More people are now discovering the wisdom of using online storage services as a reliable method for having a backup of one's important files, as compared to keeping local backups such as external hard drives. What they all want to know now is "How safe are online backup facilities like Carbonite"?
The process that they go through is extensive and thorough to make sure that they have all of your files and that they are securely encrypted, so as to prevent theft and loss. I have checked them out thoroughly because I use this service myself and had the same concerns before. From protecting files that have been stored over time to those that we have just saved, Carbonite Backup gets them, encrypts them, stores them, and keeps them safe.
As they say, anything is possible so there is still that slimmest of chances that some untoward incident may happen to put your files at risk, but the probability of this happening is very low - perhaps close to none. Carbonite's servers are maintained with the highest levels of professionalism and with the most advanced technology.
To give you a more technical description of what lengths this company takes to guarantee the safety of your files, here's a quick run through of what happens when you back up with Carbonite. Even before your data is transmitted, this is already protected with a 448-bit encryption. To eliminate the risk of theft while data is being transmitted, your files are further encrypted with the use of the Secure Socket Layer (SSL). In geekspeak, these encryption technologies are probably two of the most secure methods available right now, utilized even by banks and financial institutions. And that's still before your files reach Carbonite's servers. Once there, these data remain encrypted for as long as they are stored.
If you're wondering how these files can be retrieved should you need them, you should know that there are encryption keys that can decrypt your data. And while Carbonite holds these keys for you, only a handful of reliable employees actually have access to these keys so again, the chances of someone being able to go through the billions of files to get to yours are again, very slim to none at all.
Now that you understand what they do to keep your files safe and secure, you should have all of your questions answered. If you are using an external hard drive as your backup method or not using any backup at all, you are taking some horrible risks that could end up being detrimental to your data. You can lose everything to theft, scams, house fires or equipment failure. The biggest risk you are taking is not using Carbonite for your computer backup of all of your files and records.
Is Carbonite Backup the best online backup solution provider? Drop by our site and take a look at the full review of Carbonite online backup and determine yourself if it is. We also provide reviews of competing companies and general information on data backup....
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Wednesday
Five Steps to Securing Your Windows XP Home Computer
Most people are aware that there are continuous security issues with Microsofts Windows operating system and other programs. However, what most people do not realize is how easy it is to significantly improve your computers security and reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim to ever increasingly sophisticated threats that lurk on the internet. These steps should take less than a couple of hours to complete and should not clean out your wallet.
1) Windows Update the first crucial step you need to take to make sure that all your Microsoft applications have all the latest product updates installed. These updates or œpatches address security vulnerabilities and other issues. Microsoft usually issues these updates on a monthly cycle. Visit the Microsoft website or switch on automatic updates from the Windows Control panel. Even if your œnew computer is second hand this is still a critical first step. If you buy a used computer with Windows XP make sure Service Pack 2 or SP2 is installed.
2) Strong Passwords - people often overlook this but having well thought through passwords is an important element of your computer security. A strong password should include at least 8 characters with a mixture of text, symbols and numbers. As a minimum you need to make sure the services most at risk have a strong log-in password. These services include your bank, credit card, other financial services like PayPal, your email address and any other services like Ebay which hackers can use to generate profit.
3) Anti Virus Protection while it is fair to say the threat of the computer virus has receded during the last couple of years they can still inflict serious damage on your computer. Part of the reason why the threat has reduced is because PC manufactures are now more frequently bundling anti virus packages with their new computers. For example last year my new Dell shipped with a 90-day trial of McAfee's Internet Security Suite. The best bet here is to purchase a security package which includes firewall and anti virus software as a minimum. Top brands include McAfee and Symantec Norton products. However, Microsoft has recently entered the market with their "OneCare" offering which is very aggressively priced.
4) Firewall - if you are using a broadband connection then a firewall is definite requirement to manage the traffic flowing between your computer and the internet. A firewall monitors the inbound internet traffic passing through the ports of your computer. Better products also monitor outbound traffic from your computer to the internet. As per above the best bet here is buy a firewall application as part of a security package which most vendors offer as standard. If a hardware firewall is included as part of your router package then you do not need anything else. A company called Zone Labs offer a great free firewall product called Zone Alarm which should be used as a minimum. Windows XP does now ship with a free firewall but the product does not monitor outbound communication and therefore I believe does not offer adequate protection.
5) Anti Spyware Tool - this software is the last piece in your basic internet security set up. This tool helps combat spyware and adware. There is a good mixture of free and paid versions on offer. Good free software include Microsoft's Windows Defender, Spybot S&D or Ewido Anti-Malware. Ewido Anti-Malware is frequently recommended in computer help forums. Be careful if you decide to purchase a solution. There are a number of rogue vendors out there which aggressively push products which offer you little value. Stick to trusted names like Webroot's Spy Sweeper or PC Tool's Spyware Doctor. These products always come out well on independent tests.
http://www.ibizzness.us/blog
... 1) Windows Update the first crucial step you need to take to make sure that all your Microsoft applications have all the latest product updates installed. These updates or œpatches address security vulnerabilities and other issues. Microsoft usually issues these updates on a monthly cycle. Visit the Microsoft website or switch on automatic updates from the Windows Control panel. Even if your œnew computer is second hand this is still a critical first step. If you buy a used computer with Windows XP make sure Service Pack 2 or SP2 is installed.
2) Strong Passwords - people often overlook this but having well thought through passwords is an important element of your computer security. A strong password should include at least 8 characters with a mixture of text, symbols and numbers. As a minimum you need to make sure the services most at risk have a strong log-in password. These services include your bank, credit card, other financial services like PayPal, your email address and any other services like Ebay which hackers can use to generate profit.
3) Anti Virus Protection while it is fair to say the threat of the computer virus has receded during the last couple of years they can still inflict serious damage on your computer. Part of the reason why the threat has reduced is because PC manufactures are now more frequently bundling anti virus packages with their new computers. For example last year my new Dell shipped with a 90-day trial of McAfee's Internet Security Suite. The best bet here is to purchase a security package which includes firewall and anti virus software as a minimum. Top brands include McAfee and Symantec Norton products. However, Microsoft has recently entered the market with their "OneCare" offering which is very aggressively priced.
4) Firewall - if you are using a broadband connection then a firewall is definite requirement to manage the traffic flowing between your computer and the internet. A firewall monitors the inbound internet traffic passing through the ports of your computer. Better products also monitor outbound traffic from your computer to the internet. As per above the best bet here is buy a firewall application as part of a security package which most vendors offer as standard. If a hardware firewall is included as part of your router package then you do not need anything else. A company called Zone Labs offer a great free firewall product called Zone Alarm which should be used as a minimum. Windows XP does now ship with a free firewall but the product does not monitor outbound communication and therefore I believe does not offer adequate protection.
5) Anti Spyware Tool - this software is the last piece in your basic internet security set up. This tool helps combat spyware and adware. There is a good mixture of free and paid versions on offer. Good free software include Microsoft's Windows Defender, Spybot S&D or Ewido Anti-Malware. Ewido Anti-Malware is frequently recommended in computer help forums. Be careful if you decide to purchase a solution. There are a number of rogue vendors out there which aggressively push products which offer you little value. Stick to trusted names like Webroot's Spy Sweeper or PC Tool's Spyware Doctor. These products always come out well on independent tests.
http://www.ibizzness.us/blog
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Tuesday
Monitor Drivers Conflicts - 3 Easy Troubleshooting Solutions
Also, the new touch screen and sensitive user interface has also been introduced, where the idea of the monitor has become much more three dimensional and challenging to define. Now, when you do purchase a monitor for whatever reason, there is very little to say about the problems. Normally, all you need to do is to plug the monitor into the power outlet and the VGA or DVI cable into the back of the computer. That is it! There should be nothing more or nothing less in fact to this truly plug and play device. Most of the time, it should only take about a few minutes at the most and you will have a display up there. The installation of the graphics card is quite separate from the installation of the monitor but it is also quite intrinsic as well, because it is through the signals sent through the VGA card that determines the functionality of the monitor somewhat.
Now, in these times, there are so many more things to consider. Monitors have become much more advanced and you have the HDMI, digital interfaces that make the monitor a much more multi faceted experiences. There is also the question of dual or even multiple monitor set ups for people who need to have more than one view of a programme or multiple programmes. With these added functionalities, you then have the issue of how does the operating system navigate and understand the new layers of the monitor, and this has fallen down to the monitor drivers.
Some are nominally installed by Windows itself in a sense that it uses stock standard drivers for your monitor. But the first step to actually get rid of conflicts is to actually check against the product manual and see whether or not you need to install any special drivers. Secondly, you also need to be sure whether or not the drivers that you have are the latest ones, and if they are not, the general advice is to update them online or through the manufacturer directly. Do not be worried about driver conflicts because they are quite common. If the first two steps have been taken, then the third one would be to actually check online, submit your system specs and the specs of your monitor and find out if there is something else that you can do to solve the problem. Surely, there is another user out there that has the same problem and found a way to solve this and this is quite common when it comes to new and more fangled devices.
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