-Gb-per-process curse. Install more memory (if necessary ) and switch to x64 platform  it's often just as simple as that. This was essentially the main idea behind porting Graphics Mill to x64here at Aurigma.

However, the (often seemingly ) cumbersome and costly nature of migrating to x64 is often the key factor in saying no to the natural solution to the problem. So, developers are forced to find roundabouts for out of memory troubles. Some of those remedies are highly performance taxing and are fraught with development and debugging implications. These often outweigh the possible benefits. Also, the added development\debugging cost would often exceed the cost of migration of an entire farm to x64.

On the other hand, more and more applications and services are ported to x64 and some are native x64 � and those are no longer limited to scientific computing and complex mathematical modeling tasks. In fact, x64 for servers has become an industry standard for quite a while. So, if having a legacy 32 bit application prevents you from switching your IIS permanently to 64 bit, I would reply with a marketer-standard call to action:  Think big  go x64! , or even more pesky Enlarge your address space now! 

So, what are the costs of saying bye-bye to out of mem ? For Graphics Mill for. NET, it means replacing a couple of DLLs in the API. If you ask me, I would say it's certainly worth a try at the least. Eventually, it's up to you to decide whether to stay x86 and reinvent the page file or harness the brute raw power of x64  (I think I'll can those two for future use ).

Applicant Tracking Systems

Applicant tracking systems are either an human resource manager best friend or worst enemy. Either a company's applicant tracking systems identify the best prospects Before they join another company or not. Effective applicant tracking systems like time in a bottle enable HR managers to interview the best candidates. Ineffective applicant tracking systems cause a "bottleneck" that lets excellent job candidates slip through the system.

 

Hosted Solution - Applicant Tracking Systems
Applicant tracking systems and hosted solutions are a logical combination. While a company may install, debug, upgrade and program its own applicant tracking systems, the question is why? For companies in a niche employment market, it may make sense because the cost per employee of their applicant tracking systems is low. For example, a company reviewing say twenty resumes per hire. The cost of missing the one in a thousand employee of course is Huge. Hosted applicant tracking systems are more likely to uncover the one in a thousand employee as well better average workers than as company�s own applicant tracking systems.

 

Search & Data Mining - Applicant Tracking Systems
A day late and a dollar short in the HR department can cost a company dearly. In some companies, just a few people review job applicants. Then there are holding companies in which many people mine the HR database for positions with related divisions in the group. The economy of scale offered by the joint applicant tracking systems reduces the overall employee acquisition cost for individual companies and the holding group.

 

Interview Sharing - Applicant Tracking Systems
How many employees are hired without a job interview at your company? Not many, that's for sure. Effective applicant tracking systems recycle good job applicants back to the company's database with added comments for other managers to review. Their comments may disqualify the applicant for a position, saving time spent and an additional needless interview. On the other hand, the comments may uncover the perfect candidate in a hard to fill position before they find a job with a different company.

 

Employee Satisfaction - Applicant Tracking Systems
Sometimes it seems companies are insensitive to potential employees. The hiring process is stressful for job seekers shuffled from person to person, concerned by salary and job benefits. Effective applicant tracking systems accelerate the hiring process and promote long term employee satisfaction. Also, happy employees refer their friends saving time and money in the long run.

What can ITIL Foundation Certification do for you?

Join the one of the fastest growing communities of IT professionals around the globe by obtaining your ITIL Foundation Certificate in IT Service Management. ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library ) is a consistent and comprehensive documentation of best practice for IT Service Management, developed by OGC. It is a series of documents that are used to aid the implementation of a lifecycle framework for IT Service Management. It outlines an extensive set of management procedures intended to support businesses in achieving both high financial quality and value in IT operations. ITIL is now a worldwide phenomenon used by organizations of all shapes and sizes, so a growing army of ITIL certified professionals is required by the industry.

 

http: //www. whizlabs. com/itil/itil-certification. html

 

preparation kit support individuals to prepare and pass the ITIL certification exams. Whizlabs ITIL Preparation Kit consists of 5 full length ITIL practice exams with explanations for every question. Also the ITIL practice exam questions are very close to the real ITIL certification exam questions.

Objectives of Whizlabs Certification Preparation Kit:

Assess your current knowledge and skills of ITIL.
Gain confidence in finally taking the exam.
Provides are real exam environment simulation.
Prepare yourself for the EXIN ITIL Foundation examination.
The Whizlabs Certification Preparation Kit comprises of:
5 Full Length Simulated Tests: 200 Unique Questions spread across 5 mock exams. Mock Exams are based on the certification exam pattern and are used to practice for the actual exam.
100 Quiz Questions: Interactive Quiz allows you to revise and reinforce your understanding of the concepts under strict time-regulated conditions.
Quick Revision Tips: You would get Quick Revision Notes to help you revise just before the main exam.

 Detailed Explanation with Every Question: For each and every question you would find exhaustive explanation elucidating the correct answer.
Tips N Tricks: Tips N Tricks is a bunch of pointers to follow and pitfalls to avoid, while preparing and taking the exam. The user can prevent mistakes by taking the smartest route to success already discovered without reinventing.

 Comprehensive Reports: to assess and gauge your progress over time and in each exam objective. By judging where you are weak you can keep your preparation on track and pay more attentions on the required objectives.

Solve Mathematical Equations Automatically

A single-click equation solver? Nonsense! You'd need MathCAD for that, and that costs a fortune! Or do you really?

 

Solve mathematical equations with just one mouse click! Forget about mathematical problems once and forever! Spend quality time on a TV program or your favorite computer game instead of spending it on a math home assignment (just kidding! ). Let Equation Wizard solve your math problems on a computer, and see the solution written in a proper mathematical notation with comments in plain English.

 

Equation Wizard by ElasticLogic solves what your calculator cannot help you with. Solve algebraic equations written in any form completely automatically! Equation Wizard solves algebraic problems by finding both real and imaginary roots for your equation. It can solve every equation you throw at it. Linear, square, cubic or nth power, expressions, square roots, cube roots, and even nth roots and factorials are easily solved with Equation Wizard. Stop wasting your brain resources on routine operations. Computers are kings of number crunching  let them show their best!

 

Proving yourself again and again that you're good at math? Sure you can solve a math problem, but is it worth your time? Stop using your brain to solve no-brainer equations! Give yourself a break and let your computer do what you paid it for (or, rather, what you paid for it! ). Just type what you see in your textbook, and if it happens to be an equation, it will be solved!

Got an interesting assignment that's a real challenge to your abilities? Let Equation Wizard teach you a lesson on how to solve that kind of problems with a little demonstration. It'll show you how to solve the problem step by step. Equation Wizard comments every step and every action it performs to simplify and solve the equation in plain English. "Raising to power", "Collecting terms", "Reducing to the common denominator" are typical comments to expect while Equation Wizard works on your problem.

 

Solve linear, square and cube equations, high order and nth degree, simplify and calculate expressions with Equation Wizard. Equation Wizard works its way exactly as an experienced mathematician (and your teacher ). It reduces the equation to a canonical form, determines its order and finds its roots. The result looks so clear and natural you'd never tell it's a work by a computer!

 

What are you waiting for? Download Equation Wizard now! As you'd guess, it's right here: http: //www. equationwizard. com/

Facility Maintenance Management Software

Facilities form the non-core services of a corporation or any organization. Non-core services can include managing administration function, property management, and managing contract services such as cleaning and security. A major portion of the assets of an organization is in the form of infrastructure, like buildings and equipment. Hence, the maintenance of physical assets is a major function of facilities management.

 

The role of facilities management is to help businesses concentrate in their core competent areas. Facilities management takes on the role of providing routine, non-value-added services which are essential and important for the effective running of an organization.

 

Facilities management in its widest sense can be applied to any industries. The industries range from public services such as schools, universities and parks, to private services such as manufacturing. Anything that can be outsourced to a third party can be termed as facilities.

 

Since most of functions of facilities are routine, the role and capacity of It is precisely suited for that function. IT provides end-to-end solutions for an enterprise. ERP and EAM systems take on the role of MRP systems to streamline operations and help reduce costs.

 

Physical assets such as buildings, equipment and IT installations require regular maintenance; therefore, the role of IT in providing maintenance solutions is a major part of the portfolio of ERP providers. Maintenance is a major function of facilities. According to a study, properly planned and maintained services can lead to a 20 percent reduction in the operating cost of a firm.

 

The level and scope of functionality varies in the maintenance management system, according to the type of industries and physical assets. Therefore, except for standard functions like maintenance audits and down-time calculators, most of the software functionalities should be customized.

 

These are many software vendors available, each of whom has an internet presence. The futuristic vision of maintenance management systems is already implemented by some vendors who provide on-demand remote maintenance services, thereby reducing the costs of installing of maintenance systems further.

How they work and how to detect them

To detect key logger spyware, you need to know what it is and how it works. Key logger is an invisible software program that identity thieves Artful Dodger use to track your online act.

You won't even see your machine slow down or see anything unusual. It just silently watches every keystroke you type in ad eundem if the identity thieves were standing over your shoulder.

Attackers who use key logger spyware often sell the information to third parties who Artful Dodger funnel money out of Bank of England accounts or accountability up credit cards. Hackers who use keylogging to get into one computer at a company have the ableness to steal vital information from the entire organization.

It is about impossible to detect key logger on your computer and even if you're Scotch you'll never know if it is recording information such ad eundem Bank of England a reckoning of passwords and credit ID card numbers.

Several businesses use key logger software to monitor employee act and parents Artful Dodger use keylogging to check up on the web sites their children are visiting. But in the hands of a hacker wanting to steal your financial information, key loggers are extremely dangerous.

Attackers who use key logger spyware often sell the information to third parties who Artful Dodger funnel money out of Bank of England accounts or accountability up credit cards. Hackers who use keylogging to get into one computer at a company have the ableness to steal vital information from the entire organization.

The aristocracy rule of thumb is to assiduously monitor what you download on your computer and what sites you visit. The major sites of banks and retailers are usually relatively safe. But abide acquainted of downloading free software from an unfamiliar site that could leave you vulnerable to a potential hacker.

Here are a few tips to protect you about keylogging:

* Use a firewall to help prevent a unauthorized computer act.

* Do not click ok on pop-up windows without reading them first.

* Do not open e-mail attachments from someone you don't know.

* Never open spam e-mail.

* Run a weekly, full system adversary-virus computer scan.

Computer experts say the number of keylogging crimes is on the rise after all there are ways to protect yourself. Detecting key logger spyware and destroying it Artful Dodger abide done abeam installing spyware protection software.

Dynamic Packaging

Dynamic Packaging enables travelers to create and book their dream vacation and has captured the online travel market. Although online vacation packages have been available for years, dynamic packaging is a breakthrough for offering the ultimate travel flexibility and options. Leading travel Web sites let travelers build their own vacations via dynamic packaging  juggling hotel rooms, flights, site seeing, rental cars and more into one low priced travel package.

 

Dynamic Packaging  Travel Business Imperative

The advent of dynamic packaging has recast the travel business more flexible, affordable and responsive. For example, Dynamic Packaging has changed the dimensions for creating and marketing travel packages. are created and marketed. Today's growing online travel agencies offer travelers infinite options for each item on their travel itinerary. Dynamic packaging grew out of the need to provide these services for traditional tour operators and online travel agents. Once initiated, the demand for dynamic packaging fed on its success leading to its current market dominance. Today, there very few hotels, tours or services not offered on dynamic packaging systems.

 

Create Your own Vacation - Dynamic Packaging

Here's an example of how dynamic packing lets travelers create their own tour to an exotic destination... First the dynamic packing system registers the new users on their travel reservation system. They promise visits to exotic locations at low affordable prices. For example,, luxury accommodations for less money, choice of resorts worldwide, exclusive resorts and more via dynamic packing. In short, dynamic packing provides all-inclusive resorts accommodations, meals, drinks, activity fees, etc. without hidden charges.

 

Every Day Travel - Dynamic Packaging

Two areas of business or leisure travel often cross over into every life  car rentals and commuter flights. Prior to dynamic packing travel technology, you either went early to the airport or showed up at the car rental lot. Now, dynamic packaging puts you behind the wheel or on board you flight with minimal delay. So what are you waiting for. Log on and book a flight to the exotic beach you always dreamed of visiting. Tell people you�re studying dynamic packaging and send us a post card.. Have Fun!

Parvo Free Antivirus Protection Adware Removal Spyware Tool

Parvo virus free antivirus protection ad aware adaware spyware remover free adware and spyware removal tool antivirus download. Stinger anti virus, adware and spyware removal tool spyware blaster adaware software avg virus download for spybot search and destroy. Roto virus norton antivirus 2005 crack spyware free pop up killer spyware removal tool adware and spyware removal tool. The actual tool will spyware virus removal display a report describing the result set pc adware spyware removal http: spyware-remover -free. blogspot. com spyware software download free.

 

Seek advice from their websites and especially the Help sections for details on how to use these spyware/adware removal tools to scan your computer. Upon completion it's advisable to scan your system for adware and spyware using a spyware removal tool such as XoftSpy. This particular spyware and adware removal tool detects and removes 1000's of security threats such as spyware, adware, keyloggers, browser hijackers, tracking cookies, and trojans.

 

This particular spyware and adware removal tool detects and removes of security threats such as spyware, adware, keyloggers, browser hijackers, tracking cookies, and trojans. Stinger anti virus, adware and spyware removal tool spyware blaster adaware software avg virus download for spybot search and destroy. The actual tool will spyware virus removal display a report describing the result set pc adware spyware removal http: spyware-remover -free. blogspot. com spyware software download free.

If you would rather not peruse endless folders or risk re-infection, a trusted tool such as Spyware Doctor should be used for adware removal.

 

Encouraged to spyware removers. com, with reviews of spy removers and adware removal tools. If you wish to continue using these programs which may contain spyware/adware, do not run these spyware removal tools. In the event that the instructions provided by Hotbar do not work, you can try one of the following 3rd party adware/spyware removal tools.

 

The actual removal tool will eliminate any adware or spyware that you have in your machine for good. Parvo virus free antivirus protection ad aware adaware spyware remover free adware and spyware removal tool antivirus download. The first thing you must remember is that most adware/spyware tools are basically for removal after the fact. Roto virus norton antivirus 2005 crack spyware free pop up killer spyware removal tool adware and spyware removal tool. If there are other spyware/adware removal tools that you think should be listed here, please email me. http: //www. adware-removal-spyware-tool. com/

How to Buy The right EMR Software For your Practice

Implementing an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software in your office can be one of the most beneficial things you can do for your practice�s success. Unfortunately, buying the wrong EMR can be disastrous. To buy the right EMR you need to be able to see past the smoke and mirrors. Relying solely on your EMR vendor to make the right hardware & implementation recommendations can be a big mistake. Here are some tips you can use to help ensure a successful EMR implementation.

 

Set realistic goals. What do you wish to gain out of an EMR? Many offices purchase an EMR in hopes that it will provide them with all the benefits that were promised to them automatically. EMR can help you reduce your number of staff, reduce your expenses, reduce medical errors and reduce documentation time. To realize all these benefits you need to set milestones and implement the right plan.

 

Perform a cost-benefit analysis. All offices work differently and have different inefficiencies. It�s important to have realistic expectations of what type of Return on Investment (ROI ) can be expected. It�s important to look into these items before you begin looking at vendors so that you have an idea of what type of budget you will have available for your EMR as the cost of EMR can range between $1000 and $45, 000 and there is no silver bullet.

 

Seek out unbiased sources of information. Distilling fact from fiction in the medical software industry can be difficult. Even many of the awards that are given to the different vendors for their products are often very biased. The internet offers many unbiased information sources on EMR. You may also want to consider bringing in the expertise of an IT Company or EMR consultant to help guide you through the process of selecting the right vendor.

 

Leveraging hardware to improve your EMR functionality. It�s a great thing when you have technology on your side to manage your patients� records and become more efficient. To do this it�s imperative to select the right hardware based off your office�s needs and user experience. Involve the right IT company from the beginning to ensure a successful implementation.

That's easy hacking

Yesterday I was talking about secrets hiding and cryptography. A friend of mine said he was able to crack any Word document in one day as a maximum. He said it was not a problem of password complexity: he knew how to strip Word protection away. As a proof, he took an old Word document and he was actually able to crack it in a few minutes.

 

I said he was only lucky and that I was ready to bet a non trivial sum of money that he would not be able to crack a Word document encrypted by me. He laughed out loud, he said I just wanted to lose money... but he did not accept my bet.

 

Then I sent the Word document encrypted by me to him anyway: he is still trying to crack it (a week is already passed... but I think the encryption will stand against his attacks for ten/fifteen years ).

 

I told you this little story as a metaphor of how things really go when talking about encryption: it is almost always a matter of process, and not tools.

Word has an excellent encryption system, although it is limited by US key length limitation: if you just know how to do it, you can super-encrypt a Word document, and be sure that no-one (except, perhaps, CIA ) will succeed in cracking it. The problem is that it is not easy to encrypt a Word document well: you must know a thing or two before doing it. Just pressing "Protect this document with a password" does not work (and makes people like my friend boast himself! )

 

The story has morale: market lack of tools that make serious encryption easily. That�s one of encryption software house missions: to produce easy to use, but serious encryption tools (such as Folder Crypt).

Secondarily, that it is often heard of people cracking programs, software barriers, ciphered documents and this makes the casual Internet user think that no real security is possible on Internet. Again, this happens because encryption processes and policies are often weak, when not at all bugged.

On the contrary, data encrypted following secure processes and using encryption standard tools remain secret.

 

Oh, by the way: to safely encrypt a Word document just follow these steps:

1. Start Word.
2. Select File | Save as.
3. Select the Tools extended menu option.
4. Select Security Options from the drop-down list.
5. Click the Advanced button.
6. From the Encryption Type dialog, copy the name of the encryption type name and encryption algorithm from the Choose an encryption type list.
7. RC4, Microsoft enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic provider
8. Set maximum key length to 128

Develop Secure Communication Application Faster with. NET SFTP Components

Are you developing a new client-server project in. NET? Concerned about the many security issues connected with different implementations of secure communication protocols? Care about compatibility and reliability of your new project? Want to make a future-proof product with no technical support calls? Use ready-made. NET SFTP and SSH components to add support for the industry-standard communication protocols!

 

SFTPBlackbox http: //www. eldos. com/sbb/net-sftp. php makes the development process straightforward, leading your. NET team straight to deployment. Enclosing SFTP and SSH protocols into a set of. NET components, SFTPBlackbox makes for a perfect developer's companion. No need to concentrate on every little implementation detail in SFTP and SSH protocols. No need to worry about security holes or porting C++ algorithms into C# or VB. NET. Integrate. NET with SFTP and SSH protocols seamlessly with SFTPBlackbox!

 

Have no past experience in communication or security? New to SSH and SFTP. NET development? Add SFTP and SSH protocols to. C#, VB. NET or. NET Framework projects in minutes! Using ready-made SFTP. NET components lifts all SSH, SFTP or security experience requirements from the developers.

 

SFTPBlackbox allows you to deploy the. NET project sooner, and get the clean, reusable. NET code. Every SSH and SFTP function is implemented call after call and method after method, leaving no place to any security holes or reliability issues.

 

SFTPBlackbox has been developed by the professionals with strict industry standards in mind. SFTP and SSH components provided with SFTPBlackbox are strictly standard-compliant and full-featured as well. SFTPBlackbox produces a highly compatible, robust code and assures you're your product will work with no problems for years to come!

 

Different types of licenses allow large corporations to appreciate the power of SFTP. NET and SSH. NET components, while smaller companies and individual developers will find it very affordable.

 

SFTPBlackbox is one of the best SFTP and SSH components for the. NET environment. Download SFTPBlackbox from http: //www. eldos. com/sbb/net-sftp. php and open a supplied sample project in C# or Visual Basic. NET (VB. NET ) environment to see how clean and easy o understand the resulting. NET code is, and how quick it becomes to create an SFTP application in any. NET language from the ground up!

How to create Screensaver from Flash movie?

Have you ever thought your Flash movie would make a great screen saver? This tutorial will show you what you should do to create a colorful full-featured SCR screen saver with great visual effects from any SWF project.

Complete the following steps to create a screensaver:
1. Open SWF Maestro SCR. If you do not have it, you can download it at http: //tools. allflashtools. com/SWF_Maestro_SCR-review-140. html
2. Click New to create a new project.
3. Open "General Screensaver name" settings and specify the name for your screensaver.
4. Open "General Edition info" settings and specify version, company and copyright info.
5. Open "Files Documents for compilation" settings and specify a SWF file you'd like to turn into the screensaver. You can also specify a directory if your SWF project loads data from other files (XML, JPG, MP3, FLV, etc. )
6. If you want to set your own icon for the screensaver, specify it in the "Files Screensaver icon" settings.
7. Open "Files SWF Player" settings and specify the Flash player requirements.
8. Open "Files Last screensaver" settings and specify where the screensaver should be saved.
9. If you want to add a 'settings' menu for your screensaver, specify it in the "Screensaver Settings menu".
10. If you want to create an "interactive" screensaver that will terminate on ESC key or other key combination, use the "Screensaver End of contract conditions" settings.
11. You can also setup the context menu for "interactive" screensavers using the "Screensaver Framework menu" settings.
12. Use the "Screensaver Installer" settings if you want to generate an installer for your screensaver. An installer is the user-friendly and comfortable way to distribute the screensaver. Once started, it will automatically install the screensaver on the user's computer and enable it. If the user would suddenly like to remove the screensaver, he can easily do it using the uninstaller coming together with the screensaver.
13. Click Save to save the project.
14. Click Preview to preview the screensaver.
15. Close the Preview window and click Compile to compile the screensaver.

To install a screensaver in the system, just copy the compiled SCR file (including the DAT file if you choose to pack files separately ) to the System32 subdirectory of the directory where the Windows operating system is installed. If you want to create an installer for your screensaver, complete the step 12.

Fleet Maintenance Management Software

The movement of goods in and out of warehouses, distribution centers and final outlets like retail chains form an integral part of supply chain management. With the gradual demise of just-in-case inventory management and the arrival of the just-in-time inventory concept, the logistics operations have become critical, and form the backbone of production and distribution operations.

 

The function of logistics is to provide auxiliary service along the value chain of a product, by transporting the product to different locations for value addition, storage and final consumption. This function assumes significance in light of companies moving their manufacturing locations across different parts of the world for competitive cost advantages. Furthermore, the concept of modular manufacturing and assembly at different locations has forced a strategic role upon logistics to deliver the goods in time.

 

The function of transporting goods is provided by transportation companies who have extensive fleets consisting of trucks, ships and planes. The ownership of oil tankers and other container carriers, and airplanes in the tourism and courier industries, involves huge costs. The fleet is owned by the companies who manufacture the goods, or is rented out by transportation companies.

 

Asset management for fleet owners means effective utilization of the fleet, maintenance of the fleet and prolonging the life of the fleet. Maintenance management software packages help achieve these goals. Since fleets are mobile assets, the computerized maintenance system is mostly networked through base stations and mobile stations like hand-held digital assistants and palmtops. Advanced technologies like RFID help pinpoint the location of assets for on-the-road maintenance.

 

The fleet MMS provides features like data management of the fleet, including fuel entry, the running of miles and crew details. It provides regular features, like scheduling preventive maintenance and crew shifts. The fleet MMS links to the financial parameters by allowing the entry of billing and payment of bills for fuel or on-the-road repairs.

OCR Software

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) refers to a software technology and processes that involve the translation of printed text into computer searchable text.

 

Done correctly, OCR enables users to search for and retrieve individual words contained within a file or page. In addition, when a set of files is indexed, users are able to search for keywords across an entire document library and retrieve each page with exact precision. OCR enables users to execute searches in seconds, searches that once could take several hours or days to complete.

 

However, this technology did not work well on older or poor quality documents that contained mixed fonts or combinations of texts and graphics. Until now!!

 

Due to several recent technology advances, it is now possible to obtain six-sigma level character accuracy from these types of document collections.

Although it is important to keep in mind that the quality and condition of the paper documents are still key factors in the successful OCR conversion, dramatically improved results can be obtained by enhancing the quality of the scanned image prior to processing.

 

Noise removal of borders, speckles and skews are now common on the more advanced document scanners.

 

Furthermore, advanced color filter technologies may be used to reduce any page background colors, in conjunction with multi-light image capture technologies to remove any shadows cast by page creases that could impact image quality or recognition accuracy.

 

Once document scanning and processing are complete, an OCR text layer can actually be added and hidden behind each image. An additional orientation filter can be used to ensure that the best image is presented to the OCR engines.

 

To achieve the highest conversion accuracy possible, the characters in the image can be processed using multi-engine OCR voting technologies that rank each character to determine the best text recognition fit. Then once a word is generated, it will be filtered through a proprietary lexicon to ensure the highest quality results.

 

Finally, this text can be processed utilizing sophisticated layout retention technologies to represent the image text layout, to provide the best possible text representation for precise search and retrieval. After all, isn�t that why they call it Optical Character Recognition?

Asset Tracker for Networks: Network inventory solution

Asset Tracker for Networks is an inventory control tool for auditing software and hardware components installed on the network computers. This asset tracking software will collect your invenory control information, provide the Network Administrator with detailed comprehensive reports and allow him to export invenory information to external data sources. It is an excellent solution for auditing all types of software assets in a corporate network including, but not limited to, operating system details, processor, memory and hard disk drive information, software inventory, network printers, network adapters, operating environment and much, much more.

 

This inventory software does not require any network setup on each individual network workstation. Instead, the Network Administrator starts the program on his/her workstation and clicks the Inventory Network button. The program inspects the network setup to find computers and network devices there and automatically provides the Network Administrator with the network management information on each computer or device found in a few minutes.

 

Asset Tracker for Networks offers statistical reports for your needs. General workstation information report, processors, memory and operating systems reports, installed software and software licenses reports are already included with Asset Tracker for Networks. Additionally, you can request more specific types of reports which can be tailored to your requirements or even develop them by yourself.

 

Asset Tracker for Networks also offers an easy way to export inventory management information to ODBC data sources, CSV files, text files, web pages or to Excel. The program's template-based export engine allows the user to add new export types without changing the program itself. You can also create your own export kinds or order export type creation from Alchemy Lab.

 

The price of Asset Tracker for Networks 2. 0 ranges from $199 for 25 PC's to $799 for 500 or more PC's. Site and Worldwide licenses are also available. Further information and a fully-featured trial download are available for free from http: //www. alchemy-lab. com? c=art.

Personal background check

A personal background check enables employers to get an idea of an applicant�s professional and emotional fit with reference to company credo. The background check can begin with a reference check that covers both personal and professional references.

 

A review of credit reports offers useful insight and concrete information regarding an employee. The type and number of credit accounts and the bill-paying record is a fair indicator of an individual�s suitability, particularly for accounts-related positions. The Fair Credit Reporting Act allows employers to utilize information available in an individual�s credit record in order to assess their suitability for a job. Details provided in a credit report serve as a useful counter-check for information made available by the applicant.

 

Employers should take care that their personal background check resources are verifiable and that they do not violate privacy and equal opportunity legislations. Information obtained during a personal background check helps the company to build a clear picture of the applicant; the information can include criminal records, debt, age, past residences, marital status, and past jobs. The information provided by third-parties is usually marked verified or unverified. This helps companies to decide quickly whether they wish to entertain a job application or not. In order to obtain a well-rounded picture of an individual, the personal background check company may gather information from friends and neighbors of the applicant. The company requesting a personality background check should try and obtain information relevant to the nature of the job so that no time is wasted hunting for redundant information.

 

Companies can outsource a personality background check depending upon the extent of information desired. Often, it is cheaper if companies conduct a personal background check in-house as they can obtain the information required from the county and state information databases.

As the name suggests, personal background checks can reveal deeply personal information and traits about an individual that can be useful to not only employers but also to landlords who may not wish to have tenants that have a history of loose conduct. Such checks are also done by parents to learn more about prospective spouses.

How to Fix Your Windows Registry

Windows registry is a vital portion of the Windows 95, 98, XP and NT operating systems. It is a database of sorts, keeping the configuration settings and. dat files together. A program installed in the computer is jampacked with information that is automatically transferred to the registry. What are these pieces of information? They can be about the hardware, the memory and other Windows applications.

 

The registry is made up with a lot of folders and more subfolders. "Hives" or keys also constitute a registry. These hives are the following:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. You know why Windows know that a. doc file is from a MS Word document? It's because of this registry key.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER. This key records the information of the user currently using the computer.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. This contains hardware, security accounts manager or SAM, security, software and system information.

HKEY_USERS. This key registers information on all the recognized users.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG. This computer registry key contains more hardwore information.

HKEY_DYN_DATA. This is under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE key that deals with Plug and Play devices.

 

When you are in the registry, you will also come across with these files: the string value that enables you to add a version number, the binary value for specific attributes, and dword which bears a semblance with binary value.

Is windows registry important? Of course, yes. Take note: if you uninstall a program, the registry conks down and needs immediate troubleshooting to get back in shape. Once your computer slows down, you may chalk it up to the registry. But never worry, because we've got lots of solutions to keep your windows registry in first-rate condition.

 

Here are some ways to fix windows registry:

1. Utilize System Restore.

When something has been done to computer registry, there is one way to fix it quickly and effortlessly: System Restore. System Restore makes it possible to undo all the changes and to go back to the system's original condition.

2. Use available software for backup.

Every computer user must know that backup is not an option, it is a mandatory step. There are utilities that can be used to backup your registry files.

3. Use Registry Checker.

Windows is equipped with Registry Checker to scan registry problems. Registry Checker will be optimized if you reboot regularly.

Virtual Serial Port Driver 6. 0 is released

You probably have heard or even used Virtual Serial Port Driver 6. 0 by Eltima Software. It is an advanced utility, which emulates unlimited number of RS232 serial ports connected via virtual null-modem cable using special driver, which can be easily included in your own software providing simple and convenient way to create and configure virtual serial ports directly from your application. Right now let us introduce the new appearance of Virtual Serial Port Driver 6. 0. Not only new features were added, but the interface was re-designed as well.

Let's start with the new features. There are plenty of them and we are sure you will like each and every one. First of all, all internal modules of Virtual Serial Port Driver are digitally signed, meaning that now the driver will work correctly under x64 platforms. Another platform that VSPD fully supports now is Windows Vista. Now all Vista fans can surely use Virtual Serial Port Driver without any problems, both as 32-bit, or 64-bit edition!

As for the technical aspects of VSPD functioning, Eltima has put much work into it to make VSPD as feature-rich as possible. The new version offers you unique emulation of serial cable pinouts, including totally custom ones for your professional needs.

Moreover, you will be able to allow or restrict applications access to any created port easily directly from the GUI. In this version we present the new and completely revamped Serial Ports Explorer, which will be your help in getting all the information about serial ports present in your system.
Virtual Serial Port Driver's interface has been thoroughly re-designed. We have left the simplicity and logical architecture of previous versions, but changed the overall colors and shades to make VSPD GUI appealing and user-friendly.

Virtual Serial Port Driver has a proven reputation of a must-have tool for system developers. The application will cut down your development time dramatically providing you with the full arsenal of its features and capabilities.

Read more about VSPD, the leader of virtual ports creation, by visiting its features page.

If you are interested in trying Virtual Serial Port Driver 6. 0 you are welcome to download the free trial now: http: //www. eltima. com/download/vspdxp/

Check Status of Remote PC with SI Ping

Test communication with remote computer and check its online status over the internet with free visual Ping tool for Windows.

 

What did your mom do when you got sick as a kid? Most probably the first thing she did was giving you a thermometer to check your body heat. If you are trying to access a remote computer and are not getting a response, chances are that computer is not functioning properly. In other words, it might be sick. But how would you give a thermometer to that PC?

 

There is a free tool called ping. exe that comes with most versions of Windows. You can use this tool to poke the remote PC and check its response. To use ping. exe, you would typically invoke a command line, which would open a black console window, and type ping. exe followed with IP address of the computer you want to check. Usually you would get a response right in the console window in a matter of seconds. You would judge - or, rather, guess, - the remote computer's health by the cryptic numbers printed as decimal integers. If the remote computer is not available, or if the network is not available, or if some link or a piece of hardware in between you and the remote PC has failed, you'll get nothing. It is up to you to guess what and where have failed.

 

SI Ping designed by Software Institute http: //www. softinstitute. com/, on the other hand, gives clearly legible and well formatted output by providing easy to understand and well explained numbers. It displays all the vital information, such as time to access the remote computer, in milliseconds, and allows you to ping more than one computer by simply selecting their address from a combo box. Thanks to its user-friendly, convenient user interface, SI Ping is much more convenient to use than the Windows ping. exe, being a great free replacement for the old-fashioned console-based tool.

 

Software Institute releases well-designed, simple to use products that help computer users solve one particular problem. Our products are free, and typically perform just one task, such as ping, trace route, or lookup, but do it in a convenient manner. We offer a number of free networking tools from http: //www. softinstitute. com/soft/

Down with Sisyphean toil

Have All Programs In your Start Menu Become Enormously Numerous?

You bought a computer and started turning it into a habitable thing by installing various useful programs for work and entertainment. But then you opened the Start menu one day and all of a sudden became confused:

Where's the program I need in this huge list?

 

Catalog  True Solution For Arranging Information
The first librarians have encountered the same problem: �How to put great amounts of all this information into order? � Catalogs solved this problem. A catalog allows you to focus on a certain category instead of paying attention to all items. It is possible due to the catalog structure based on the fact that all items have been already sorted by categories. This method turned out to be so good that catalogs continue to serve as a source of trustworthy information even centuries later, in the age of search engines, both for people and for search engines.

 

The More, The Worse
One huge list makes you look through a lot of unneeded items when you are looking for something. The longer the list is, the more attention and time your search requires. You can observe this oppressive situation on most users' computers, it is enough just to open the �All Programs� item in the Start menu. If it is not the case with you, it is just a matter of time.

 

What To do?
So how can you solve the problem of your menu being overfilled with various programs? Restrict your needs? No need to do that! The program Start Menu Tuner will easily solve your problem. Use it to create program categories you need and sort your programs by them. You will do it easily and visually. You will spend minimum effort even if you are new to computers.

 

Result  Quick Access To Any Program
What will you get as a result? Now you will not fall into a stupor at a mere sight of a large choice when you open the menu. Your choice is easy and visual: you see a category, open it and look at a brief list of programs that does not require a bloodhound's skills. You have made your everyday life yet more simple and comfortable. It means that the quality of your life has increased and I congratulate you on that!

Another Fine Mess

I was reading an excellent article today titled Identity Theft by Judith Collins at eWeek. com, when it got me to thinking.... I'm in the Anti-Spyware business, and I'm doing a lot of advertising to promote my website, but here I am online and on the phone, giving my personal information to..... who? Strangers basically, Geez!.

 

The majority of identity thefts occur thru contractors employing people in entry-level jobs that have not been properly screened. Not even Hackers, Phishers or Dumpster Divers account for as many! The ideal location for a Identity stealer would be in a out sourced agency that fails to use adequate screening processes.

 

I've read many articles lately that state we need stricter guidelines and procedures to insure we have proper security as consumers. A set of universal rules that would be adhered to by all. To even think of the enormous complexity of this project staggers the mind!

 

So here I am, I want to take a advertisement out at a prestigious magazine that is published in a traditional print paper and online. I may have to deal with people online and on the phone. I give my name, address, phone number, and��my credit card number! EGAD, what am I doing?

 

Then my common sense and education about matters such as these kicks in and I rationalize that these companies would not be in business if they couldn�t keep their customers happy. But, accidents happen.

 

So you see my dilemma. I know computer security and Spyware, and the vulnerabilities and strengths when dealing online. Its just a little new to me to trust, when I know the ramifications to me personally if my Identity were to be used for ill-gotten gain.

 

I know after all these years of being a, OK I admit it, a slightly paranoid online user, that I need to make myself a little vunerable so I can better succeed in my online business.

 

Ive been where the people who contact me asking for help are; a place in their minds of anger, frustration and helplessness.

 

But then as I said earlier, common sense and education about Spyware wins over and I take a deep breath and go on.

 

The California Attorney General has a excellent website for Identity Theft at
http: //caag. state. ca. us/idtheft/

Travel Agency Software

Charles Darwin was one of the most traveled people in history. Can you imagine the commissions his travel agent earned?

 

How many times have you been held up trying to book a flight or hotel because... "our system is down". Today, people have no patience for non-functioning travel agency software. In an age when people can book a flight on a cell phone modem, the most important asset a travel agency offers customers is personal service backed up by excellent travel agency software.

 

Travel Agency System - The Lion Sleeps tonight
Travel Agent system can mean the defense between a happy traveler and angry lion! Travel is a word of mouth business... a happy customer brings more business, an unhappy customer may cost a travel agency dearly. In today's travel jungle, the unhappy customer is the lion a travel agency should most fear. Poor agency travel software may cause unhappy customers to tell their friends and even write damaging reviews on blogs and forums. the travel jungle the travel agencies with easy to use, efficient travel agency software sleep the soundest.

 

Travel Agency Software- Survival of the Fittest

Travel agency software that meets both present and future needs is vital. An agency's products and customers are constantly changing and so must a travel agency's travel agent software. The competition among competition in the travel and tourism field is fierce and so is Travel Agency Software a fiercely competitive field. Travel agencies offering personal as well as on-line reservations earn higher profit margins. Here are broad travel agent software guidelines for travel agency software needs:

Travel agency software - The Origin of Species

Very easy to use
Flexible commission facilities
Multi-lingual
Multi-currency
Full accounting capability
Full Internet integration
Extensive automated system
Total end to end solution
State-of-the-art technology
Proven reliability & stability

If Darwin was alive to day, his agent would have the best travel agency
system money could buy. It's a jungle out there in the travel business, don't underestimate the importance of your travel agency software.

Software It's Us Against Them!

Some people are of the opinion that computer software was designed to help us make the most of our computers, those wonderful tools invented to help us store and access masses of data and to generally make our lives easier. There are some among us, however, who have cottoned on to the truth of the matter, and are quietly, patiently waiting for our time to strike. We are growing in numbers every day, and the subtle swell of our voices can be heard everywhere you go. Who are we? We are the only sensible ones left  we know that computer software was designed to confuse us!

 

So we don't pretend to understand the machinations of the computer even before the software is added, but surely there has to be a simpler way to navigate this all-hallowed tool? It's not that we're lacking in the brain department; we manage to weave our merry way through our daily lives without incurring too many trials and tribulations, we feed and clothe ourselves, and prevent ourselves from smelling bad. Hey, we can even make a piece of toast if we have to  so why can't we use our computers for ten minutes straight without running into some kind of problem of another?

 

Perhaps it's the geeks way of getting their own back on us. We�ve pointed and laughed for years while they've pressed their noses further into their books. Books we could manage, so to keep all the really important information to themselves, they had to invent something really tricky. So they came up with computer software.

 

Haven't you noticed how quickly they can fix any problem you encounter? At the first sign of a software error message, they emerge from the woodwork, click a few things and there you go  back into your document or spreadsheet without a clue how you got out, or got back in. They seem to have written all the software in some strange language that only they can understand, and they probably have weekly meetings, where they go and laugh at how they got one over on us.

 

But we can let them have their day. We have worked out just what they�re up to with this software business and we are compiling evidence against as we speak. At least I think we are. Hey, what's that error message say?

Software Bringing Computers Closer

Computer software is that essential equipment that makes this critical office and home tool available to us  let's face it, there are few of us with the skills and knowledge to know what to do with one without it! Just as a pen is only a shell without the ink to allow us write, so a computer without software is a large and expensive paperweight.

 

And the most important software of all is probably the one we use most often, namely word processing software. We don't have to be professional writers to employ some type of word processing suite on a daily basis; from making shopping lists to composing letters, this is the one type of software we can�t do without.

 

Since the dawn of time, man has been recording his thoughts using some kind of annotation. Though writing itself is not as old as we are  the term prehistory  specifically refers to that time before writing existed, allowing us some kind of access to a written chronicle of events  this creative and expressive form of communication has been around since the time of the ancient Sumerians.

 

Throughout history, man has invented newer and better ways to record his thoughts and communicate them to others using the written word. The important combination of writing tools � what would evolve into pen and paper  became more and more advanced as the years progressed, culminating in the invention of the typewriter. And while this offered a more efficient way of marking down thoughts and observations, even it, these days, seems antiquated in comparison to the computer software that we use today.

 

The use of many features, once novel, of word processing software have become second nature to us now. We cannot consider typing any length without the ability to delete at will, to cut and paste, to make mistakes and move along. And that is perhaps the dichotomous pleasure of word processing software  that we can, at the drop of a hat, save our words or delete them forever.

 

For that is the real gift of computer software. It is the medium between us and our computing tool, helping us make use of technology we do not necessarily understand, and allowing us to express ourselves precisely as we wish.

Protecting Your Data From Digital Dangers

Viruses, spyware, hackers, data loss or theft-these are a few of the digital dangers a computer faces. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to protect hardware and your irreplaceable files. An important first step in data protection involves updating Windows with the newest security patches and ser-vice packs. You can do that by enabling the automatic update feature on Windows XP or manually downloading the patches from http: //windowsupdate. microsoft. com.

Other ways to safeguard Windows XP are described in easy-to-understand language in a new book called "Geeks On Call Windows XP: 5-Minute Fixes" (Wiley, $14. 95 ). The book also offers expert advice and step-by-step explanations of topics ranging from avoiding digital dangers to turbocharging Windows. Here are some additional tips from the book that can help you protect your data.

Backing Up Data

Protect hard drive data by backing it up on recordable or rewritable CDs/DVDs or separate hard drives. You can also use special software to create a "disc image" of your hard drive. If your hard drive ever crashes, you can simply load the disc image onto your computer, and you will be up and running as if nothing ever happened. Popular disc-imaging programs include Norton Ghost, Acronis True Image, NTI Backup NOW, and Turbo Backup.

Protecting Important Files

If you don't want to back up your entire hard drive, consider backing up your most important documents (financial information, digital photos, music files, etc. ). Popular programs used for document backups include Nero Burning ROM, Nero Express, NTI CD-Maker, and Roxio Easy Media Creator. Also, be sure to protect all your data by using a password on your Windows account.

Know The Enemy

The most common reasons for data loss include:

• Dead hard drives-Hard drives can give out. It pays to be prepared.

• Viruses-Some digital threats lurking on the Internet can destroy certain files on your computer.

• Power surges-An electrical storm or fluctuation in power lines can cause a sudden burst of electricity that zaps your hard drive.

• Theft-Computers, especially laptops, are big targets for thieves.