bcnbdcub

Keeping your data and activity secure on a computer that is connected to the internet is a multi-layered process. No system is completely secure no matter how hard you attempt to make it be, however, there are a number of ways to increase your protection against system corruption/crash or intrusion.

Your first line of defense is to have your operating system (Windows update) secure and up to date. The normal way to do this is to have it set to do updates automatically. Using this approach, the operating system will be available to download and install updates that are released either by Microsoft or by the company whose antivirus software you have running on the computer.

The second line of defense is to have some sort of firewall software or hardware installed to prevent spyware from being installed. Typically a hardware firewall works the best. Software firewalls such as Norton's Internet Security or McAfee's Personal Firewall (or whatever your flavor of the day is) tend to cause a system to bog down and not run as fast or efficient as it previously was. On top of slowing down your computer, a software firewall make 'break' when it is updated. What I mean by that is when the software does an automatic update, you may have problems receiving or sending emails or possibly getting to any websites. If that happens, it is best to try to disable the firewall and see if that makes a difference.

Thirdly is the rootkit. Rootkits have been well publicized in the recent past. A rootkit is a general description for a set of programs which work to take control of the computer from its legitimate users. Typically these are installed unbeknownst to the user when installing a piece of software (shareware/freeware) that has been downloaded from the internet. Detecting and removing a rootkit requires special software. Most antivirus applications may detect a rootkit that is installed, but they are not designed to remove them. You can find more information about this at my website.

Why Windows Update?

Microsoft provides a website that you can visit to manually update your computer when you want to if you don't have it set to do this automatically. Having the computer set to download and install Windows updates automatically is probably the best thing to do since you won't have to remember to update it manually. Microsoft releases updates on a regular basis, typically once a month. It can be more frequently if they have determined that there has been a newly discovered way to damage the computer.

You do have the choice to NOT install updates, or to pick and choose which ones to install or not. You need to have the system set to download, but not install, updates. Then when the computer 'announces' that there are updates available, you can choose which ones to install. I like this option because there may be some updates that don't need to be installed. For the typical home user, install all of them.

Antivirus/Firewall Updates

These are a must! Especially antivirus updates. Most AV products are set to go out to their servers and download new 'definitions' on a regular basis. This time frame can change depending on if there are new virus threats out there. As mentioned above, Microsoft typically releases updates on 'Patch Tuesday', the second Tuesday of each month. Antivirus company's can release definition updates as frequently as twice a week, but typically it is once a week. The same goes for Firewall updates.

One thing that can happen with both the antivirus and firewall updates is that you may lose your 'connection' to the internet. In other words, if you find that all of a sudden you try to access the internet through Internet Explorer or are trying to receive emails, you may get an error message stating that you have no connection. At this point in time you should disable either or both of these applications and then try to access again. If you can access after disabling, you should restart your computer and try again. If not, contact the support area for the software and get instructions on how to reverse the updates, if possible.

Rootkits

There are people out there that hold the opinion that it is impractical to attempt to remove rootkit software if you suspect that your computer is infected with one of these. The idea is that it will take much more time and effort to try to rid your system of this software that it would to just reinstall the operating system and other software. The subject of rootkits is a bit deeper than what can be covered here and I will leave that for a future article.

Bottom Line

As always, once you have taken the measures necessary to secure your computer against the bad guys with updates and firewalls and scanning the system regularly, it is still up to you, the pc owner to monitor activity on the computer. Even the most experienced computer user has been known to infect a computer unknowingly.

Ron Barrett is the owner of Ron's Computer Service, your online helpdesk for computer related problems. You can subscribe to his weekly newsletter 'Bits and Bytes: Decoding the Digital World' by sending an email to him. He is Certified Help Desk Analyst, CompTIA A+ Certified and has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology. He has worked in several companies in the role of help desk analyst, desk top support and network/email administrator. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and three boys, working around the house and trying to perfect his golf swing.

# posted by cgocbjeg : 9:46 AM  0 comments

Obviously racquet grip is a very essential part of stroke, because without a proper grip you will ruin the finest strokes. When you learn tennis techniques it is essential to master your grip.

To acquire the forehand grip, hold the racquet with the edge of the frame towards the ground and the face perpendicular, the handle towards the body, and "shake hands" with it, just as if you were greeting a friend. With the handle settled comfortably and naturally into the hand, the line of the arm, hand, and racquet are one. The swing brings the racquet head on a line with the arm, and the whole racquet becomes an extension of your arm.

The backhand grip is a quarter circle turn of hand on the handle, bringing the hand on top of the handle and the knuckles directly up. The shot travels ACROSS the wrist. This is the best basis for a grip. Don't slavishly learn this grip exactly as I say, but rather model your own natural grip as closely as possible to these lines without sacrificing your own comfort or individuality.

Footwork is weight control. It is a question of having the correct body position for strokes, and out of it all strokes should grow. In explaining the various forms of stroke and footwork I am writing as a right-hand player. Left-handers should simply reverse the feet.

Having once settled the racquet in the hand, the next question is the position of the body and the order of developing strokes.

All tennis strokes should be made with the body at right angles to the net, with the shoulders lined up parallel to the line of flight of the ball. The weight should always travel forward. It should pass from the back foot to the front foot at the moment of striking the ball. Never allow the weight to be going away from the stroke. It is weight that determines the pace of a stroke; swing that decides the speed.

Let me explain the definitions of speed and pace. Speed is the actual rate with which a ball travels through the air. Pace is the momentum with which it comes off the ground. Pace is weight. It is the sting the ball carries when it comes off the ground, giving the inexperienced or unsuspecting player a shock of force which the stroke in no way showed.

A great many players have both speed and pace. Some shots may carry both.

The order of learning strokes should be:

1. The Drive. Fore and backhand. This is the foundation of all tennis, for you cannot build up a net attack unless you have the groundstroke to open the way. Nor can you meet a net attack successfully unless you can drive, as that is the only successful passing shot.
2. The Service.
3. The Volley and Overhead Smash.
4. The Chop or Half Volley and other incidental and ornamental strokes.

Without a well-grounded knowledge of grip, footwork, and strokes in tennis you'll undoubtedly lose numerous points, however, when you start to learn tennis techniques you cannot expect to master everything immediately. As with everything in life improvement comes with practice and experience. Stick with it and enjoy your game.

For more articles and information about improving every aspect of your game and many other sports articles please visit www.a1toparticles.com/sports

Paul enjoys playing tennis and would like to help others to improve their techniques and skills

# posted by cgocbjeg : 7:33 AM  0 comments