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	<title>Surf Wonders</title>
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	<description>Surfing the World of Computers</description>
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		<title>Important Things to Know About Nursing Home Software</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/important-things-to-know-about-nursing-home-software/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/important-things-to-know-about-nursing-home-software/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:16:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/important-things-to-know-about-nursing-home-software/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Designed as a total facility management answer, nursing house software brings an array of influential nursing home requests. The one treatment home software package which brings you today's most supple, gainful nursing home organization tools, nursing home software is a adaptable system which can be configured to the precise needs of your association.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Designed as a total facility management answer, nursing house software brings an array of influential nursing home requests. The one treatment home software package which brings you today&#8217;s most supple, gainful nursing home organization tools, nursing home software is a adaptable system which can be configured to the precise needs of your association.</p>
<p>Ideal for solitary and multi-facility nursing homes as well as big nursing home chains, nursing home software revolves around adaptable, fully included application units. Built to carry out under even the mainly demanding situation, nursing home software provides you with the aptitude to contact the in order you use most&yacute;&#8221;when you need it and where you need it.</p>
<p>Nursing Home Software Products</p>
<p>Nursing home software prearranged around your mainly important in force procedures, nursing home software products give an array of clinical and monetary nursing home request designed to permit easy preservation of your most significant data. From care plan information and user-defined enduring assessments to PPS billing and universal accounting in order, nursing home software is a dependable, easy-to-update nursing home organization solution.</p>
<p>Clinical Nursing Home Software Modules</p>
<p>Nursing home software proffer an array of scientific submission modules intended to help you uphold your nursing homes most vital care plans, information, physician&#8217;s orders, progress notes, and excellence assessments. Designed to unite standardization with suppleness, clinical nursing home software modules also give access to accurate MDS, RAPs, user-defined assessment, and CMS reports.</p>
<p>Financial Nursing Home Software Modules</p>
<p>An tremendously adaptable way to trail every financial sign within your nursing home&#8217;s operating arrangement, nursing home software particular financial nursing home software modules give the ability to uphold, track, and recall patient accounting, nursing home trust funds, third-party billing, collection letters, PPS billing, universal secretarial in order, and more.</p>
<p>The Best Uses of Nursing Software</p>
<p>If you are a nurse you cannot refute that have a PDA with nursing check-up software on it can be a marvellous help. Nurses who have a PDA up to with proper software will have relevant and significant information in their hands at every time.</p>
<p>This article will give you data of what software for nurses are available. The reason of this piece of writing is to give you with information as you start your research for nursing medical software. This article is not supposed to be the concluding say-so on this category of software, but an initial point for you to commence your exploration.</p>
<p>1. Handbook Of Signs And Symptoms</p>
<p>This software package actually helps you to connect the dots so to speak, of your patient&#8217;s indication and the signs that they are present. It comprises the level of importance and the steps that you require to take throughout the examination. There are over 300 ordinary signs and symptoms as well as an extra 250 less ordinary signs and symptoms which are included in an appendix. One of my favorite description of the software is the herbal cure that are fixed.</p>
<p>2. Nursing procedures</p>
<p>as you can picture from the title this program lists over 500 procedures. Each procedure includes instructions, necessary equipment you will need for the procedure, documenting, and what to do in case of complications. This is a very user-friendly software Index the procedures can be found easily through the search function and there are hundreds of illustrations that bring life to the procedure.</p>
<p>3. Drug Guide For Nurses</p>
<p>One thing that nurses are constantly doing is amount calculations. With this software it has never been easier to compute meds. The software includes 5,000 drugs classified into 150 categories. This software has a built in error avoidance and warnings when trouble may arise, as well as enduring warnings such as taking food.</p>
<p>As you can see, there are ample of dissimilar software for nurses&#8217; letters to help nurses do their job. Especially in the check-up field you really cannot take too numerous precautions. I also know persons who use the software in Brazil while they are giving medical attention to village people.</p>
<p>Why Not Use Nursing Scheduling Software</p>
<p>If you are in the healthcare industry you know how difficult scheduling can be. There are many confront that you face when you are trying to programme for dissimilar shifts of persons in dealing with all the ins as well as outs of setting up.</p>
<p>This software has been intended to make your preparation errands rapid and competent. On the other hand it is not so unbending that it will not let input from you. In other expression it is supple enough to still permit you to vigorously contribute in the scheduling process.</p>
<p>Because of this you will discover that it is very simple to begin using this nursing agenda software.</p>
<p>There are many reimbursements to using nursing agenda software such as Care Ware. When you use setting up software you will be offered with a impartial schedule that will comply with entity worker preferences, policies and work rules. You will also become aware of an enormous reduction in official procedure for your nursing unit manager.</p>
<p>Because of this payback you will also notice that your operating costs will go down. In effect let&#8217;s go over the base line of what this kind of software will be to you.</p>
<p>1. You will discover that reporting is much easier. You can run reports and provide reports to your supervisors with confidence because you will recognize that the data in the reports is accurate.</p>
<p>2. All the information can be accessed in concurrent from any scene. No more waiting until you get to the place of work to see what the schedule is.</p>
<p>3. Fewer time is spent managerially trying to craft a schedule.</p>
<p>4. This kind of software will reduce overtime and require pulling from a pond staff.</p>
<p>As you can see there are a lot of features and reimbursement, especially benefits, for manager who use nursing agenda software such as Care Ware. The reimbursement will be found not only is cost savings, but also in conditions of happier workers and a smoother pour of work.</p>
<p>For More Information See: <a target="_new" href="http://www.startanursinghome.com/">How to start a nursing agency</a>, visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.startanursinghome.com/">startanursinghome.com</a></p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_F_Smith">John F Smith</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Important-Things-to-Know-About-Nursing-Home-Software&amp;id=2177674">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://digitalcameratimes.com/">Digital Camera News</a></p>
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		<title>How to Create Your Own Software For Your Niche</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/how-to-create-your-own-software-for-your-niche/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/how-to-create-your-own-software-for-your-niche/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:16:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/how-to-create-your-own-software-for-your-niche/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[First I'll tell you what kind of apps I have created with this new software creator so you can understand the types of applications you can create. My first app was just a simple Birdwatching Journal. It includes fields for time and date, notes, about 8 photos can be added to each record, notes for each photo, and a few more fields for Type of bird, common name, location, etc.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>First I&#8217;ll tell you what kind of apps I have created with this new software creator so you can understand the types of applications you can create. My first app was just a simple Birdwatching Journal. It includes fields for Time and Date, Notes, about 8 photos can be added to each record, notes for each photo, and a few more fields for Type of bird, common name, location, etc., etc. My next software was a Travel Journal, then a dating journal, a travel agents log and trip pricer and organizer. You can see that the possibilities are endless, as long as people need to manage information, I can create it with this new software creator.</p>
<p>When creating my own software with this new software creator, I first must know what I want to be included in it. So to start off, I get a pen and pad and start writing down the fields I want to include. Sorta like a mind-map. I know I need to create different software objects, and in turn they will be added to my different software projects.</p>
<p>So my software object is where I begin, in it will be what we call editors, the editors are the fields you will include in your object. I name my object first, and edit the settings like the Navigation Text, and the caption, and the type of object. Since this is a new object, I will use the custom object so I can customize it the way I like. The other types of objects can fill a whole book, so we won&#8217;t go into them here. Next I click on the editors tab, and click new editor, then I get my pad and start adding the editors I wrote down to my software object 1 at a time, being careful to give them all unique names to avoid any errors or conflicts, and choosing the type of editor it is, &#8216;text&#8217; &#8216;memo&#8217; &#8216;currency&#8217; &#8216;numeric&#8217;, &#8216;check-box&#8217;, radio box, drop-down box, and the list goes on. You can even add hyperlinks with your affiliate links in them right inside the software. I just add an editor then click save and new and add the next one, going down my whole list until I have added all my fields.</p>
<p>And with that, my software object is done. Now it&#8217;s time to create a Software project to add my object to. Software Projects can contain as many software objects as needed, and the database created with these projects can hold up to 4TB of data. Software objects are also reusable in other projects, so you have unlimited design capabilities.</p>
<p>So now we move onto the Software project section of the builder, give our software project a name, and description for our own use. Check off whether or not to let it be brand-able (yes you can create software that other companies can re-brand with their own logos splash screens etc.). Then we give our software a title, version, pick a skin to use, give it a category, and help file path. Choose the icon we want to use, and choose our splash screen.</p>
<p>On the installation tab, we enter our company info, website, help URL, update URL, installation password if needed, compression mode (this is where we decide how the installation files will be packaged, from compressed web exe to uncompressed directory layout), and whether or not to create a desktop&nbsp; or quick launch icon or both upon installation.</p>
<p>On the next tab we can decide if we want to allow trial usage, how many trials, and we can add a Trial Activation Serial if we want, and we can add some HTML to the box there that we can use to add an opt in box to the splash screen of the trial splash. Very useful for building a list of subscribers in your chosen niche.</p>
<p>Now we go to the bottom section and add our software object by clicking the + sign and selecting the software object we created earlier. Click save, and now at the top of this new software creator, we go to the miscellaneous tab and click Run.</p>
<p>Our software will now execute, so we can perform the final layout.</p>
<p>We start by selecting our software object in the Navigation menu on the side, and click new. This brings up our software object for customization. We right click in between objects and select &#8216;Customize Layout&#8217; , this mode allows us to Drag and Drop our fields or editors anywhere we want them to be situated. We can group a few together, group them all together, add blank space, separators, add tabs, add tabs to tabs, the sky is the limit here when it come to the visual design of our software.</p>
<p>Once we have it all laid out the way we like it, we hit the close button, and when it asks to save we say no, unless we are adding pre-filled data to our app, then we save it.</p>
<p>Once you are done either adding data or not, its time to create our executable, and its as easy as hitting &#8216;create set-up&#8217; button next to the &#8216;run&#8217; button we used earlier, and naming our file. this new software creator then builds your executable files for you to distribute to your clients.</p>
<p>I hope this helps you see how easy it is to create your own software with this new software creator. The software you create can be sold or given away for free or with trial uses. You can also export layouts and give them to others to re-brand as their own. The uses are endless.</p>
<p>Jack has developed software for many companies over the years, and you can learn more about this new software creator, download a layout file and try it out for yourself by visiting <a target="_new" href="http://www.tradeshotsoftware.com">http://www.tradeshotsoftware.com</a> He also has some screenshots and other useful tidbits there for you to use. <a target="_new" href="http://www.tradeshotsoftware.com">Tradeshot Software</a></p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Kolarik">Jack Kolarik</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Create-Your-Own-Software-For-Your-Niche&amp;id=2152570">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://digitalcameratimes.com/">Digital Camera Times</a></p>
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		<title>Security, Malware, And Your Computer</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/security-malware-and-your-computer/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/security-malware-and-your-computer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:17:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guy Starbuck</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/security-malware-and-your-computer/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Our computers are very important to us and to our economy. They are filled with sensitive information that if lost or stolen could do serious damage. And this is the intent of those who create malware or malicious-logic programs such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. Take action to be aware of these threats and implement safeguards against them.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Computers are practically in every aspect of our lives these days and our reliance on them is heavy. They are used as tools for work, data storage, schoolwork, shopping, and entertainment. Because so much information is typically stored on our computers we must always make sure they are protected from that loss of information. Businesses have to secure information on their computers to protect it from exploitation by hackers. And the home computer user is no exception to the requirement to protect computer information because there can be credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other sensitive personal information stored on their computer or transmitted when doing online shopping. There is a term used for this and it is &#8220;computer security risk.&#8221; This term refers to the likelihood that some action could cause the loss of information, computer hardware, or denial of service.</p>
<p>When computer security is put at risk intentionally, it becomes criminal in nature or we call this a computer crime. Another relative of the computer crime is the cybercrime. The FBI pays especially close attention to cybercrimes and there are other types of crimes related to them such as corporate spying, unethical computer activity, cyberterrorism, hacking, cracking, and cyberextortion.</p>
<p>Hacking at one time had a positive meaning to it but since computer crimes were introduced, it falls in the bucket with the rest of them. The hacker is the person who gains access to a computer network illegally. They sometimes use the excuse that they were only trying to break a network&#8217;s security so as to make the administrator aware of any security deficiencies.</p>
<p>Closely related to the hacker is the cracker. But the cracker never has been viewed in a positive light. The cracker always has had the intent to gain access to computer and its network to do harm to it or commit a crime like stealing information stored on it. The cracker, like the hacker, has to know what he or she is doing so advanced computer skills are needed in order to pull these crimes off.</p>
<p>Then there are the cyberterrorists and cyberextortionists. The cyberterrorist has a political motive behind his or her activities and it is to do harm to computers to adversely affect a political system. Cyberterrorism requires extensive planning, skilled people to carry it out, and money to fund it. It is much like the classic terrorist attack.</p>
<p>The cyberextortionist is the one who commits the crime of extortion via email. They will hold a company hostage by threatening to release sensitive company information or harm a company&#8217;s computers and network if not given some confidential information and/or money. Sometimes these criminals are aware of security leaks that will allow them to exploit the computer. It is much like classic extortion except carried out through computers.</p>
<p>Then there is the employee who wants to get revenge on his or her company because of some perceived wrong done to them or they want to pad their pockets. These people are known as the unethical employees and what makes them so dangerous is that they many times know how to get into the system.</p>
<p>Not everyone has the computer skills required to be a cracker or hacker so there is another classification known as the &#8220;script kiddie.&#8221; This person is usually is a teenager attempts to harm a computer system but cannot do much because he or she does not know much. This person will use canned programs and scripts to attempt to do the hacks and cracks.</p>
<p>Some unethical businesses try to gain an unfair advantage on their competition through an illegal activity known as corporate espionage. The same unethical businesses will hire a corporate spy who is highly-proficient in computers and technology to break into the target corporation&#8217;s computers. The corporate spy will then steal information or even sabotage the target computer.</p>
<p>It is imperative that home and business computer users take action to shield their computer from these threats to their security. Computer security methods are not 100% foolproof but they do decrease the risk to computers significantly. As soon as a solution is found to protect against one threat, someone figures out a new way to gain unauthorized access to them. Computer users on home networks are more at risk to have information stolen than are computers on business networks mostly because of the more advanced security on the latter. And the internet is a network even more susceptible and at risk when it comes to security. Another problem with security on the internet is that there is not one centralized point to manage security and safety on the information highway.</p>
<p>You are probably wondering now if your computer is secure from threats such as these. There are ways you can get your system evaluated. You can find sites on the internet that offer services that will access your computer and report to you any security vulnerabilities found either through internet browsing or the e-mail. These same companies many times offer tips and suggestions of ways to protect against the vulnerabilities. Another resource in the fight against computer security threat is the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordination Center which also offers suggestions.</p>
<p>Security attacks against computers usually involve things like worms, viruses, denial of service, Trojan horses, and spoofing. All of these, the computer virus is the most famous. A computer virus is basically software that is designed to do damage to the files on your computer once it gets installed on it. All if it is done without the user giving permission and without the user&#8217;s knowledge at first. A computer virus, once it gets in your computer, will spread and cause more damage. It will do things like delete files and corrupt your computer&#8217;s operating system and render it inoperable. Thus it was tagged with the term &#8220;virus&#8221; because it acts much the same way as human virus does: it gets in and spreads throughout the body and causes illness or damage in some cases. Protection against viruses is available through anti-virus software.</p>
<p>An offshoot of the computer virus is the computer worm. A computer worm is much like a virus with the exception that it will find some perfectly valid executable program on your computer and attach itself to that program. When the user runs the program, the computer worm will attack. Computer worms can consume a lot of network bandwidth while they replicate across a corporate network.</p>
<p>And now for the famous Trojan horse computer threat that derives its name from the famous story in Greek mythology. What a Trojan horse does is hide itself in a program that looks like a valid program but in reality it is not. Trojan horse programs do not replicate like the viruses and worms do.</p>
<p>All these different types of threat software are known as malware which is term used to refer to malicious-logic programs. Malware, as the name implies, does damage to your computer. There are other variations of worms, viruses, and Trojan horses but we are just discussing these three for this article. And you should know how to suspect you have been attacked by one or more these malicious programs. You should be suspicious that you have been attacked if your computer shows one or more of these signs:</p>
<p>Programs you use suddenly don&#8217;t work like they used to:</p>
<ul>
<li>Files are missing or corrupted
</li>
<li>Strange music or sounds are heard on your computer
</li>
<li>You start running out of memory for no apparent reason
</li>
<li>Strange files show up on your system
</li>
<li>System properties begin to change
</li>
<li>Popup windows with odd messages and/or images display</li>
</ul>
<p>The ways in which these malicious programs do their damage or drop their &#8220;bombs&#8221; can be one any one of the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>A user runs a program infected with the virus. This is why virus scanning software that checks a program before running it is so important.
</li>
<li>A user boots a computer and the virus is installed on the boot sector. It is recommended that you remove all media files when you shut down your computer.
</li>
<li>A user connects to a computer that is not protected against viruses on the network (such as accessing a shared drive). So the user opens a virus-infected file on a shared drive and now the user&#8217;s client computer has the virus.
</li>
<li>A user opens up an email attachment that contains an executable file with a virus. This is why it is so important to not open up executable email attachments unless you know the sender and the attachment has been scanned by anti-virus software.</li>
</ul>
<p>And another big problem with malicious logic programs is that new ways to implement them are discovered every day. Security websites try to stay on top of each new malware implementation so that users can be alert for them. Take basic safety measures to protect your computer such as installing a good anti-virus package that gets updated with new malware detection logic automatically. Never open up suspicious email attachments. Be careful of the internet sites you visit (i.e., don&#8217;t visit Warez sites), and run anti-spyware programs. Take the media out of any alternate boot devices you have so that a virus cannot get stored on it and be introduced at boot time. Finally, stay informed from security websites as to the latest threats and what to look out for.</p>
<p>Guy Starbuck is a Super Geek and Health Phreak who writes for <a target="_new" href="http://www.spywaretool.com">SpywareTool.com</a>, <a target="_new" href="http://www.networksecurity.ws">NetworkSecurity.WS</a>, and <a target="_new" href="http://www.activedirectory.us">ActiveDirectory.US</a>.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Guy_Starbuck">Guy Starbuck</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Security,-Malware,-And-Your-Computer&amp;id=1179856">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://beadingnecklace.com/">Beading Necklace</a></p>
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		<title>Non-Profits Software &#8211; The Do&#8217;s and Don&#8217;ts of Selecting the Right Software Solution</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/non-profits-software-the-dos-and-donts-of-selecting-the-right-software-solution/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/non-profits-software-the-dos-and-donts-of-selecting-the-right-software-solution/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:38:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/non-profits-software-the-dos-and-donts-of-selecting-the-right-software-solution/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It's a well known fact that non-profit organizations have very strict guidelines with regard to the way they run their operations, particularly with accounting and audit trails. Therefore, determining which software solution is the best fit for your particular organization can be a time-intensive process. Here are the top three Do's and Don'ts of selecting a non-profits software solution.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s a well known fact that non-profit organizations have very strict guidelines with regard to the way they run their operations, particularly with accounting and audit trails. Therefore, determining which software solution is the best fit for your particular organization can be a time-intensive process. Below are the top three Do&#8217;s and Don&#8217;ts of selecting a non-profit software solution to help ease the process for your organization.</p>
<p><b>Do:</b></p>
<ol>
<li>
<b>Identify Required and Desired Functionality of the New Software Solution.</b> It&#8217;s important to know what you need and want from a software solution. Perhaps online donations are important to aide in your fundraising efforts. Or maybe comprehensive reports and performance analytics are required by your Board of Directors each quarter. And maybe improving your marketing efforts is a big priority for the next fiscal year. Whatever your needs and wants may be to run your non-profit organization more efficiently and effectively, differentiate between the &#8220;must-haves&#8221; and &#8220;nice to haves&#8221; so that you weigh and score technology partners equally.</li>
<li>
<b>Involve Personnel to Drive Adoption. </b>It&#8217;s important to involve personnel from key departments every step of the process, from identifying requirements to implementing the software. You must take into account what pains or frustrations your staff members may be facing, and ensure that the new solution will address these challenges and be implemented in a way that is parallel to existing workflows. Involving staff members in every step will ultimately drive adoption of the new technology because they have contributed to the resolution and will have already approved the technology being adopted.</li>
<li>
<b>Be Thorough in Your Research of Technology Partners</b>. Your research into various software providers should be multi-faceted. Be sure to use each of the following research methods when pulling together your list of viable non-profits software partners.</li>
</ol>
<p>
<ul>
<li>
<b> Talk to Industry Peers</b>. This does not mean simply asking other non-profits what software they&#8217;re using and whether or not they like it. Talking to industry peers means asking what their criteria was for new software, what the selection process was like for them, what the total cost of ownership is, and how well the software met their needs.</li>
<li>
<b>Research Online</b>. Look for ratings and reviews, both good and bad, for each of your top software candidates. Visit each software company&#8217;s website and read through their information thoroughly. Read the company&#8217;s news to see how well the company is doing and if they seem to be financially stable. Read testimonials and case studies to look for similarities between your organization&#8217;s needs and the vendor&#8217;s customer needs.</li>
<li>
<b>Talk to Technology Providers</b>. After narrowing your list of potential technology partners down to a manageable number, start making phone calls directly to the companies. Pay attention to how friendly, knowledgeable, responsive and open company representatives are over the phone. Ask candid questions about industry experience, customer service, and software functionality. Ask sales staff what their non-profits customers would say about the company if you were to call them up. These are all very fair questions to ask and the right software company will be more than willing to provide any information you need to know to make your software selection.</li>
<li>
<b>Request On-Site Demonstrations.</b> By the time you reach the software demonstrations phase, you should have narrowed your list down even further to just a handful of possible partners. Before software vendors arrive for demonstrations, collaborate with staff members to create a comprehensive list of questions to ensure that you are prepared to evaluate each vendor equally. Ask vendors to walk you through step-by-step processes for a typical transaction your staff might handle on any given day. Ask what customers find most challenging about the software. Ask what feedback the company receives the most on the software. Ask every question that you and your staff deem important in the software selection process. And ask these questions to each of the vendors.</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Don&#8217;t:</b></p>
<ol>
<li>
<b>Buy Software Based on Features Only</b>. When focusing just on features of the software, such as online registration, membership management tools, Web content management, etc., you can unknowingly overlook other important factors, such as software scalability, technology requirements, customer service support, total cost of ownership, and finding a software solution that doesn&#8217;t change your business processes. It&#8217;s important to buy non-profits software that will grow with your organization, allow you to take advantage of existing investments in computers and other IT equipment, offer you 24/7 customer service support, save you money while driving new revenues and donations, and be user-friendly so anyone, from volunteers to full-time staff, can utilize the software to improve current business processes.</li>
<li>
<b>Evaluate Only the Initial Costs</b>. There are a number of companies that require minimal to no upfront costs for their software solutions. However, after the initial installation, it&#8217;s important to understand other costs that may be associated with the software, such as annual license fees, upgrade charges, general maintenance costs, usage fees, customer service support fees, and additional IT investments that may be required as your organization grows and expands. Be sure to request, in writing, details of your organization&#8217;s total cost of ownership for each software package you&#8217;re considering. It&#8217;s important to be aware of this number at the forefront to not only evaluate total cost expenditures from one software company to the next, but to also understand when this money will need to be allocated from your budget.</li>
<li>
<b>Buy More Than You Need</b>. If your non-profit organization doesn&#8217;t have leagues, you shouldn&#8217;t be paying for league management tools. If your non-profit doesn&#8217;t have dedicated IT personnel in-house, you should probably consider a hosted software deployment so your software provider can manage all IT needs for you. Bottom line, request exactly what you need and want and don&#8217;t pay for anything extra. It&#8217;s difficult to justify the added expense and can be confusing for staff to navigate around.</li>
</ol>
<p>I hope these tips prove helpful in your search for the right <a target="_new" href="http://www.activecommunities.com/technology-solutions/non-profit.htm">non-profits software</a> solution. In general, as long as you&#8217;re selecting software that offers all of the functionality you need at a total cost of ownership that is well within your budget and from a financially stable company that you know and trust, you are on the right path. Make sure to check off the Do&#8217;s, avoid the Don&#8217;ts, and enjoy the benefits of today&#8217;s leading technologies to improve operational efficiencies and drive more donations to your non-profit organization.</p>
<p>James Reyes is the General Manager for ActiveCommunities, a division of Active Network, Inc.</p>
<p>ActiveCommunities delivers <a target="_new" href="http://www.activecommunities.com/technology-solutions/health-and-fitness.htm">membership management software</a> and marketing solutions to non-profit organizations of all sizes across the globe.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Reyes">James Reyes</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Non-Profits-Software---The-Dos-and-Donts-of-Selecting-the-Right-Software-Solution&amp;id=1666656">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/duty-tax/duty/">Canada duty rates</a></p>
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		<title>New Cure For Hassle-Full Computing</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/new-cure-for-hassle-full-computing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/new-cure-for-hassle-full-computing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:17:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Warren Franklin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/new-cure-for-hassle-full-computing/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of us believe that slow computers, computer crashes, pop ups, spam emails and other problems just come with the territory.  The problem with computers today is that they are hassle-full rather than hassle-free.  There's no wonder.  Today's computers are already complex and getting worse.  Fortunately, there are solutions to the problem   Simple steps you can take to make your computer fun and productive again.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let&#8217;s face it for many being on the computer is hassle-full.  Being on the computer isn&#8217;t fun and productive any more.</p>
<p>Whether your home or business computers are online or offline over time they seem to slow down and many times crash.  Being on the computer isn&#8217;t fun and productive any more. What is it that  <br />causes these problems?</p>
<p>It&#8217;s my experience that the average individual knows a lot about his/her chosen field and very little about computer repair services and protecting information stored on a home or business computer.</p>
<p>Most of us are looking for a simple easy way to work or play on our computer.  Unfortunately, computers have become complicated, necessary tools.  Yet, it seems, several months after purchasing a computer it begins to bog down and run slower.  You might experience mysterious freeze ups and crashes. Once this problem turns into a nuisance, generally, the computer is taken into a computer repair service shop where it will be out of commission for a week or so and a few hundred dollars spent to clean it up.</p>
<p>Most people don&#8217;t understand the relationship between a slow running computer and cyber-crime.  Yet, the relationship is huge.  There is a huge need to develop safe computer practices and rely on an emerging computer industry called &#8220;Personal Computer Services.&#8221;</p>
<p>One of the ways I like to describe computer safe practices is by comparing it to safe dental practices.  We are encouraged to develop an everyday practice of flossing and cleaning teeth, right?  We do this to keep the teeth clean and avoid dental problems like infection and tooth decay in the future.  In other words we do this to avoid dental hassles.  We want a hassle-free dental experience.</p>
<p>Now, when you compare best dental practices to keeping your computer running like new, you  need to implement similar measures.  Only this time instead of brushing and flossing you have to develop safe computer practices including purchasing the computer repair service money can buy.  On top of that, you&#8217;ll also need to set up a safe practices guideline for everyone in your family.</p>
<p>A slow running computer or a computer that crashes frequently may be a sign of Malware (Trojans, viruses, worms, and other malicious code) on your computer.  These hacker tools not only can be used to steal sensitive information from your computer they slow your computer down or even cause computer crashes.  Unfortunately, traditional over-the-counter computer protection products don&#8217;t keep up with this growing problem.  If they did would we continue to have these problems?</p>
<p>Over the last three years there&#8217;s been a huge shift from curious hackers to professional hackers creating devious methods to steal proprietary information from computers like yours.  This evolving threat is costing individuals and businesses tens of billions of dollars every year.  V. McNiven, an advisor to the U.S Department of treasury has stated, &#8220;The proceeds from cyber-crime are now greater than the sale of illegal drugs.</p>
<p>These evil hackers continue to find more devious ways of stealing financial and proprietary information.  It is important that every individual, family and business have a computer repair service plan in place to protect themselves from these cyber terrorists.</p>
<p>You might be surprised to learn that computers that don&#8217;t go online are vulnerable through file sharing from infected flash drives, cds and floppies.  These devices, when infected, can install scrambling software or logic bomb software that opens up the possibility of extortion to get your proprietary information back.</p>
<p>A 2007 PC Magazine survey of 42,000 PCs worldwide released last September showed the top speed killers.  The problems included:</p>
<p>&middot;	Over 52 percent of the PCs surveyed were clogged up with spyware</p>
<p>&middot;	Over 60 percent of the PCs surveyed had un-optimized Internet settings slowing the Internet down and even signaling that spyware and other malware have secretly stolen portions of your bandwidth to run on your PC.</p>
<p>&middot;	Surveyed computers also contained an average of twelve serious registry problems per 	unit that may have been caused by spyware and other malware.</p>
<p>Incredible, many of these computers are supposedly protected by the over-the-counter products that aren&#8217;t doing what they promise to do.  So how can individuals and small businesses protect against identity theft, fraud and extortion?  How can they get their computers back to running like new again?</p>
<p>Here are six crucial steps to protecting your computer and making it fun and productive again:</p>
<p>1.	Keep your computers patched.  Microsoft has automatic patch updates.  Make sure are signed up to receive them.</p>
<p>2.	Use professional enterprise grade anti-virus and anti-spyware at the email and web gateways.  Install a professional grade by-directional firewall to guard against backdoor 	threats.</p>
<p>3.	Use sender-authentication technologies, such as Sender Policy Framework (SPF) to make phishing far more difficult since &#8211; In theory &#8211; phishers will only be able to send their spam from &#8220;unapproved&#8221; domains.</p>
<p>4.	Develop and enforce a password policy.  This will make passwords difficult to be guessed.  Use a different password for each situation.  Make sure these passwords are changed frequently.  If you use one password for every web site, for example, and a phisher manages to steal it, all of your online activity is at risk.  Sophos, an enterprise grade Internet Security Company, recently conducted a business poll and discovered 41 percent of the respondents were using the same password for all web sites.</p>
<p>5.	Keep an eye on the advice from organizations promoting safe computing.  Many of their web sites will list the latest threats, and give advice on how to protect your home and business against them.</p>
<p>6.	Always report suspicious activity.</p>
<p>Just as important, find a computer repair service that offers &#8220;Personal Computer Services.&#8221; Your personal computer service should include online repair at no additional cost.  The end result: hassle-free computing making being on the computer fun and productive again.  With the right computer repair service, using computers at home and at work should be hassle-free allowing you to focus more on your home and business activities.</p>
<p>Warren Franklin is an advocate for personal and Internet Security.  You can find more information at his web site at <a target="_new" href="http://www.completeinternetprotection.com/pcfunagain.html">http://www.completeinternetprotection.com/pcfunagain.html</a> or by calling 503-315-9847</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Warren_Franklin">Warren Franklin</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?New-Cure-For-Hassle-Full-Computing&amp;id=1110144">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/payment/us-dollar-credit-card/">US Dollar credit card</a></p>
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		<title>Microsoft OEM Software, A Usual Victim of Scams</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/microsoft-oem-software-a-usual-victim-of-scams/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/microsoft-oem-software-a-usual-victim-of-scams/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:21:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/microsoft-oem-software-a-usual-victim-of-scams/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Software trade group Business Software Alliance or BSA has revealed findings of its own study that found that for every 10 software products sold via the Internet, about four are pirated copies of original OEM software. The most usual victim of such piracy is of course, the most popular software in the world, the Microsoft OEM software.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Software trade group Business Software Alliance or BSA has revealed findings of its own study that found that for every 10 software products sold via the Internet, about four are pirated copies of original OEM software The most usual victim of such piracy is of course, the most popular software in the world, the Microsoft OEM software.</p>
<p>To understand the real issue behind this, it would be appropriate if you would be refreshed about OEM. The word stands for &#8216;original equipment manufacturer&#8217;. OEM is a re-branded component of a computer unit. You know for a fact that not all parts of a computer unit is designed and built by a single manufacturer. There are specific parts, like chips, memory, and drives that are made by third party firms.</p>
<p>For example, you are buying a computer unit made of maker A. because Microsoft is the most used and functional software you will definitely opt to buy the computer if it already contains Microsoft software That software is known as Microsoft OEM software In other words, Microsoft OEM software is a computer program that is installed in a computer unit upon purchase by consumers.</p>
<p>Online scams</p>
<p>That is the main thrust for piracy concerns. Because computer manufacturers are always aiming to minimize their costs and maximize popularity and demand from consumers, they always aim to offer the best packages and deals to the market. What else can be better than selling computer units already installed with Microsoft OEM software?</p>
<p>As computer manufacturers find Microsoft OEM software online and elsewhere, they most likely encounter scam and fake copies of the software Investigations have it that PC makers are not always to be blamed for their patronage of pirated Microsoft OEM software Most of the time, several Microsoft OEM software packages available in the market look like original products, only to be found out eventually that they are not.</p>
<p>In fact, investigators are also most of the time deceived. They can attest that they, too, can be fooled by pirated Microsoft OEM software being distributed in the market. Perhaps, there must be more stringent and more particular rules and regulations that should be installed and established to regulate the rise of fake Microsoft OEM software.</p>
<p>Fake Microsoft OEM software in emails</p>
<p>The most common form of dissemination and circulation of pirated copies of Microsoft OEM software are through emails. For sure, you are familiar with spam emails. Such mails are proliferating in the emails of people around the world. Usually, headings and titles indicate cheap and marked down costs of particular Microsoft OEM software.</p>
<p>BSA asserts that as always, consumers are thrilled and deceived by cheaper and more affordable versions of products. In the case of software consumers are more than anxious to secure cheaper installations of Microsoft OEM software to be particular.</p>
<p>And why not?</p>
<p>Pirated Microsoft OEM software are very cheap. At the same time, they are coming in full and unlimited versions, making them more in-demand and highly attractive to buyers. If you would try buying the legitimate copies, you would notice that they are more expensive. Another setback is that despite the high tag prices, software copies are limited and are not in full versions.</p>
<p>Thus, when there is Microsoft OEM software that is in full and unlimited versions at lower prices, consumers would naturally come across to patronize the products. As for counterfeits against hoaxes and pirated versions, it is always hard to tell if a product is pirated or not. Most of the time, pirated Microsoft OEM software looks exactly the same as the original copies. The features are almost always the same and the overall packaging and functions bear no difference than the original versions.</p>
<p>Bei M. is the top author in the industry. He provides best information about business software online stores to get <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.buybusinesssoftware.com">Business Software</a>, Financial Software, <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.buybusinesssoftware.com/category/46/1/Microsoft+OEM+Software.aspx">Microsoft OEM Software</a> and more that you needed for your business.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bei_Mi_M.">Bei Mi M.</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Microsoft-OEM-Software,-A-Usual-Victim-of-Scams&amp;id=1561468">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://captionwit.com/">Humorous photo captions</a></p>
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		<title>Planning to Print Photo ID Cards &#8211; What Are Your ID Software Options</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/planning-to-print-photo-id-cards-what-are-your-id-software-options/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/planning-to-print-photo-id-cards-what-are-your-id-software-options/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:39:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/planning-to-print-photo-id-cards-what-are-your-id-software-options/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you tired of paying the high costs associated with having another company print your photo ID? Are you planning to print your own photo ID cards? That's smart business sense. Why leave a cost you can control in the hands of another company. But what are your ID software options?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you tired of paying the high costs associated with having another company print your photo ID? Are you planning to print your own photo ID cards? That&#8217;s smart business sense. Why leave a cost you can control in the hands of another company. But what are your ID software options?</p>
<p>To choose the right ID software you need to have an idea of what it is you plan to accomplish with the software. Here are some common questions you should have the answers to.</p>
<p>1. Are you printing one or two sides? Single sided cards are the easiest and require the most basic printer and software. However, if you need to print either graphics, or if you need to print information on both sides of your photo ID card, you will need photo ID software that either supports duplex printing or dual sided printing. Exercise a little caution, because some of the entry-level products only offer single sided printing.</p>
<p>2. What type of database? Will you be utilizing an internal database or an outside database? If you want to store the images and the data that you print to your photo ID cards, then choose software that allows for storage of the cards you have created. An internal database provides you with quick access to your data if you must reprint a card that has been lost or stolen. You can also make individual or global changes quickly and easily.</p>
<p>However, if you are going to have to share the card data with another office. you will need ODBC software, also known as an open database. Some programs will let you import ODBC, but they will not let you export. Ask your ID professional if you have any questions.</p>
<p>3. Are you going to be operating your software on a network? If yes, you will need to choose software that supports networking. The three photo ID software industry leaders all do.</p>
<p>4. Will you need to print 2D barcodes? All of the card software on the market allows for traditional barcode printing, which is 1D. However, 2D barcode printing is much more specialized, and will require special software.</p>
<p>5. Will you need to make changes to all your cards at once? Mass changes aren&#8217;t something you&#8217;ll want to undertake manually. You&#8217;ll want card software that can do batch processing to keep things simplified and streamlined.</p>
<p>6. Will you need to encode smart cards? Smart cards have an embedded memory chip, and an antenna within the card. Only some photo ID software allows you to work with this style of card.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s have a look at a couple of the photo ID software packages on the market. This will give you an idea of what&#8217;s out there. Of course you&#8217;ll need to match your needs to the right software.</p>
<p>CardFive Software</p>
<p>CardFive software has certainly become a leader in the photo ID software industry, and one who has garnered much respect. They offer low pricing, excellent features, and tools that are easy to use. There are different levels of CardFive software available to choose from, depending on your needs. CardFive Classic is excellent for level entry design with no frills. Lite XL offers CSV database import, network printer ability, and mag stripe encoding to list just a few features. Premier has all of the features you could ever need all in one software package.</p>
<p>Asure ID Software</p>
<p>This is by far one of the most popular software choices, and another industry leader. You can choose from several different products to match your needs. Assure ID Express and Assure ID Solo, are designed for small to medium size business environments, looking for affordable, easy to use solutions, with all the options they&#8217;ll need. Asure software packages will do just that. Asure Enterprise is for larger organizations with more elaborate needs. Exchange is an excellent choice of intuitive card designs, and it is also excellent if you are seeking exemplary data management.</p>
<p>EPI Suite Software</p>
<p>EPI is considered one of the most robust ID Photo card software packages on the market. EPI Lite has entry-level photo ID options including badges, and it&#8217;s perfect for small to medium size businesses. EPI Classic is excellent for medium size businesses that need to print hundreds of ID cards at one workstation. It is also an excellent choice if you need to duplex, encode barcodes, and other more complex tasks, while EPI Pro offers it all. There&#8217;s really nothing you can&#8217;t do with this software.</p>
<p>There are more photo ID software options, however these will get you started looking in the right direction. Don&#8217;t be afraid to ask the manufacturer or supplier if you have any questions, and don&#8217;t make a hasty decision. Like all sound business decisions, take your time and get what you need.</p>
<p>Check out ID Superstore for all your <a target="_new" href="http://www.idsuperstore.com/">photo id supplies</a>, including low prices on <a target="_new" href="http://www.idsuperstore.com/id-card-software-c-3.html">card printing software</a>.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sherry_Matsen">Sherry Matsen</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Planning-to-Print-Photo-ID-Cards---What-Are-Your-ID-Software-Options&amp;id=1482012">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/payment/">Credit card currency-exchange fees</a></p>
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		<title>Useful Computer Tips For Everyone (Part1) &#8211; Cleaning Your Computer of Viruses!</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/useful-computer-tips-for-everyone-part1-cleaning-your-computer-of-viruses/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/useful-computer-tips-for-everyone-part1-cleaning-your-computer-of-viruses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:36:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Martin Lemieux</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/useful-computer-tips-for-everyone-part1-cleaning-your-computer-of-viruses/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Using a computer is part of our regular lifestyle. Technology is everywhere; in our phones, TV's, radio's, pda's, cell phones, vehicle's, and especially within our desktops. Using a computer system can be daunting for some, many people still aren't used to the fact that technology is essentially within everything we do. This article will teach you many basic computer tips that will help you everyday, and which will help with your computer maintenance.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>What Will You Learn Within This Series?</p>
<p></strong>Part 1 &#8211; Cleaning your computer of viruses</p>
<p>Part 2 &#8211; Cleaning your computer of spyware</p>
<p>Part 3 &#8211; Cleaning your computer registry</p>
<p>Part 4 &#8211; Defragmenting your computer, and disk cleanup</p>
<p>Part 5 &#8211; Useful keyboard shortcuts</p>
<p>All of these tips should be used on a regular basis. Your computer is like a car, you need to change the oil, replace the tires, clean the interior frequently to ensure that your car is runs smoothly, that it keeps you safe, and remains clean.</p>
<p><strong>Cleaning Your Computer of Viruses:</strong></p>
<p>I think I can make the assumption that most of you have heard of computer viruses before? For those who haven&#8217;t, a computer virus is a program created by highly advanced programmers world wide with the intent on harming your computer in so many ways. Viruses can infect your computer, delete important files, corrupt your hard drive, or even make your computer unusable. Viruses can mean death to your computer. We are all subjectable to a virus attack, in fact millions of computers are infected with some form of virus right now as you read this, and your computer may be one of those infected.</p>
<p><strong>Ways To Get Infected With A Virus:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>1) &#8211; Firewall is not activated
</li>
<li>2) &#8211; No anti-virus software
</li>
<li>3) &#8211; Spam Email attachment
</li>
<li>4) &#8211; File transfer via a messenger service
</li>
<li>5) &#8211; Copying files from an infected CD, or floppy Disk
</li>
<li>6) &#8211; Network of computers sharing files</li>
</ul>
<p>A virus can infect your computer through any of the methods from above. Prevention is the key to making sure you don&#8217;t keep your computer to such attacks.</p>
<p><strong>How To Prevent Viruses From Coming In:</strong></p>
<p><strong><u>1) Activate Your System Firewall:</u></strong></p>
<p>You want to make sure that your firewall is active. A firewall blocks hackers from finding loop-holes within your computer that gives them a gateway (doorway) in. A firewall can help to stop most hackers, but not all of them.</p>
<p><strong>Activating your firewall:</strong></p>
<p><u>Windows systems:</u> START &gt; CONTROL PANNEL &gt; INTERNET CONNECTIONS &gt; WINDOWS FIREWALL &gt; &#8220;On (Recommended)&#8221;.</p>
<p><u>Mac Users:</u> APPLE MENU &gt; SYSTEM PREFERENCES &gt; SHARING PANE &gt; FIREWALL &gt; START</p>
<p>There you go; your firewall is now active!</p>
<p><strong><u>2) Scan Your Computer With An Anti-Virus Software:</u></strong></p>
<p>Installing an anti-virus software is key! An anti-virus software will help to monetize your computer for viruses. An anti-virus software will also help to perform a system wide scan of your computer for already infected areas.</p>
<p>Most newer computers come with an anti-virus software already installed; all you need to do is run the program.</p>
<p><strong>Here are some of the top PAID anti-virus software&#8217;s:</strong></p>
<p>(No particular order)</p>
<ul>
<li>Norton Ani-Virus By Symantec
</li>
<li>McAfee Ani-Virus
</li>
<li>BitDefender
</li>
<li>Kaspersky
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Here are some of the top FREE anti-virus software&#8217;s:</strong></p>
<p>(No particular order)</p>
<ul>
<li>AntiVir Personal Edition Classic 6.32
</li>
<li>Active Virus Shield (AOL)
</li>
<li>Alwil Software Avast Home Edition 4.6
</li>
<li>Grisoft AVG Free Edition 7.1
</li>
</ul>
<p>For<u> more anti-virus software&#8217;s</u>, with good editorial reviews go to: Download.com</p>
<p>Once installed, launch the program, and find a button that says &#8220;update virus definitions&#8221;. This will help to make sure your virus definitions are up-to-date. Virus definitions have the most recently found viruses that just came on the market. Up-to-date definitions are key to finding newer, more powerful viruses.</p>
<p>Once you&#8217;ve updated your definitions, close all running programs and perform a &#8220;full system scan&#8221;. Depending on your computers size, and speed, the scan can take up to a couple of hours to complete.</p>
<p>Once complete, hit a button that will say something like; &#8220;Quarantine Files&#8221;, &#8220;Delete Infected Files&#8221;, &#8220;Clean Up Files&#8221;, &#8220;Remove Infected Files&#8221;. This process will remove all files that have been flagged as a virus, and it will do this safely without harming your computer.</p>
<p><strong>Things to know:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Once a virus scan is complete, reboot your computer.
</li>
<li>Some viruses cannot be caught while your computer is running; they may have to be removed after a reboot (which should be automatic).
</li>
<li>You can setup a full system scan to start at 12 midnight every night.
</li>
<li>Scan your computer ATLEAST once a week if connected to the internet.</li>
</ul>
<p>You&#8217;ll probably start to notice that your computer is running faster, this is because the viruses which were there before, are no longer using your computers memory to run consistently.</p>
<p>Some viruses are extremely resilient and cannot be removed from a simple virus scan. Going through (Part 2 &amp; Part 3) will help to attack these harder-to-find viruses.</p>
<p><strong><u>3) Don&#8217;t Open Suspicious Email attachments:</u></strong></p>
<p>So many viruses are activated by people like yourself who open email attachments that they don&#8217;t recognize. Most viruses are distributed this way. Part 6 &#8211; &#8220;Useful Email tips &amp; fighting spam&#8221; from this mini-series will go into greater detail on fighting spam, but for those of you who won&#8217;t get to read that article, I must mention a couple of things here:</p>
<ul>
<li>Do NOT open an email that you don&#8217;t recognize, or didn&#8217;t ask for!
</li>
<li>Do NOT open an attachment with the extension &#8220;.exe&#8221;.
</li>
<li>Immediately delete emails from people you don&#8217;t recognize
</li>
<li>Do NOT save emails onto your computer that you don&#8217;t recognize
</li>
<li>Spammers will try to trick you into thinking they are your friend
</li>
<li>Pay close attention at the person, email, and content from each email
</li>
<li>Do NOT click &#8220;Unsubscribe&#8221; from a spam email, this will do the opposite
</li>
<li>Do NOT reply back to an email you don&#8217;t recognize
</li>
<li>Do NOT forward an email that you don&#8217;t recognize
</li>
<li>Report ALL spam to your internet service provider</li>
</ul>
<p>These email tips I just mentioned are part of the basic foundations to helping you fight spam, and to ensure that you don&#8217;t inadvertently activate a malicious virus onto your computer.</p>
<p><strong><u>4) Avoid Using Messenger Services:</u></strong></p>
<p>Messenger services, or &#8220;chat programs&#8221; on your computer are like leaving an open gateway pointing directly to your computer. Messenger services like &#8220;MSN Chat&#8221;, or &#8220;Yahoo Chat&#8221; connect two computers together in order to talk to each other over and over again. This allows the two computers to give, and receive information through the software.</p>
<p><strong>An Example of What Can Happen:</strong></p>
<p>Many viruses have infiltrated millions of computers through this easy to hack service by disguising itself as &#8220;your chat friends&#8221; and by sending you a link to a virus file to open up onto your computer. The problem is, you have no idea what kind of file you&#8217;re opening, because it seems as though the file came directly from your friend (who is infected by this virus), and it looks as though they are simply trying to send you a photo of themselves.</p>
<p>Personally, no one is allowed to have a messenger chat software installed on any of our computers. They are too easily misused, and can give a hacker a passport to your computer.</p>
<p>If your children use such a service, make sure to let them know of what can happen if they accept files from others. Tell them that it&#8217;s better to send files via an email attachment, rather than through a messenger chat script. At least this way, an email can pass through various firewalls, and anti-virus software&#8217;s before getting to your computer. This also ensures that you know exactly who is sending you the file.</p>
<p><strong><u>5) Copying Files From An Infected CD, or Floppy Disk:</u></strong></p>
<p>We&#8217;ve all done it, taken a disk from a friend, or co-worker, and inserted a disk into our computer in order to copy all the files from the disk. Did you ever think to scan the disk for viruses before copying any of the files?</p>
<p>Viruses come in all shapes &amp; sizes, they are passed along from one computer to another. The person who gave you the disk could have had a virus lurking within their files, and they may have copied it onto the disk they just gave you. It happens all the time.</p>
<p>An easy way to protect yourself from getting viruses this way is to launch your anti-virus software, and scan your disk drive with the cd, or floppy disk in it. It takes only a couple of seconds to prevent a disaster.</p>
<p><strong><u>6) Sharing Files From A Network of Computers:</u></strong></p>
<p>Many companies network their computers together so that they can share files easily between the two, instead of always copying files onto a disk. The same thing happens at home as well when two computers are networked together. Make sure you have your firewall in place (step 1 above), and make sure your anti-virus software (step 2 above) is keeping an eye on your &#8220;shared folders&#8221; section. This just helps to prevent viruses from jumping one computer to another. Again, always perform a virus check within your &#8220;shared folder&#8221; when you receive files from others.</p>
<p><strong>In Conclusion:</strong></p>
<p>There you have it. You now have a good base of knowledge to help prevent viruses from getting into your computer. Make sure to make it a habit to double-check everything to ensure that you don&#8217;t unwillingly leave an open doorway directly to your computer. When using software&#8217;s like chat scripts, make sure not to accept files via your chat script. Never read, or open emails that you don&#8217;t recognize, and always make it a habit to scan your disks, hard drive, and email attachments before something terrible happens.</p>
<p>Now that you have some knowledge against fighting viruses, let&#8217;s move onto part 2 of this series which talks about fighting another form of attack against your computer, the deadly spyware!</p>
<p><strong>Next: Part 2 &#8211; Cleaning your computer of spyware &amp; ad-aware</strong></p>
<p><strong>About The Author:</strong></p>
<p>Martin Lemieux is the owner of a successful article directory network with over 80,000 author submitted articles, with over 30,000 active authors world wide.</p>
<p><a target="_new" href="http://www.article99.com/">http://www.Article99.com</a> &#8211; Authors Club<br /><a target="_new" href="http://www.myfamilyliving.com/">http://www.MyFamilyLiving.com</a> &#8211; Family Article Directory</p>
<p>Copyright, All Rights Reserved. Reprints accepted as long as the entire article remains the same including this author resource box.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Lemieux">Martin Lemieux</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Useful-Computer-Tips-For-Everyone-(Part1)---Cleaning-Your-Computer-of-Viruses!&amp;id=815289">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/duty-tax/duty/">Canada duty</a></p>
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		<title>Beware of Hidden Costs When Purchasing Mobile Home Park Software</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/beware-of-hidden-costs-when-purchasing-mobile-home-park-software/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/beware-of-hidden-costs-when-purchasing-mobile-home-park-software/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:34:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/beware-of-hidden-costs-when-purchasing-mobile-home-park-software/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are considering computer software to manage your mobile home park, make sure you are aware of all possible hidden costs. Read about some common ways that software companies can add expensive features and technical support options to make you spend more than you bargained for.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After finding the perfect software solution for your mobile home business, you may unfortunately discover that there are extra modules and services needed to run the software. For example:</p>
<p><b>Updates: </b>Many software vendors charge additional for updates to the mobile home park software that are released in the future. These updates can include new features as well as &#8220;bug fixes.&#8221; Charging for these updates is standard practice, but you can find companies that provide these updates for free. Some companies force the user to purchase updates even if their software is running fine. They force the issue by refusing to do technical support for the user unless they have purchased the latest version. A more reasonable approach is to provide the technical support and, if it is discovered that a problem the user is experiencing has been fixed in a later version, to notify the user. The user can make their own decision whether they want to find a work-around for the problem or to go ahead with the purchase of the corrected and newest version of the mobile home park software.</p>
<p><b>Additional Feature Modules:</b> Many software companies have a standard price, but additional and often necessary features cost extra and can really increase the price. Look for software which includes all of the features you need, or make sure to add up the additional costs when you are making price comparisons.</p>
<p><b>Technical Support: </b>Technical support represents a very important ongoing relationship with the software vendor. Most companies offer a user manual included with the software but this is often not enough when you are confused about how to use the software or are experiencing an error in the software. It is important that the vendor has free or low cost options for technical support for those with a quick question or error to report. For example, there may be a free user forum or free email technical support. All software has occasional errors. A vendor that allows you to report errors without penalizing you by charging for reporting the error is a must.</p>
<p>It is important that the software vendor offer some type of telephone support for those who don&#8217;t want to search the manual. For those who need to get back to business quickly and want to be able to pick up the phone for quick answers, a telephone support plan is useful. Telephone support is almost always a paid option. However, the cost of this telephone support can reflect on the software program. Software vendors must maintain some sort of recurring revenue from their customers in order to stay in business, and to pay their trained technical support representatives. However, if the telephone support is overly expensive, it may suggest that the software is full of errors and requires a lot of hours spent working with technical support.</p>
<p><b>Software Supplies: </b>Often a software vendor will add features into the software which require you to purchase more products from them. For example, a software program that offers a check printing feature may require that you use their printing company to purchase check forms that are compatible with the software&#8217;s banking feature. Other companies will also offer an alternative and less expensive option, such as the option to use checks compatible with QuickBooks or other software for which it is easy and inexpensive to purchase check stock.</p>
<p><b>Value Added Services: </b>Many software programs offer value added services embedded in their mobile home park software. For example, there may be a credit card processing service that will process payments for you. Often the software company itself receives a portion of the user&#8217;s cost for each use of the feature. You need to decide if you can get the feature less expensively elsewhere or if the added cost is worth the convenience of the feature interacting seamlessly with your software.</p>
<p>Watch for hidden costs when you are considering a purchase of new Mobile Home Park Software. Find Park Sidekick software with no hidden costs, specifically designed for management of mobile home parks at <a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.ParkSidekick.com">Mobile Home Park Community Software</a>.</p>
<p>Jill Shaffer, Psy.D. is the president of Property Sidekick, Inc., and the creator of Park Sidekick Mobile Home Management Software. <a target="_new" href="http://www.ParkSidekick.com">http://www.ParkSidekick.com</a> Park Sidekick is specifically designed to help mobile home park owners and managers get organized quickly using a complete software solution. Dr. Shaffer has been instrumental in software innovation for the property management industry since 1994.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jill_Shaffer">Jill Shaffer</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Beware-of-Hidden-Costs-When-Purchasing-Mobile-Home-Park-Software&amp;id=1030078">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/duty-tax/excise-tax-sin-taxes-or-luxury-taxes/">Excise Tax</a></p>
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		<title>Free Software and Freeware</title>
		<link>http://www.surfwonders.com/free-software-and-freeware/</link>
		<comments>http://www.surfwonders.com/free-software-and-freeware/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:33:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Software]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.surfwonders.com/free-software-and-freeware/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nowadays on the internet you could practically search and locate any kind of software just by typing the keywords or related phrases into any of the major search engines such as Google or Yahoo. And it's not just software I am referring to, but "free" software - software that you could download, install and use without having to fork out a single dime!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Nowadays on the internet you could practically search and locate any kind of software just by typing the keywords or related phrases into any of the major search engines such as Google or Yahoo. And it&#8217;s not just software I am referring to, but &#8220;fr.e.e&#8221; software &#8211; software that you could download, install and use without having to fork out a single dime! It is possible to believe that if anyone could envision a task, activity, function or use that could be made easier or even be automated, there is a software out there that has been developed for that purpose! And chances are that you could also find one that is free to download, install and use!</p>
<p>However, one may have several doubts and questions about the whole realm of &#8220;fr.e.e&#8221; software.</p>
<p>Questions like:-</p>
<p>(1)What actually is termed as &#8220;fr.e.e&#8221; software?</p>
<p>(2)Are there any limitations to it&#8217;s usage in the context of business?</p>
<p>(3)Why does programmers and developers develop fr.e.e software?</p>
<p>Firstly, let&#8217;s define what is &#8220;fr.e.e&#8221; software. There are essentially 2 type of &#8220;fr.e.e&#8221; software:</p>
<p>(1)Freeware</p>
<p>(2)Free Software</p>
<p><b>Freeware</b></p>
<p>Freeware is software that is zero-cost or free in price terms and is usually referring to a common group of software programs that can be downloaded, installed and used in most operating systems. However, they are usually copyrighted and as such they may not be free to modify, share or to be reused in your new software developments, unless they are listed under &#8220;public domain software&#8221;.</p>
<p><b>Free Software</b></p>
<p>Free software is software that anyone may freely use, run, share and modify, at any time, for any reason. However, to re-distribute it, the only condition is that the distributed version of the free software must be done without altering the original terms of fr.e.e use, modification and distribution under the <b>GNU General Public License</b>(<a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.gnu.org">http://www.gnu.org</a>), as stipulated by the <b>Free Software Foundation </b>(<a target="_new" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.fsf.org/">http://www.fsf.org/</a>). The word &#8220;free&#8221; in the term &#8220;free software&#8221; is about freedom, not price. People are allowed to sell free software or distribute it for a fee and the person who buys the software may change it or give it away.</p>
<p>In terms of limitations, fr.e.e software tends to have less limitations in it&#8217;s scope and flexibility in it&#8217;s usage than freeware, as far as the community of users, programmers and developers are concerned.</p>
<p>But why are programmers and developers so willing to develop fr.e.e software? One of the answers, surprisingly, is that it is actually cheaper to develop free software! Any such software is usually put together using a number of smaller software program packages which are also developed and distributed under the GPL (General Public License). The completed software is then distributed to a community of beta testers which includes programmers to try out and give their feedback on existing bugs and often accompanied by patches which are corrected parts of the software program to fix these bugs.</p>
<p>In some cases, the programmers develop these software simply because they want to include some features that does not currently exist in paid software. They may also want to develop it in a different manner such as to make it more simplified or user-friendly. Most programmers also do it for the passion or challenge of solving some existing need or problem with their skills and deriving the personal satisfaction from the free software&#8217;s widespread usage and popularity.</p>
<p>In conclusion, most if not all users will always welcome more such fr.e.e and useful software, as a result of whichever objective they may be developed for. However, there&#8217;s only one thing all users need to bear in mind &#8211; the safest approach to it&#8217;s legal usage would be to install it only for your own use and NOT attempt to sell it or distribute it for profit, unless you are completely certain of it&#8217;s origin and classification.</p>
<p>Bert Teo is an IT professional, a freelance writer and an affiliate marketer of popular niche markets products. Kindly visit his technology website at <a target="_new" href="http://www.FreeSimpleSoftware.com">http://www.FreeSimpleSoftware.com</a> to obtain a copy of his free e-Resource on the 7 FREE and SIMPLE Software that you could download, install and use for your personal or business purposes.</p>
<p>Author: <a href="http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bernard_Teo">Bernard Teo</a><br />Article Source: <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Free-Software-and-Freeware&amp;id=926881">EzineArticles.com</a><br />Provided by: <a href="http://betterdollar.com/duty-tax/duty/">Import duty tariff</a></p>
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