computer

Update 2011/11/23: We've contacted PCTools and were able to finagle a generous 30% discount for Registry Mechanic 2011 (PC optimizer) for our Readers. This offer expires Wed, Dec 07, 2011 at 11:59PM EST, so don't wait! This most excellent deal ... includes a 3 PC license (you can use it on 1, 2, or 3 Windows PCs: both 32 *and* 64bit supported). An fantastic bargain, indeed! Proceeds from this sale support our website. Access the 30% discount here , or continue reading the review below. The Registry Mechanic 2011 download + 30% discount link are also at the end of the review. Excellent news for ... (view more)

With over 30 years in computing experience, I'm often asked my opinion about computer hardware. Questions like, "What can I do to speed up my computer?", or "What type of laptop should I buy?" and things of that nature. Like anyone else, I love a ... good deal. In order to find the best deal possible, sometimes I spend an entire day shopping online to compare prices and features of similar components. Unfortunately, many of the "recommendations" I've read recently appear to be forged for the sake of making a sale, which means there's an awful lot of time wasted wading through ... (view more)

Online security companies are celebrating this week after learning that the dreaded Koobface virus suffered a critical blow that could compromise its continued existence. Security officials discovered that most of the web servers hosting the virus' ... "command and control" structure were effectively dismantled, thus limiting its exposure to the outside world. Koobface originally made headlines early last March (2009), when it wreaked havoc on thousands of vulnerable Facebook pages. The virus was responsible for installing malware on the computers of victims who mistakenly (and ... (view more)

Imagine sitting in front of your computer and using hand gestures to control your PC. In the 2002 blockbuster movie "Minority Report," Tom Cruise did just that as he sifted through wads of information using his hands and a 3D computer screen. Fast ... forward to the 2010, and we are on the brink of using similar technology at home, but it's still officially under wraps. Hands-Free Video Game Controller Used on Microsoft Windows Recently, two hackers have found a way to use Microsoft's new Kinect controller-free video game peripheral on a Windows computer rather than an Xbox 360. Whether ... (view more)

Since 2004, Infopackets.com has recommended Acronis True Image to its readers as -the- ultimate backup and disaster recovery solution for Microsoft Windows. There are many new exciting changes to discuss with True Image 2011, but first, let's start ... with the basics. What Exactly is Acronis True Image? To put it in simple terms, Acronis True Image is a backup program on steroids. In order to explain how it's different compared to other run-of-the-mill simple backup programs, let me explain what True Image does. With simple backup programs, you can only archive your files onto another ... (view more)

Computer Science researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have created a computer system capable of performing tasks never thought possible. Dubbed "NELL" (short for Never-Ending Language Learning), the computer system has the ability to learn, ... read and express assumptions on a variety of topics. Researchers were provided funding from Google and DARPA agency (a research and development arm of the U.S. Department of Defense) to create a system capable of understanding the entirety of the human language. The Carnegie Mellon group programmed NELL to categorize the information it finds on the ... (view more)

Viruses get their name because, like human diseases, they can spread and multiply quickly. Now, Microsoft believes some of the tactics used to protect public health should be applied to the world of technology. Computer Virus Prevention is Key to ... Deterring Further Infections The idea comes from Scott Charney, a senior figure in Microsoft's security team. He's just published a paper named "Collective Defense: Applying Public Health Models to the Internet." In Charney's paper, he argues that while preventing individual machines from getting infected -- for example through security software -- ... (view more)

Have you ever considered how much of your work and your life is captured and dependent on your computer? That's why it's foolish, generally expensive, and sometimes just plain crazy to continue relying on your computer without some sort of disaster ... recovery plan -- in case the inevitable happens, and your computer becomes unusable. How disruptive would it be, then, if you were without your computer for a day, a week, or even a month? Registry / System Cleaners / Disk Imagers versus Reimage Repair There are many recovery products on the market designed to improve upon your system's speed and ... (view more)

Scareware comprises several classes of scam software with malicious payloads, or of limited or no benefit, that are sold to consumers via certain unethical marketing practices. The selling approach uses social engineering to cause shock, anxiety, or ... the perception of a threat, generally directed at an unsuspecting user. Some forms of spyware and adware also use scareware tactics. Scareware and Fake Antivirus A tactic frequently used by criminals involves convincing users that a virus has infected their computer, then suggesting that they download (and pay for) fake antivirus software to ... (view more)

The Republic of Sierra Leone in West Africa isn't exactly a top tourist destination spot. Nonetheless, even if visiting the place might be dangerous, Sierra Leone has been rated the safest place in the world to use the Internet. The figures come ... from security firm Antivirus Grisoft (AVG), which analyzed data from 127 million customers in 144 countries. The statistics are based around the number of times the AVG software detected a security threat, compared with the number of times users went online. The figures reported are the chances that an average user's computer will be attacked on any ... (view more)