Computers | Surf Pilot

Jul

The Internet Offers a Real Boon to College Students

By admin | Computers, Hardware, Internet

College students have it easy today. They don’t have to shuffle through an endless card catalogue to find information about the books they need. In fact, they might not even need books. Internet technology has made it possible for students to access the information that they need more quickly, which means less time stumbling through a dusty library and more time learning important skills that will move their careers forward.

Online Research for College Students

Internet search engines help students find websites and books that pertain to their fields of study. If you want to find a copy of Turn of the Screw, then just read it via Google Books. If you need to know the latest data about computer security, then search for a website that offers up-to-the-minute info on the latest security techniques.

In addition to Internet search engines, most college libraries allow students to access research articles and periodicals online. Forget walking through summer’s heat and winter’s snow to browse through thousands of academic publications. Just use your home computer to search for articles containing the specific keywords that apply to your research.

Online Writing Tutors

The Internet even makes it easier for today’s college students to start writing their papers. Whether you attend an online Bachelors programs or a local community college, you can use the Internet to connect with tutors that can take your writing to the next level.

The next time that someone tells you the Internet offers nothing but a waste of time, remind them of how much time they wasted trying to fight sleep in their college’s library

Jul

Research made Easy

By admin | Computers, Search Engines, Software

You’re in college, and whether you’re traveling the traditional or online college courses route, you need help finding articles and information that is credible and well-written. Where do you search?

Your college campus library will have articles that are found online without having to step into the real facility. Your college library is for your benefit; usually folks perusing the Internet cannot log in to the information provided by colleges and universities.
Your computer News icon is a great resource for finding out the latest news on the topic of your choice. Place your topic in the search box, click on search, and see a list of current news articles about your topic.
Focus on .edu and .gov over .com Internet addresses. The information provided on the former is usually well-written and well-researched.
Don’t be afraid to double-check your information. If you find a great quote in an article, try to find the real source and double-check your work.
Articles written by professionals in their field will usually trump someone who is merely interested in the subject even if the person has experienced the situation first-hand. If you’re going to use a first-hand experience, back it up with professional comments.
When collecting your research, make sure you keep everything together. Organize your research by subtopics within your main topic. Color code the research to keep your quotes and information together. For example, use blue highlighter colors for one sub topic, yellow for another. Highlight as you read. When your paper is ready to write, you can see what needs to go where at a glance.

Research is made easier when you stick to your topic, focus on the highest elements of credibility, and don’t get overwhelmed in the organization process. Good luck!

Jul

Need Better Computer Security? Try a Dongle

By admin | Computers, Hardware, Internet

Mention computer security, and most people immediately start thinking about software options. Software can offer a variety of security options that protect information from hackers, but they aren’t the only option. Hardware options, called dongles, can also help protect your computer from hackers and thieves.

The Advantage of Security Hardware

Security software can make it harder for someone to access your computer from a mobile location, but it doesn’t always offer the protection you need when a thief has your computer sitting right in front of him. Given enough time, a computer-savvy thief can break your password and browse your files freely.

Dongles, however, make it much more difficult. Dongles are small pieces of hardware that you connect to your computer via its USB port. When you insert the dongle, your computer asks it for a pass key. Without the dongle, the computer will not start.

Advanced Hardware Technology

Today’s dongles offer much more effective security measures than those used a decade or two ago. Older dongles were easy for hackers to replicate. They simply had to discover the pass key and load it into a similar device. Voila, they could bypass the security measure by recreating the dongle.

The most recently developed security hardware, however, uses encrypted pass keys that make it much more difficult for hackers to replicate. It takes much more than acing a few online Bachelors programs in computer science to break these codes.

If you are serious about protecting the information on your computer, then consider using software and hardware options. That way, you have protected yourself from theft in the virtual world and the real world.