Computer Security Get Prepared Or Loose Your Data

Submitted by: NamSing Then

The very much imminent threat to anyone using his or her computer online is the possible attacks or intrusions by Trojans, Viruses, Key loggers, Spy wares and etc. Some of the following preparations help you combat these threats in your quest to computer security.

Installing Antivirus Programs

Download and install one or more of the popular antivirus softwares and set them to update automatically. Viruses infest your computer from any of the input sources like diskettes, suspicious websites, emails and downloaded programs. Check these things every time you need to use them with these antivirus programs. You can also configure antivirus programs to automatically protect you whenever you connect to internet. If you are a professional user of internet, scan the whole system for virus as frequently as you want. These anti virus programs either destroy or quarantine viruses whenever they catch them.

Upgrade Your Operating System

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Vendors of operating systems often upgrade their releases and distribute the upgrades as service packs or patches. The service packs plug loopholes in the operating systems and make them robust by taking care of bugs. Subscribe to continuous up-gradation programs which automatically download the patches as and when they are made available.

Treat Email Attachments with Due Diligence

Macros and viruses are distributed by their creators as email attachments too. Don t open the mail or download the attachment unless you are sure of the senders and you were expecting the mail. Suspicious mails and attachments could possibly contain self installing viruses. If the mail subject line sounds amazing or suspicious just delete it or scan the attachment prior to opening it.

Use Firewalls

Firewalls are by far the strongest internet/intranet protection for computer security. They are either hardware or software tools that effectively scan data transfers from and to your computer. You can set parameters to scan based on location and type of data transfer.

Password Protection

Use of stronger passwords is a great help in onsite computer security. Strong passwords are longer in length and combine alphanumeric combinations with upper and lower case alphabets thrown in. They are never the words from dictionary, names of places or humans etc.

Keep Backups of Important Data

Regularly make backups of important data, just in case.

Be sensible to check certificates when downloading something from an unknown site. Use file encryption facilities to curtail unauthorized access to your files. Finally, your office computer can be secured by password protection against manual intrusions.

About the Author: NamSing Then is a regular article contributor on many topics. Be sure to visit his other websites

Computer Security Software

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Plumbing Training Courses Are They Necessary?

Submitted by: James Copper

Of course, plumbing training courses are necessary if you look forward to a life-long career as a plumber. Like in every other technical field, plumbing, too, asks for certain requirements and qualifications from its practitioners. Even before you start to learn the practical side of plumbing, you need to be aware of the theories involved. Plumbing training programs, which also include apprenticeship plumbing programs, are administered by the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada.

As part of the theory in your training, you learn about health and safety measures; different processes involved in plumbing; sanitation and drainage; various water regulations and building codes; and basic electrics, among others.

Why Are They Required

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With plumbing codes and their enforcement becoming stricter, employers are looking to employ trained plumbers. To be trained as a plumber for residential or commercial buildings, or as pipe layers or pipe fitters, look to join plumbing training courses offered by various technical or vocational schools. Along with theory, your training is further enhanced by on-the-site training with experienced plumbers. After you pass through a formalized apprenticeship training program, you come out a completely trained plumber.

You have a number of choices in selecting a plumbing training apprenticeship course. You can have your training through the Mechanical Contractors Association of America; the National Fire Sprinkler Association; the National Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors; or the Home Builders Institute. In addition you can opt for courses administered by the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada.

Attending plumbing training courses and programs is necessary if you wish to make plumbing a career option. Most businesses and contracting companies look to employ trained plumbers in their ranks. With so many remodeling and construction jobs going on, contractors look for trained plumbers to help with their various contracts, such as replacing or repairing old plumbing systems. Trained plumbers are much in demand in power plants, water treatment plants, and in facilities where large water systems are operational. They need such trained personnel to look after their miles of laid pipe systems.

As a plumber looking to do only residential work, you are given enough training to be able to fit and change all types of valves, taps, tanks and pipes. You are trained in the installation and replacement of various bathroom and kitchen fixtures, including immersion heater, electrical showers, mixer type taps and showers, and washing machines, to name a few.

You are also trained in pipe bending and jointing and in the installation of plastic pipes. Usage of plastic pipes in plumbing is fast becoming popular. You are also trained in diagnosing and troubleshooting various plumbing problems.

Whether you wish to join a contracting company, or a facility having miles of pipe lines, or just be a residential plumber, it is always beneficial if start your career through a plumbing training course.

About the Author: James Copper is a writer for

plumbing-course.co.uk

where you can find

plumbing courses

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Anchors Landing, Lake Hickory, North Carolina Waterview Lot $99,900

By Matt Lahtela

Anchors Landing – Lot 223 – Waterview Lot on Emerald Lake – $99,900

1 Acre – Wooded

Private building Site

Stream Behind Property.

Anchors Landing at Lake Hickory, North Carolina (NC) Real Estate.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLuvDeonKDg[/youtube]

At Anchors Landing, life is a little more relaxed- you’ll live in harmony with the natural surrounds in exquisitely crafted single family homes. This lake mountain community has been beautifully preserved to include ponds, streams and rock formations. Anchors Landing is located in the Hickory, NC area, and less than an hour from Asheville, Charlotte, Boone, and Winston Salem. Anchors Landing’s properties offer stunning views of Lake Hickory and view of the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains.

Lake Hickory, North Carolina offers unforgettable properties. From the moment you set your eyes on the land, you will know you have found something very special, the serenity of true lake living. The environmentally sensitive communities are planned to protect and promote the wilderness while providing the homeowner the finest luxury living. You will savor being surrounded by pristine nature, outdoor adventure and relaxing in the fresh North Carolina air. Some of the lakefront subdivisions on Lake Hickory are Anchors Landing, Plantation Pointe, Moore’s Ferry, Oliver’s Landing, Governor’s Harbor, Whistle Peace, and River Bend.

Stretching from the Appalachian Mountains in the west to the sun baked Outer Banks of the Atlantic Coast, North Carolina is a diverse and exciting state. North Carolina is home to over 8 million people and boasts nearly 600 golf courses and 3,300 miles of shoreline.

Much of North Carolina’s mountain region is covered by hardwood forests whose leaves display vibrant colors each fall and certain High Country areas experience over 30 inches of snow a year. This magical mountain region features some of the most remarkable skiing, luxury and vacation real estate on the east coast.

North Carolina mountain summers are cool and refreshing, making outdoor adventuring a true pleasure. Some of the finest mountain scenery on the east coast can be found along the 250 miles of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Parkway, which includes the tallest peak (6,684 ft.) in the Eastern United States.

Gentle rolling foothills, glistening lakes and picturesque farmland define the central Piedmont region. This fast growing area is known for its high tech industries based around the renowned Research Triangle of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. The NC Piedmont has of one of the most dynamic economies in the country and is home to North Carolina’s largest cities and financial institutions. Golfers love the area’s collection of world-class golf course communities and resort real estate as well as the mild year round temperatures and 200 days of sunshine a year.

The state’s barrier islands and coastal towns are pristine and inviting. The 130 mile long Cape Hatteras National Seashore is one of this nation’s great natural treasures and the storied NC Outer Banks feature pristine beaches and giant sand dunes. The coastal region has always been a paradise for fishing and boating enthusiasts and the new coastal communities offer extraordinary oceanfront, waterfront and marina access properties for all lifestyles.

You could spend a lifetime exploring all that North Carolina has to offer.

Contact NClakefront.com Realty at 800-517-5899 or 828-221-2505 to learn more about this and other available properties.

About the Author: Matt Lahtela – Director of Sales and Marketing at NClakefront Realty. NClakefront Realty is one of the largest sales and marketing companies focusing on North Carolina Lake Properties, and continues to grow everyday. nclakefront.com/pages/Active-Rain.cfm

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What Are The Pa Auto Insurance Requirements

By R Daniel Williams

Being sufficiently protected at all times while threading through the roads and highways of Pennsylvania require you to own a significant level of liability coverage in your car insurance policy. Liability insurance is what covers any damage that you caused during an accident. This is separate from the other features of the car insurance industry in the state such as the comprehensive or collision coverage. You must know the levels of liability coverage that is allowed so you can select a good amount of coverage. The state had incorporated the 15/30/5 standard. Each figure is the minimum amount in dollars (and in the thousands) of the liability coverage that your plan must ideally have in each part to comply with the state law.

The first figure is the limit of the Bodily Injury Liability for every injured person at $15,000. The second refers again to the limit of Bodily Injury Liability for all of the injuries in a particular accident, which should be at least $30,000. The last figure specifically concerns property. It is the limit for the property damage liability, which covers at least $5,000. These requirements are notably among the lowest anywhere in the country, so considering an additional coverage for comfort and for peace of mind is relatively important. And unfortunately, if there happens to be any discrepancies with the total cost of the damages and what the insurance company will pay you for it can become your responsibility. The best thing you can do here is to anticipate and opt for higher coverage.

The standard figures above are just the minimum that you can apply for. Many car insurance experts agree that drivers should have more protection than what is allowed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Causing an accident proves to be devastating, especially on the financial aspect. This is due to the direct expenses that will mainly define the scenario, not to mention the potential lawsuits that could suddenly develop. And to steer yourself away from all of these, afford yourself as much liability insurance as you can. Liability insurance is widely popular because it simply costs less. Its responsibility is only to the other party’s losses, but it will also protect you from becoming responsible for the damages of the other party.

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You also have an option of the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury coverage when it comes to accidents caused by any uninsured or underinsured driver. It’s not really a requirement, but it’s also a valuable coverage to consider.

The PennDOT cannot identify directly your relationship with your insurance carrier, in this situation you have to prove them that you meet the minimum insurance requirements of the state. You must provide the following:

* Your insurance identification or the page of your insurance policy declaration.

* Your application for the Pennsylvania Assigned Risk Plan signed by the insurance agent. * A letter stating your current coverage from your insurer, also signed by the insurance agent or any of its representatives.

If you are not keen to comply with the insurance requirements, you might be faced with penalties, steep enough to include fines or worse, license suspension. And it all boils down to the crucial part of selecting the right Pa auto insurance plan.

About the Author: Are you looking for more information regarding Pa auto insurance ? Visit williams-agency.net/wp/auto-insurance/ today!

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Felipe Massa wins 2008 French Grand Prix

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Felipe Massa at the previous 2008 Canadian Grand PrixPhoto credit: Mark McArdle
Magny Cours

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa won the FIA Formula One 2008 Grand Prix de France at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France.

Though his teammate Kimi Räikkönen started from pole, Massa was able to get closer and overtake after a problem with exhaust lines onboard Räikkönen’s car started.

Jarno Trulli did his best to withstand Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren Mercedes, pushing hard on him. Trulli made the first podium finish for Toyota team. This achievement was dedicated to the memory of Ove Andersson, team founder, who died in a rally crash recently.

BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica, the previous GP winner, finished only 5th this time.

4 Renault-engined cars occupied the placeholders from 6 to 9th of the final protocol. Mark Webber gained 3 points for Red Bull. Fernando Alonso dropped to 8th place from the 3rd upon the start. His teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. passed Alonso on the closing laps of the race after a slight driving error by the Spaniard.

Lewis Hamilton qualified third but was penalized 10 places down the grid after his collision in the previous race. Soon after the start he made an error attacking Sebastian Vettel cutting the Nurburgring chicane and was penalized again by a drive-through penalty. He finished 10th.

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Climate change impacts Wyoming

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Sheep Mountain, Wyoming, March 13, 2008Image: Leila Monaghan.

Cheek numbing, eye watering winds whip across the plains of the Laramie Basin, Wyoming. The ground is yellow brown with patches of recalcitrant snow. Sheep Mountain is losing its winter coat. All normal affairs for March. The March edition of the Wyoming Basin Outlook Report also reports, based on February accumulations, that Snow Water Equivalent is at 99% of average.

The SWE is a measure of the snow pack that feeds the streams, rivers and reservoirs that Wyoming, Nebraska and other states depend upon for water. Current averages are compared to the average SWE for 1971-2000. In recent years, snow pack in this region has been anything but normal.

The Outlook Reports are issued January to June. Since March 2000, only five of 46 months have been above normal. While many of the winter months have been near normal, June’s snow pack is far below average. Even in 2006, the wettest year of the last eight years, June snow pack was only 37% of the average.

In an e-mail interview with Wikinews, Lee Hackleman, Water Supply Specialist, said

The snowpack is melting out several weeks earlier than average. The higher temperatures in the spring are responsible for this. There seems to be a significant drop in the amount of runoff that we are able to retain in our reservoirs, a lot of runoff seems to be soaking into the ground. We do not have the June flood events any more. We use to [sic] be cool then hot, not cool warm then hot.
Graph of USDA Data from Wyoming Basin Outlook ReportsImage: Leila Monaghan.

In a phone interview with Wikinews, Myra Wilensky of the National Wildlife Federation in nearby Colorado, also commented on changing snow patterns.

In the west, nothing is ever clockwork, the patterns shift, a good amount of snowfall in the season and then a quick warm up. We don’t get the prolonged snowpack that we used to have. May have a really wet snow year, then really dry with rain.

Can’t count on getting estimated amount of snow anymore. March and November have historically been our snowiest months, but this year it’s been a fairly dry in March and November. Winter is shorter now.
Snow at Sunset, Laramie, Wyoming, January 2008Image: Leila Monaghan.

This is part of a general increase in temperature in the region. An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change cited by the National Wildlife Federation estimates that the temperature will rise almost 7 degrees (F) by 2100.

This will likely cause most, if not all, of the state’s glaciers to disappear. Wildfires may increase, droughts could get worse and rains–when they do come–will likely come in more severe downpours that may cause more flash flooding. Warmer temperatures also mean less snowpack in the mountains, leading to more winter runoff and reduced summer flows in many Wyoming streams.

The NWF’s main concern is the fate of the wildlife in the region, particularly how the impact of pine bark beetles. Warmer winters have led to mass infestations in Western lodge pole pine forests and The New York Times reports that they are now moving on to white bark pines in Yellowstone particularly impacting grizzly bears there. In turn, the grizzlies are shifting to feeding on Canadian thistle, an invasive species that might be choking out native plants.

Changing weather patterns have also affected large migratory animals.

This year winter came late. When the heavy snows hit, the mule deer and the elk were spread out, had to be fed. Feeding isn’t newsworthy, happened before like in 1982 but it wasn’t as successful this year because they were so spread out.
The dry bench of the Wind River Mountains, August 2008Image: Leila Monaghan.

Water for people has also become a major issue in the region.

There is a much greater concern for water rights than there used to be. There is not enough late season water to satisfy everyone all the time.

Kansas has long fought Wyoming over water rights issues. And Montana is currently suing Wyoming, claiming that the Yellowstone River Compact signed in 1950 gives rights to both surface and ground water, while Wyoming disagrees. On February 18, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the lawsuit.

Wyoming officials say they are adhering to the compact and that the drought has meant less water for both states.

But Montana says Wyoming is storing more water in reservoirs than the compact permits and allowing excessive pumping of groundwater reserves that feed into the two rivers.

Those “groundwater” reserves are tapped by some Wyoming farmers to irrigate their fields. Energy companies discharge large volumes of groundwater during production of coal-bed methane, a type of natural gas prevalent in northern Wyoming.

Authorities do not see this fight over increasingly limited water resources going away anytime soon.

Everyone is going to have to learn to get by with less.
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State Farm Insurance allegedly destroying papers

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Zach Scruggs, a lawyer for United States Senator Trent Lott, says that State Farm Insurance Company is destroying records related to claims for damage from Hurricane Katrina.

The records allegedly contain information saying that State Farm fraudulently denied insurance claims made by its policy holders, including Lott, that had homes there were damaged or destroyed when Hurricane Katrina came ashore on the Gulf Coast.

Scruggs said that Lott has “good faith belief” that many employees of the insurance company in Biloxi, Mississippi are destroying engineer’s reports that were inconclusive as to whether or not water or wind was the main cause of damage to the buildings affected by the hurricane.

Lott is among thousands of home and/or business owners who had their property damaged or destroyed during the hurricane and had their claims denied because State Farm claimed that their policies don’t cover damage caused by floods or water that was driven by the wind.

State Farm has not issued a statement on the matter so far.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=State_Farm_Insurance_allegedly_destroying_papers&oldid=1689871”

South Australia enters week-long lockdown to contain COVID-19 Delta variant spread

Friday, July 23, 2021

Modbury Hospital, where the first case in South Australia’s COVID-19 cluster presented.Image: User:AussieHero.

With five active cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19, South Australia begun a one-week lockdown on Monday. Announcing the lockdown, state Premier Steven Marshall declared “we have no alternative but to impose some fairly heavy and immediate restrictions”.

The first case out of South Australia’s active cases was presented to Modbury Hospital on Sunday night, having returned from Argentina earlier this month. The fifth, which Premier Marshall noted as “far more worrying”, visited The Greek on Halifax restaurant at the same time as someone who was later confirmed to be carrying the virus. Chief Public Health Officer for the state Nicola Spurrier said “if anyone has been at The Greek on Halifax they need to get into quarantine and get tested”.

In accordance with new regulations, there are only five reasons for South Australians to leave home: essential work, shopping for essential goods such as food, exercise, but only with people from the same household and within 2.5 kilometers (2 mi) of home, medical reasons (which includes testing and vaccination against the coronavirus, but excludes elective and cosmetic surgery), and caregiving.

Schools have closed for all but children of essential workers, with online learning having begun on Thursday. Face masks are also be mandated for those who leave home. ABC News reported that “support for businesses is expected to be announced…”, with all non-essential retail required to close under the new regulations.

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Manage Your Cash Flow Or Perish

Effectively managing the cash flow of your business is really about protecting your bottom line. Turning a profit is great but only if you see the cold hard cash that those paper profits are supposed to be bringing in. If to many customers fail to pay you or pay you late on a consistent basis then your business could land itself in serious trouble without you being aware of how bad the downward spiral really was.

Forward thinking entrepreneurs are acting to protect and even grow their businesses. But this means they are protecting their greatest asset. Cash in the bank. Successful entrepreneurs and growth businesses understand that there is a need especially in rough economic times to protect what they have. Otherwise they may find themselves turning a good profit on their goods or services, but they simply don’t get enough money in quickly enough to cover all the money going out of the business to pay for materials, stock, staff and all the other costs of running the business.

The flow of cash into and out of your business is of even greater concern to start up businesses as they are in the position of having to also grow a customer base. This means that a great deal more money will be going out the door than is coming in. With the economy being the way it is, managing and monitoring cash flow is definitely a priority for any business because you don’t know what’s coming in the door at any given time. You can find your cash levels fluctuating wildly.

The key to managing your cash levels is not to let your debtors get out of hand. Understand your monthly income and expenses. Learn to anticipate and avoid cash problems. Discuss with your banker our accountant how to build working capital reserves. A company may have excess cash but be unprofitable. A company may be profitable but lack cash. You want to be profitable and have that cash as well.

The Solution is to keep cash flow plans up to date. Make sure cash flow plans are realistic. Allow headroom in your cash requirements to counter unexpected variances. Be aware of your current cash position, forecasts and bear in mind potential fluctuations. Closely manage your stock and debtors to minimize needs for working capital. And manage your supply chain to gain maximum credit. Talk to creditors early if you need to extend. The bottom line is that you need to control your cash flow and not be at its mercy.

International Criminal Court in The Hague issues arrest warrant for leader of Sudan

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Al-Bashir listens to a speech during the opening of the 20th session of The New Partnership for Africa’s Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Jan. 31, 2009. Image: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class, Jesse B. Awalt.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands has ordered the arrest of the president of the African country of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir. The warrant was issued by the ICC for seven charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes, in the Darfur region of the country.

In the ruling, the ICC said that al-Bashir was “intentionally directing attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan, murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians and pillaging their property”. The ruling added that there was not enough evidence to charge him with genocide. A few hours after its ruling, the Sudan revoked six foreign aid agency licenses, but did not state why.

The ICC has never before issued an arrest warrant for a head-of-state while they were still in power. In the nearly six-years that the Darfur region has been engaged in battle, over 300,000 people have been killed, or died as a result of the fighting. Countless millions have fled the country, seeking shelter in refugee camps.

During a rally protesting the decision on Wednesday, Al-Bashir spoke, calling the charges worthless and told the ICC to “eat” the warrant. “[It is] not worth the ink it is written on. It is a flawed decision”. Egypt says it is also not in favor of the warrant and the government states it will ask the United Nations Security Council to stop the implementation of it.

The Human Rights Watch, a human rights organization located in the United States, in New York “the International Criminal Court has made Omar al-Bashir a wanted man”, welcoming the warrant.

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