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Fuzz Testing Here's a new term for you! It's possible that some of you have heard of this before, but I'm guessing most of you don't really know exactly what it means in reference to the computer world. So, I thought I would help you all out with that today and fill you in on what fuzz testing really is. Are you ready? Then let's stop wasting time and get started! Basically, "fuzz testing" (also known as fuzzing) is a technique that uses specialized software to put random data into programs to test their compatibility and functionality. If the program fails the test (it crashes, for example), the problems can then be taken down and fixed before the application is actually sold to the public. Fuzz testing also does a lot with checking for vulnerabilities in programs, which is a great feature. That way, we, as consumers, know we're not buying a program that is filled with potential problems or something that may bring harm to our computers. Fuzz testing is a great method, because its design is very simple to use and it comes with no misconceptions. It has been around since 1989 and it has been used on numerous occasions. I'm sure you all have purchased a "fuzz tested" program before as well! Several large software companies use fuzz testing, because it's inexpensive and again, very easy to use. So, if you've never heard of this term before, you now know all about it! ~ Erin You can't stop now! There's so much more to read about. Keep going to learn all about illegal downloading and why you should stay as far away from it as possible, find out how you can keep your leading zeros in MS Excel and learn how you can save yourself some time with the Firefox extension of LeechBlock. Also, be sure to check out this week's awesome download thanks to Gary and of course, don't miss out on Amanda's Cool Site of the Day. Enjoy!
The Best Backup Program EVER! Makes Keeping Your Computer Backed Up SIMPLE! This Is One Program You Just Gotta Have!!! Incredibly Low Price!!! Horror Story Time: Just last spring, while I was working on my graduate thesis, my computer crashed and I lost roughly 45 pages. Two years worth of research and writing were gone within a blink of an eye!!! I am sure you could only fathom how upset I became. Fortunately, I had a rough (and I mean really rough) draft saved on a flash drive: but still...(grrrr) talk about aggravating! And you don't want to get me started on the number of all nighters I pulled at the end of the semester so I could graduate on time! When I think back to it now, all I can say is "what a nightmare!" I wish I would have backup up my files! Ya know, we hear these types of stories from people all the time, "I'm so upset - my computer crashed and I lost all of my stuff! My photos are gone! My work documents are history! Everything is trashed - I wish I would have backed up!" Backing up your files isn't just important - it's absolutely CRITICAL! Unfortunately, the truth is most of us just don't do it enough, myself included!! . It's just such a hassle to take the time to back everything up, or remember to do it for that matter! Well, when Steve told me about PC Backup, I wished I had it on my computer five months ago, it would have been a life saver!! I know you're absolutely gonna LOVE this gem of a program! It makes backing up effortless! Really! Just set it up and it works in the background of your computer! "How does it work?" Well, it couldn't be easier! All you have to do is tell it what files or folders you want to backup. For most people, just having it backup your "My Documents" folder is probably all you need, but you can add whatever you like (I backed up all my pictures and music files too!)! Your choice- Keep just one file backed up, keep selected files backed up, or keep every file on your system backed up! It's easy and only takes a a few simple clicks of the mouse! Next, direct the file to where it is being backed up. Personally, I use an external hard drive, but a large memory card, flash drive, or even a separate internal hard drive will work. All depends on how much data you have to backup. Finally, have it do the first backup. That's it! You're already an expert! Nothin' to it!
Oh, and talk about automatic backups! WOW! THAT'S the reason I LOVE this software! For your future backups, you can have it set to run when Windows starts and then run an automatic backup every so often. At work, I have mine set for about every fifteen minutes, and boy, I was glad I did just the other day when the power went out and I thought I lost all my work! But, you can set your backup times for once an hour, three hours, or what ever you feel necessary! I just love this feature! Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking- Having it backup all the time would make the poor computer work constantly, but it doesn't! Why? This can do Incremental Backups! That means that when it goes to do a backup, it ONLY backs up new or changed files! Saves IMMENSE amounts of time! My favorite feature!!!!! Here's an example! Say you have 100 files in a folder and between backups you change one file and add another. Rather than recopying ALL the files, it simply adds the new file and updates the changed one - two files written, 99 left alone! Smart eh? Instead of several minutes (or hours, depending on your file sizes / numbers), this is done in seconds! See why I love this one? PLUS this backups up the full files - it doesn't "hide" them in some kind of weird compressed archive that you HAVE to use the program to open - all your files are completely usable AS THEY ARE in your backup location! Why is this important? Think about this - What happens if your computer crashes and you can't find the disk for your backup software to reinstall it?? With software that uses a special only-works-with-our-backup-software kind of file, you MUST use that backup software to retrieve your files! Yikes! With this, you'll still have your files - all 100% usable and ready to go! I tell ya, this is the way backup programs SHOULD be! Easy to use, working in the background, and not taking up any resources! PERFECT! I don't know why this hasn't been done before! It's just GREAT!!!! Your cost? Just $10.97 and US shipping is FREE! Spectacular deal on what's possibly the easiest, most elegant backup solution I've come across! Take a look: http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4302 PS - It's not a matter of IF you're going to need a backup, it's WHEN (and we both know that's true!) This is an affordable, easy to use program that does the job without the hassle! Set it up once, and know that in blissful confidence YOU are one of the few who are backing up all your beloved files! Isn't it worth $10.97 to make sure your files are safe? (Trust me, it will be worth 20X that amount to you if you don't backup and your data is lost !!!) HEY! Save Your Life For $12.97! Incredible Device Detects Electrical Current! Don't Mess With Wires Or Electricity Without It! EZ Test To See If There's Power! Picture this: You are standing over your computer, trying desperately to get it to turn on- but it won't. You swear that the machine was working yesterday, and if you don't get online to check your tee-times at the local country club, you are going to grab the computer and toss it out the window. Well, it might not be your computer that is at fault. Could it possibly be that your outlet isn't getting the power that it needs? Every home should have at least one of these Non Contact Voltage Detector. And let me tell ya, it is a real life saver! These devices are perfect for testing your outlets to make sure that power is efficiently flowing through the wires, ultimately making your home safer! Oh and they are so easy to use (and fun too- when I got mine I checked every outlet in the entire house!) You know how it goes. You play the "flip the breaker" game (they never seem to be labeled well - kind of like modern Russian Roulette), until you "think" you have the power off to the area you need to wire. Unfortunately, thinking you have the power off just isn't enough - ask me how I know, LOL! For instance, when we got our new house I had to replace one of the electrical outlets. Flipped off the breaker, lights in that room went off, and I thought I was set. THANK GOODNESS I have one of these little gadgets! Just to be safe, I decided to use a Non-Contact Voltage Detector like the one were featuring today and see if the power was really out. OOPS! YIKES! The power was still on! The plug was at the edge of another circuit - and that circuit was still hot! Thankfully, I was able to get the correct breaker thrown and all went well. To test the power in your outlets, all you have to do is turn this nifty little device on (first making sure that the batteries work- of course). Then, test an outlet that you know works properly by simply putting the tip of the device into each socket. If you have power, the LED light will flash and you will hear and audible whistling sound! Worried about sticking something into your outlet? Well, this voltage detector has a plastic tip over the contact point, making this device extra safe. However, if you are still worried, this device can read voltages from power cords that are plugged into the socket. Simply place the detector onto the cord, and a reading will occur! How nice is that!!! I know I used the heck out of mine during our remodeling and I really can't recommend this little gadget highly enough! Don't just flip a switch or breaker off and assume your safe - know for sure! But the price is what is really cool! We have a special introductory price of just $12.97 and US Shipping is Free! Now that is a deal! http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4261 PS: Every household and office should have one of these, and at that kind of deal they are going to fly out the door. Order Now!!!
Q: A: First of all, when you're using the Internet, you probably think you're at least somewhat anonymous, right? Well, that's just not always the case. With everything available online today, it's easy to pass your information around without even knowing it. And downloading is one major cause of that. Downloading and sharing files are two of the most popular online activities these days. I mean, with everything from music to movies to games and so on, it's very easy to get caught up in that kind of traffic. So, when you're downloading something, you may not realize who all is watching you. That's especially true if you're trying to download copyrighted material. Basically, anyone who has a keen interest in protecting copyrights will know if you're trying to illegally download something. You may not know it, but there are several organizations out there that do just that. Their main purpose is to watch for people who are partaking in illegal downloading. For example, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a major one when it comes to protecting the rights of recording artists. The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and NBC Universal are two others. Those organizations have gone as far as charging all types of people (college students, senior citizens and even the deceased) with software piracy and copyright infringement. They usually start out by demanding payment for the stolen material, but others have gone on to take legal action. So, if you weren't convinced you're being watched before, are you now? It's a lot easier than you may think to get caught in the act of illegal downloading. It doesn't matter where you're getting your material from, there are always watchdogs on the lookout. Okay, now that we've covered all of that, what is legal then? Well, there are a few services online today that are legal to use, but the material you can download from them may still be illegal copies. Some examples of those are LimeWire, Bittorrent and Kazaa. So, if you're not sure what you're getting yourself into, here's a good rule to go by: if a song, a movie, a game, etc. is available for a free download from a Web site you visit, it's more than likely an illegal copy. If you're downloading it without the owner's permission, you're violating the law and there's always the chance you'll be confronted about it. With that said, it's best to go with a service that charges you a small fee to download their material instead. Two perfect examples are Napster and iTunes. Both of them have agreements with recording labels, movie producers, etc. and anything you download is 100 percent legal, with no copyright issues. So, unless you know for sure the material you're downloading has no copyrights, your best bet is to fork out a little money each month to save you from a potential lawsuit. You can also keep yourself safe by simply using some common sense. For example, if a song you're downloading just hit the radio airwaves, chances are, it's a copyrighted song and it would be illegal for you to own it for free. Or, if you're downloading a hit movie that's still being shown in the theaters, that's an illegal act. Just don't do it! It's not your material to own and in my opinion, you shouldn't be able to have it without doing it legally. Now, I know this is one of those situations where you're thinking, "Oh, something like this won't ever happen to me," but let's all be honest here. You just never know. Keep yourself safe and live with a healthy conscience. That's all you have to do! ~ Erin Have a question for the newsletter? Submit it at the link below:
The Leading Zero Are you constantly frustrated with MS Excel, because it keeps removing that leading zero from your inventory number? Yeah, me too! The problem is Excel automatically sees the data as a number and since the leading zeros have no value in numbers, it gets rid of them. It's convenient when you're actually dealing with numbers, but a pain when it's a part number or an ID number. A quick and easy way to get Excel to leave your zeros alone is to change the cell format to text. There are a few ways to make the change, so let's go over a couple of them now. One way to handle the situation is to first highlight the cell(s) to change. In older versions of Excel, you need to go to the Format menu, Cells choice. In Excel 2007, click on the arrow in the bottom right hand corner of the Number section under the Home tab on the ribbon. Or, Ctrl + 1 also works in all versions, including Excel 2007. Under the General tab (Number tab in Excel 2007), choose Text from the Categories list and then click OK. Voila! The leading zeros are safe. In Excel 2007, if that's the only change you're making and you don't need the rest of the Format Cells dialogue window, you can make the change even faster by using the Number Format field found in the Number section under the Home tab on the ribbon. Choose Text from the list and you're good to go. Now, I'd like to wrap up with one last thought. If you only have a few cells to change, you could just type an apostrophe before entering the data (for example, instead of typing 0123 in the cell, type '0123). When you hit the Enter key, the change is made instantly for that cell only. Once again, your zero is safe and sound! ~ April
Fantastic Light-Up, Optical Mouse On Sale Today!!! I Swear, Everyone Will Want One Of These! These things were hot yesterday! Thanks to everyone who ordered. If you were thinking about it, and you haven't ordered, I would get to the page right away! Wow! I just can't believe the deal we got on these super cool, optical mice. And let me tell you, once I saw this mouse, I immediately begged Steve to allow me to keep it installed on my computer. It is by far the most comfortable and fun mouse I have ever used (and I have been using a computer for the past twenty years!). Being at the office all day, I need a mouse that fits my hand and is comfortable to use. I mean, if your job involved standing all day, wouldn't you use have to wear comfortable shoes? Well, why not have a comfortable mouse if you are sitting at the computer all day? If you are looking for the pinnacle of comfort, this mouse is for you! But, not only is this mouse comfortable but it has such an stylish design. The black interface matches just about any computer, plus with its clear sides, the internal bright red and blue LED lights really shine! (and also mix to a fun purple shade- check out that cool pic!) And let me tell you, the black surface, really makes these lights took extra bright!!! I just love it! Oh- and I have to tell you about the precision and accuracy! This mouse comes with a wide scroll wheel that makes scrolling easier, smoother, and faster! I use to think that the scroll button size didn't matter, but boy, did it make a difference when I tried out the wired wheel! WOW! Plus, this mouse is optical, so you know that it is going to be accurate on almost any surface! I am tellin' ya, this mouse just blows me away! Just a few more things, and then we will talk price!!! With its ergonomic design, this mouse is perfect for both right and left handed users! And finally, this mouse has plug and play. Yep, that's right, all you have to do is plug it in and it will start to work!!! Now that is nice!! Okay, so now the price! Get this!!! For just $10.97 you will receive this fantastic mouse! Oh, and don't forget the US Shipping is Free! Order now! http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4473 PS: Don't you just love watching the blue and red colors mix into purple! I swear, you won't find this kind of lights show with any kind of mouse. And for just $10.97 you will always enjoy the fun precision of this mouse! Check it out! Save The Expense Of A New Car or Home Stereo Play Your iPod or MP3 Player In Your Car Unbeatable Deal On Wireless FM Transmitter!! No Wiring - No Hassles! Amazingly LOW Price Too! WOW!! I am sure that you you know that MP3s are the latest and greatest way to listen to music files. They are compact, and with MP3 players and iPods, you have thousands of songs at your fingertips! But, what about listening to your music outside of your iPod or MP3 player? What are you suppose to do? Well, if you have a car that is post 2006, you probably have this nifty little port in your car called AUX. This port allows you to plug in you iPod or MP3 player and listen to your MP3s through your car stereo system. Great! But, what if your car doesn't have this cool little feature? Do you still have to listen to your old CDs or take time to burn new CDs? Or, should I even mention the repetitive radio? Nope, you still have an amazing option, and it can be found right here with this phenomenal Wireless FM Transmitter. I just adore this transmitter. It has really allowed me to increase when and where I play my MP3s without putting a huge dent in my wallet, which, you gotta admit, is soooo fantastic! Next time you are walking through your local retail electronics store, take a look at their expensive MP3 stereo systems or their FM transmitters! Just the other day, I told my best friend not to buy a $50.00, bulky plastic thing that plugged into the Car Cigarette Lighter and instead to order one of these wireless transmitters from WorldStart. I am tellin' ya, this is by far a better deal and it works amazing! This Wireless FM Transmitter is Amazing! This little guy is super-affordable and incredibly easy to use! Just plug it into ANY iPod or MP3 player! The signal picks up great in my car, and my antenna is in the back! I was amazed with how clear it sounded. It actually sounded 100X better than the one that cost me $50.00!!! No longer will you be limited to just the earphones, a car adapter, or an expensive MP3 stereo! With the FM Transmitter, you can take it anywhere. It works with any FM Radio! There are even 12 different frequency selections to choose from, so the music will never cut out! And, there are suction cups to mount the transmitter, making it totally hands free- perfect for driving! Your Cost? We have a one day only special for you today!!!! This awesome transmitter is just $12.97 and US Shipping is FREE! Be smarter than I was, and save yourself a whole lot of time and money! http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4370 PS: YAY for the Summer. This is a great, simple way to bring music to enjoy at the beach, a park, or a picnic!
Super Bright 41 LED FLASHLIGHT For A Price That Will WOW YOU! Honestly, could you ever have too many flash lights? I keep one in my car, one in the kitchen, one in the utilities closet, one in the basement, and one in my bedroom. Plus, my roommate is an engineer, and he carries his with him all day every day! Let's face it, flashlights are an extremely handy devices! They can be used during camping trips, power outages, home repair projects, and soooo much more! Besides, you never know when or where you might just need a little extra light! If you are looking for a flashlight, this 41 LED Flashlight is the way to go! With its small (only 5"), lightweight aluminum design, this flashlight is not only perfect for your home but for your car, handbag, boat, motor home, and garage. What could be worse than grabbing a flashlight only to discover that the bulbs are burnt out. Well, this flash light has LED bulbs that just last forever!!!! That is just sooo nice! And with the 41 LEDs, the light projecting from the device is bright! I am talking REALLY BRIGHT!!!! Oh and this flashlight has a non-slip grip handle, which is perfect when you are dealing with the wet mess when you have to go outside in the thunderstorm, or even worse, working on your plumbing!!! Seriously, when you are in those wet situations, the last thing you want to do is be fumbling with your flashlight!!! And with this bright flashlight, you will always have a secure grip! I just got 3 of them, I will never be caught in the dark again!!! And neither should you! Hurry- order yours now we run out! Cost? For just $10.97 and US Shipping is Free, you can get this amazing flashlight! http://store.worldstart.com/ PS: With our unpredictable weather, a flashlight is always a valuable tool... and the brighter, the better! This one is one of the best I have seen!!! Check it out, I know you will love it!
What Are MP3s? Yes, the term "MP3" has been around for quite awhile now, but that doesn't necessarily mean you know what it is. I mean, do you know an exact definition of an MP3? You've probably heard it in conjunction with an MP3 player, but what is an MP3 on its own? Well, that's a really good question and if you read through the tip on our homepage today, you'll get a great answer. That's right, everything you could ever possibly need to know about an MP3 can be found on our homepage today. Check it out! You Can Help Kids Are you always looking for ways to help the children in your neighborhood? Maybe you'd like to volunteer to spend some quality time with them or perhaps you'd just like to learn more about what's going on in your community in regards to the children. No matter what you'd like to do, you can help! To learn more about how you can get started, be sure to check out the cool site we're featuring on our homepage today. It's called You Can Help Kids and it will teach you how to do just that. It's definitely worth the read! Here's the link you need: http://www.worldstart.com/ Enjoy!
LeechBlock Have you ever sat down to perhaps write up a document or just to get some work done? Then a few hours later, you find yourself surfing the Internet with absolutely no work done! Well, today, I’m going to help you put an end to that bad habit with the Firefox extension of LeechBlock. LeechBlock allows you to block out certain Web sites so that you can’t access them while you work. Then after you’ve finished working, you can indulge in those sites once again. C’mon, let's check it out! 1.) To get started, visit this Web site and begin the download by pressing on the green Download Now button. You will then be prompted to restart Firefox. 2.) Once Firefox opens back up, you can start configuring LeechBlock to block out your favorite Web sites. 3.) Next, go up to the Tools menu, choose LeechBlock and then click on Options.
6.) First, you're going to enter in the Web sites that waste your time the most. Take a minute or two to think about the sites you'd like to block and then enter them one at a time, just like this:
8.) When you set up LeechBlock, you don’t want it to be too easy to access the Control Panel and disable the filter. If you click on the General tab, you can select your own requirement for your access options. 9.) Here are your options:
11.) To activate the filter, go to Tools, LeechBlock, Lockdown.
13.) If, for any reason, you need to end the block, go up to the LeechBlock options and either enter in your password or your 32 or 64 letter code. 14.) After you do that, the Control Panel will open. Go ahead and click on the General tab. 15.) Next, click Cancel Currently Active Countdown and you’re done!
Before I let you go, I have one more thing to show you. As I’m sure you noticed, in the Options menu, you have choices for Block Sets 2-6. That means you can have five other lists of Web sites you’d like to block. That would be useful if you wanted to block a search engine in one list, but not in another. Cool, huh?! I hope you enjoy LeechBlock. Trust me, it can be very handy! ~ Neil Patel If you enjoy our tips, tell your friends. That's what keeps this newsletter growing.
Portable Applications for Flash Drives I have something really cool for those of you who use flash drives! Usually, I write about one or two free programs I have found, but today, I'm going to write about an entire Web site full of free programs. The site is called portableapps.com and it has tons of absolutely free applications that are designed specifically to be installed on a flash drive. All of the applications can be installed on a flash drive and instantly used on any computer you plug it into. The Web site offers a bundle of programs called a suite, which includes a word processor, an e-mail program, a password utility, a calendar and even a Sudoku game. I installed the suite on my flash drive and I just love it! I can take my flash drive to any computer, plug it in and instantly have my documents and e-mails, just like it's my own computer. If you don't want all of the programs, you can install them individually. There are dozens of portable applications to choose from. You can check out all of the portable applications right here. Here's a quick note about installing the applications: make sure you have your flash drive plugged in when you download the apps. After you start the installer, it will ask you where you want to install them. To do it correctly, choose the drive letter of your flash drive and then continue on with the installation. That should be all you need. Enjoy! ~ Gary For stories, jokes, quotes and cartoons every day, sign up for our Just for Grins newsletter.
This Web site will teach you everything you need to know about traveling light! Not only does it give you the immediate benefit of not having to wait for your checked luggage at the airport, but it also saves you money and provides you with extra security. On this site, you will learn three things: what to pack, what to pack it in and how to pack it. You’ll find navigation on the gray navigation strip near the top of the page. From there, you’ll find these sections: Arrivals - When you mouse over this section's title, you’ll be given two options: Lightening Your Load, which is the homepage and The One Bag Story, where you’ll learn how the site got started. What to Pack – When you mouse over this section's title, you’ll be given five different sections that cover what you should pack and why you should pack it. It also covers electrical products and items that are prohibited. You’ll also learn all about the beauty of a packing list. What to Pack It In – When you mouse over this section's title, you'll see five sections. They will walk you through how to pick a bag, as well as, discuss the types of bags you have to choose from. How to Pack It – When you mouse over this section's title, you'll find five sections that give you excellent packing tips. You'll find packing tips on traveling with children, packing liquids safely and much more. Packing List – When you mouse over this section's title, you'll find eleven different packing lists and an introduction to the section. Departures – When you mouse over this section's title, you'll see four areas of useful information for the time before you leave on your trip. Here you can leave feedback and also learn about luggage tags. No matter where you’re going or how many bags you’re taking, this Web site has many useful tips. If you can’t get it down to one bag, at the very least, you can pack much safer. Happy packing! ~ Amanda Do you have a cool, non-commercial site that you want to share?
In less than 60 minutes of listening to this audiobook on CD, you will have heard the original 1776 United States Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson's account of the Declaration, and much more. To improve your understanding of this historic document, we have included original readings and commentary related to this subject, such as the Virginia Declaration of Rights, drafted a few months before the Declaration of Independence. http://store.worldstart.com/product.php?productid=4205
August Wallpaper Here's August's wallpaper. It's all free, so enjoy!
All can be found here: http://www.worldstart.com/ Enjoy!
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Computer Tips [ Are Downloads Legal? + Got Fuzz? + Perfect Portable Programs ] 08/14/08
Never Be In The Dark Again!
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