The Jeffrey And Tracey Info Emporium

Recent versions of Microsoft Windows come with the rather basic Narrator. Most legally blind people 72 percent do not use computers. Access technology such as screen readers and Screen magnifiers enable the blind to use mainstream computer applications. The console-based Oralux Linux distribution ships with three screen-reading environments: Emacspeak, Yasr and Speakup. There are also open source screen readers, such as the Linux Screen Reader for GNOME and NonVisual Desktop Access for Windows.

Approximately 11 percent of those deemed legally blind, by any measure, have no vision. While Apple Mac OS X includes VoiceOver, a more feature-rich screen reader. The latter developed in part by Knopper who has a visual impairment. Web browsers, word processors, icons and windows and email programs are just some of the applications used successfully by screen reader users. The primary audience for such applications is those who have difficulty reading because of learning disabilities or language barriers. This year nonprofit worker Anthony Loeff is testing software for people suffering from blindness Linux distributions for the blind include Oralux and Adriane Knoppix. Screen reader choice is contentious: differing priorities and strong preferences are common. Experimental approaches in sensory substitution are beginning to provide access to arbitrary live views from a camera.

The movement towards greater web accessibility is opening a far wider number of websites to adaptive technology, making the web a more inviting place for visually impaired surfers. The Macintosh OS also comes with a built-in screen reader, called VoiceOver. This interpretation is then represented to the user with text-to-speech, sound icons, or a braille output. Only a small fraction of this population, when compared to the sighted community, have Internet access.

Later versions of Microsoft Windows include an Accessibility Wizard and Magnifier for those with partial vision, and Microsoft Narrator, a simple screen reader. Increasingly, screen readers are being bundled with operating system distributions. Screen readers can be assumed to be able to access all display content that is not intrinsically inaccessible.

The rest have some vision, from light perception alone to relatively good acuity.

A screen reader is a software application that attempts to identify and interpret what is being displayed on the screen. Screen readers are a form of assistive technology potentially useful to people who are blind, visually impaired, or learning disabled, often in combination with other AT such as screen magnifiers. A persons choice of screen reader is dictated by many factors, including platform and the role of organizations like charities, schools, and employers.

Therefore, using a screen reader is, according to some users, considerably more difficult than using a GUI and many applications have specific problems resulting from the nature of the application.

However functionality remains limited compared to equivalent desktop applications, the major benefit is to increase the accessibility of said websites. The open source GNOME desktop environment long included Gnopernicus and now includes Orca.

Spyware has become the most prominent computer security problem. How do you choose a good spyware removal tool? Beware of antispyware software which installs spyware/adware to your computer.

Spyware is a hidden software program. It is often used to monitor the browsing and shopping habits of computer users. Spyware can also be a remote control program that steals confidential banking and personal information.

Spyware has quickly become the most prominent internet security problem. According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, spyware infects more than 90% of home PCs. Recent survey shows that spyware is also sneaking into the network of corporate computers.

Spyware is often coupled with free downloads, such as free music, game and software downloads. Spyware may slow down computer, hijack homepage and create uncontrolled pop-up advertisements. Some spyware programs can remain unnoticed, secretly gathering information from the computer. Once installed, spyware is difficult to remove without the help of dedicated antispyware software.

Due to the rise of spyware activity, antispyware programs are in great demand these days. But are these spyware removal tools the same? Do they provide the security consumers need?

There are many reports that some antispyware programs installed their own spyware and adware to the computer. One consumer was quoted saying: “It’s a rip-off. I downloaded the free trial of an antispyware program, only to find out that it added its own adware to my computer.” Other consumers have complained that the antispyware program they use cannot detect all spyware programs. Some even slow down the computer and create pop-up advertisements.

There are a few good antispyware programs in the market today. On the other hand, dozens of spyware removal programs are blacklisted by consumers. Beware of spyware removal tools that are heavily promoted by e-mail campaigns. Never run any free downloads and free scans from unknown software publishers. Their programs may as well be spyware programs themselves. Read independent product reviews from renowned computer magazines or reputable sources. Spending some extra time in research can save you a lot of hassles in the long run.

Kwan Lo is the owner of software.4reviews.net, an online review site promoting top-rated, award-winning security and utility software.

Most writers use the all powerful Microsoft Word word processing program. Even non-writers use it for everything from school work to manifestos. When my computer crashed and I lost the use of Word on my computer, I felt completely lost. I tried Word’s ugly cousin Wordpad and that just didn’t cut it. There is so much that Wordpad cannot do. It almost felt like I had went back a couple of decades.

Needless to say I needed another option. Buying another copy of Word was out of the question. I already had a copy that was in route to me. I had recently moved and everything was packed up. It’s very easy to see why Bill Gates is one of the, if not the richest man in the world. Microsoft software is far from cheap. There had to be another way and I was determined to find it.

After some research I came up with my word processing savior and solution. There is an alternative to Microsoft Word. And get this; It’s FREE! Yeah, you read right. It is completely and totally free to obtain and use. The program is called OpenOffice.org. OpenOffice.org was designed as a Microsoft Office clone in order to make the migration process easy for people who want to go “free.” It includes: a word processor, presentation program, drawing program, HTML editor, and spreadsheet program. All of the programs mirror your familiar Microsoft programs like Powerpoint, Paint, Frontpage and Excel, so it is easy to use from the get go.

OpenOffice.org Writer is a powerful word processor that can handle all types of large documents and lots of different formats, including Microsoft Word. You can add graphics, generate indexes, tables of content, headers and footers, and much more. OpenOffice.org Writer is more than enough for all your word-processing needs. OpenOffice.org is available for Windows and GNU/Linux, but the newer version is not available for Mac users. Check out www.openoffice.org for more information.

Downloading and Installing OpenOffice.org

1.)Go to www.openoffice.org and click on the Download tab

2.)Click on the OpenOffice.org 2.0 Link.

3.)Select the language, operating system, and download site you want to use.

4.)Click Continue to Download

5.)A window should appear asking if you want to save the program to disk or open it.

6.)Choose Save to Disk.

Once you’ve done this you’re ready to write. One of the best things about free software is that it is free! You can’t beat that with a stick. To find out more about free software, check out Free Software for Dummies by Mary Leete. Think of all the money you save by using free software rather than its expensive counterpart. I’ve done the research and now you reap the benefits. Who loves you baby?

Reprint Policy: This article may be reproduced freely in on-line and print publications when the following conditions are met: It must be reproduced in its entirety, with no changes or omissions, including the author information and website. This copyright notice is also to be included either at the beginning or end of the article. Advance permission is not required, but a copy of your publication would be very much appreciated. Please send to shaniaduncan@altimatepublishing.com

Shania Duncan is an elementary teacher who loves to write. Currently she is working on many writing projects as well as her website. Check back to see what’s available. http://www.altimatepublishing.com

There are two basic paradigms for CRM systems: Contact centric or Account Centric. In Contact Centric systems, the primary organization is around independent contacts. In Account Centric systems, there are two levels to the basic organization: a company or account layer to which multiple contacts can be related.

Contact Centric

In a contact centric system, the database is organized around individual contacts. So, if you have dealings with 3 different people all from the same company, you would have 3 different contact records and in each record would be the company
name. There may be ways to relate different contacts together, but these will be in the “workaround” class.

A Contact centric organization makes sense if you are dealing with individuals and you do not need to do such things as look at an organization’s combined history. It is very difficult/clumsy
to track company related information separately from contact information. For example, if you want to track information about a company (e.g. sic code, # employees, annual budget, etc.) separately from contact related information (e.g. favourite hobby, home phone number, spouse’s name, etc.). there isn’t an easy way to do that:

• Under which contact do you store the company information,
• Which contact becomes the primary record,
• Do you store the information under both contacts…which makes updating

  difficult.

• Do you create a “contact” record to serve as the company record

  and somehow relate the contacts to it?

Account Centric

Account centric CRM systems have a layer above contact, the organization or account, that can tie multiple contacts together. This has the advantage of being able to track company-related information entirely separately from contact-related
information. This approach is usually easier to:

• See all opportunities for an account/company.
• See combined history.
• Do address updates.
• See the organization and all its contacts in one view.
• Report on company vs. individuals easier.

My Recommendation

If you’re working in an industry where you only need one contact record per account,
you may want the simplicity of contact centric. However, if you are going to want
to track multiple contacts per account then contact vs. account centric becomes
a very important consideration and you should give heavy weighting to systems
that are truly account centric. This is just one of many considerations that must
go into determining whether or not a particular CRM software fits your needs.
For a complete step-by-step process for evaluating CRM software, see the Insider’s
CRM Success System.

Scott Gingrich, founder of The CRM Coach (http://www.thecrmcoach.com) is the creator of “The Insider’s CRM Success System” (http://www.crminsidersguide.com), the world’s most complete and only CRM Success System guaranteed to save thousands, developed specially for small business.

You’ve been browsing the Internet or opening and closing media files, and you notice that you’ve left your fingerprints all over your operating system. You would think that media files that you downloaded, viewed and deleted are gone: But they’re not entirely.

If you opened up your media in “Windows Media Player”, it has also made note of what videos that you have watched. (This is similar for most players; however, Windows Media Player is the most common so I will only provide an example for it).

Removing Traces from Windows Media Player
- Open Windows Media Player
- Go to “Tools” - > “Options…” in the menu bar
- Select the “Privacy” tab.
- Select “Clear History” and “Clear Caches” at the bottom right (You might even want to turn this feature off by un-selecting the checkbox by: “Save file and URL history in the Player”)
- Press “Apply”, and “Ok”
- Go to “Library” or “Media Library” depending on what version you are using.
- Click on “all Video”
- If the list is empty then you are fine, chances are will be a list of recently watched videos. You can either individually select videos that you wish to remove, or you can press “Ctrl+A” (Select All), and then press “Delete” to remove them all at once.

- Done!

*Note
Use at your own risk - These steps are to be used as a guide, and have been proved effective under normal scenarios. Paul Ryan is not responsible for any malfunction or any other problems that occur from this tutorial. They have been tested and work, but in case something goes funny with your current configuration, he is not liable.
—
You may copy this article to use on your ezine provided that all links and biography information is left in tact.

Paul Ryan is the owner and operator of smp search engine. He is an expert in the industry, and enjoys cycling in his spare time.

This short paper will expand on two key reasons to move to a computerized timesheet system at your company. There are more than two reasons of course, but these will be expanded on at a later date. The two key reasons to be discussed here are Timesheet Efficiency, and Timesheet Automation.

Timesheet Efficiency is the concept of a single data entry exercise done accurately and quickly. Timesheet Automation is the simple concept of managing timesheet information electronically rather than on paper. When taken individually both these concepts make a compelling argument to move to electronic timesheets, taken together you should be asking yourself why you aren’t kicking off the process today.

Timesheet Efficiency

When I started out my working career in consulting we had paper timesheets. These were (supposedly) to be filled in daily, submitted weekly, and data from them entered into the accounting system monthly. However, people being people, the accountant only checked them once a month, so they were generally only submitted once a month, and thus usually only filled in once a month when prompted by project managers. This resulted in inaccurate and late timesheet information.

This affected billing, time and materials projects would take up to four weeks to be invoiced, and thus it could be up to 60 days before payment was received. Why then are some companies constantly challenged with getting employees to accurately complete their timesheets while other firms have no problems? The difference is usually leadership and data ease of data entry. Most consulting companies employ skilled intelligent people, and a manager who fills in his timesheet information promptly and accurately can legitimately expect his staff to do so. However if the system is cumbersome and difficult to use then there will be constant conflict.

Easy to use computerized timesheet systems mean more employees are successfully filling out timesheets as they work rather than writing the time into a diary or calendar and then transferring the information at the end of the week (or month). It has been well proven that debtors are easier to manager and projects more easily monitored the closer that timesheet information is processed and invoiced to the time the work is carried out. It is just much more simple to collect all your billable hours (more chargeable time!) if employees record their work as they do it.

Of course data entry is just one side of things. Processing the information is just as important. Internal discipline and company policies must be set to ensure that all information is collected by the time you have decided is the deadline. Whether this is Friday 5:00pm, or Monday 9:00am, deadlines must be followed and enforced. Timesheet software with built in workgroup functionality like messaging, timesheet approval, live monitoring, and so on can greatly enhance this process.

There is no point pretending that timesheet information and collection is glamorous. It isn’t. It should just be part of the normal mundane fabric of business. It should be routine and boring. But most importantly it should be quick, easy, and provide no disincentive to doing it. Good computerized systems should offer all of this.

Timesheet Automation

The most basic benefit that a computerized timesheet system gives is one of automation, timesheet information is entered into a computer rather than onto paper. This eliminated the need for people to transcribe their timesheet information from a diary onto a paper form, and then for administration staff to re-enter this information into a job costing system. The computerization allows you to completely eliminate the middle steps. Staff enter information directly into the job costing system.

The next logical step of computerization is to leverage off of the computer to provide a host of other benefits. This includes interlocks like preventing people from booking time to projects that dont exist, or projects that are closed, or projects they should not be booking time to. It allows project managers to access live data showing actual time spent on their projects, this data can be manipulated and visualized in different ways using other computer software. It can even interface directly with dedicated project management software.

Other benefits can include automatic timing of work, popup information showing specific project information helping timesheet accuracy, daily timesheets, reminders telling people to fill in their timesheets, integration with messaging, email, and the web, and live integration with accounting packages.

Conclusions

By themselves each of these points makes a good argument for moving to a computerized timesheet system. Taken together they are truly compelling. Increased accuracy and reduction of the billing cycle means that a computerized system can usually measure its payoff in just a few months. For any company that does bill its time, it is should not be an option any longer, it is a simple next step. Interested in looking at some low cost alternatives? Why not take a look at Timesheets Lite or Timesheets MTS. These are low cost systems ideally suited to the small company.

About The Author

Mark Nemtsas, Moving Target Software

Get low cost, efficient, timesheet software! This article is © Moving Target Software, 2004. It can however be reproduced in full on any web page as long as it is edited in no way whatsover.

The Massachusetts State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:

Department of Revenue
51 Sleeper St.
Boston, MA 02205
(617) 887-6367
(800) 392-6089 (in state)
www.state.ma.us/dor/dorpg.htm

Massachusetts allows the use of the federal W-4 form if exemptions claimed are the same for state and federal. Otherwise, you must use “M4 Massachusetts Employee’s Withholding Exemption Certificate” for Massachusetts income tax withholding.

Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Massachusetts cafeteria plans are not taxable for income tax calculation; taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are not taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.

In Massachusetts supplemental wages are required to be aggregated for the state income tax withholding calculation.

You must file your Massachusetts State W-2s by magnetic media if you are required to file your federal W-2s by magnetic media.

The Massachusetts State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:

Division of Employment Security
Charles F. Hurley Bldg.
19 Staniford St., 5th Fl. DET
Boston, MA 02114-2589
(617) 626-6855
http://www.detma.org/

The State of Massachusetts taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $14,000.00.

Massachusetts requires Magnetic media reporting of quarterly wage reporting if the employer has at least 250 employees that they are reporting that quarter.

Unemployment records must be retained in Massachusetts for a minimum period of four years. This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.

The Massachusetts State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:

Department of Labor and Industries
Fair Labor and Business Practices Division
200 Portland St.
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 727-3465
http://www.ago.state.ma.us/

The minimum wage in Massachusetts is $6.75 per hour.

The general provision in Massachusetts concerning paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer is one and one half times regular rate after 40-hour week.

Massachusetts State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire and contractors over $600. The employer must report the federally required elements of:

• Employee’s name
• date of hire or contract
• Employee’s address
• Employee’s social security number
• Employer’s name
• Employers address
• Employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

This information must be reported within 14 days of the hiring or rehiring.
The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax or electronically.
There is a $25.00 penalty for a late report and $500 for conspiracy in Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts new hire-reporting agency can be reached at 800-332-2733 or 617-626-4154 or on the web at http://www.cse.state.ma.us/.

Massachusetts does not allow compulsory direct deposit.

Massachusetts requires the following information on an employee’s pay stub:

• Gross and Net Earnings
• Employer’s and employee’s name.
• payment date
• amount and nature of deductions
• increases
• straight time and overtime pay
• hours worked
• itemized deductions

Massachusetts requires that employee be paid biweekly or weekly; semimonthly or biweekly for FLSA-exempts or salaried employees (monthly if they agree).

Massachusetts requires that the lag time between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee not exceed six days if workweek is 5 or 6 days; 7 days after pay period if workweek is 7 days or less than 5 days.

Massachusetts payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay immediately and that voluntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by the next regular payday (if there is none, the next Saturday) or by mail if employee requests it.

Deceased employee’s wages of $100 must be paid to the surviving spouse, adult child, or parent (in that order) 30 days after death and if there is no will.

Escheat laws in Massachusetts require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after three years.

The employer is further required in Massachusetts to keep a record of the wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of 5 years.

Massachusetts’s payroll law mandates no more than $4.125 may be used as a tip credit.

In Massachusetts the payroll laws covering mandatory rest or meal breaks are only that all employees must have 30 minutes rest after six hours of work.

Massachusetts’s statute requires that wage and hour records be kept for a period of not less than two years. These records will normally consist of at least the information required under FLSA.

The Massachusetts agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is:

Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Child Support Enforcement Division
51 Sleeper St.
P.O. Box 9492
Boston, MA 02205-9492
(800) 332-2733
http://www.cse.state.ma.us/

Massachusetts has the following provisions for child support deductions:

• When to start Withholding? Next payday more than 3 days after notice.
• When to send Payment? Within 3 days of Payday.
• When to send Termination Notice? Within 3 days of payday.
• Maximum Administrative Fee? $1 per payment.
• Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.

Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.

Charles J. Read, CPA has been in the payroll, accounting and tax business for 30 years, the last fifteen in private practice. Mr. Read is the author of “How to Start a New Business”. For Professional Payroll services at a Budget Price go to http://www.PayrollonaBudget.com a Paperless Payroll Company. Go to http://www.CustomPayroll.com For a full service payroll service bureau with CPA’s on staff. See an excerpt of Mr. Read’s interviews from William Shatners “Heartbeat of America” television show on the websites linked above.

Specialists in the IT sphere as well as other people are always potential
clients of any software manufacturer. Engineers, accountants, architects,
designers, programmers, people who start home-business and other specialists in
any sphere today use a computer. But the hardware is not enough in order to work
on a PC or Mac. People need software but only a minority can afford buying full
versions together with necessary plugins and add-ons. Great if you work in a
corporation on in a firm where “everything [software tools] is already
installed“. But where is an exit from the situation when you have to buy, say,
Windows XP or Mac OS, Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and other? Away with
questions – let’s look through possible variants of solving this issue:

1) Buy any software you need directly from a manufacturer;
2) use trial versions of a brand-name company software limited in functionality;
3) try to find a similar software tool at a less famous manufacturer;
4) download pirated software from “underground” hacker-sites (illegal);
5) download cheap oem software from manufacturers’ affiliates or third-party
suppliers.

The first option requires a “fat purse” of a client. Ideally in order to operate
a PC or Mac, to make presentations, write and send letters, watch films, burn
data CD’s, listen to music and so on you need to spend thousands of dollars even
if you limit yourself in your desires as well as the functions of your computer.
A license even for your operating system costs more than 500$. Are you able to
afford this? Yes? Then go on and enjoy fully functional brand-name software,
receive free periodical updates, get a discount for a later version and receive
technical and software support.

Trial versions of software from the great manufacturers like Adobe, Microsoft,
Corel and other are available for download free of charge. Though you get a
limited functionality and a trial period of working (from 15 till 60 days from
the 1st launch), you may then decide whether you really need these programs or
not. Trial software is demo programs – no great difference.
The third option is also a possible variant if you say “No” to the first two.
Some software tools have open sources and any firm can make their own “brand”
and money by a transformation of it. Such software is cheaper than from “the
giants” of software development. But the functions are few and the new versions
of software come out very rare.

It’s not a secret to anyone anymore that in the Internet you can find
everything… This applies even to high cost brand software - you can get it for
free! together with viruses, trojans and other harmful programs. Moreover, this
is illegal and be ready then to dreadful consequences.

Consider one more option – OEM software. First of all, what is “oem software”?
OEM means Original Equipment Manufacturer . In general it is 100% fully
functional software. But it lacks manuals, promo-discs and bulk-boxes. Consider
if you really need them. It may lack live support as well as registration from a
manufacturer because the license for this software has “already expired of
wasn’t intended for second-hand buyers”. So, you may conclude that firms that
sell oem software get it from other sources, not directly from a manufacturer.
But where does it come from? Well, for instance, oem software comes from
auctions, from special resellers of older versions of software, from other users
who do not need this software anymore. That is why it is so cheap. Sometimes the
price for oem software is no more than 5-10% of a nominal manufacturer’s price.
And at the same time you may be sure that it is really LEGAL though you can’t
register it anymore and receive updates, but for such a low sum – it is really
marvelous.

Many people sometimes do not believe in legal oem software and they have grounds
for it: some web-sites that are selling software products name them oem but in
reality they are selling pirated non-working software or trial versions that you
may get for free. Beware of such firms!

Mike Zhmudikov is a copywriter of Software Sales Ltd. - the leading oem software store that sells downloadable oem software at the lowest price worldwide.
http://www.ankhsoft.com

There are certain pluses and minuses in both cases and you should make your decision, based on your company needs. We’ll give you some hints in this subject and you should know then where to look further.

Legendary Strength of C/SIDE database - the history of Navision design reveals the primary goals to have its own proprietary database with the built-in features of database transaction integrity. As far as database is proprietary - Navision can manipulate its and tune it to serve its application. You can have users use the system heavily and suddenly shut down the power - when power is back on - Navision will be in the same good shap. The second goal was to provide robust graphical interface.

What is the volume of your data? - Navision was originally targeting mid-size and large corporations. Now, however, Microsoft is trying to target it to large corporations with sophisticated manufacturing. In this case you could expect huge volume of data - Microsoft SQL Server is better positioned to deal with that.

Do you have MS SQL Server Administrator? - Microsoft announces that MS SQL Server is moving to “zero-maintenance needed”, but we would like to warn you - if you use Navision - you are more likely mid-size or large company. In this case you should have somebody to secure your database - in the case if you would like to deploy MSSQL Server

Do you plan on Crystal Reports? - you can always deploy C/ODBC to enable your C/SIDE database for Crystal Report, but MS SQL Server has such nice features, as SQL Views and Stored Procedures, which make SQL Server preferable platform

Do you need OLAP/Datawarehousing? - then SQL Server is the way to go. It has built in Analytical Server with OLAP cube creation and Excel data pivoting

Do you plan to expose Navision data to other applications? - Navision has tools to expose the data from C/SIDE database (C/ODBC, C/FRONT), but in the case of SQL Server you certainly have standard Microsoft technologies in your disposition

Good luck in database selection and if you have issues or concerns – we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Robert Horowitz is Certified Navision Specialist in Microsoft Business Solutions Partner: Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Navision, Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, New York, Georgia, Washington, Colorado, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com). You can contact Robert: welcome@albaspectrum.com

Money is the very crux of adware and spyware. These pose several problems and are a security risk.

Adware is a program that displays advertisements on the computer whether you want them or not. They are not just connected to particular websites or free software but are programmed to start up whenever your computer is switched on.

Programs like Eudora mail client display advertisements in lieu of charging registration fees for use of software. It helps developers recover program development costs. Kazaa the file sharing application comes bundled with at least three ad-ware programs. Two of them serve ads to the desktop while another redirects the user’s browser to a search engine with advertiser sponsored web results. Well known ones are: BroadcastPC; Comet Cursor; GeoWhere; Network Essentials, 123 Messenger, Direct Revenue, and so on.

Unfortunately, other guises of adware are spyware and malware.

Spyware is a program code that relays information about you and your work without your permission or knowledge. Some just “spy” on you conveying your Internet habits to marketing companies, while others are “thieves” they access credit card information as well as other sensitive files. In plain terms, it is malicious software that can intercept or take control of a computer’s operation without user knowledge or consent. Termed as “malware” the redefinition of spyware, the programs can:

• Steal personal information and the address book.
• Flood the browser with pop-ups.
• Spam the system.
• Slow down programs and connection.
• Hijack the browser and redirect the user to a “con” page.
• Uses the computer as a server to broadcast porn.
• Can cause a crash.

Spyware reaches a computer through innocent web pages, game demos, MP3 players, search tool bars, and other downloads like free software. It installs itself and leaves a mark on the windows registry. It can hog the computer resources such as memory and hard drive and cause a crash or lock up. Keystroke-logging spyware can steal passwords and credit card information for thieves.

To protect the files one has to:

• Use anti adware and spyware programs. Examples: Spybot, Search & destroy, Pest Patrol, and Lavasoft’s Adware.
• Keep windows as well as Internet explorer up-to-date by applying the latest security patches.
• Maintain the security level of the Internet Explorer at medium. Users must not lower the security level.
• Use firewalls and web proxies to block access to web sites known to carry spyware.
• Install layered protection.
• Update the antivirus program. An up-to-date program will stop spyware as well as Trojans.
• Install a startup monitor to protect your system.
• Never accept “free” as being free—check out free software and downloads, there will be a hidden surprise or catch.
• Never download software from warez sites. Pirated software is always distributed along with adware and spyware.
• Use Spy checker to determine if the download has spyware. This can be accessed from the free computer securities pages.

An anti-spyware coalition has been instituted by Microsoft, Earthlink, McAfee, and Hewlett-Packard. They are working towards anti-spyware legislation and putting protection systems in place. A survey shows that 87 percent of users know what spyware is and of this 40 percent through firsthand experience. Protect yourself and your work; keep your system free of adware and spyware.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com<www.1888SoftwareDownloads.com/>, the premier website to find Free Software Downloads including free anti-virus software, free spyware detection software, free toolbars, free chat software and more. He also freelances for www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com<www.1888FreeOnlineGames.com/> .