Password Hacking - An Explanation And How to Protect Yourself

Unfortunately, people generally use a single password to every online account they have: the online banking account, social networking sites, e-mail and other websites that requires them to sign up. That's why it is very easy for hackers to pass beyond their protection, compromise an account and then have access to all others.

This is the main reason the computer security is so important nowadays. Protecting yourself from password hackers will help you avoid unpleasant situations or even destructive ones.

What represents password hacking? It is a method used by hackers to crack someone password in order to gain access to personal data, access copyrighted works or sensitive intellectual property, steal money from a bank account or use the computer or server to send out spam email. Hackers prefer searching for 'security holes' through which they can easily gain access on your account without much trouble. These holes usually exist in the plugins and that we install on our sites and PC's.

Another method used by them in the password hacking process is to use programs or software which run through letter and number combinations until it gets a match with the real password, gaining access to your account. They can destroy all of your files stored in the PC or erase your e-mails.

Everybody can be targeted by computer hackers, especially those with a bank account or with an important position in a company. That's why is crucial to protect yourself against them. How to do that? There are several methods. The first 4 are for your PC protection, the rest will tell you how to protect from password hackers:

- Buy a good virus protection software and keep it up-to-date: this will keep the worms out, even if they are "up-to-date"

- Avoid downloading programs from unknown sources, like torrents and other free sources; it's best to stick with commercial software purchased on CD-ROM or via internet

- Make sure that the Firewall and the Macro Virus Protection feature is enabled in all Microsoft applications on the PC: this will increase your protection greatly

- Never access (or double click) an email attachment containing an executable program which have an extension like.exe,.com, or.vbs. This can be a very dangerous virus which triggers if you open the file

- Add just one special character to your password: this will give your more protection than using words from the dictionary. It will take 10.000 times more time to hack your password

- Make your password longer and also set at least one capitalised letter

- Try to use a different password to every important online accounts you posses, such as e-mails, bank accounts, or the online storage service

- Personalize your own security question: you' ll often find security questions on e-mail services such as gmail, yahoo or msn, allowing users to gain access to their online account in case they have forgotten their password. Be smart and choose a difficult answer that nobody will guess.

- Also use your mobile phone for password recovery: this service is provided by Google.

- And lastly back-up all of your data on an external hard disk or and stick, just in case.

Threats Prevented By Firewall Software   Six Signs Indicating That Your Computer Has Been Hijacked   Security Risks in the Age of Social Media   Do Nation States Pose a Threat to Computer and Network Security?   Why Botnet Detection And Removal Is So Important   

Slate Indoor Waterfalls Are Worth a Look

If you are like many other people, when you start shopping to buy water fountains for your home you will find yourself instantly drawn to those made of slate. This is a material that many immediately fall in love with, for obvious reasons. Slate is a natural material that can bring an organic feel to the room it occupies. Although it may not be ideal for absolutely every space there are few environments that will not benefit from its presence.

Slate indoor water features are absolutely stunning; plain and simple. They are pieces of art that are easily recognizable, even in a room full of other fountains. Once you are familiar with them, and you see one in another home or business, you just can't help but feel an increased level of respect and appreciation for its owner. This is exactly how other people will feel when they see one in your space.

Slate is Unique

One of the main reasons that people buy water fountains made of slate is because every single one is unique. State features natural lines that create unique patterns in each fountain.

You may be interested to learn that in its rawest form, slate houses not only fossils, but also extremely tiny remains of ancient organisms. Rest-assured, the indoor water features for sale will not have organisms in them that can be seen by the naked eye! This just gives you an idea of how old and historic this material really is. Then, it is finished to a smooth finish to create some of the most intoxicating indoor water features you will ever lay your eyes on.

Choosing the Right One

Slate indoor water features might be simple, but they will be the center of attention in any space that they occupy. Therefore, they really should be the only piece of art on the wall. A tall wall can welcome a vertical fountain while a wide wall is ideal for a horizontal one. You really can't ever have one that is too big. If a fountain goes from your floor to the ceiling, so be it. However, there are times when one will be too small.

A very small slate wall fountain placed in the center of an enormous wall could look even smaller than it already is and incredibly misplaced. Remember that it will become a focal point so you want to make sure that it is sending the right message.

Are Terracotta Tiles a High-Maintenance Product?   Shop Water Features Made of Marble for a Strong Focal Point   Creating That WOW Factor In Your Home On A Budget   Water Fountains for the Home Come in an Array of Styles   

Save Thousands at Auto Auctions - Without Marrying a Car Dealer!

The Common Misconception: Auto auctions are only open to car dealers.

The Surprising Truth: Anyone with the right resources can participate in the same auctions as the dealers!

Think about it. How much could you save if you bypassed the dealers and purchased directly from their sources? 30%, 50%, maybe even 75%.

As unbelievable as this sounds, it is possible with a little patience and research.

As you probably already know from past experience, car dealers will do ANYTHING to get you into the car of your dreams. Whether you can afford it or not!

I can recall a former coworker who got into a new luxury vehicle with a little "creative financing." The manager divided his mortgage payment in two. His justification: As a married man his wife was responsible for the other half of the mortgage....even though she was a stay at home mom! Luckily for them, they found a way to pay their huge car payment and avoid repossession.

Unfortunately, others aren't quite as lucky. Thousands of people default on their loans everyday simply because they couldn't really afford it in the first place.

This can work to your advantage. The banks and financial institutions that serviced the loans want to recoup their loss as quicly as possible. Add to that the exhorbitant cost of storing these vehicles, and you can easily see why the banks want to dispose of them in a timely manner.

After all, the longer financial institutions have to store these vehicles, the less money they're going to get back.

Auto auctions are the quickest way for banks to rid themselves of repossessed vehicles.

Car dealers know this, and they go to great lenghts to protect this knowledge from the general public. After all, auto auctions are a huge source of revenue. Dealers can purchase vehicles at a fraction of their value, and then resell them at a huge mark-up.

But what if you could avoid the dealer's mark-up and instead pay what they pay? What impact would that have on your wallet?

Amazingly enough, auto auctions are not solely restricted to car dealers. Up until a few years ago, I too shared this common misconception.

It was only by sheer luck that I stumbled upon a website that allowed me to search local auctions by zip code and vehicle make that I learned the surprising truth. I was paying dealers thosands of dollars in unnecessary mark-ups.

I tried the website's search feature out, and to my surprise the cars listed were exactly what I wanted. Only a few years old with very low miles. Many of them were still under the manufacturer's original warranty! This made sense of course, since most of them were repossessions.

The auction house was even willing to throw in a vehicle history report at no extra cost and a 3 month warranty.

Sure I wouldn't get the complimentary car washes and oil changes the dealer throws in, but that surely wasn't worth thousands of dollars in premiums.

After a little hesitation I joined the auto auction membership site. They helped me locate auto auctions in my area, and gain admission to them through their exclusive access rights. I learned what questions to ask, and how to handle the bidding process.

It was a lot simpler then I ever imagined it could be.

The day of the auction, I showed up a few hours early to inspect the vehicle I was interested in and get a feel for the place.

It must have been a slow day, because when my car came up for auction only a few dealers were bidding against me. Since I wasn't buying the vehicle for resale, I succeeded in outbidding the dealers!

It was a truly empowering experience. I got the vehicle of my dreams, and I only paid a little over half its book value!

What did this experience teach me? Auto Auctions can save you thousands in unnecessary dealer mark-ups.

Auto Auctions - The Right Place For Bargains   Auto Auctions - The Right Place For Bargains   Save Thousands at Auto Auctions - Without Marrying a Car Dealer!   Auto Auctions - The Right Place For Bargains   

Can a Fireplace Shop Fit Stoves Into Narrow Chimneys?

This question is often asked in fireplace shops - can stoves be fitted into narrow chimneys? There are a lot of factors involved in this and this article will discuss the various options available and other considerations to think about. However, it is always better to consult an expert at a fireplace shop.

It is possible to open a chimney to have a stove fitted. The reason for this is so that the chimney needs to be widened to allow heat around it. Your fireplace shop will know whether this is possible, another option would be to have a builder survey the chimney and advice if it is possible to widen the chimney. If it is possible to widen the chimney a builder will need to do this work. The chimney will need to be properly inspected, as some chimneys are found in bad condition. One of the biggest problems is that some chimneys are no longer capable of safely containing hot combustion gases.

To have an extremely efficient stove means converting the burning material into useful heat. A highly efficient stove should ideally be connected to a well-insulated and lined chimney. An issue we discover with chimneys, especially those built before 1966, is that they have unlined brick flues. Such old chimneys are often only one brick thick, and have already been exposed to weather and have had substantial use over a period of 60 years or more. They were also built using soft lime mortar rather than modern cement mortar. All of this can pose a problem.

Once the chimney has been widened the fireplace shop will then need to measure up. The measuring is important so that the fireplace shop can recommend different stoves that will be:-

• Suitable for installation • Fits within your budget • The correct kilowatt for the room size.

There are other options too for fitting stoves into narrow chimneys. Some manufacturers have started making stoves that will fit into tighter places. These stoves are ideal especially when the widening of the chimney is not possible or is very limited. There are many stoves to choose from, from different manufacturers, which your fireplace shop will be able to advise which are better for your situation.

If you do discover that you have a narrow chimney and would like to have a stove fitted, it is better to consult an expert from a fireplace shop and to check with a builder the cost and integrity of the chimney.

Beach House Design - Tips to Recreate the Seaside Atmosphere in Your Own Home   Multi-Generational House Plans and Other Home Design Trends for 2012   How an Orangery Can Add Value to Your Home   Things You Should Know About If You Want to Make Your House Look Better   

Fire Pit Covers For Different Types of Weather

While a fire pit seems like something that you would mostly utilize in the autumn months, there are occasions in which you might still want to have a gathering around it, or otherwise keep the flame burning throughout all kinds of weather conditions. No matter if it's raining, snowing, or what have you, it's possible to keep that fire going for months, if not all year. With the help of covers, you can provide your fire pit with protection from the elements, as well as keep you and your guests dry and comfortable during your next outdoor party.

Remember that there are a few things you should consider as you contemplate using a cover to guard against weather. First of all, you have to ensure the safety of your guests and property by making sure the fire pit is never left by itself - always have someone watching it. Even if it's storming outside, it's still possible for an unattended fire pit to damage your home in a major way. Also, be sure that the cover itself doesn't catch on fire, so keep it a respectable distance from the flames.

If you are able to safely maintain a pit cover, you can use this all weather item for a variety or purposes. You can even have barbeques with your friends, cooking meals over the open fire, which can provide the most delicious food you have ever cooked in your backyard. Also, it can keep you warm in these hazardous weather conditions, when rain and snow might threaten to chill you and the people around you. No matter what you use it for, you can rest assured that a cover will guard your pit against whatever weather conditions it comes up against, ensuring a safe and fun environment.

Approaching Winter   The Climate of Iceland   3 Realistic Reasons Why You Might Need a Survival Kit   Smart Buy - Home Weather Station To Help You Plan Your Day   Why Governments Will Never Build Effective Disaster Early Warning Networks   Novel Solution to Poly Tarp Price Rise Found by Charitable Manufacturers   

Change Management: Getting Everyone on Board the Change Train

How do you get everyone on board the change train that is gaining speed and heading out of the station? How do you get your people to, not only go through the motions, but also actually "buy into" the changes that are necessary? People's resistance to change is not entirely irrational; it stems from good and understandable concerns. Here are the six most common reasons people resist change and tactics to convert this resistance to commitment.

Surprise, Surprise!

People are easily shocked by decisions or requests suddenly sprung on them without groundwork or preparation. Managers frequently make this mistake when introducing change. They wait until all the decisions are made and then spring them on unsuspecting employees. However, the first response of people to something totally new and unexpected, not having time to prepare for, is resistance.

Tactic: Give people advance notice. It's better to know ahead of time of a plant closing or a move to a new location. Then they can have time to adjust their thinking and, most importantly, to begin realistically planning for the changes.

Loss of Control

How people greet change has to do with their perception of whether they are in control of it or not. If people feel out of control, they are more likely to act defensively, either by excess complaining, by dragging their feet or by becoming territorial. Change is exciting, when it's done by us; threatening, when it's done to us.

Tactic: Give everyone a chance to participate and get involved in the change effort. Although the decision regarding the specific change has been made, people who are going to be affected by this change can have input on its implementation. They can decide how to re-arrange the office or determine the optimum way to use the new computer system. The more choices that are left to the people, the better they'll feel, and the more committed they will be to the specific change.

Excess Uncertainty

If people don't know what the next step is or where it is going to take them, any change will seem dangerous. It's like walking off a cliff blindfolded. As one long time employee said to me:

"I know the old Bell system---its mission, its operations, its people, its culture. In that knowledge I had an identity and confidence about my company and myself. Now that I work for a company, one-fourth its former size, I find myself asking: Who am I? Who are we? How is it going to affect me?"

Tactic: Share information about what exactly is happening and at every step of the change process. Furthermore, by dividing a big change into a number of small steps, change will seem less risky and threatening. People can then focus on one step at a time and feel that they are not being asked to leap off the cliff blindfolded.

The Difference Factor

Change requires people to become conscious of, and to question, familiar routines and habits. This is difficult because a great deal of work in organizations is habitual and provides a sense of stability. Imagine what it would be like if, every week you went to work, your office was in an entirely different place and the furniture was rearranged. You would stumble around and need to expend a large amount of physical and emotional energy just trying to constantly adapt. This is what happens to people when they are experiencing too many changes all at once.

Tactic: Minimize or reduce the number of differences introduced by the change, leaving some of the traditions, habits or routines. In other words, maintain some familiar sight and sounds, the things that make people feel comfortable and in control.

Concerns about Future Competence

People have concern about their future ability to be effective after the change: Can I do it? How will I do it? Will I make it under the new conditions? Do I have the skills to operate in a new way? It can be very threatening for many employees to be told that, all of a sudden, the new world demands a new way of thinking and a new set of skills.

Tactic: Make sure people feel competent. Provide sufficient education and training as well as opportunity to practice the new skills or actions without feeling judged. Give them time to get comfortable with new routines or different procedures. Nobody likes to look inadequate, especially people who have been around a long time.

Ripple Effect

Change tends to be perceived by employees as requiring more energy, more time, and probably more work. In fact, change does required, in many instances, above-and-beyond efforts. Change may also disrupt scheduled plans and projects and even personal and family activities. Change sends ripples beyond their intended impact.

Tactic: Provide needed support and compensation for the extra work of change. Acknowledge people for their extra effort; offer days off after the crunch; have a big family celebration after the change. Being sensitive to people's lives helps them get on and stay on board the change train that's rumbling through your organization.

Remember, people don't resist change, they resist being change. The trick is getting people to choose change rather than solely resist it.

Discovery in A Million Dollar Mistake   Discovery in A Million Dollar Mistake