Turn off Java to protect your computer

<p>Want to protect your computer from hackers? Slate writer Will Oremus has some straightforward advice: Disable Java. The problem? Hackers have had an easy time of late uncovering holes in Java's browser plug-in. Just last year, you'll remember, the Department of Homeland Security even issued a warning about Java's security issues. Then this February, another Java weakness left what Oremus says is hundreds of millions of Users at risk from massive malware attacks. So Oremus' advice is sound: In order to keep personal information and files safe, you need to disable Java.</p> <p><strong>Skip the patch</strong></p> <p>Oremus feels so strongly about this, he advises computer users to not bother with patches to cover up Java's vulnerabilities. Instead, he recommends that users disable the program. Why? Because most of us seldom use it. Relatively few Web sites today are powered by Java applets. When you disable Java, you aren't removing it from your computer. You're just keeping it quiet. Oremus recommends that if you require Java to view certain key Web sites to keep Java enabled in a secondary Web browser which you only use when you need to access a Java-controlled site.</p> <p><strong>A vulnerable program</strong></p> <p>The trouble with Java is that it is very vulnerable to hackers. In the most recent breach, hackers used holes in Java to take over the machines of Internet surfers who visited compromised Web sites. The company that owns Java, Oracle, lost almost no time in putting out a fresh security patch to fix this problem. The fact is that, Java is known for a history of security leaks, and there's no reason to assume that hackers won't locate new ones to exploit.</p> <p><strong>The disabling process</strong></p> <p>If you're ready to disable Java, it's a uncomplicated task, depending on the Web browser that you use. If you're a Chrome user, type the phrase "Chrome://Plugins" in your browser's address bar. Check the "Disable" button next to any Java plug-ins you see. If you are using Safari, click on the "Safari" option in your main menu bar. Then click "Preferences." Select the "Security" tab. You'll see a checked button next to the option "Enable Java." Uncheck that box to turn Java off. In Firefox, select "Tools" from your main menu. Click "Add-ons," and then select the "Disable" button next to any Java plug-ins that you see. To no one's surprise, Internet Explorer boasts the trickiest Java disabling procedure. To learn more concerning how to do this -- there are too many steps to list here -- visit <a href="http://www.java.com/en/download/help/disable_browser.xml" >http://www.java.com/en/download/help/disable_browser.xml</a></p>

E-mail manners matter

<p>How many e-mails did you send out today? You probably lost count at some point just after lunch. The odds are that you sent over a dozen of these messages out to family members, friends, clients and co-workers. Here&rsquo;s the big question: Were any of those e-mail messages rude? Were any overly brief? Would any one of the messages you sent today make their recipients ponder whether they had done something to offend you? Yes, there is such a thing as e-mail etiquette. Here&rsquo;s a quick primer regarding how to mind your manners while sending e-mail.</p> <p><strong>Sometimes it is possible to too brief</strong></p> <p>When a person receives an e-mail message that merely says &ldquo;yes&rdquo; or, even worse, "no," they might wonder if you&rsquo;re a lttle bit ticked at them. After all, that is a very short response. When sending e-mail messages, be sure to add a little more meat to make your recipients feel good. Instead of just answering &ldquo;yes,&rdquo; perhaps you should add a, &ldquo;Thanks for asking&rdquo; or a &ldquo;Hope you&rsquo;re doing well today.&rdquo; That can make a big difference. If your message is brief due to the fact you&rsquo;re typing it on a smartphone or tablet, make a special e-mail signature that conveys to recipients that this is the reason for your short message.</p> <p><strong>Always answer</strong></p> <p>CBS News reminds you to always answer back when you receive an e-mail message. Our inboxes are often bombarded with e-mails. It can feel like a challenge to respond to all of them. But disregarding an e-mail message is rude, CBS News says, and can turn people off. CBS News states that sometimes a simple response of "Thanks" is all that senders need to feel positive that you've received and are considering their message.</p> <p><strong>Take your time</strong></p> <p>Even the most watchful of typists make mistakes when they write e-mail messages too fast. No recipient wants to get an e-mail message filled with misspellings, incorrect words and typos. Slow down when composing your message. It&rsquo;s an indication of politeness to take the time to create a clear, concise message.</p> <p><strong>No shouting, please</strong></p> <p>PR firm Ragan advocates you keep in mind your basic offline manners when composing e-mail messages. This means including those magic words inside your messages, "please" and "thank you." All too often, in the rush of composing and sending e-mails, we forget these niceties. Ragan also warns against shouting in your e-mail messages. For those who don't know, "shouting" means typing in all capital letters. This looks incredibly annoying on the computer screen.</p>

Don't let the Internet trick you into flawed research

<p>You can learn about anything on the Internet. At least it seems that way. The fact is, if you are doing research online, you're likely to stumble into information that looks true but actually isn't. And that can scuttle your research easily. Thankfully, Web site Lifehacker recently provided several tips on how to conduct more effective research on the Internet. Follow these tips and you'll soon be finding the truth online.</p> <p><strong>Watch for your bias</strong></p> <p>Lifehacker's first tip? Be cautious about your own bias. All of us are guilty of something termed confirmation bias. We want to find information with which we already agree. For example, if you're a lifelong liberal, you'll be more likely to believe studies demonstrating that poverty is the real reason behind low school test scores. It is crucial when researching online to identify your own biases and to make sure that you're not selectively sourcing studies that confirm it. It's important to give weight; too, to research that contradicts your beliefs.</p> <p><strong>Look for bad information</strong></p> <p>Lifehacker points to poorly cited articles as a big trap for online researchers. Unfortunately, the Internet is packed with "research" that isn't very methodical in nature. Look for articles that are highly sourced and that originate from respected journals, magazines or newspapers. You can generally count on medical journals and government reports, as well, when it comes to online research.</p> <p><strong>Specialized online research</strong></p> <p>To find the newest and most comprehensive studies on your subject, you'll need to expand your search beyond the usual suspects of Google, Bing and Yahoo! Instead, use specialized scholarly searches that can yield more detailed information. Google Scholar and Scirus are powerful tools for academic research. So is PLOS, run by the Public Library of Science, and the United States Library of Congress.</p>

Do we need augmented reality glasses?

<p>Google Glass -- Google's augmented reality glasses -- are getting closer to hitting the market. These computerized specs allow wearers to surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail messages, chat with friends and take photos. Pretty awesome for a pair of glasses. But there was a time when glasses were used just for seeing things, which was an important job, too. Is Google's Glass project, then, truly necessary? Or is it a diversion from real life?</p> <p><strong>Augmented vision</strong></p> <p>The news that Google Glass, as stated by CNET, will be released by the end of the year has been a bit of a surprise. Google was initially planning to release the glasses in 2014. The sped-up timeframe gives a hint of how important Google considers its augmented eyewear. Even better, the news is that the glasses, even though pricey, are somewhat affordable. They are expected to retail for $1,500.</p> <p><strong>Do we need augmented reality?</strong></p> <p>So, are Google's Glasses an example Google providing consumers what they want, or are the glasses are high-priced novelty that will never catch on? It's hard to deny that there's some usefulness to the glasses. They can be used, after all, to run directions to a new Chinese restaurant as you're walking down the street. You can make a call to tell a friend that you're running late. You could even pull up the subway timetable before you head underground to catch a train. But can't we already do all of this with phones, mobile devices and, of course, paper and pen?</p> <p><strong>A connected world?</strong></p> <p>The Google Glass project will test just how linked to our electronic devices we want to be. We've already grown to be dependent upon our tablets and smartphones to tell us when the next movie is playing, whether we should pack an umbrella, or where that new French restaurant is located. You could look at Google Glass as just the next step in our growing relationship with mobile devices. It remains to be seen, though, whether an augmented reality is more spectacular than just plain old reality.</p>

Don't let the Internet trick you into flawed research

You can learn about anything on the Internet. At least it seems that way. The fact is, if you are doing research online, you're likely to stumble into information that looks true but actually isn't. And that can scuttle your research easily. Thankfully, Web site Lifehacker recently provided several tips on how to conduct more effective research on the Internet. Follow these tips and you'll soon be finding the truth online.

Watch for your bias


Lifehacker's first tip? Be cautious about your own bias. All of us are guilty of something termed confirmation bias. We want to find information with which we already agree. For example, if you're a lifelong liberal, you'll be more likely to believe studies demonstrating that poverty is the real reason behind low school test scores. It is crucial when researching online to identify your own biases and to make sure that you're not selectively sourcing studies that confirm it. It's important to give weight; too, to research that contradicts your beliefs.

Look for bad information

Lifehacker points to poorly cited articles as a big trap for online researchers. Unfortunately, the Internet is packed with "research" that isn't very methodical in nature. Look for articles that are highly sourced and that originate from respected journals, magazines or newspapers. You can generally count on medical journals and government reports, as well, when it comes to online research.

Specialized online research


To find the newest and most comprehensive studies on your subject, you'll need to expand your search beyond the usual suspects of Google, Bing and Yahoo! Instead, use specialized scholarly searches that can yield more detailed information. Google Scholar and Scirus are powerful tools for academic research. So is PLOS, run by the Public Library of Science, and the United States Library of Congress.

Why is the U.S. government developing computer weapons?

Is the United States creating a more dangerous Web? This is the theory depicted in a recent story by the MIT Technology Review. The story details the story of Stuxnet. You may remember this bit of malware as it made big news in 2010 when it was discovered. These days, the general opinion is that Stuxnet was made by the governments of the United States and Israel to attack the industrial equipment needed to build Iran's budding nuclear program. As the Technology Review story states, Stuxnet might be the first well-known example of a new version of warfare, one in which countries use malware along with other viruses to attack the computer and security systems of other nations. And the United States might be the leader in this form of virtual warfare.

Crafting a more dangerous Web?

Here's the fear, as expressed in the Technology Review story. As governments spend a rising amount of dollars to develop malware weapons, are they also making the Internet a more dangerous place than it already is? Unfortunately, the answer appears to be a definite "yes”. No one knows how many malware weapons governments have implemented since Stuxnet made news. But, as the story says, many have undoubtedly done their job without the public learning about them. That ought to make any Internet users feel nervous.

Watch your smartphone

Don't believe that you can avoid malware weapons by doing most of your computing on tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices. The reality is, governments are particularly interested in targeting these mobile devices. First, a growing number of people are doing the majority of their computing on these mobile devices. Secondly, mobile devices are particularly vulnerable to malware because their operating systems are updated so rarely. The Technology Review story points to Apple, which only updates its iPhone operating system a few times every year. That represents a golden opportunity for governments to infect the smartphones of suspects with spyware.

An age-old threat?

The Technology Review story ends on this chilling thought: Maybe malware weapons are nothing new. After all, countries are always building new and more devastating weapons. It ought to come as little wonder, then, that governments are taking to the online world, too, with regards to creating new weapons. It's unfortunate, though, that this newest round of arms building is making a more dangerous Internet.

Desktop or Web-based e-mail?

Are you a user of Web-based e-mail like Gmail or Yahoo!? Or do you make use of a desktop e-mail client like Postbox, Outlook or Sparrow? Each e-mail option features pluses and minuses. As a newly released story by the Lifehacker Web site says, some users would do better with a desktop e-mail client and others will thrive with a Web-based e-mail system. Are you currently debating over whether to install that latest desktop e-mail client? Or are you contemplating signing up for Gmail? Deciding whether Web-based or desktop e-mail is right for you requires a close look at your computing habits.

When desktop makes sense

Here’s who ought to be using a desktop e-mail client, according to Lifehacker: Computer users that have multiple e-mail addresses with different domains, people who need to access their e-mail messages even when they’re offline and those who filter and block e-mail messages according to subject headers, senders and certain words. Lifehacker also recommends the use of desktop e-mail clients if you like using security features such as encryption and digital signing.

When Web-based makes sense

Lifehacker recommends the use of Web-based e-mail if you need a single unified inbox for all your e-mail messages and you only have a small number of e-mail addresses to track. Web-based e-mail may also make sense if you like using Web-based programs instead of downloading them to your computer and if you're more comfortable storing your e-mail messages in the cloud instead of on your machine.

Plenty of choices

No matter if you go with desktop or Web-based e-mail services, the good news is there are more alternatives than ever when it comes to e-mail. At one time e-mail was more or less ignored by technology companies. Today, though, companies have launched a wide variety of e-mail services, both Web-based and desktop, that can make organizing and managing your e-mail messages a simpler task than ever before.

Why is there Android in my rice cooker?

Would you buy a rice cooker with the Android operating system built into it? What about a dryer or refrigerator? Would you ever consider installing a microwave oven that was partially operated by Android? You might soon get the option, according to a recent story by BusinessWeek. According to that story, Google is installing its Android operating system in many of the stranger places you can imagine. But here’s what’s especially interesting: This move actually makes financial sense for Google.


Android’s reach

Google’s Android operating system is a rather amazing success, at least when it comes to running the smartphone world. The BusinessWeek story quoted numbers by research firm Gartner showing that Android powered 72 percent of the smartphone market during the third quarter of 2012. That’s particularly remarkable considering that rival Apple could only claim 14 percent of that market share during the same three months.

Why appliances?

But Google, understandably, wants to see Android’s reach extend further. That’s why the company’s researchers have developed a host of uses for Android in everything from your home refrigerator, to your dishwasher, to your dryer. This move could pay off for Google in other ways, too. For instance, it could actually help them collect details on consumer preferences. Google may then utilize this to tailor its money-making search feature. After all, Google makes lots of money through search, an industry that it still dominates. Anything that may help Google cement its grip in the world of online search, then, must be considered a sensible economic move.

Is it useful?

The second big question? Is it beneficial to people to have Android in the refrigerator? The unexpected response is “yes”. Here’s one example offered by the BusinessWeek story: Say you’re watching your favorite TV show. And you also plan to go out later that night, and you’d prefer to wear your favorite jeans. As you’re watching TV, a message pops on your screen telling you that your jeans need 10 more minutes in your dryer downstairs. Then, rather than walking down the stairs to manually start your dryer, you merely press a button on your TV remote control to get the dryer humming again. To paraphrase, Android inside your household appliances might be more useful than you’d think.

The tech trends that small business owners need to follow

There was a point in time when e-mail was considered cutting-edge tech. Before that, businesses were considered tech-savvy if they had their very own fax machines. Technology, though, is constantly evolving. What companies needed three years ago is nowhere near what they need now to thrive. CIO Magazine, naturally, recognizes this. That’s why the magazine so emphasized the evolving nature of technology when it listed its top tech trends for businesses. The trends that the magazine’s editors have cited will definitely affect the way businesses operate in 2013. If you’re a wise businessman, you’ll pay particularly close attention to them.


Hospitals and BYOD


There’s a reason why more companies adopted the BYOD – bring your own devices – movement last year. When employees bring their own tablets or laptops to work, hook up to a company network and then perform their tasks on their own devices, they generally tend to be both happier and more efficient. This boosts the bottom line of companies. At the same time, companies that embrace BYOD don’t need to provide individual computers for their employees. This year, CIO Magazine says, the BYOD movement will grow even stronger as increasing numbers of businesses – even highly secure ones such as hospitals – being encouraging their workers to bring their own iPads to work.


3-D Printing Continues to Soar


3-D printing has made a big effect on businesses. The ability to use a printer to produce objects with heft and depth – for example plastic machine parts – is definitely an amazing one. And CIO Magazine predicts that more businesses will see this in 2013. In fact, CIO Magazine predicts that 3-D printing will become a breakthrough technology this year for companies.


The End of Passwords?


Passwords have always been a technological problem for businesses. A great number of their employees rely on their children’s names, street addresses or favorite hockey team when deciding on passwords. These passwords are easier for hackers to guess. When hackers guess a password, they can quickly gain access to confidential company information. But what if companies instead relied on biometrics to secure their computers and confidential data? That day is coming, predicts CIO. In biometrics, companies use such body parts as the iris’ of their workers’ eyes or their fingerprints as replacements for passwords. It really is a more secure option for businesses to guard their critical data.

Can Square help your small business grow?

Need to provide your small business a boost? Why not try Square? You might not know what Square is, but know this: Square will assist you to attract new customers to your business by making it simpler for these customers to buy your goods and services. Square is a tiny, rather stylish, credit-card processor -- square-shaped, of course -- that allows merchants to close credit transactions by using their own iPads, iPhones or Android devices. The device gives you the opportunity to take on credit-card purchases while not having to invest in a more complex system. But Square does come with a cost: You'll have to pay a bit with every transaction you close through the service. Is the cost worth the expense? That's something you need to decide.

How it works

Working with Square is an easy process. First, plug the small, square, Square Reader device into the audio jack of your tablet or smartphone. Then, simply swipe your customers' credit cards through the reader. The reader will then scan the credit card and process the sale. If, for whatever reason, you can't swipe a customer's credit card, you can also manually close the transaction by entering the card number using Square. The Square Reader is free. The app that makes the reader work, Square Register, is free, too. You can download the app from the Google Play store or the App Store.

The Biggest Positive of Square

Square is very user friendly. This is why it's perfect for overworked small business owners. There is no lengthy instruction book to pore through. There are no complicated installations. This is the reason Square has grown to become so popular among business owners. A recent story in USA Today reported that more than 800,000 customers are using Square today. The system is also easy for consumers. Using it, even the smallest of business entrepreneurs can accept credit-card transactions. You won't have to send your customers to the corner ATM for cash.

The Downside to Square

There are fees, though. Each time customers swipe their credit cards through your Square Reader, you'll have to pay 2.75 percent for the transaction cost. If you need to manually enter your customer's credit-card number, you pay Square, Inc. 3.5 percent of the transaction. Entrepreneur Magazine in a recent review of the system also said that human customer support is shaky at best for the product. Still, despite having these cons, it's difficult to deny that Square can dramatically boost the efficiency of small businesses.