Computer Forensics

Your Notebook comprises of your entire personal and professional data and hence, it is more than necessary to protect it from getting in the hands of hackers online or from thieves in the real world. Hence, it is high time to pull up your socks and find solace in a foolproof solution that could protect your most important gadget everywhere and at any cost.

Categorizing security measure

The distinct ways that you adopt can be broadly classified into two categories, i.e.

- Protection of your laptop/notebook from Real theft
- Protecting it from the hackers that could steal your digital data

Let us discuss them one after another.

Protection of your laptop/notebook from theft

- Use lengthy passwords: This strategy could work actively in your cause. Using strong passwords that contains at least one digit, alphanumeric character and special character apart from the regular alphabets would be considerable. Make sure not to use your date of birth, the name of your family members or friends as the password, it can be decrypted easily.

- Avoid using bags: It is an open invitation for people with negative intensions to carry a laptop bag. It is better if you can replace it with some safer option such as suitcase or padded briefcase.

- Encrypt your data: If unfortunately your notebook gets into the hands of wrong people, file encryption could save you from intensifying the damage further. This is also helpful if you are lending the notebook to someone else for few hours or days. With perfection encryption strategy, those with unscrupulous intentions can not decrypt your data despite of persistent attempts.

- Do not take it to public place: You can forget your notebook while keeping on he floor or on a chair while you are in public place such as a ticket counter or a restaurant. Hence, until it is a very important cause that compels you to take your gadget outside, avoid doing so.

- Use a security device: Attaching your notebook/laptop with a security device such as cable or chain and tying it with a heavy object in the room could prevent your machine from being stolen in your absence.

Protecting your laptop/notebook from hackers online

- Activate firewall: While you are rising your Wi-fi network, turning the firewall is highly recommended. You never know how many fellows are there, waiting for your open your laptop so that they may steal your sensitive data.

- Block unwanted connections: If you are using a hotspot connection then before moving further, make sure to block all the useless connections that appear in your computer. All the operating systems provide efficient ways to perform such a task comfortably.

- For extra safety, use secure website connections: While opening a website, if you use https instead of http, it assures added security to your data. Websites such as Yahoo Mail, and Gmail allow you to use this facility and there are many more as well.

- Unshare folders: Leaving the options of shared folders open could be dangerous if you are using your notebook somewhere other than home. It is not acceptable if someone checks out pictures or video files without your permission, hence it is better to unshared those folders each time you are out.

- Use VPNs: This is perhaps one of the strongest methods to secure your data online. It works on a specialised tunneling mechanism and protects your identity over the internet. Moreover, it also provides you with an IP address of a separate location that keeps you totally anonymous until the time you are online. This not only hides you from prying eyes but also enables you access blocked website.

Munir Khilji is a VPN software Expert, writes for various VPN Reviews and News in websites. He is also a VPN geek and loves to explore the latest VPN Technology like VPN on iPad and Android etc.

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In a general term, cloud computing can be defined as anything that aims to deliver hosted service over the internet. It can also be termed as, a way to use a virtual computer exactly with same personalized experience irrespective of global position. In general, cloud services are divided into three basic categories: IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). The cloud symbol inspired the name "Cloud Computing" which stands to represent the internet in flowcharts and diagrams.

Three distinct characteristics of a cloud service have differentiated cloud from traditional hosting services. Cloud computing service is elastic, and it is sold on demand. A user can have this service according to his requirement. To satisfy the demand users can have it by the minute or the hour. To use this service consumers only require a PC with internet connection, and this service is fully managed by the provider. The cloud services getting accelerated interests due to significant innovations in distributed computing and Virtualization. Fairly speaking, high speed internet connection as well as the weak economy has also a great part to accelerate interests.

IaaS ensures virtual server instance API to start, stop, configure and access to virtual storage and servers. Amazon Web Services could be a great example of IaaS. It is also termed as utility computing. In case of the enterprise, a company is allowed to use as he requires, and they have to pay accordingly. You can also say that it is a pay-for-what-use model, which looks like the way water, fuel and electricity are consumed.

In the cloud system, PaaS can be defined as a set of product development tools and software which are hosted on the infrastructure of providers. Here, developers use internet connection to create applications on the provider's platform. The providers of PaaS system can use website portals, APIs and installed gateway software on the consumer's PC. GoogleApps and Force.com are two examples of the PaaS cloud computing system.

In case of SaaS cloud computing system, the vendor interacts with the users through a front-end portal and supplies both hardware infrastructure and software. SaaS holds a broad web-market, and here service can be anything from database processing to inventory control and Web-based email.

A cloud service can be categorized as public and private services. A Public cloud supplies hosted services to anyone on the internet, but a private cloud supplies hosted services to a limited number of customers. As an example: Amazon Web Services is the largest public cloud provider of recent time. If a service provider uses the resources of public cloud to make their private cloud, then the service is called as virtual private cloud. Cloud computing service aims to provide IT services and computing resources to customers, and it does not matter whether it is private or public.

I came to know about all these from online research.

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Anyone knowledgeable enough about computers would tell you that laptop repairs are much more challenging and time-consuming than the corresponding repair procedures for a desktop machine. Which can definitely sound discouraging if you've got a laptop that's suffered some damage and needs to be repaired. Why does it work like that though, and what is it that makes laptops so much more challenging to repair than desktops?

It's all about their architecture - as well as the way their devices work and are manufactured. The first problem is the dismantling process - taking apart a regular desktop computer is easy and straightforward, you just lift the cover of the box and the internals are exposed to you, ready to have you working on them. All the devices and components are conveniently laid out in front of you, making it easy to reach what you need and modify the parts that bother you. A laptop, on the other hand, has to be opened up in a very specific way - this is different for each manufacturer and model, so you can't simply know what you have to do to get yours opened up - you need to be familiar with all the unique models there are and their intricate differences in their designs.

Once you've managed to expose the laptop's internals, it gets even trickier - while a desktop computer is built pretty much like a LEGO toy, with each part coming in its own place and being detachable afterwards, a laptop is made in a more rigid way. Laptop repairs are dependent on what parts have broken down - sometimes it may turn out that it's not possible to simply replace them. For example, many laptops have their video cards not as a discrete separate device, but rather as part of the motherboard. This means that you can't simply take out the video card and replace it, you need to outright replace the motherboard itself - and with it you'll also find yourself taking out the sound card, network adapter and many other components. In the end, you may find that it costs less to buy a new laptop than to pay for a repair.

Laptop repairs are especially problematic when the display is concerned - to put it simply, having to replace that is a nightmare with most models, and you're going to get a serious sigh of frustration from any repair shop you take your machine to, no matter how much you're ready to pay. Because in most cases it won't be about the money for those people, it'll be about the hard labor involved in getting your job done.

Don't lose hope from all this though - laptop repairs are still possible given the right expertise and set of tools, so if you ever have a problem with your machine, don't be quick to start looking for a new one - instead, start looking around for the best deals on laptop repairs in your area, and comparing what different repair shops can offer you.

Laptop Repairs Is what you need if your laptop is not working or any laptop part is damaged. Repair your laptop by the help of professionals, just follow the link and also know about Computer Repairs Melbourne.

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It is true that lots of the new MacBook Pro review speaks highly of the new series. The new series has high-speed due to the Intel core I5 dual processor. The high-speed of 2.53GHZ make sure that you can well for your applications in a faster and more efficient way. The excellent Turbo Boost can maximize the speed for using multiple applications and at the same time reduce the power consumption to preserve battery life. It's owns 4GB DDR3 RAM and a hard drive of the 500 GB storage. It's eight times DVD/CD drive can ensure enough document room and make it possible to playing DVD and CD at the same time. Its inbuilt Gigabit Ethernet enables faster wired net working. Besides all of these, two USB 2.0 ports, built-in iSight camera, FireWire, Digital card slot, Wi-Fi used for wireless Bluetooth, and the 15 inch backlit LCD screen of high-resolution make the new MacBook Pro an amazing product.

Just the same as the MacBook pro review says, this laptop has high quality of video as well as all the other Apple products thanks to the Intel HD Graphics processor and Geforce GT300. The NVIDIA GT300 has automatic graphic switches to change between the optimal performances with the supporting from a Graphics memory of 256MB. Along with the widescreen of 15 inch, MacBook pro can create a real home theatre for you. Different graphic cards of this great laptop can work on different workload. The NVIDA works for heavy graphic processing workloads and the Intel HD graphics works for the light part.

MacBook pro review talks a lot about the powerful Mac OS X. this Snow Leopard operating system can offer the fastest processing speed and friendly feelings for users. One other thing that needs to be mentioned is the long battery life of this laptop. It can works for users for as long as 5 years. For one charge, it can last up to eight hours for general usage. A considerate feature of battery is that it is built-in without adding too much extra weight or thickness to the computer. The battery can hold 80% of its original capacity even after ten thousand times of charges.

The aluminum and gorgers surface of the laptop is what most MacBook pro review praises. The amazing design of exterior surface is also one of the reasons why Apple products attract so many fans all around the world. If you are in need of a MacBook pro, Apple official site can provide detailed information of the configuration, while MacBook pro review can show you the most honest feedback of its usage.

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Healthcare industry is associated with intricate communication systems, life safety and monitoring applications such as fire alarms, nurse call systems and doctor paging systems that require dedicated infrastructures for operation due to their life safety implications. As a result of which, management and maintenance of such systems becomes a big hassle. What could serve to be the biggest solution other than a managed network services provider? Let your applications be in control of a managed network services provider, while you can concentrate on providing better healthcare to your patients.

Evolution of technology has lead to great enhancements to the clinical systems for smooth and efficient healthcare delivery processes, including picture archiving and communications systems, computer-based doctor order entry systems, real-time locating systems, clinical decision-support systems, interactive patient entertainment services, electronic medical records systems and patient management systems. All these systems are managed individually by the corresponding providers or sometimes the internal IT and network management teams. Think how convenient it will be when you see the entire set of applications and systems running on a single platform, while having one point of contact for each and every concern you might have.

A managed network services provider handles everything including the bandwidth consumption, avoiding downtime of applications, installation & troubleshooting the applications, updating & upgrading the applications and everything else associated with your organization to run a smooth operations cycle. A managed network services provider provides an IP-based Ethernet network with optimal performance for IT infrastructure convergence, while providing an integrated platform for real time monitoring and control of data, voice, video and other multimedia applications. As a result of integrated platform by a managed network provider, a healthcare organization can not only enjoy smooth operations but also a standard based industry compliant platform that facilitates the integration of new patient care applications making the entire system highly scalable.

Another big advantage lies for mobile care givers as they are able to execute a simple yet efficient process by accessing a single platform and making use of all applications without any interruption. Bigger hospitals / healthcare organizations are also looking to plan video conferencing and tell medicine which require data-intensive applications including digital image transfers, x-rays, consultations and other diagnostic imaging technologies. All this requires a non-interrupting, 100% stable communication platform that can be provided by a managed network services provider. Last but not the least outsourcing healthcare network management reduces the overall cost of operation and administration, while proving to the perfect return on investment.

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Unix based operating systems like Linux offer a unique approach to join two discrete commands, and generate a new command using the concept of pipe(lines). For example, consider command1|command2. Here, whatever output is generated by the first command becomes the standard input for the second command. We can develop more and more complex Unix command sequences by joining many commands while maintaining input output relationships.

Another more Linux specific example would be ls -l|grep "^d". This command displays details of only directories of the current working directory, i.e. the output of the 'ls -l' command becomes the input to the grep command, which displays only those lines that start with 'd' (they are nothing but the details of the files).

ls -l | grep "^d" | wc -l

This command displays number of directories in the given file.

grep "bash$" / etc / passwd | wc -l

This command displays number of users of the machine whose default shell is bash.

cut -t ": "-f 3 / etc / passwd | sort - n | tail - l

This command displays a number which is the largest used UID number in the system. Here, cut command first extracts UID's of all the users in the system from the /etc / passwd file, and the same becomes input to sort; which sorts these numbers in numerical order and sends to tail command as input which in turn displays the largest number (last one).

tee command

The 'tee' command is used to save intermediate results in a piping sequence. It accepts a set of filenames as arguments and sends its standard input to all these files while giving the same as standard output. Thus, use of this in piping sequence will not break up the pipe.

For example, if you want to save the details of the directories of the current working directory while knowing their using the above piping sequence we can use tee as follows. Here, the file xyz will have the details of the directories stored.

ls -l | grep "^d" |tee xyz | wc -l

The following piping sequence writes the number of directories into the file pqr while displaying the name on the screen.

ls -l | grep "^d" | tee xyz | wc -l |tee pqr

cmp command

The cmp utility compares two files of any type and writes the results to the standard output. By default, cmp is silent if the files are the same. If they differ, the byte and line number at which the first difference occurred is reported.

Bytes and lines are numbered beginning with one.

For example, cmp file1 file2

comm command

comm is a command used to compare two sorted files line by line.

Compare sorted files LEFT_FILE and RIGHT_FILE line by line.

-1 suppresses lines that are unique to the left file.

-2 suppress files that are unique to the right file.

-3 suppress lines that appear in both the left file and the right file. For example, comm p1 p2.

A pipe thus helps connect a set of processes, so that the output of one becomes the input of another. It lets a user browse through a large amount of data in a convenient manner.

Linux2Aix is an upbeat Linux blog containing all the latest and the newest Linus news and how-to's for both amateur and professional Linux lovers

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1. Introduction

How can we reach the peak performance of a machine? The challenge of creating an algorithm that can be implemented on a parallel machine utilizing its architecture in such a way that produces a faster clock-time is the very question that drives parallel computing. Despite the advancement and complexity of modern computer architecture, it is still a finite machine and there are limitations that must be taken into consideration while implementing an algorithm. Such as, is the translated computer code operating at peak efficiency without exceeding memory limits? This does not mean the code should have the fewest amount of operations. In fact, using two different algorithms, the one with more operations might be more efficient if the operations are executed at the same time (running parallel), as opposed to the algorithm with fewer operations that execute in series.

So how can we utilize a parallel machine to execute an optimal number of operations within a given algorithm? There are many issues that must be addressed in order to answer this question such as task partitioning, the mapping of independent tasks on multiple processors or task scheduling, and assigning the simultaneous execution of tasks to one or more processors. Task synchronization, determining an order of execution so that information exchanged among tasks maintain the desired progress of iterations needed for the algorithm; must also be taken under consideration. Another issue to be aware of is implementing an algorithm that is dependent on the specifics of parallel computer architecture. In addition to providing limited applicability, this approach would render the algorithm obsolete once the architecture changes in one of the fastest changing fields throughout the world.

There are a lot of elements to consider when dealing with parallel optimization and it is necessary to know which model or models will help you achieve an optimal efficiency. Two important models are control parallelism, which pertains to the partition of instruction sets that are independent and executed concurrently, as well as data parallelism, pertaining to the simultaneous performance of instructions on many data elements by many processors. After reading this technical journal you should have a greater understanding of the principles behind control and data parallelism. In addition obtain a basic understanding of several techniques to execute an optimal number of operations concurrently utilizing a parallel machine; and posses a greater overall understanding on the issues, techniques, and applications of parallel computing.

2.1 Hazards and Conventions of Programming to Specific Parallel Architecture

When designing a parallel algorithm that utilizes the peak performance of a machine it is often achieved only through the implementation of an algorithm that exploits that specific architecture. However, by taking a more general approach, one can design an algorithm that is not dependent on a specific architecture, but still render a close to peak performance efficiency. This approach is greatly desired and should be used over an algorithm design that is dependent on a specific architecture. This will ensure the algorithm does not become obsolete once the architecture changes and will also improve applicability. There are so many diverse parallel architectures in existence and an algorithm should have enough flexibility to allow its implementation on a range of architectures without a great degree of difficulty.

2.2 Control and Data Parallelism

There are two models that help facilitate the implementation of parallel algorithms on a wide range of parallel architectures, control parallelism and data parallelism. Control parallelism partitions the instructions of a program into instruction sets that can be executed concurrently due to the fact that the sets are independent of each other. Pipelining is a popular type of control parallelism. Data parallelism simultaneously performs instructions on many data elements using many processors by creating tasks from the partitioning of the problems data and then distributing them to multiple processors. Multiple tasks can be scheduled on the same processor for execution so the actual number of processors on the target machine is not critical. Data parallelism is generally favored over control parallelism because as problems become larger complexity of the algorithm and the code remains unchanged, only the amount of data increases. Because of this, data parallelism allows more processors to be effectively utilized for large-scale problems.

2.3 Task Partitioning, Scheduling, and Synchronization

A parallel algorithm that requires a large number of operations to reach a solution can be more efficient than a sequential algorithm with fewer operations. So the question becomes in what ways do parallelism affect computations? There are specific issues that must be addressed when designing a proper algorithm for a parallel implementation and they are task partitioning, task scheduling, and task synchronization.

2.3.1 Task Partitioning

Task partitioning deals with the problem of partitioning operations or data into independent tasks to be mapped on multiple processors. Operations of an algorithm are partitioned into sets that are independent from each other and proceed to overlap in the duration of their execution. The problem data are partitioned into blocks without interdependencies and are therefore able to process multiple blocks in parallel. A Task is the name given to the partitions of operations or blocks of independent data. Task partitioning becomes easier to solve in algorithms designed with independent operations or algorithms that maintain small subsets of the problem data at each step. Therefore, by addressing the problem of task partitioning through the design of suitable algorithms the algorithm designer can assist the applications programmer by helping to eliminating a crucial problem in parallel programming.

2.3.2 Task Scheduling

Task scheduling addresses the issue of determining how to assign tasks to one or more processors for simultaneous execution. This problem cannot be left to the programmer alone due to the large variety of architectures; the algorithm designer must design an algorithm that can be structured to utilize the number of available processors on a variety of different architectures. However, a satisfactory solution can be obtained in the scheduling of tasks to processors for a variety of architectures if the underlying theoretical algorithm is flexible. Therefore, so long as the operations of the algorithm can be structured to have as many independent tasks as the number of available processors the programmer should be able to resolve any scheduling problem.

2.3.3 Task Synchronization

Task synchronization is the question of determining an order for the execution of tasks and the instances in which information must be exchanged among tasks to ensure the correct progress of iterations according to the algorithm throughout its execution. This may appear to be a problem that is strictly solved by the programmer's implementation, however, an algorithm design whose convergence is guaranteed that ensures the requirements for synchronization are not excessive is likely to be more efficient when implemented in a parallel architecture.

2.4 Work-Depth Models

A work-depth model takes the focus away from any particular machine and draws its focus to the algorithm by examining the total number of operations performed by that algorithm and the dependencies among those operations. The work W of the algorithm is the total number of performed operations; depth D is the longest chain of dependencies throughout its operations. The ratio P = W/D is called the parallelism of the algorithm. The advantage of using a work-depth model is the lack of machine-dependent details as used in other models that only serve to complicate the design and analysis of algorithms. The figure below shows a circuit for adding 16 numbers. All arcs or edges are directed towards the bottom, input arcs are at the top, each + node adds the values of each incoming arc and places the result on its outgoing arc. The sum of all inputs is returned on the single output at the bottom.

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Initially, when people buy their computers they are pretty fast. However, over a period of time the speed is reduced drastically. It is mainly due to the fact that you haven't taken care to maintain it. If you frequently use computers, then for sure you would have encountered such a problem at times. However, you can optimize their performance by taking some of the simplest preventive measures.

There are a number of factors that can affect the performance of your computer. Most users use the internet surfing on their computer and download a number of unwanted files along with the wanted ones. There can be virus or worms that can harm your computer. They take some memory to be active and hence, degrade the performance and slow down your computer.

Factors to be considered to control slowing down of computers

1. Emptying the recycle bin is one of the first things you have to do for better performance of computers. It can be found on the desktop of your system.

2. Next, you have to delete all the files present in the temporary folder. Go to temp folder and delete all files. To access the temp folder follow this instruction.

Start menu >> computer >> c drive >> windows folder >> temp folder.

Alternatively you may click on window key and type %temp% and then press enter key to open the contents of the temporary folder. Now, you can select all and delete them for better speed and performance.

3. Next you need to delete all the browsing history saved by your browser. To do this, just follow the steps given below.

Click on windows button.Click on control panel.Click on internet options.Click on general tab.Now, click on a button with delete option, which is placed right under the column for browsing history.Select the files you want to delete. Mark a tick on cookies for temporary internet files and its history.Now, click on delete button to delete all the selected files.

4. Next you have to consider some of the factors whenever you install a program. The programs usually, keep an icon of the installed program in the taskbar. They run in the background and takes memory, hence responsible to slow down the speed of your computer. At the time of installation uncheck the button to put them in the taskbar or in quick launch.

5. Next, what you have to do is to remove all the unnecessary programs that start automatically on starting windows. For doing this open 'run' prompt and type msconfig to open the system configuration utility.

Now, click on the startup tab. It will now enlist all the programs that automatically start on the startup of your computer. Now, type their name on Google to find out their functionality. You can uncheck all the unnecessary programs in order to boot and run your computer faster than before.

6. Next, you have to go to add or remove programs through control panel and check for unnecessary programs. If there is any then remove it. You also need to remove the programs that you will not be using in the near future to make your computer run faster.

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PCI Compliance Is Hard for Everyone!

In some respects, it can be argued that, the less IT 'stuff' an organization has, the fewer resources are going to be needed to run it all. However, with PCI compliance there are still always 12 Requirements and 650 sub-requirements in the PCI DSS to cover, regardless of whether you are a trillion dollar multinational or a local theatre company.

The principles of good security remain the same for both ends of the scale - you can only identify security threats if you know what business-as-usual, regular running looks like.

Establishing this baseline understanding will take time - 8 to 24 weeks in fact, because you are going to need a sufficiently wide perspective of what 'regular' looks like - and so we strongly advocate a baby-steps approach to PCI for all organizations, but especially those with smaller IT teams.

There is a strong argument that doing the basics well first, then expanding the scope of security measures is much more likely to succeed and be effective than trying to do everything at once and in a hurry. Even if this means PCI Compliance will take months to implement, this is a better strategy than implementing an unsupportable and too-broad a range of measures. Better to work at a pace that you can cope with than to go too fast and go into overload.

This is the five step program recommended, although it actually has merit for any size of organization.

PCI Compliance in 10 Minutes per Day

1. Classify your 'in scope of PCI' estate

You first need to understand where cardholder data resides. When we talk about cardholder data 'residing' this is deliberately different to the more usual term of cardholder data 'storage'. Card data passing through a PC, even it is encrypted and immediately transferred elsewhere for processing or storage, has still been 'stored' on that PC. You also need to include devices that share the same network as card data storing devices.

Now classify your device groups. For the example of Center Theatre Group, they have six core servers that process bookings. They also have around 25 PCs being used for Box Office functions. There are then around 125 other PCs being used for Admin and general business tasks.

So we would define 'PCI Server', 'Box Office PC' and 'General PC' classes. Firewall devices are also a key class, but other network devices can be grouped together and left to a later phase. Remember - this isn't cutting corners and sweeping dirt under the carpet, but a pragmatic approach to doing the most important basics well first, or in other words, taking the long view on PCI Compliance.

2. Make a Big Assumption

We now apply an assumption to these Device Groups - that is, that devices within each class are so similar in terms of their make-up and behavior, that monitoring one or two sample devices from any class will provide an accurate representation of all other devices in the same class.

We all know what can happen when you assume anything but this is assumption is a good one. This is all about taking baby steps to compliance and as we have declared up front that we have a strategy that is practical for our organization and available resources this works well.

The idea is that we get a good idea of what normal operation looks like, but in a controlled and manageable manner. We won't get flooded with file integrity changes or overwhelmed with event log data, but we will see a representative range of behavior patterns to understand what we are going to be dealing with.

Given the device groups outlined, I would target one or two servers - say a web server and a general application server - one or two Box Office PCs and one or two general PCs.

3. Watch...

You'll begin to see file changes and events being generated by your monitored devices and about ten minutes later you'll be wondering what they all are. Some are self explanatory, some not so.

Sooner or later, the imperative of tight Change Control becomes apparent.

If changes are being made at random, how can you begin to associate change alerts from your FIM system with intended 'good' changes and consequently, to detect genuinely unexpected changes which could be malicious?

Much easier if you can know in advance when changes are likely to happen - say, schedule the third Thursday in any month for patching. If you then see changes detected on a Monday these are exceptional by default. OK, there will always be a need for emergency fixes and changes but getting in control of the notification and documentation of Changes really starts to make sense when you begin to get serious about security.

Similarly from a log analysis standpoint - once you begin capturing logs in line with PCI DSS Requirement 10 you quickly see a load of activity that you never knew was happening before. Is it normal, should you be worried by events that don't immediately make sense? There is no alternative but to get intimate with your logs and begin understanding what regular activity looks like - otherwise you will never be able to detect the irregular and potentially harmful.

4....and learn

You'll now have a manageable volume of file integrity alerts and event log messages to help you improve your internal processes, mainly with respect to change management, and to 'tune in' your log analysis ruleset so that it has the intelligence to process events automatically and only alert you to the unexpected, for example, either a known set of events but with an unusual frequency, or previously unseen events.

Summary Reports collating filechanges on a per server basis are useful This is the time to hold your nerve and see this learning phase through to a conclusion where you and your monitoring systems are in control - you see what you expect to see on a daily basis, you get changes when they are planned to happen.

5. Implement

Now you are in control of what 'regular operation' looks like, you can begin expanding the scope of your File Integrity and Logging measures to cover all devices. Logically, although there will be a much higher volume of events being gathered from systems, these will be within the bounds of 'known, expected' events. Similarly, now that your Change Management processes have been matured, file integrity changes and other configuration changes will only be detected during scheduled, planned maintenance periods. Ideally your FIM system will be integrated with your Change Management process so that events can be categorized as Planned Changes and reconciled with RFC (Request for Change) details.

NNT is a leading provider of PCI DSS and general Security and Compliance solutions. As both a File Integrity Monitoring Software Manufacturer and Security Services Provider, we are firmly focused on helping organisations protect their sensitive data against security threats and network breaches in the most efficient and cost effective manner.
NNT solutions are straightforward to use and offer exceptional value for money, making it easy and affordable for organisations of any size to achieve and retain compliance at all times. Each product has the guidelines of the PCI DSS at its core, which can then be tailored to suit any internal best practice or external compliance initiative.

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The Safety Belt Paradox

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) has now been around for over 6 years, but every day we speak to organizations that have yet to implement any PCI measures. So what's the real deal with PCI compliance and why should any company spend money on it while others are avoiding it?

Often the pushback is from Board Level, asking for clear-cut justification for PCI investment. Other times it comes from within the IT Department, seeking to avoid the disruption PCI measures will incur.

Regardless of where resistance comes from, the consensus is that adopting the standard is a sensible thing to do from a security perspective. But like so many things in life, the common sense view is outweighed by the perceived pain of achieving it -this thinking is often referred to as 'The Safety Belt Paradox', more of which later.

This coupled with the anecdotal feedback that whilst the Acquiring Banks (payment card transaction processors) promote the need for PCI measures, they seldom have the focus and continual drive to monitor the status of compliance, making it all too easy for Merchants (anyone taking card payments) to carry on just as they are.

Prioritizing PCI Measures

With 12 headline Requirements covering 230 sub-requirements and around 650 detail points, encompassing technology, procedure and process, there is no denying that the PCI-DSS is complex and is likely to cause disruption. But the benefits ultimately outweigh the pitfalls, particularly when there are shortcuts to compliance, which follow the 'How do you eat a whale?' philosophy (one piece at a time, in case you were wondering).

This 'prioritized approach', advocated by the PCI Security Council, focuses attention on the most important 'biggest bang for buck' measures first, with the others broken into five levels of priority.

We would also always advise that in order to control costs and minimize disruption, that you understand the context and impact of each aspect to see which other Requirements can be taken care of by implementing the same measure - for instance, file integrity monitoring is specifically mentioned in Requirement 11.5, but actually applies to numerous other Requirements throughout the standard. For example, Device Hardening measures specified in Requirement 2 all come back to file integrity monitoring because configuration files and settings need to be assessed for compliance with best practices, and once a device has been hardened, it is vital that monitoring is in place to ensure there is no 'drift' away from the secure configuration policy adopted.

Similarly log management and the need to securely backup event logs from all in scope devices may only be detailed in Requirement 10, however, using event log data to track where changes have been made to devices and user accounts is a great way of auditing the effectiveness of your change management processes. Tracking user activity via syslog and event log data is generally seen as a means of providing the forensic audit trail for analysis after a breach has occurred, but used correctly, it can also act as a great deterrent to would-ne inside man hackers if they know they are being watched.

As evidence of the value of this approach, implementing firewall and anti-virus measures properly, with checks and balances provided via automated event log processing and file-integrity monitoring gets you around 30-35% compliant before you do anything else.

The Future of PCI-DSS

The PCI Security Standards Council insists that PCI is more about security than compliance. And it really does work - implemented correctly, the PCI-DSS will keep card holder data protected under any circumstances.

In the future, neglecting PCI Compliance measures could mean you are gambling with even higher stakes. With PCI being such a comprehensive framework, big-thinkers are arguing that PCI compliance should be leveraged to provide security for ALL company information as a whole and protect against the mainstream issue of Identity Theft. Losing card holder data is one thing, but risking your customers' personal information is potentially far more damaging and your customers won't thank you if you have been irresponsible.

This is certainly the case in Europe where, at the recent PCI Security Standards Council Meeting in London, the UK Government's Information Commissioners Office recommended that organizations should look to implement PCI for general Data Protection. This is echoed across Europe where ISO 27001 is taken much more seriously, especially in Germany where their snappily entitled 'Bundesdatenschutzgeset' (or BDSG - Federal Data Protection Act) has real teeth.

If a German organization loses the Personal Information of its customers then it is required by law to 'confess' by placing at least two, full-page advertisements in the National press informing the public of the potential Identity Theft they have been exposed to. Even if you don't believe in the power of advertising, you wouldn't want to test what this kind of publicity does for your brand and your sales.

The closest parallel in the US is the Nevada 'Security of Personal Information' law, and Nevada Senate Bill 227 specifically states a requirement to comply with the PCI DSS, or how about The Washington House Bill 1149 (Effective Jul 01, 2010) which "recognizes that data breaches of credit and debit card information contribute to identity theft and fraud and can be costly to consumers".

Which brings us back to the 'Safety Belt Paradox'. 50 years ago, the State of Wisconsin introduced legislation requiring seat belts to be fitted to cars. But very few people used them, because they were uncomfortable and slowed you down when starting a journey, even though most would admit they were a good idea.

So it was only in 1984 when the first US state (New York) made the wearing of a seatbelt compulsory that the real benefits were realized. Only then did common-sense become standard practice. Maybe Personal information Protection needs the same treatment?

NNT is a leading provider of PCI DSS and general Security and Compliance solutions. As both a File Integrity Monitoring Software Manufacturer and Security Services Provider, we are firmly focused on helping organisations protect their sensitive data against security threats and network breaches in the most efficient and cost effective manner.
NNT solutions are straightforward to use and offer exceptional value for money, making it easy and affordable for organisations of any size to achieve and retain compliance at all times. Each product has the guidelines of the PCI DSS at its core, which can then be tailored to suit any internal best practice or external compliance initiative.

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When considering a computer/laptop, do you know what you need to know prior to your purchase? Here are some ideas to consider...

If the computer is going to be used for games or movies as a priority, then a screen and video card are the important things to consider. In this case a desktop computer would probably be best as it is easier to upgrade your video card and your video output device. Also, with games and movies the hard disk needs to be very large if you save any of the input. With a desktop you can always add more hard drives with ease.

If the computer is going to be used for creating spreadsheets, Word documents, or video presentations then either type of system would do. The only real consideration here would be the ease of typing the input. The keyboard on a desktop is easier to type on for most people. However, if you desire the laptop for portability or space requirements, you can always plug in a desktop keyboard (wired or wireless).

This now brings up the idea of portability. A desktop, normally, stays where it is installed. A laptop is made for travel. You can do your work at hot spots (i.e. McDonald's, coffee shops, book stores, etc.) or just in different rooms of your home; you are not tied down other than staying within the range of your wireless LAN when at home. This makes it much easier to sit on the porch enjoying the nice weather, going to the kitchen for a snack, or catching up on you "important" television shows while still creating documents.

Software packages are a main concern when buying a new computer. The first consideration is that if the software you are currently using is not on CDs or DVDs in your possession, you will probably have to buy them again. As a rule, software cannot be copied from one computer to another. It must be installed on each computer using it.

The second consideration is compatibility. Even if you do have the software on hand, some computers will not run older software. With the changes in computers happening every two or three years, software and hardware must be verified to run with the new system. Some systems now are running 32 bit and/or 64 bit operating systems. This can be important because some software is honed in to one or the other of these. Currently, there is very little software out there that runs 64 bit or dual processors. this is a big advertising game to sell computers; however, tomorrow... ?

The third consideration is cost. Software needed for a new system usually costs as much or more than the desktop/laptop purchase. Again this depends on what you are going to use the system for.

As stated previously above, there is hardware that will not run on the newer computer systems. Sometimes the problem is the operating system of the computer not being able to talk to the hardware device. Sometimes it is because the drivers (the translators for device to computer communication) for the device has not or will not be created.

If your new purchase is to create photo output or high quality presentation output, as opposed to general documents, then you may want to consider putting your money into a printer of high quality and much less into the computer itself.

The quantity of hardware could also be an issue. Most laptops have 2 or 4 USB ports to plug in hardware. If you need more you can get a USB hub with additional ports; however, there are still some hardware devices that will not work through a USB hub and needs the direct connection to the laptop USB port. A desktop can have 4 to 8 USB ports to plug into. Again a USB hub can be used for more ports or a card can be installed within the desktop for additional ports. If this is a strong consideration, then you will probably need a high end system to push all the power needed for each device.

Security is always an issue in this day and age. The word virus gives a lot of people a case of anxiety. There are several ways to solve this problem and enjoy your computer. The first is get a good anti-virus and anti-spyware program. There are a lot of free ones out there - some are very good. There are a lot of others that charge (usually yearly) - some are very good. This is a case of either read about them fro sources you trust or rely on other people that you can trust. There will always be someone who will like each one or they wouldn't all be on the market. And don't be fooled; if you have a cable (Comcast, FIOS, Cox, etc.) connection, you are ALWAYS on the Internet whenever the computer is turned on. You do not have to initiate your email, Internet, or any other application to be hacked.

Another way to secure yourself from viruses, spyware, malware, root kits, and ID theft is to make sure that you use a LAN or network that you can trust and that has security within it. Of course, the only way not to be "hit by this bus" is to stay off of computers. But even this is not a good alternative as your bank account, your credit card, and other out-of-home shopping situations are almost all computerized and susceptible to being hacked.

A back up power supply and a back up for your computer files are also steps in the right direction for security. A back up power supply will help stop a computer from being struck by a power surge. A power surge has all the capability of entering the unit and destroying the insides including wiping the hard drive. The correct power supply has the ability to turn off your computer when there is an outage also. A back up for your computer files is good when your computer bites the dust or gets decimated by a virus. With a good back up procedure your data will always be safe even if your computer is not.

Now that we have answered most of what you want your computer for, what specifications (insides) are needed for this computer? Do you need a DVD drive that has the capability to write or create CDs or DVDs or just one that can read CDs (for installations) or DVDs (for movies)? How fast should the computer be? How much memory do you need? What size video output do you want? What about your network speed?

These can be very involved questions without any real clear-cut answers. Without getting too deep into these questions, a new computer made within the last year would be more than enough for most people. Reviews on the Internet from reliable sources could also be a big help.

The final thought is whatever you decide to purchase, I recommend that you be happy with what you have to pay for your system and don't look at computer sales or ads for the next six months - because you will probably find something newer, bigger, faster, or on sale to make you rethink your purchase. Don't.

If you want to use my experiences, then feel free to go to my website and contact me with any thoughts or questions. I am not the "know it all geek" and will never proclaim myself the "number one guru" but I have had my hands on and in computers since 1967 and have clients and experiences to support my convictions.

What about refurbished systems?

A refurbished system is usually a very good system. But if you want a warranty you may want to stick with new if you don't know anything about computers or don't have a handy IT professional friend.

Hello. I hope my 40 plus years experience helps you understand computer and laptop purchasing a little more..

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It is impossible for businesses to operate efficiently without investing in information technology. There are different information technology facets that can be synergized to improve capacity. Cloud computing platforms enable business owners to provide better services as well as cut down infrastructure expenses. The following are 10 key characteristics which make this technology business friendly.

1. Scalability

It is important for cloud computing services to be easily scalable if any additional enhancements are needed. If you require extra bandwidth or data storage capacity, this can be easily scaled up without any problem. This cuts down extra project costs that would have gone towards procuring and installing the required infrastructure.

2. Robust IT Integration

The majority of businesses it prefer business service centered models. In a scenario where you do not have to set up the system and network administration, business side tasks become easier.

3. Multiple User Tenancy

These resources can be easily shared among many users without impacting performance negatively. This characteristic makes it easy for both service provider and consumer to utilize efficiency better.

4. Reliability

Businesses which rely on on-site systems can suffer substantial losses if malfunctions or breakdowns occur. However, cloud computing can leverage multiple site advantages to offer the same services even if one site suffers a breakdown.

5. Usage-Based Billing

As a business owner, cutting down costs at every opportunity can improve profitability significantly. It is based on consumers paying for services and resources that they have used.

6. User based service management

Back end system administration and maintenance duties are taken care of by the cloud service provider. This means that you can concentrate on improving business productivity by using the intuitive user interface to access cloud computing services.

7. Economies Of Scale

Most of the cloud computing providers have many business customers using the same service. This feature makes it possible for the providers to buy bandwidth at a lower cost than you would individually.

8. Better Business Data Security

The prospect of losing valuable business data to hackers has led many business owners to invest in expensive data security solutions. However, using its services cuts this risk dramatically as the providers invest heavily in securing consumer data.

9. Broad Network Access

You can easily access cloud computing services using standard Internet protocol technologies. This increases accessibility without adding unnecessary infrastructure expenses.

10. Dynamic Computing Infrastructure

It is important for the poviders to rollout a dynamic infrastructure which can cope with varying consumer demands. This includes automated service workload allocation and high levels of available capacity utilization. Remember that regardless of your business needs, cloud computing gives you the ability to transparently monitor system performance and efficiency. In addition to the benefits outlined above, you do not have to worry about underutilized assets which cost a lot of money to acquire and install.

Western Telematic Inc. was founded in 1964 and has been an industry leader in designing and manufacturing power management and remote console management. If you are a business looking for a console server or a console manager, then visit wti.com.

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Search Engine Optimization has emerged as one of the most essential components of online enterprises and internet marketing. The best SEO Companies understand perfectly the business of search engine optimization and offers internet marketing services that all online businesses require.

These services include the planning and implementation of marketing campaigns, content management and article writing, link building and web design, social media marketing, research and analysis.

The best SEO Companies are knowledgeable that today's technology-savvy entrepreneurs depend on them to help grow the business. These experts can implement effective strategies that will benefit emerging business organizations through the best SEO services. Making use of search engine optimization provides start-up businesses with tools that can ensure optimal rankings for their websites.

With affordable website solutions, small and medium-sized companies can make use of limited budget and still enjoy maximum web exposure. The demand for the best SEO services for has increased further with the entry of the internet in the business environment.

It is important to appreciate the value of competition and competitive analysis. Likewise, you have to know the competition very well and what their online activities are. The real world competition is not the same as online competition. SEO is more technical and entails thorough understanding of complex processes. Site analysis and research of trends will help you stay ahead of your competitors. There are varying prescriptions for success and everything depends on changing goals, budgets and revenue objectives.

For companies and business owners who are not yet experts, they need the best SEO Companies. These service providers will provide them with valuable information that consists of back link quantity and quality, anchor text usage, rankings for various keywords, and other elements of online presence to identify the areas where competitors are getting maximum returns for their investments.

If your goal is to stay ahead of the competition, go for the best SEO service that will provide you with dynamism and competence. Creating a website is not enough in an online business. The ultimate goal is to optimize the website. A website will only be noticed and attract visitors if it is well placed in search engines. This makes the best SEO services more valuable so you can effectively market your products and services through the internet. Optimizing a website is making it more visible amid thousands of competitors who also maintain their own websites. Through search engine optimization, you can expect to increase your rankings and make your standing in the market impressive. If this does not happen, chances are you will get minimal response to the product, brand or service that you are selling.

Search engine optimization and the best SEO Companies can be your valuable assets. You have to be aware of the functions and the importance of these utilities. It is also beneficial to know the possible risks that may affect your business.

Be aggressive and prudent at the same time. Take it from experts like the best SEO Companies and you will realize the big difference as your business progresses.

Blue Flurry, one of the best SEO companies Los Angeles provides high quality and low cost seo service. Increase your sales and profits today with affordable SEO service cost.

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