Tag: computers

Server Not Found

~ Sue ~ 2 Comments

Everything in this modern world seems to rely on an internet connection. Which is all fine and well, until you can’t get connected to the internet. When it happens, you think of how you took the internet for granted. It can feel a little ‘woe is me’ a little bit. Which is pathetic, really.

A lot of problems for connections come from devices themselves. If they are switched on a lot, like phones, computers, and Smart TVs, can get a bit slow and don’t do the things that we want them to. So, it is always good to make sure you properly switch all the power off for your devices sometimes. It also shuts down any processes that your device may have got stuck processing, which is always a good thing.

However, there are times when every device is effected. It could be, like above, that the router has got ‘bogged down’ with information, so you may need to switch it off. Usually a quick switching the power socket off and on is enough to fix many problems. You could also need to update software, which should happen regularly automatically, but your manual for your router should discribe this for you. 

The speed has got worse over time, which has to lead to me wondering if it is effected by neighbour’s using their internet connection, or a poor cable connection into the house. If that is the case, then changing providers won’t make a difference.  I have been wanting to look for help, but the most common method of finding help is the internet. So, what do you do?

It’s really no good when you need help from the internet, and the internet doesn’t work.


The Internet is Public

~ Sue ~ Leave a comment

I am writing this entry from my local library because my home internet is dead, and my phone is not allowing me to post updates. Instead of complaining, I am going to try and say what a different things, like free internet, does for communities.

When I was at school internet was slow and expensive, hence I never had it. The local council started to invest in computers, to provide people with the internet, who couldn’t afford it. They did this by equipting most local libraries with PCs. It gave so many people the access to a whole world that they couldn’t see before. They could send emails, apply for jobs, shop online and learn about so many things.

Since I first used these library computers 15 years ago, my home got broadband, and a laptop that works (kinda). The local library, which once housed 2 computers, now has 12. The library runs classes to help people get to grip with computers and the internet. Allow pensioners send emails to relatives who live on the other side of the world. And, people who struggle with unemployment, get help on how to apply for jobs or type up a CV. It’s made computers so much accessible. You no longer need to spend a fortune on a PC and a home broadband connection.

I remember when I was at school, there was a few internet cafes that opened. Where you would paid £5 for an hour of computer access. Obviously, times have changed, the government helped. You can now rent public computers for an hour a time, and all you need is a library card. I think this is awesome, but I don’t know how widespread this is. My local council is Fife Council, and they have made it a priority to make computers and the internet accessible to all local residents, for free.

It’s times like this, where I take stock, and am thankful for where I live. And it isn’t just because my own technology is so tempermental.

Battling Digital Breakdown!

~ Sue ~ Leave a comment

AKA, trying to fix a computer, and saving it from a malware which seemed to be the most annoying fake security software EVER!!

What was happening is that there were these pop-ups, coming up on the computer, no matter what it was you were using, and they advised you of an error somewhere, and to do a security scan to fix it. You would click to do the ‘scan’ and it would take you to a page to purchase in a ‘product’ to fight these infections.

All seems above board, right?

Wrong!

The error messages were not the most illegible, and looked slightly different to windows error messages. But that was just the fact that the messages were less rounded than the standard error messages, and little things that most users wouldn’t pick up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, your computer is ‘under the infections threat’. Scary stuff. *rolls eyes* Any without much searching, we soon found out that this is a malicious piece of software that effectively makes up errors. It gets users worried about the risk of their computer, so that they go and spend money on software to fix the problem. This doesn’t happen, and the details you use to pay for things, is given out to ‘third parties’, and leave you at risk of identity theft.

The big issue with this malware is, that your standard security software, will probably overlook the ‘Security Shield’ and think that it is perfectly safe. Although the software can be annoying, in that it pops up every 5 seconds, reporting some kind of fictitious fault. And it is also known for causing problems to the point of crashing your computer, and also rendering anti-virus protection as useless.

Whilst the best advice is to NEVER give your details to something that you do not know of. Because some malware is designed to look pretty damned close to legit anti-virus software. So always check the name that your alerts are under, anything that you have never heard of, delete. Better playing it safe.
I used MalwareByte to try and find Security Shield, after trying to remove it manually failed. Whilst MalwareByte found  Security Shield, and noted it as a risk, when it tried to delete it, Windows, once again failed, and I got the big blue screen of fail. At this point, it seemed like nothing would help, so I decided it was time to do a system repair.

This is an option most new Windows PCs have, where they have a partition in the harddrive which contains the ability to repair the computer, without going into Windows properly. Here, you can do things such as restore your PC to the last time it was updated, or restore straight back to factory settings. So because this malware only became an issue in the last few days, I just restored it back to an update that was made about a month ago.You do it by switching your PC on, and before you get to  the Windows Boot Screen, press f8 over and over again. This bypasses normal start-up, and puts the PC into recovery mode, where you can then restore or repair your computer.

After about 20 minutes, the computer rebooted and was A-OK!! Hooray!!

I, at the moment, have Norton, AVG and Avast! as anti-virus softwares, and I have never had any issues with viruses *touch wood*.

I have 3 on the recommendation that different security software have different flaws. So hopefully having a few, limits that chance of anything getting through the security.

TGI….Dead Internets?!?

~ Sue ~ Leave a comment

I think I am going to need to purchase a new router. Which is upsetting news to someone on relies on the web, and has no money. -.- Things like this always happen when I have no money. Always, without fail.

And as always, it’s not till you don’t have something, you realise how much you need it. So after using the web to do everything, even playing racing games on the Xbox, it’s always a shock when it isn’t there to use at your convenience.

I would imagine that would get worse if we all end up working on the ‘cloud’, which is what looks to be the future. What is the cloud? The cloud, from what I understand, is online space where you store applications and files, and eliminates the need for any real hard-drive on a PC. This is something that I find unsettling, as it’s like you don’t get physical ownership of products, things are just online rather than securely in your own PC.

Everyone can ‘use the cloud’ so what happens if someone is a bit of a bugger and uploads a virus. Surely it has a chance it could damage a lot of people’s personal things. It would be way more expensive to fix than an infected website. And what if you, like me, are unable to access the internet, do you lose everything. Will phones, like the Blackberry I am using now, be able to easily sync up to the cloud, or will I need to by something authorised by Windows?
And what if, someone does access your personal data, how easy will it be to sort out? Will the real owner of the data be able to identified, especially if they use public computers?

I guess this is something we just have to watch and see what happens. In a way, I do see why it would be good, but I like the idea of everything being under my control. I feel that the cloud owes too much to other parties, and the more people involved in something, the more complicated things tend to become. I say that from experience.

So, what do you think of the cloud?

Back on track

~ Sue ~ Leave a comment

Day 2 of operation ‘Make myself Work’. And guess what?

I actually did some work. *does a victory dance*

Ok, I probably could have done more, but some work is better than no work, right? I did a bit of mixed media, which means me, bits of paper, glue and lots of coloured ink. Total good fun.

The ‘mixed media’ is for my Art & Design unit, which is self-expressive. Where I have to advertise ‘Me’ as I would any other product. Kind of had an idea of blogging and putting my blogs as  little progress reports through my project. I think that is good, as blogging is one of the most common ways I get my thoughts and feelings across. So because I include that as a big part of who I am, right now,  I think it would be a good idea to have blogs through my sketchbook. Unsure of whether it is a good idea or not. Not really talked to anyone else about it, other than myself, so don’t know if it’s going to be successful or not.

The ‘Me’ project is going to be messy, as I am a messy person in general. And it is also going to be a contrast to my Graded Unit, for which all the pages have been created digitally. I think that will be intresting, to have my two projects contrasting in that way. Besides, if I did them both digitally, I think I’d be pulling my hair out, as I am very arty and enjoy making my mess.

Digital work is something, I am having to force myself to do, as it does not come naturally. I am constantly being told, that it is good to get out of your comfort zone everyone in a while. I am getting better at using Photoshop and illustrator, but I still get a headache. Probably because I am infront of a PC all day at college, at my work (Sky) and again at home, when I am trying to finish things. So I’m not really suprized I like to spend some time off the computer.