APuRL Tech

With the increasing threats on computers, one should always take necessary precaution particularly when going online and when connecting using a wireless network as your Internet connection. Internet threats such as viruses develop each day so there’s always the risk for someone surfing online to get unwanted files on his or her computer.

One does not need to be an Internet geek to know how to stay away from Internet threats. There are very simple procedures to keep a computer safe from various Internet threats especially when connected through Wi-Fi.

One can use a firewall. This is a virtual barrier between the computer and the Internet. You can prevent remote computers from linking to your own unless you allow it to connect. A broadband router can serve as a firewall. There are also operating systems that provide a built in firewall, such as Windows.

You also need to back up your files, especially the very critical ones. Most people ignore the need to back up their files, and this usually costs them a lot especially if their hardware fails or malware hits their system. You can also get a big external USB drive, or a good backup utility to help you in backing up your files. Continue Reading »

Is Windows Vista worth leaving Windows XP for? That would be the question a Windows XP user may be thinking while a Window Vista user may be thinking they are off to greener pastures. Or are they? And wouldn’t it be based on a Windows user’s individual requirements and comfort zone rather than if an upgraded version of the Windows software may have more features to offer. 

When contemplating whether to stay with Windows XP or take the leap to Windows Vista, it’s good to evaluate the pros and cons. Windows Vista isn’t perfect and may need a few tweaks but it does have a great interface, easy navigation around the desktop & taskbar, not to mention the growing compatibility with numerous software and hardware.

As in all technology, whether software or hardware, you have to move with the times or may just get left behind.

Benefits of open source software are plenty despite what many critics say against it. First of all, when you say open source, this is software created for the benefits of everybody. The boon it is free! To understand more the benefits of open source, it is best to do a comparison first with commercial software. For commercial software, what are more focused on are the features and those that users can see. An open source however still does well with the features but does better with the organizational factors and their quality.

With commercial software, you are guaranteed with good visual capabilities. This is because marketing is given more emphasis by the software’s development. The factors that are centered on by open source include those not readily apparent. One of these factors is reliability. If there are any defects or bugs in the software, these are addressed speedily and corrected efficiently. The end product of an open source would then be more dependable to function well.

Another factor among the list of benefits of open source software is stability. Working software is not something that would get old. So, software vendors, in order to keep their profits coming, employ tactics that would force customers to buy new software. Such tactics include ‘upgrades’ or withdrawal of support. With open source, consumers need not be forced to get the upgrades. Since open sources are published for all to see, those concerned can really see if the software is what it claims. Open source then is more auditable than commercial ones.

Aside from these, open sources has also more freedom and flexibility compared to commercial ones, which users are forced to trust it as it is. There are also a lot of accountability and support for open sources. These are the benefits of open source software!