Although requiring a phone number for a Gmail address may seem like an unnecessary step, or even like a violation of privacy, Google does so to more effectively protect your account. With this information Google can tie the account to the physical object of a real person, making it much more difficult to misuse the service You can take login security one step further by signing up for Google’s “2-Step Verification....
Windows allows you to view a list of your computer’s Internet connection options so that you can configure and select an ideal method of connecting to the Internet. Windows XP displays these connections in its “Network Connections” folder. Windows XP may also display an icon for an “Internet Gateway” in the “Network Connections” folder as well. In Windows Vista and Windows 7 the icon appears in the computer’s “Network” folder....
In the beginning of the computer age, the only educational institutions that used computers in the classroom were universities. By the 1960s and 1970s, some high school students were beginning to get access to them. The 1980s personal computer revolution started to put computers into middle schools and elementary schools, and today’s computers and tablets are finding their ways into preschools. Whether this is a good thing remains a matter of significant debate....
The best product isn’t automatically the winner – in some cases, a lesser product may go the distance based on great marketing, a lower price or other factors. For instance, in the battle of videotape formats in the 1980s, VHS had poorer quality than BetaMax, but better distribution, so it became the most popular standard. With keyboards, the current QWERTY configuration, named after the order of the top row of letters, has become the standard after its debut in the 19th century....
Most premium anti-virus programs charge an annual or monthly subscription fee, but if you would prefer not to pay there are several free alternatives that you can download and install to protect your computer from harmful computer viruses and malicious software. Before dropping your subscription-based anti-virus software, check that the free program offers a satisfactory level of protection. Writer Bio
BlueSoleil is the most commonly bundled driver for Bluetooth devices for the PC and some mobile devices. Bluetooth is one of the wireless technologies that enables things like wireless keyboards and cell phones to connect wirelessly without you having to do anything. Bluetooth refers to both the hardware (radio transceiver, antenna, and so on) and software called a “protocol stack” of which BlueSoleil is one. There are several free alternatives to BlueSoleil....
Facebook members upload photos to connect with friends, express opinions and share newsworthy content on the social network. What some consider artful expression may be, to others, highly offensive. If, after reviewing Facebook’s Community Standards, you feel a photo crosses the line, you have the option to flag it for further review. Rest assured that the identities of members who flag are kept anonymous. Writer Bio
If you are required to carry a cell phone for work, it is possible for your boss to tell where you are, if you use a company-issued cell phone and the boss has enabled cell phone tracking. When you use your own private cell phone, it is under your control, so your boss won’t be able to track you. However, your company may mandate that you use a cell phone with tracking capability and forbid you from disabling it during work hours....
When you upload a photo, Facebook automatically stamps the photo with the date you specified during the upload. If you didn’t specify a date, Facebook uses the upload date by default. Because this date may inappropriately represent a photo, Facebook lets you change it to any time before the actual upload date. This feature is important because the date stamp dictates where in your Timeline a photo appears. Writer Bio
Adware is a term for software programs that are designed to display advertisements. Some adware programs are relatively harmless; others have the ability to collect your personal information and may seriously impair your computer system. There are hundreds of adware programs; however, a WebRoot study noted that the three most common adware programs are180SearchAssistant, AltNet and CoolWebSearch. Writer Bio
Plasma televisions offer large screens, thin panels and high definition display. Their screens consist of thousands, sometimes millions, of tiny pixels that light up to create a crisp image. Although many people rave about the exceptional viewing experience that plasma televisions offer, they are susceptible to several screen issues that potential buyers should be aware of before investing in them. Writer Bio
About 60 million households subscribe to cable. Cable companies provide a wide range of programming, most of it the same. When it comes to choosing a cable company, the choice really depends on price. Cable can be expensive, so it’s important to find a good deal. Basic U-Verse (U-Basic) from AT&T is growing in popularity but it doesn’t have as many features. Writer Bio
Traditionally, women–especially single mothers–have faced obstacles when trying to further their eduction. To help women to get past these obstacles, women’s organizations and colleges, and the government, have set up funds specifically for disadvantage women. Computer and technology courses are available throughout the country and most grants for women don’t limit the kinds of education women can pursue. The Business and Professional Women’s Association offer grants directed toward women of limited financial resources who have never been to college or returning to advance in their chosen career....
Skype has a number of statuses to let people on your contacts list know whether you’re available or not, and both the Invisible and Offline statuses make it appear to other users like you’re not on Skype. However, while you can still use Skype in Invisible mode, the program’s features are restricted when you use the Offline status. Writer Bio
Anyone who has used a cable box has likely had to reset it more than once. A reset is the first thing any tech support representative will have you do to troubleshoot any problems your box is experiencing, and for good reason – a reset can often solve many of the most common technical issues associated with cable boxes. If a box is experiencing serious malfunctions, however, you may encounter difficulty in getting it to reset....
When you first connect a computer to the Internet, it takes only minutes before it’s attacked by a hacker, according to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team. This is why US-CERT recommends a firewall in addition to anti-virus software to protect your computer. If your D-Link’s built-in firewalls are causing problems, disabling them may help, but it could also make computers on your network vulnerable unless they have some other firewall protection....
If you’re transitioning from dial-up to broadband Internet service, or seeking a new broadband service provider, you can often feel overwhelmed wondering what you will need to use the service. If you want wireless networking within your home, you have an additional layer of questions. Fortunately, the AT&T Gateway DSL modem’s dual role simplifies the process considerably. Writer Bio
FedEx serves residential and commercial customers in over 220 countries and territories, shipping over 10 million packages a day. With such global activity, it’s no surprise that FedEx incorporates GPS technology into its services. But FedEx’s GPS service isn’t immediately available to all customers or shipments. Writer Bio
Updated April 25, 2017 Is There a Risk? Chargers, whether for laptops, cell phones or tablets, have become a necessity of modern life. The convenience of leaving devices plugged in has made it a common practice. These chargers are constantly drawing power, though not as much as they would if they were turned on. It could lead to a risk of fire either through heat buildup or a short circuit....
Shortly after the tragic events of Sept. 11, the Federal Communications Commission’s E911 mandated that all cell phones be engineered to include location capability, either via GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) or GPS chips. Unlike other major wireless telecommunications networks, such as Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, at the time of publication, U.S. Cellular does not directly provide family locator services. However, U.S. Cellular customers can download and install reliable GPS family locator programs onto U....
