Linux Alliance

Identity theft is on the rise and 71% of all fraud occurs within a week of the theft. Online identity theft accounts for 11% of all identity theft, so it is a good idea to protect your computer, your internet connection and your personal information. Antivirus software will scan your computer and incoming email messages for viruses and will delete them before they cause any damage to your computer, use your email address for spam messages or before spyware and malware are installed.

For optimum computer security there are a few steps you should take besides installing a good antivirus software. First, buy a computer with a good firewall or purchase firewall software that will protect your computer. While many computers come with a firewall already installed, most are not activated. Be sure that your firewall is properly activated before using your computer.

Second, be very wary of who you give your information to. There are scams called phishing scams in which a criminal will pose as a company such as a bank and ask for personal information like your social security number, account numbers and PIN’s. Most authentic banks will not send you emails asking for this information.

Third, don’t open unsolicited emails or attachments. They may contain viruses. Also, watch your Internet surfing activity. Many unscrupulous sites will attach spyware or viruses to your computer as you tour their site. Online gamers must be especially vigilant and should purchase special antivirus software made exclusively for online gamers.

Your antivirus software should come with a daily update system. You should run this update regularly as new viruses and bugs come online every day. Your antivirus software will update itself with the proper antidotes to those bugs. Don’t become another identity theft statistic by protecting yourself with antivirus software today.

It’s a revolution — the perfect tangle of athletes and their statistics, the thrill of a game and the certainty of a screen. Online sports betting is a new force in the world of gambling, with its popularity growing quickly throughout all continents. And the reasons leave no doubt as to why.

1. Convenience: Choosing teams, events and wagers is no longer reliant on outside sources. Instead, individuals can place all bets from their computer, allowing for instant access and instant excitement.

2. Analysis: The Internet is privy to many things, including the most up to date examinations of players and their skills. No longer rely on the slow unfolding of television results or the always late ink. The results are current and immediate; which allows all bets to be made prudently. There will be no assumptions.

3. Service: The appeal of online betting may be in its lack of forced interactions, but none should forget the always present technical support. Offering guidance through wages (whether for site complications, process concerns or money transactions), this becomes the most efficient way to answer your questions. The result is speed and ease.

It must be mentioned, though, that the legality of online sports betting is still unresolved. Many states declare it to be against the law while others maintain that it should be allowed. An individual is responsible for assessing his own situation and determining what the possible consequences may be. Do not assume this can be done, even from the anonymity of a computer. You are instead urged to verify it. All betting sites should offer their own explanation as well, clarifying where they rest on the line between good fun and criminal activity. Research thoroughly before agreeing to anything.

None can deny the ease of online sports betting, but some may still deny the lawfulness of it. Be cautious in your choices. Only then can you reap the rewards.

The same technology used to create the popular open source Web browser Firefox has also given birth to some great software. From making films to organizing your desktop, the cool desktop programs available are diverse and can be found for a lot of uses. These ten applications are built off the Mozilla platform, and like Firefox, are free and easily downloaded.

Boxee
A perfect software application for cataloging all of your media is Boxee. All of it is placed in clean-looking and user-friendly menus with remote controls.

Buzzbird
To get the most out of your Twitter account, you may consider Buzzbird. Supporting the usual tweeting features without using another Web browser, it also can cull together conversations between users and boasts its very own URL shortening.

Celtx
Celtx screenplay word processor does more than just get your future film on a page. It includes tools to construct a storyboard, manage filming schedules, as well as collaborate online.

KompoZer
As a website editor KompoZer stands out for a couple of unique reasons. For one, it is very supportive of CSS unlike other applications. And it rocks a FTP tool for uploading pages right on to your server.

Kylo
Sure Kylo is a Web browser, but what makes it so cool is that it’s built for your TV! The entire interface–from menus to fonts–was developed to be seen on the on the big screen, at least as compared to your monitor.

Miro
The Miro media player is geared towards HD video and supports all kinds of file formats. It also operates as a sharing device for your own homemade content.

Songbird
For those looking for a substitute of iTunes will find the Songbird media player appropriate. It has the look and many of the same features.

Spicebird
Combining the convenience of a calendar and instant messaging, Spicebird is an email application that also uses various widgets to work as a digital planner and communication system.

Telekast
If you have been looking for a way to make your computer video presentations easier, Telekast acts as your very own teleprompter.

XULPlayer
Another beneficial media player is XULPlayer. Coming with a customizable interface, it converts video files to other formats and to play on other devices.

Businesses constantly need to search for solutions to increase their efficiency in ways both big in small–from the equipment its employees use to the software that equipment runs. Open source software presents itself as an intriguing solution because it can potentially increase efficiency in more ways than one.

Because all businesses have different needs–needs that also differ between divisions and individual employees–the ability to customize is a substantial asset to the workplace. Open source software can conform to the user rather force the user to conform to the program. This way the program can be manipulated to better accomplish the specific goals of the company. In addition, this can limit potential technical problems and increase needed functionality.

In relation, open source can be utilized on different platforms. This allows a business to maintain a sense of Independence. It will no longer be required to purchase only certain computer models and force each employee to uniformly use only that kind of device–be it PC, Mac, etc. In turn, this can save your business money.

And there is no better way to save money than by outfitting your business for free. Buying software can be expensive, and based on the number of employees, it can be extremely expensive. This will only rise as your company expands, which can then limit growth as it affects operation costs. Opens source is free, meaning significant savings that can trickle down to customers or support new infrastructure.

As an example, take the email client. It is something every business uses and every employee uses, which also means they may have a comfortable relationship with the current system. Thus, it is imperative to find a solution that can match their preferences. Luckily, there are many different open source email clients with different features to match your staff’s personal needs. And with an open source email client you eliminate the need of per user license agreements to save money and employees will be allowed to access their accounts at any work station to increase efficiency.

Chances are sometime during your computer’s lifespan it will encounter a problem, be it a virus or hardware malfunction. However, one issue that can be potentially devastating is the common crash. When your machine fails to boot, it can lead to lost data. But in the world of Linux, full of keen programming fanatics, of course there are some remedies to recover from those frustrating crashes with your data intact. Here are ten of the best:

Knoppix
Known for its data recovery prowess, Knoppix is a user-friendly Linux distribution that boasts a clean interface for simple transfer of data onto an external source by mounting a drive.

Trinity Rescue Kit
It almost seems to simple to be true. Place the Trinity Resuce Kit on a USB drive, boot your computer and let a powerful host of antivirus tools scan the mounted drives.

Avira AntiVir
Swift and steadfast, Avira AntiVir is a command-line antivirus tool with a graphical user interface that will get the job done.

GParted Live
Another Linux distribution, GParted Live allows the user to control partitions. It’s compatible with various file systems and is very portable as it can be run via USB drive or CD.

SystemRescueCD
Controlling partitions, recovering files, testing the hard-disk and formatting FTPs and disks are just some of the plentiful tasks the Linux rescue CD SystemRescueCD can accomplish.

Unbuntu Rescue Remix
As would be expected, Unbuntu Rescue Remix has an outstanding interface, but that’s not all. It can recover and save files and file systems over a whole range of operating systems and drives–even deleted files.

F-Secure Rescue CD
Molded after Knoppix, F-Secure Rescue CD will review the honesty of applications you have installed, as well as repair the effects of malware and has an exceptional data recovery.

Ddrescue
Seeing read errors? The Ddrescue Linux tool can salvage your data by copying it from one file block agent to another.

Safecopy
Like others, Safecopy can copy data, but this tool can also extract data from CDs in raw mode and implement system resets, plus run testing and benchmarking in bad media simulations.

Linux rescue mode
Coming in the form of a Linux boot CD, this mode lets you retain passwords and fix your boot loader, among other useful repairs.

Not everyone has the thousands of dollars to spend on the new top of the line computers hitting the markets every year, nor should you have to buy a new one every three or four years because it supposedly is now obsolete. You and your old computer have been through a lot together, from college term papers to Instant Messenger love chats, so why not squeeze a little more life out of it instead of squeezing your wallet. There a few simple steps to keep that old electronic friend running like a champ.

First of all, delete any unused programs. All of those extraneous programs and applications you’ve downloaded over the years take up memory space, and in turn slows down your computer. Don’t be a digital hoarder. When’s the last time you actually played Snood? Exactly, ditch it. With more space on your hard drive your computer will be able to go much faster.

Another trick to get the computer’s speed back in order is defragmenting the hard drive. If certain files are spread all over your computer, it’ll take much longer to fetch important information to run a program, causing slow loading time and potentially keeping a program from running at all. Defragmenting will put them in order and speed up the retrieval time.

Install another operating system more compatible to older computers. There are open source operating systems available over the Internet–free of charge, too. These operating systems, like Linux, don’t require the unnecessary increase of hardware power like the Hungry Hungry Hippo mainstream systems Windows and Mac OS.

Now that you’ve cleaned up the system, actually clean the computer. Dust and buildup will affect the fans and circuitry of your computer, bogging it down and creating a tendency to overheat. Just the simple act of dusting off its components can have it running like new. And while you’re at it, why not spoof it up a little bit? Give it a whole new identity with a little paint and a few stickers. Your friends won’t even notice it’s the same one you’ve had for ten years.

As the use of Linux has diverged from generally the realm of computer enthusiasts to the desktops of general users, the advantages of open source software has become more apparent. For one, its free and eliminates the need for software licensing fees. It is also resistant to malware and can be used with a variety of file configurations and media. Lastly, it won’t eat up your hardware space and since a lot of users are actively invested in its use, there are numerous places to find support. But what isn’t apparent to a lot of users–since it is an evolving and growing entity–is all the varying Linux distributions out there that cater to styles, preferences and uses.

Here is a run down of some of the best Linux distributions available:

Ubuntu is considered the most popular option out there. It is easy to both obtain and use. Downloadable online or on CD from Canonical free in the mail, Ubuntu stresses usability and a user-friendly work space. It’s a great option for new users.

As mentioned, the choice of distribution will come down to preference, and some users prefer using KDE instead of Gnome, which Ubuntu is based. KDE’s greatest perk is its aptitude towards customization. However, there is now a fusion of the two in the form of the aptly named, Kubuntu. When in doubt try both styles.

Suse Linux, while not free, is a very advanced and enhanced commercial distribution. It is arguably the best option for those needing sound integration with a Windows environment. Another distribution that adequately meshes the systems of Windows and Linux worth looking into is Xandros. It comes in two versions: one for home and one for business users.

A blessing for Linux desktop users is Mandriva, Europe’s popular distribution. This option is easy to install and configure, plus maintains great hardware support. It also supports a dearth of commercial software. Yet, the chief operator of mainstream software is the Linspire distribution. With the replacement of Windows in mind, it supports major multimedia and applications for Windows with the Linux desktop. Windows fans could fall in love.

Built on the Debian GNU/Linux distribution and packaged with a spectrum of proprietary software Ubuntu has become one of the most popular open source software systems around the world. Although designed for its user-friendliness, the cool features of the Ubuntu operating system may not be so obvious to some, especially new users. So, how can you better use it? Following are some neat tips that should have you running Ubuntu like a computing virtuoso.

1. Use GDebi for Package Installation
This GUI application allows you the ability to quickly install all your packages that you’ve downloaded manually. By using repositories, it can resolve dependencies without the hassle.

2. Change Command Techniques
There is more you can do with the change command (cd) than you thought. Quickly returning back to your home directory can be done by simply typing cd. And getting back to the previous directory before making a switch only takes the typing of cd – on your keyboard.

3. Swiftly End Processes With PKILL
Instead of applying multiple commands just to only end a process, use only the pkill command. By typing a process name after it, say Firefox for example, it will scour all processes for the corresponding name and immediately kill it.

4. Get Acclimated With Gnome Control Center
For those that are more comfortable using Windows, it is highly recommended to apply the gnome-control-center feature to configure Ubuntu like the standard control panel. It will certainly help you get acclimated much faster.

5. Clean Out Disk Space With Easy Commands
If are running low on disk space, there are a couple commands that can clear up to a gigabyte of valuable space. In a terminal window type: sudo apt-get autoremove. This deletes your redundant dependencies. Now try: sudo apt-get clean. The second command will discard unwanted cached package files.

6. Solve The Riddle of File Extensions Gone Missing
On occasion, you may run into the problem of files without their extensions labeled. This can leave you wondering what type of file it even is. Don’t worry, it isn’t your fault and there is a basic solution. Just use the file command by typing file with the file name afterwards.

While open source operating systems and software hasn’t revolutionized computing as much as some users had believed, such as unseating Mac and Windows, it significantly has and will continue to leave an impact. Its combination with various other technologies has allowed users to do things never thought of before like making these technologies work for them how they see fit. And while it may be easy to overlook its advances, it is becoming harder and harder not to use them.

A digital world where users have begun to expect free access to their desired applications is assuredly making obsolete the idea of paying for an operating system, plus the burden of licensing fees. This idea is epitomized by the business model of Microsoft. In retrospect, does it make much sense to pay for an operating system just to be able to get online and use certain software? Open source software on the other hand is free and very elastic. It can generally be used on any platform emphasizing the freedom of online applications changing users expectations.

The advantage of open source software’s flexibility is also reaching into the hardware of computing. As the demand for smart phones and tablets continue to skyrocket, the design of smaller, faster chips that use dramatically less power has flourished. These same chips are increasingly making their way inside of laptops and desktops because of their burgeoning efficiency. Some software, however, won’t run on high-performance chips like ARM. It then becomes necessary for manufacturers of these smaller computing devices to have an operating system that can operate with their components. This is what open source can do.

But to find the greatest example of open source’s impact on computing one not need go far. In fact, people researching open source software are most likely using it right now: Google. With its search engine running on Linux, as well as its Android operating system, Google has been an open source company from the very beginning. Not only does it fit its image of freedom, it accommodates their drive of opening up new frontiers. People can definitely say they use open source everyday.

Linux

Linux fans are surely familiar with the technical advantages of the Linux desktop over the mainstream proprietary systems. But if you look beyond its sheer efficiency you will find it supports a great deal of open source applications that offer interaction, fun and entertainment just like well known proprietary programs. Following are five stimulating apps that can really measure up to the usual proprietary suspects.

Ekiga
Besides email and social media apps, one of the most popular forms of interacting online is the video conferencing program Skype. While Skype’s popularity is hard to match, the Linux friendly version Ekiga is comparable in ability. Encompassing SIP calling, LAN chatting choices and the previously mentioned video conferencing, it is arguably the top open source program of its kind.

GIMP
For the design professionals and creative types, the photo editor of choice has been the proprietary application Photoshop. Understandably, it can be difficult to make a change from a program you’re comfortable with. GIMP, however, is worth a shot. Already known among most Linux users, GIMP is easy to use and very similar to Photoshop in its ability to create and manipulate images.

Scribus
Although it might take a little learning, Scribus is a desktop publishing application that has advantages over its proprietary kin like Pagemaker and InDesign. Files made in Scribus use open standards and work created in it can easily be imported and exported across different platforms. And why not put together newsletters and other publications for free?

OpenShot
Video editing software has now become a standard app for a lot of proprietary operating systems, and its no different with Linux. In fact, there are a lot of Linux video editors out there, but many are inefficient. OpenShot on the other hand is easy to use and comes with more advanced editing capabilities from audio and video effects to video transitions and clippings. A novice or expert will find a happy medium.

VLC Media Player
But if you would rather watch a video rather make one, VLC Media Player would be an excellent choice. This video viewing app can smoothly play just about any video format and stream video, as well as re-encode video.