The Most Audacious Hacks in Computer History

When we think of warfare, most people will speak of the horror. Guns, tanks, bombs and explosions. Death and destruction everywhere. This is what war brings to people and to places.

However, there’s another form of warfare that is becoming increasingly prevalent and it can often be just as destructive as traditional war; cyber warfare.

Yes, computers are not only a powerful tool, but used by experts can be a powerful weapon too. The recent troubles with the Ukraine and Russia have highlighted cyber-attacks on Ukrainian computer networks. The sophisticated nature of the ‘Uroburos’ cyberweapon has led experts to believe it was designed to hack government and telecoms networks. Is it a coincidence that this weapon originated from Russia? Who can say, but it is not alone in being a way to disrupt people, businesses and countries as a malicious action.

Here are other examples of computer hacking which are noteworthy for their sheer audaciousness.

US Nearly Explodes Siberia. All of it.
The year is 1982. It is the height of the Cold War between the USA and Russia. The CIA and their Soviet equivalent, the KGB, were constantly trying to outdo each other. In one of the first examples of a Trojan Virus, the CIA added it to software the Russians stole and then used to monitor and regulate Russian gas pipelines. The software would lie in wait until the program finished running a specific number of commands (in this case, 10 million cycles).

After 10 million, it would change the program slightly. This occurred after several months, and then things got serious. The code instructed the software to run a pressure test at higher than normal levels. However, the CIA did not take into account that Russian engineering might not be equipped to handle it. The result was a pipeline explosion in Siberia that was so big it was 20% the strength of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

The Best Spy in the Business Wasn’t a Person
Traditionally, secret agents and spies were men and women who put their lives on the line for their government. It didn’t take long for someone to figure out a computer could probably do the same job.
Enter Flame. 20 megabytes of code that was programmed to spy on several countries in the Middle East. Flame had the ability to do the following:

• Copy files
• Capture screenshots
• Download instant messaging logs
• Turn on computer microphones and cameras remotely

Basically, it acted like James Bond in many ways. In fact, it was also programmed to project a specific cryptographic sequence known as a ‘prefix collision attack’ in case of detection. This means that is basically disguised itself (like any good spy) by convincing antivirus software that it was supposed to be there.

The amazing thing is that if it did get detected, it would delete itself and all traces from a system. It managed to operate for five years until eventually discovered in Iran. They claimed that the US was responsible for the virus. The US has denied all knowledge so we may never know the truth.

This post was written by Jake Messer on behalf of HANDD, a company specialising in data loss prevention services, file encryption and managed file transfer.

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6 Free Cleaning Apps You Must Have on Your Mac

As your Mac ages, you’ll probably begin to notice it becoming less efficient. The start-up process can begin to take longer, internet browsing can slow down, and applications that once ran smoothly can become jittery or laggy.

The good news is that these problems are easy to address, all you need to do is download one of the many free professional Mac cleaning software packages and have it clear up your machine.

Here’s a list of the 6 best options out there for your consideration:

1. MacKeeper
MacKeeper doesn’t just provide a deep clean service for your Mac (removing redundant files and speeding it up), it also monitors all of the applications you use for updates and streamlines the process of downloading + installing them.

Keeping your programs up to date plays a key role in maximizing their efficiency. Furthermore, MacKeeper provides protection against all forms of malware designed to infect your Mac and steal your personal information / adversely affect its performance, making it the ultimate all-round Mac maintenance tool.

2. CleanMyMac 2
With a track record stretching for more than 4 years of providing top quality Mac software, this latest addition to the MacPaw inventory doesn’t disappoint.

Built on the successes of its predecessor, the software provides a quick and easy means of cleaning up any and all troublesome files sapping your valuable processing power. It’s easy to use and doesn’t intrude upon your day to day use of programs.

3. AppCleaner
AppCleaner focuses on helping you locate all of the hidden cache storages, redundant user preferences and installation protocols likely to be clogging up your machine, and then displaying them in a unique and intuitive interface that makes the process of eliminating them quick and easy.

There’s nothing fancy or flamboyant about the software, but the simple drag and drop nature of interacting with it means it’s appropriate for even the least tech-savvy users.

4. OnyX
OnyX is a multi-purpose tool aimed at helping you to not just speed up the performance of your machine, but streamline the way you use it by reconfiguring a large number of folders, menus and option settings to make everything more efficient.

Traditional Mac cleaning mechanisms such as the removal of redundant files are of course included, but there’s a whole host of additional general maintenance tools included as well.

5. AppleJack
AppleJack is a comprehensive suite of Mac recovery and restoration tools designed to help not just to speed up machines that are becoming sluggish, but recover those that have succumbed entirely to technical difficulties.

The program itself is designed to be a user-friendly troubleshooting assistant for Mac OS X, and can help you address issues, even if you’re struggling to load the GUI.

You can address virtually any issue from cleaning up useless files to restoring corrupt applications simply by installing the software and then restarting your Mac in Single User Mode.

6. EaseUS
One of the most basic packages on offer, EaseUS nonetheless constitutes an effective means of completely removing useless files and speeding up your machine.

There are no supplementary features or gimmicks, but it does what it is supposed to do, it’s easy to use, and most importantly it’s free!


Your Turn

Try them all and find out which one(s) work best for you, before leaving a comment below. If you feel our visitors should be aware of any other such programs, feel free to mention them too!

MacPing.com is the ultimate website where you can find everything you need to know about how to care, optimize and make the most out of your MAC. You can find information on how to speed up your Mac, different must-have software that works best, secrets on how to boost its performance, and many more. Come and visit us today! 

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7 Reasons Why Atlanta Needs Google Fiber

A few weeks ago, Google, the world's largest search engine, said 24 cities, including nine Atlanta cities, were under consideration for Google Fiber, the super-fast internet service. Cities being considered include Atlanta, Avondale Estates, Brookhaven, College Park, Decatur, East Point, Hapeville, Sandy Springs and Smyrna.

Southern Web, an Atlanta-based web design and development firm, is excited about the possibility of Google Fiber coming to Atlanta. That's why we've put together this infographic, which explains all of the positives that Google Fiber could bring to Atlanta and our surrounding cities.

Increased home values, enhanced access for local schools and libraries, customer savings and some of the quickest consumer Internet connection speeds currently available in the country are just a few of the benefits we could see.

The infographic was a group venture between graphic artist Ron Griffel, content strategist Ryan Watkins and Southern Web’s Director of Internet Marketing Cullie Burris.

Ryan Watkins is a content strategist with Southern Web Group, LLC., an Atlanta-based web development, design and marketing firm. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys blogging, staying up-to-date with the latest social media trends and outdoor adventuring.

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So Just What Is Mozilla Up To With the Firefox OS?

Perhaps you have heard whispers of it in passing, or maybe you don’t know anything about the new Firefox open source mobile platform. That’s right. There’s a new kid on the block, so to speak. The Mozilla project was actually created in 1998, with the release of the Netscape browser suite source code.

The idea was to push the idea of the open web, and open source. For those not familiar with the term, open source is software that is “open” to the public, and possibly regulated, but not controlled by any for-profit company. The concept is that this allows thousands of programmers access to what otherwise would be closely guarded corporate secrets, thereby releasing unprecedented innovation in the browser market.
The project spread beyond expectations, first creating Mozilla 1.0, the first major browser from the open community. At the time, over 90% of the market used Internet Explorer for browsing, simply because they didn’t know there were alternatives.

In 2003, the non-profit Mozilla Foundation was created, funded by individual donors and a variety of companies. The role of the foundation was to manage the project and promote openness, innovation and opportunity on the web over competition and profit.

Firefox 1.0 was released in 2004, and in less than a year had been downloaded over 100 million times. New versions have continued to come out, and the popularity has grown. On the tenth anniversary of Mozilla in 2008, Firefox reached a 20% worldwide market share, renewing competition, accelerating innovation and improved Internet for everyone.

Now Mozilla is attempting to do the same thing in the mobile field market. Firefox OS is planned as a community-based platform for mobile devices. It will utilize open standards and approaches such as making HTML5 applications that are just as robust as native apps on iOS and Android.

Though Android is supposed to be an open-source platform, it is not completely so. Windows Phone and iOS are nowhere close. Mozilla has repeatedly said the Firefox OS (nicknamed Boot to Gecko, or B2G) was construed not so B2G would succeed, but the web would. That is, the base motivation is to show that the standards-based open Web, cannot only openly compete with the two (or three) major platforms, but force the same type of innovation the Firefox browser has brought to the web.

Mozilla hopes to bring the browser back to the forefront of a mobile experience, rather than playing second fiddle to the native apps on the phones. The Firefox OS is designed to run apps from web technologies such as HTML5, allowing those apps to run on any handset (or any other device) with a browser, regardless of platform.

For developers this is a boon, because it removes the need to rewrite code for cross-platform operations. For users, it’s great because the apps can be used on whatever device is handy.

Mozilla has been working to introduce the Firefox platform as a cheap under £80 smartphone option in countries with little exposure to smartphones, such as Latin America and Eastern Europe. The idea is that it is easier to introduce a new platform and show its effectiveness in a market where the other platforms have not already secured a foothold.

So can the idea succeed? History and the numbers certainly support it. There are about 100,000 iOS developers and 400,000 Android developers compared to ten million HTML5 developers (roughly). The Firefox browser has just reached version 25, and the innovation charged by this open community has carried over to all the competitors.

Certainly there is still work to be done, but many people’s confidence lies in the advances web technologies have already made in the last 20 years. Things like including interactive animations and imbedding video in a webpage without a plug-in, as you can with HTML5 and AJAX, were less than a concept back in the 1990’s and early 2000’s.

Mozilla is taking on a big challenge, and some mighty big opponents with deep pockets, but as the Linux-system demonstrates, open-source will always have a devout following, and Mozilla is on the path to opening up the entire mobile market.

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Top Reasons Why PlayStation 4 Is An Interesting Choice

Gaming consoles provide great entertainment to gaming lovers. With the advancement in technology, gaming enthusiasts are getting advanced consoles these days. PlayStation 4 from Sony Computer Entertainment is an interesting game console that was released recently.

Sophistication: PlayStation 4 is a highly sophisticated gaming device for the variety of features it has. All options are interesting and the flexibility of usage provides customers great satisfaction.

Enhanced Experience: PS4 is integrated with advanced graphics chip and processor. It also has an HDMI port and this facilitates playing games by connecting the console to high definition televisions of the day. This gives people a highly interactive playtime experience.

Rich Features: PS4 has a flash card reader and the hard drive can be upgraded. The inclusion of new features has given people high level of excitement.

Configurations: PlayStation 4 is available in two configurations including basic and premium. Premium configuration provides advanced features and specifications and is therefore expensive.

PlayStation 4 can throw away people from boredom. It is a great feel to sit with family and play games and spend time in gaming. And, PS4 has created great buzz in the entertainment market with highly advanced features and people love it a lot.

Christina Jones is a professional technical blogger and she writes regular shopping review for gaming consoles.

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4 Myths About Cloud Computing You Should Know

 

Cloud computing is a term that involves delivering hosted solutions over the internet. These solutions are broadly categorized into three groups: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. So, we can see that cloud service come in different forms. This might have probably caused some entrepreneurs to be doubtful about how this technology will have an impact on their companies. I am sure it is because of this ‘doubtfulness’ and lack of proper knowledge about cloud computing, that various myths have proliferated, concealing the true benefits it provides, like reducing expenditures and enhancing business agility.

Here I have discussed some common myths and misconceptions about cloud computing to give a reality check on it.

When compared to on-premise alternatives cloud computing is less safe

A common hesitation in migrating into the cloud lies in the issues of privacy and security. Because of the cloud system’s deployment of essential business data to the internet, IT professionals see on-premise system as being less susceptible to risks and security breaches. However, contrary to the notion, cloud computing is safer than on-premise system deployment.

Cloud computing is appropriate only for small businesses and consumers

Unlike small firms that have lesser system-data, which need to be migrated to the cloud, big companies generally have legacy systems with a huge data-pool and more requirements, which slow the cloud adoption to some extent. This kind of complexity might have given the notion that cloud is not right for big businesses, when in reality; it leads to development of cloud services, which are inclusive and meet stringent rules. Integrating the cloud computing with on-premise systems in two-tier ERP model has proven to be useful for large enterprises, while running subsidiaries, particularly on a global basis.

Cloud computing is not apt for mission-criticalsituations

Businesses that are involved with mission-critical events run completely on Groupon, Amazon, cloud-Netflix, and Google to name a few. In the Asia-Pacific region, mission-critical apps continue to move into the public cloud like CRM, human-resource management and ERP. This provides better business agility in comparison to the traditional delivery models or public clouds.

Private clouds provide cloud-computing benefits withoutany shortcomings

The conception that private clouds can offer all the advantages associated with public clouds without any issue of privacy is not completely true. Private clouds have disadvantages like limited scalability and a continuousrequirement forsupportsolutions. Public clouds even offer OpEX (Operating Expenses) based pay-as-you-go model in comparison to CapEX (Capital Expenditure) intensive nature of private clouds.

When switching to cloud computing, it is vital to distinguish reality from myth and comprehend the many pros that the cloudenvironment provides. It is even wiseto keep in mind that though not all cloud providers are equal, there is a cloud solution, which definitely suits every organization.

Author Bio: Koustuv Roy is an expert in iPhone app development having worked with a leading mobile app company.He doubles up as a seasoned tech writer, reflecting on topics like web design and development, the future of wireless communication. Get in touch with him Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Linkedin

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How The Remote Control Has Let Do The Downfall of Society

A remote control does not have to be large to have a very controlling influence over individuals’ lives. What began as a novelty in 1898 when Nicola Tesla produced a remote-controlled boat has now morphed into a major technology. One large area in which these controllers are used is in the military.

The first drone airplane was developed in 1916 by Peter Hewitt. Since then, drones have become much more highly developed and are used throughout all the branches of the military for surveillance and for safety behind enemy lines. As soon as these drones were developed, the face of warfare changed for all of time. Today, analysts worry that war has become dehumanized as military personnel rely on remote control technology for aircrafts, bombs, missiles, sensors and more. Even civilians can be affected and towns can be destroyed by a remote-controlled device.

It concerning to many that remote controls can keep people apart and can destroy emotion-based decision making. Both military personnel and civilians are put at risk today by this otherwise fabulous piece of technology. This infographic helps people consider whether remote controls have brought more harm than good to modern societies.

This infographic was produced by Pannam Imaging.

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Are You Textually Active? What Your Texting Means

Some form of texting has been around for the last twenty years. However, it has become much more widespread in the past five to ten years. In fact, users sent an amazing 14 billion texts each month back in 2000; however, that number became over 10 times more by 2010 with a surprising 188 billion texts per month. Obviously, texting has caught on as one of the best ways to keep in touch with family and friends.

However, there are some trade-offs to this awesome phenomenon. Sadly, people are unable to communicate true emotions via text messages. Body language and tone of voice are two major pieces of communication that cannot be conveyed via a simple SMS message. Some people are even worried that relationships can suffer when only text messaging or a majority of text messaging is used for communication.

On the other hand, there are definite benefits to SMS. Many people feel more comfortable conveying awkward messages or difficult information via text messaging than in person or over the phone. With almost 70% of those studied believing that they would have a difficult time staying in contact with others without text messaging, this once-unfamiliar technology has become widespread and much beloved.

This infographic was produced by Scratch Wireless.

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The History of Hacking Culture

Hacking culture is changing and developing all the time. The modern world is full of flaws to discover and secret places to explore. It makes sense that people are fascinated with the subject, but how has it progressed over time?

In 1975 the “Robin Hood and Friar Tuck” programs were installed on Xerox machines by Motorola staff which meant every time the program was deleted, it would re-appear after the computer rebooted.  This virus was the first of its kind and paved the way for a long line of internet virus hacks that we see today.
As for today, hacking culture has matured and more recently the ‘free online school’ hack believed that ‘information wants to be free’ and so this saw a rise in code literacy and naturally made people even more aware of computer security, which can only be beneficial.

What will happen in the future? Will the elite hackers go underground and start working for the government? Who knows! Either way it’s clear that hacking will always have security perks. If there weren’t people to uncover pitfalls, we wouldn’t be making online security tighter.

By James Duval, business and technology editor at GKBCInc.

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Best Products to Buy from Apple in 2014

The year 2014 is going to be an year of much enthusiasm and it is going to deliver some amazing products from the giant tech company Apple. Apple has decided to create some extraordinarily effective and great products for this year as per the CEO Tim Cook. The most highlighted and awaited products for the year 2014 from apple. These products are anticipated to really rock the tech market.

iPhone 6

The next iphone from apple is expected to come with larger screen size that can come between 4.7 to about 5.7 inches. According to the information received it is said that the product is going to get released in two varying sizes for attracting users with different needs. The new iphone is going to be larger than the previous version released by the company. The ipad 5 cases will be available along with the product in the market so that you can keep your gadget free from any kind of problems. This larger iPhone is going to make use of A8 chip which is much faster and available at 20 nanometer. The display is also expected to come in curved shape. The gadget is expected to be in market by September or in the month of October.

iPad Pro

Along with larger iPhone, apple is expected to release larger iPad along with the tablet lineup that it has. This is going to be something really bigger and much efficient compared to iPad mini and iPadAir.TheiPad Pro is expected to have a display which is about 12.9 inches in size and is almost similar to the size of MacBook Air which is about 13.3 inches. The pixel density that you are going to acquire from the display is going to be much higher and it is almost near to the ultra high definitions. It is not yet clearly known about the features that you can expect from this amazing product but the whole tech world is awaiting the release of the product.

iWatch

The rumors and the news related with the iWatch was a great buzz among the tech savvies. The product is expected to get released by the year 2014. The smart watch that is going to get released can work as an accessory along with the iPad and iPhone. This watch can provide accessibility to iOs functions. The biometric functions are also included in this watch. The screen that is available with the watch is expected to be of sapphire glass which is ultra durable. The accessory is expected to go well along with iPad mini cases too.

Apple Television

The upgrades to Apple TV is going to be a reality this year and that is what most of the owners of the apple TV are waiting anxiously. The company is expected to release some new kind of set top box or are expected to put new features into Apple TV through which this particular product can become a fully blown TV that is suitable for all the users.

Author Bio:
Subramaniam is the author has been writing number of articles on different subject.He wrote more articles relating to Android phones.

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Under Construction Template for Blogger

Under construction templates are rarely released for Blogger. I had some issues with my other blog template so I had to put up a under construction template, I was searching for hours to find a good template somehow after navigating many sites I found one that has everything I wanted. So I decided to share it.

The template I am writing about has everything that a under construction template should have. you can set the construction time so the time will keep running and then you have twitter, facebook and RSS buttons where you can just link your social links and finally we have a Feedburner subscription thing that you can use to let your feed subscribers know when you publish your new design.

Demo - Download

Template Details

• Template Name - Launcher
• Author - NewBloggerThemes
• Designer - MyThemeShop
• Released Date - 19-April-2013
• Category - Under Contruction

Configuration/Installation

1. Go to Template > Edit HTML in your blogger.
2. Search for TargetDate (to get the search box in EditHTML press CTRL + F)
You will find this Javascript :<script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript'> TargetDate = "04/19/2015 10:00 AM"; FinishMessage = "<span class='finish-mss'>This website should be online soon! Please be patient.</span>"; </script>

In that change the TargetDate value "04/19/2015 10:00 AM" to the date you gonna publish your new design(template).

3. Search for id='social', you will end up finding these lines :
<div id='social'> <p class='followus'> Follow Us:</p> <a class='twitter' href='http://twitter.com/newbthemes' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>Twitter</a> <a class='facebook' href='http://facebook.com/newbthemes' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>Facebook</a> <a class='rss' expr:href='data:blog.homepageUrl + "feeds/posts/default"' rel='nofollow' target='_blank'>RSS</a> </div>

In those lines replace your social links with the existed ones(ie : http://twitter.com/newbthemes)

4. Now finally we have to configure Feedburner(just search for Feedbuner).

<form action='http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify' method='post' onsubmit='window.open('http://feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=newbthemes', 'popupwindow', 'scrollbars=yes,width=550,height=520');return true' style='' target='popupwindow'>

Replace newbthemes with your Feedburner ID

5. Save your Template.

I hope you enjoyed this article! please share it with your friends :)

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What to Look for in Your Next DDoS Mitigation Provider

DDoS attacks are serious and could be detrimental to your brand and products. You need a DDoS mitigation provider that you can trust to protect your product and image. If you are looking for a new provider, a few key components go into an excellent one.

Being able to access the provider’s portal from anywhere -- including on a mobile device -- is important. Also, you want a provider with the best security protocols in place. A good provider also offers you rich DDoS forensics so that you have accurate insight into DDoS activity from around the world -- helping you stay informed and proactive.

Deep network visibility is also important, so if you’re not receiving mitigation effort data that is up to the minute, you might want to look for a different provider. By hiring the right provider, the first time around your brand and reputation can be secured

Created by the marketing team at Prolexic Technologies.

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Infographic: How Automation Improves Business Performance

Automation is making professionals like receptionists, travel agents and bookkeepers a thing of the past.

Automation, essentially the practice of replacing human operators with machines, has been a reality in business since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution nearly 200 years ago. That said, the amount of automated tasks in the American business world has escalated dramatically in recent years.

The following infographic illustrates this trend, noting that between 2000 and 2010:
-1.1 million secretarial tasks were replaced with automation. In addition, 36 percent of telephone operating tasks were changed to automation. Companies that employ a live receptionist are fewer and farther between.

-54 percent of travel agent tasks were changed to automation. Who even goes to a travel agent anymore? Do such firms still exist?

-74 percent of bookkeeping tasks were changed to automation. Where once there sat an in-house bookkeeper or accountant, programs like QuickBooks and TurboTax are at the ready."

Thanks for checking out our latest infographic, and let us know if you have comments or questions

© 2014 Dolphin

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The Heart Of Successful Entrepreneurship

Love your consumers and they will definitely love you back. In the world of entrepreneurship, there is no other way to be successful and to stay ahead than to captivate not only the eyes and the hearts of clients, but to also win over their trust. Your business may be wrapped up in gold and silver and the packaging may be perfect, but what determines the longevity of your business is your capability to respond to what your consumers need and want.

Surely, there are millions of online giants out there, but never should you think that you are not capable of reaching their position. Like you, they have started small once and one thing you should do is learn from their mistakes and triumphs because if life is a continuous process of growth and learning, so is entrepreneurship. It is never stagnant and you must never be complacent. Your main goal should be to properly deliver what your clients want and keep them happy. Your clients are the mirror of your business. If you are doing great, your clients are satisfied, but if it is the other way around, prepare for their frowns and grumps of dissatisfaction.

Online Engagement
The best thing about social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter is that they can be your channels and they can be your bridge to a better and brighter future. But first, you must also determine the goals and the target of your business before you choose a site that can be the best marketing strategy for your company. A lot of people have been successful because of these and all you have to do is strategize. Instagram, for example, is the major reason behind the success of many online clothing shops. Since a lot of Instagram users are engaged in looking for stuffs that can be bought online, a lot have taken this as an opportunity and created their own online clothing accounts.So if you are planningto create a web page of your own, look for a way to have a strong presence in the Internet, and make sure that the channels you’ll use are appropriate.

Reviews
The review of your online visitors/clients is a very important factor in determining your chances of succeeding online. Of course, no one wants a negative review, especially if there are comments from clients infuriated by your lousy service. This bad publicity could be a major factor that can bring your business down. In the first place, you should never give your consumers reason to despise your web page. Instead, you must provide them the best service you can offer and never forget to listen to what they have to say. Through this, you will be able to improve your company and maintain loyalty from your consumers. Also, once you here negative comments from them, you should not respond angrily because you must maintain professionalism at all times.
Listening is the heart of any successful relationship and it is your key to the longevity of your business. Through listening and giving the best of what you can offer, you’d get so much more in return—the trust and loyalty of your consumers. 

Dorothy Matthews is one of the people behind Big Drop, a responsive web design company  that will meet your expectations and suit your originality.

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A Complete Guide To Microsoft's Enterprise Technology in 2014

Technology giant Microsoft has been dominating the enterprise technology market, for a long as there has been one. From humble beginnings to their 2013 Annual Report, announcing revenues of $77 billion, Microsoft have lead the way for innovation in creating market leading enterprise technology.

If you haven’t already, you should take a look at ‘Microsoft by the Numbers’ where you will find an exciting collection of visual statistics about their portfolio of products and services. Here’s some exciting figures to whet the appetite:

• Xbox live has more than 48 million members in 41 countries
• Microsoft contains 16 businesses that turn over more than $1 billion  
• The Windows Store has seen more than 250 million app downloads since its launch

But it doesn’t stop there, if you take a close look at Microsoft’s enterprise technology market, that’s where the magic lies. So as we head into 2014, let’s take a look at the extensive portfolio of exciting products developed by Microsoft in its thirty year history. From server and email management, right through to CRM systems and enterprise social networks, Microsoft has the market cornered. Before we dive into the infographic below, let’s take a look at some of the headline figures:

• Microsoft Exchange Server and Office 365 account for roughly 51% of the world’s mailboxes in the business email market.
• Windows 8 has sold more than 100 million licences sold.
• Windows Server is the world’s most popular operating system holding 73% of market share as of Q4 2012.
• More than a billion people use Microsoft Office worldwide, that’s a almost a sixth of the world’s population.

Edward Jones works for Firebrand Training, where he is responsible for Community Engagement and Technical Writing. Edward has been in the IT Industry for 3 years and has experience with SharePoint, Windows Server and Exhcnage Server.

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A Phone Worth Considering – The Lenovo S820

Smartphones have moved over from being a craze as they have now moved to the category of necessities. Being able to provide computing and advanced networking facilities, the smartphones are liked by everyone. But with the availability of a plethora of smartphones from various companies, choosing the right one can be a little difficult. However, here is a simple, yet beautiful smartphone that would take your breath away.

You are an outgoing professional, who is always on the move and therefore require your phone to be ready to receive and send important messages any time. Since you do not want a bulky or a broad-frame phone, you can choose the Lenovo S820, Android smartphone. Loaded with some very good features, the phone is a real beauty.

As a successful professional, you have too many people calling you and therefore, having more than one SIM card is very essential. You do not need to carry two separate phones with you as you can have two SIM cards in your Lenovo S820. With a high performance MTK6589 quad-core 1.2GHz CPU, you get amazing speeds on your phone. You can make and receive calls and messages in no time, leaving you with enough time to enjoy a game or two on your smartphone.

Talking of games, the Lenovo S820 provides 4.7” capacitive IPS touch screen that has 1280x720 resolution, which provides a whole new gaming experience. You can run various Android based games on the Lenovo S820 as it has the Android 4.2 operating system. And if you are done with the games existing on your phone, you can download some new ones from the Android Playstore and save them on the external card that can be up to 32 GB.

As a professional or as a general user, there could be times when you need to upload and send important documents, images or pictures across to your colleagues, boss or to your friends. Integrated with Bluetooth support, you can surely share all the pictures, images and documents in no time. If you have been sent on a tour of an unknown area or city, you need not worry as you have Wi-Fi and GPS/A-GPS navigation support on your Lenovo S820. This would help you find your way out without getting lost.

The Lenovo S820 is a masterpiece and it offers so much. The dual cameras on the phone are another of these features that make the phone worth buying. You can click yourself with the 2 mega pixel front camera or get some one to click your photograph with the 13 mega pixel real camera. You are never alone with your smartphone as there are so many things that you can do with it. You can listen to music, watch movies and even play games. Supporting a wide variety of audio and video formats, your Lenovo S820 is your real pal.

The phone uses 2000mAH removable battery that provides it a long usage time. Nevertheless if you wish to charge your phone, you can simply use the US plug charger available with the phone. But you must really take care of your Lenovo S820 as it weighs only 106g. So, take care of your pal and be ready for a very good time.

For more information visit: buzzshop.co

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How To Get Response Headers From a HTTP Request in Java

With this Java program you can get the the response headers from a HTTP request. You may have seen HTTP headers in Google Chrome/Mozilla Firefox network feature in inspect element (it just automatically captures HTTP).

All you have to do is run the program from command-line or on eclipse (or any IDE you want), after executing the program you will be asked to enter an URL to get the response headers from HTTP request (Note : make sure you don't enter URL's without 'http://'). Within seconds you will get the HTTP request response headers one after the next line.

This program has 7 namespaces, of course you need them in order to compile/execute the program

import java.util.Scanner;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.URLConnection;
import java.util.Iterator;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Set;

and we are using a public string that helps to make a line break

public static String BR = System.getProperty("line.separator");

Okay let me put all the parts together, it uses Scanner(that to get the users input), Map, List, Set, Iterator, a while loop, String Builder and finally it prints.

Program Source Code

import java.util.Scanner;
import java.net.URL;
import java.net.URLConnection;
import java.util.Iterator;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.Set;

/* 
Author : Mohamed Shimran
Description : Getting Response Headers From a HTTP Request
Blog : http://ultimateprogrammingtutorials.info
Facebook : http://fb.me/54j33dh4
Twitter : http://twitter.com/54j33dh4
 */
 
public class httpRequest {
public static String BR = System.getProperty("line.separator");
public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception {

  String Link;
     Scanner in = new Scanner(System. in );
     System.out.println("Enter Link To Get Response Headers From HTTP Request :");
     Link = in .nextLine();
   
System.out.println(BR);

 URL url = new URL(Link);
 URLConnection conn = url.openConnection();
 
 Map> HF = conn.getHeaderFields();
 Set HFS = HF.keySet();
 Iterator HFI = HFS.iterator();
 
 while (HFI.hasNext()) {

      String HFK = HFI.next();
      List HFV = HF.get(HFK);

      StringBuilder strbld = new StringBuilder();
      for (String value : HFV) {
   strbld.append(value);
   strbld.append("");
   }
      System.out.println(HFK + "=" + strbld.toString());
   }
   }
}

Process
javac httpRequest.java

java httpRequest
Enter Link To Get Response Headers From HTTP Request :
http://www.ultimateprogrammingtutorials.info

null=HTTP/1.1 200 OK
ETag="5064ad83-05c5-4cef-bbba-a3030b0727da"
Transfer-Encoding=chunked
Date=Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:12:06 GMT
X-XSS-Protection=1; mode=block
Expires=Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:12:06 GMT
Alternate-Protocol=80:quic,80:quic
Last-Modified=Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:10:59 GMT
Content-Type=text/html; charset=UTF-8
Server=GSE
X-Content-Type-Options=nosniff
Cache-Control=private, max-age=0

Final Words
What can I say? It's just another simple java program by me(of course got help from many resources). I hope you really like it or found it useful, share it if it deserves and PEACE!.

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Ways to Improve Search Engine Ranking

If you are reading this article then it is safe to assume that you have a website and you are looking to improve its position on the search engine results pages. If this is the case then the first thing you need to do is perform an SEO audit. You will have to research into a current template/plan and follow it to check your SEO.

An SEO audit is a set of checks that you can do to see how well your website is optimized. It involves checking things such as keyword relevancy and broken internal links. Once you have completed your SEO audit, it is time to start fixing your website’s SEO. If you fix the SEO problems then you will rise higher and faster through the search engine results pages. Here are a few tips to help you fix the things you highlight in your audit.

Is your internal website navigation good, usable and bug free?

Your websites navigation needs to easy to use. Your navigation system must be intuitive and must be easy to see. For example, you should make sure that the search bar is at the top of the page, and that any small sitemaps are on the footer.

You must have at least three internal links coming from every page, and the anchor text to the internal links should be optimized. For example, you could have a link back to your homepage on every page, and you could call the link “home page”. But why not vary it a little on each page, such as having “back to our Home page” or “Go back to home page”.

The navigation should be bug free. In other words, you should be able to click a link and have it take you to the page it describes. The link should be clickable and should never lead to the web page freezing.

Are your pages too heavy?

Every web page that a person looks at must be loaded onto their computer. Thanks to broadband Internet, your web page should take less than three seconds to load. If it does not then there may be too much to load, and you are going to have to lower the weight of your page. You may have to make images smaller, lower the weight of elements, or spilt certain parts of one page so that it makes two. The longer it takes for your web page to load then the lower you will rank on the search engine results pages.

Some people create very good web pages that are very attractive and very salable, but the trouble is that some people (especially those with 3G) are going to have to wait longer for it to render (appear) and load. Some people simply do not have the patience for such things, and why should they? The Internet is so bogged down with crappy content that most pages people visit will be abandoned within seconds.

Does your website have relevant keywords within it?

This is a tricky subject, which is why it is a good idea to do a lot of keyword research. You need to find out what sort of keywords your target audience are using to search for your web pages. You should also check to see what keywords your competitors use, because they too are aiming to attract your target audience. You should research the correct keywords for each of your pages, since each page is most likely going to differ from all the others.

You should use keyword tools to check to see if a keyword is used a lot, but you should also think about keywords that come to your mind. What would you type into a search engine? You also need to be aware of what you would write and what your target audience would write. For example, you may choose keywords such as “X for sale”, but remember that as a buyer, you may actually search for “Buy X” or “Where to buy X”. Try to put yourself in your target audiences shoes and use a little bit of common sense and gut instinct.

Where can you get your information from?

For a start, you should never take the word of things you read from articles and websites online (an odd thing to say within one of those very articles). The fact is that a lot of online content has not been created by true experts. A large portion of it has been created by people who are making up plausible lies. The rest of it is created by well meaning (but misinformed) fools.

There is some very good advice to be found online, but you must take it all under advisement (with a pinch of salt). Your best place to start is with Google itself. They have a lot of tutorials on their Google webmaster section, and even some forum answers from their staff which are very handy.

Books are an okay place to look, but you really (really) need to get a book from a company that is highly respected for being correct. There are some books out there that look like they know what they are talking about, but that are filled with misinformation. Try an updated version of the “For Dummies” books. Make sure you go for the updated versions, because the version they printed around three/four years ago is already out of date. For example, social media is hardly mentioned.

John Kravz is a representative of proessaywriting.com that provides excellent help on your writing assignments such an critical essay.

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Top 5 Twitter Tech Experts You Should be Following

Millions of people around the world are interested in technology. The great thing about the technology industry is that there are so many different strands to it.

People who are interested in the development of the latest smartphone can discover exactly what features they can expect to find on their next handset, while we can also look at the latest computers, innovations, medical technology and so many more different things.

The big question is where can you go to get all your key information? Many people use Twitter, which is understandable, but with so many experts present on the social network, what do you do? Following thousands of tech minds is hardly practical, which is why our infographic of the top five technology experts to follow on Twitter is such a valuable resource for users. Get following now and never want for your fix of global tech news ever again.

Mark loves apps and can’t decide which app he likes best on his Android device.  He is considering taking out web hosting with JaguarPC so he can start a review site for apps across a variety of platforms.

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Why You Need To Get Above The Average Typing Speed

The average adult types somewhere around 40 words per minute. By comparison, a hunt and peck typist can usually max out around 20 wpm, and someone writing with a pen on paper will usually top out at around 15 wpm. Learning to properly touch type can be one of the most important things you learn in 2014.

Why?

Because the world is run by computers. Gone are the days of being able to apply for a job with no typing or computer skills, or just being able to 'get by' with some basic hunt and peck typing. Even a basic cashier's position in a grocery or department store is going to require some basic typing and computer skills. They may not be as stringent as the requirements for say, a programming or secretarial job, but they are still there.
Learning to touch type properly may be one of the most important things you ever do. It's proven that touch typists are more efficient as well. Just look at the math.

A touch typist who types 60 words per minute for 60 minutes will type approximately 3600 words, not accounting for breaks or any accuracy discrepancy.

A hunt and peck typist, typing at 20 words per minute for the same amount of time, will only type 1200 words. That is a 66% loss of efficiency.

There is a little section on a resume template that many people overlook: the applicant's words per minute typing speed. Try applying for a few computer or office jobs with a listing of 20 or 30 words per minute. Keep track of how many times your resume is overlooked, passed over, or simply thrown in the trash. With the abundance of free online training tools and games, there is no excuse for anyone over the age of 6 to not learn proper touch typing techniques and skills. It is, without a doubt, the most important skill you can learn to make you valuable in the job market.

Adam Fort is an education enthusiast. Adam's goal is to help kids areound the world to improve the typing skills.

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