Staying invincible - Big Geek Brings You a Double Whammy on the Internet Explorer

Everybody knows that Internet Explorer is unsafe. But, trust me, though there are many good options, some corporations and governments still stick to Internet Explorer as their preferred browser and many applications do not work properly on any other. Also keeping in mind that IE is fully integrated into the Windows operating system and you just can't uninstall it. So, how do you make sure you are secured and have the latest updates to avoid a cyber attack?

Stop piracy
It is important to stick to genuine software. All of us want to run the prohibitively costly Adobe Photoshop to edit our pictures. But it is better to opt for freeware applications that let you do similar functions. The same is the case with operating systems. If you feel you do not want to spend on Windows, go ahead and give Linux a try. Or else, check out cheaper Starter Editions that offer limited functions but are good for home use. Anyway, make sure your OS is genuine and not pirated.

Antivirus
A good antivirus does not mean that you got it from your friend who bought a CD, it just means you paid for the antivirus or got one free from a great company like avg.com. With companies losing revenue to pirated software vendors, more and more companies are dropping prices. So it makes more sense to buy a paid version. Check with your friends and read some reviews if you can’t decide which antivirus is better. As we spend more time online and with the threats becoming more potent, it is advisable to get an antivirus with an inbuilt firewall to protect your computer from getting hijacked. While products like Bit Defender and Kaspersky are cheaper, high-end products like McAfee and Norton Antivirus will cost more. The choice is yours; just make sure you are buying a legal version.

Updates
Having a legal version of a software itself removes a lot of bugs, but it is also important to update your system regularly. Though most OS come with a built-in auto update utility, I have seen users disable this to save their bandwidth. If you want to disable the automatic update, it is suggested that you manually check for updates every fortnight. Update your OS every 15 days and your antivirus, antispyware and firewall everyday

Storage & file transfer
With the floppy drive era over, thumb drives, memory cards and Bluetooth file transfers have become the latest way to get a virus. In case you use memory cards or pen drives it is always suggested that you scan them immediately on connect. It might seem like a waste of time, but the first five minutes is when the virus enters the system. Try not to share thumb drives and memory cards. If your friend wants a file, email it to him.

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The above article appared in the Indian Express on Sunday 24th of January 2010. The Above video was a part of the news builiten on CNN IBN

Let's start with Chrome - Preview Google Chrome OS

Google, after changing the way we look at the Internet, is now working on revolutionising how we see computers. As cloud computing and ‘computing as a service’ set the tech world abuzz, everyone is thinking of moving everything online. Gone are the days where your PC needed an Operating System with a multitude of applications, as most of what you need is already available for use online.
With Microsoft and Apple, which dominate the world of computing, charging a bomb for their software, Google is on a mission to change this by reworking Linux and making the Web truly free and friendly. It was towards this end that Google announced its Chrome OS on April 19. Though Google developers think their OS is at least a year away from a production launch, they have already given us a preview to show how they want to change computing.

NetPC manufacturers like Nivio already have machines that boot on the cloud, but Chrome is different for it boots on the local hard disk and, unlike Nivio, can work even if you are not connected to the Internet. Google’s Android OS, written for a phone with a touchscreen, is already available. But it is not that easy to use on a laptop. The Chrome, on the other hand, is meant for use on a PC.

Like its already popular browser, the Chrome is also designed with a minimalist approach and as a result boots up in seven seconds flat, compared to 45 seconds on the fastest machines today. But the real advantage of the Chrome OS is that you can stop bothering about managing programs, applications, lost files and settings. Your settings are saved online, files on the cloud and programs are available on demand. So, it won't be that easy to install a program and screw up your OS.
But the question everyone is asking is what happens to security when everything is on the cloud. While I don’t see a lot of corporates move to the cloud for now, on a personal level, I don’t mind if my spreadsheets or Word documents are stored online. However, I do mind that someone will be able to invade my privacy and get a hold of my data. So getting the right passphrase—remember passwords are passe now—is the key to protection.

Like its already popular browser, the Chrome is also designed with a minimalist approach and as a result boots up in seven seconds flat, compared to 45 seconds on the fastest machines today. But the real advantage of the Chrome OS is that you can stop bothering about managing programs, applications, lost files and settings. Your settings are saved online, files on the cloud and programs are available on demand. So, it won't be that easy to install a program and screw up your OS.
But the question everyone is asking is what happens to security when everything is on the cloud. While I don’t see a lot of corporates move to the cloud for now, on a personal level, I don’t mind if my spreadsheets or Word documents are stored online. However, I do mind that someone will be able to invade my privacy and get a hold of my data. So getting the right passphrase—remember passwords are passe now—is the key to protection.

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The above article appeared in the Indian Express, on Sunday November 29th, 2009