LAN's and WAN's

A computer network is a number of computers linked together to allow them to share resources. Networked computers can share hardware, software and data. Most computer networks have at least one server. A server is a powerful computer that provides one or more services to a network and its users. For example, file storage and email. LANs and WANs There are two main types of network: Local Area Network (LAN) Wide Area Network (WAN) LAN A LAN covers a small area such as one site or building, eg a school or a college.

LAN - Local Area Network WAN A WAN covers a large geographical area. Most WANs are made from several LANs connected together.

Shows a WAN, made from several smaller networks, which could be local area networks (LAN). Each of the smaller networks has it's own server and multiple workstations connected. WAN - Wide Area Network The Internet is a WAN. A network of bank cash dispensers is a WAN. A school network is usually a LAN. LANs are often connected to WANs, for example a school network could be connected to the Internet. WANs can be connected together using the Internet, leased lines or satellite links.

10 Tips for Wireless Home Network Security

1. Change Default Administrator Passwords (and Usernames) At the core of most Wi-Fi home networks is an access point or router. To set up these pieces of equipment, manufacturers provide Web pages that allow owners to enter their network address and account information. These Web tools are protected with a login screen (username and password) so that only the rightful owner can do this. However, for any given piece of equipment, the logins provided are simple and very well-known to hackers on the Internet. Change these settings immediately. 2. Turn on (Compatible) WPA / WEP Encryption All Wi-Fi equipment supports some form of encryption. Encryption technology scrambles messages sent over wireless networks so that they cannot be easily read by humans. Several encryption technologies exist for Wi-Fi today. Naturally you will want to pick the strongest form of encryption that works with your wireless network. However, the way these technologies work, all Wi-Fi devices on your network must share the identical encryption settings. Therefore you may need to find a "lowest common demoninator" setting. 3. Change the Default SSID Access points and routers all use a network name called the SSID. Manufacturers normally ship their products with the same SSID set. For example, the SSID for Linksys devices is normally "linksys." True, knowing the SSID does not by itself allow your neighbors to break into your network, but it is a start. More importantly, when someone finds a default SSID, they see it is a poorly configured network and are much more likely to attack it. Change the default SSID immediately when configuring wireless security on your network. 4. Enable MAC Address Filtering Each piece of Wi-Fi gear possesses a unique identifier called the physical address or MAC address. Access points and routers keep track of the MAC addresses of all devices that connect to them. Many such products offer the owner an option to key in the MAC addresses of their home equipment, that restricts the network to only allow connections from those devices. Do this, but also know that the feature is not so powerful as it may seem. Hackers and their software programs can fake MAC addresses easily. 5. Disable SSID Broadcast In Wi-Fi networking, the wireless access point or router typically broadcasts the network name (SSID) over the air at regular intervals. This feature was designed for businesses and mobile hotspots where Wi-Fi clients may roam in and out of range. In the home, this roaming feature is unnecessary, and it increases the likelihood someone will try to log in to your home network. Fortunately, most Wi-Fi access points allow the SSID broadcast feature to be disabled by the network administrator. 6. Do Not Auto-Connect to Open Wi-Fi Networks Connecting to an open Wi-Fi network such as a free wireless hotspot or your neighbor's router exposes your computer to security risks. Although not normally enabled, most computers have a setting available allowing these connections to happen automatically without notifying you (the user). This setting should not be enabled except in temporary situations. 7. Assign Static IP Addresses to Devices Most home networkers gravitate toward using dynamic IP addresses. DHCP technology is indeed easy to set up. Unfortunately, this convenience also works to the advantage of network attackers, who can easily obtain valid IP addresses from your network's DHCP pool. Turn off DHCP on the router or access point, set a fixed IP address range instead, then configure each 8. Enable Firewalls On Each Computer and the Router Modern network routers contain built-in firewall capability, but the option also exists to disable them. Ensure that your router's firewall is turned on. For extra protection, consider installing and running personal firewall software on each computer connected to the router. 9. Position the Router or Access Point Safely Wi-Fi signals normally reach to the exterior of a home. A small amount of signal leakage outdoors is not a problem, but the further this signal reaches, the easier it is for others to detect and exploit. Wi-Fi signals often reach through neighboring homes and into streets, for example. When installing a wireless home network, the position of the access point or router determines its reach. Try to position these devices near the center of the home rather than near windows to minimize leakage. 10. Turn Off the Network During Extended Periods of Non-Use The ultimate in wireless security measures, shutting down your network will most certainly prevent outside hackers from breaking in! While impractical to turn off and on the devices frequently, at least consider doing so during travel or extended periods offline. Computer disk drives have been known to suffer from power cycle wear-and-tear, but this is a secondary concern for broadband modems and routers. If you own a wireless router but are only using it wired (Ethernet) connections, you can also sometimes turn off Wi-Fi on a broadband router without powering down the entire network.

11 TIPS FOR SOCIAL NETWORKING

From MicroSoft Social networking websites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Windows Live Spaces are services people can use to connect with others to share information like photos, videos, and personal messages. As the popularity of these social sites grows, so do the risks of using them. Hackers, spammers, virus writers, identity thieves, and other criminals follow the traffic. Read these tips to help protect yourself when you use social networks: 1)Use caution when you click links that you receive in messages from your friends on your social website. Treat links in messages on these sites as you would links in email messages 2)Know what you've posted about yourself. A common way that hackers break into financial or other accounts is by clicking the "Forgot your password?" link on the account login page. To break into your account, they search for the answers to your security questions, such as your birthday, home town, high school class, or mother's middle name. If the site allows, make up your own password questions, and don't draw them from material anyone could find with a quick search. (3)Don't trust that a message is really from who it says it's from. Hackers can break into accounts and send messages that look like they're from your friends, but aren't. If you suspect that a message is fraudulent, use an alternate method to contact your friend to find out. This includes invitations to join new social networks. (4)To avoid giving away email addresses of your friends, do not allow social networking services to scan your email address book. When you join a new social network, you might receive an offer to enter your email address and password to find out if your contacts are on the network. The site might use this information to send email messages to everyone in your contact list or even everyone you've ever sent an email message to with that email address. Social networking sites should explain that they're going to do this, but some do not. (5)Type the address of your social networking site directly into your browser or use your personal bookmarks. If you click a link to your site through email or another website, you might be entering your account name and password into a fake site where your personal information could be stolen. (6)Be selective about who you accept as a friend on a social network.Identity thieves might create fake profiles in order to get information from you. (7)Choose your social network carefully. Evaluate the site that you plan to use and make sure you understand the privacy policy. Find out if the site monitors content that people post. You will be providing personal information to this website, so use the same criteria that you would to select a site where you enter your credit card. (8)Assume that everything you put on a social networking site is permanent. Even if you can delete your account, anyone on the Internet can easily print photos or text or save images and videos to a computer. (9)Be careful about installing extras on your site. Many social networking sites allow you to download third-party applications that let you do more with your personal page. Criminals sometimes use these applications to steal your personal information. To download and use third-party applications safely, take the same safety precautions that you take with any other program or file you download from the web. (10)Think twice before you use social networking sites at work. Be careful with social networking sites, especially at work. Several recent reports attest that phishing scams, viruses, spyware, and other unwanted software are spreading through social networks and into workplace networks. These outbreaks can damage computer systems and might even steal sensitive information from your company. (11)Talk to your kids about social networking. If you're a parent of children who use social networking remember to monitor your children and their computer usage.

TIPS TO REDUCE STRESS

1. Remember: This Too Shall Pass Laundry is piling up, the baby has a fever, and your boss wanted that report yesterday. Sound familiar? No one managing his or her own life is devoid of stress and too much of it can lead to excessive worry, nervousness, dread, upset stomach, or difficulty breathing. The first step to overcoming such negative feelings is to recognize that you are experiencing a very common emotional state most commonly identified as anxiety (learn more signs of anxiety). Although it's uncomfortable, the negative feelings WILL PASS. Fighting the anxiety can make it stronger. Paradoxically, accepting that you are feeling anxious helps activate the body's natural relaxation response. 2. Learn How to Self-Soothe Imagine walking down a nature path only to be greeted by a snarling grizzly bear -- or worse, your boss demanding that report. When we are faced with an anxiety-inducing situation, our body's sympathetic nervous system automatically triggers physiological changes. Our breathing quickens, adrenaline is secreted, and our heart begins to race. This natural survival mechanism -- called the fight or flight response -- is intended to help us to escape a true, life threatening emergency. However, when the threat is imagined (e.g., I'm going to bomb this presentation and everyone will know I'm a fraud), the fight/flight response is unnecessary and very uncomfortable. 3. Check Your Diet What we eat and drink largely impacts our emotional state. Foods most associated with exacerbating anxiety are ones containing caffeine and alcohol. Even consumed in small amounts, studies have found that the stimulating effects of caffeine can cause anxiety, trigger panic attacks, and increase feelings of nervousness and irritability. Caffeine -- commonly found in coffee, colas, tea, and chocolate -- also causes physical symptoms such as trembling and shaking. Abruptly eliminating caffeine from the diet can lead to withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, restlessness, and irritability so it's important to decrease caffeine consumption gradually. Similarly, although alcohol is often consumed to "take the edge off" it dehydrates the body and ultimately increases anxiety. 4. Get Moving Most of us know that exercise is good for our physical health. For the past few decades, research has suggested that exercise is even more effective than medication (learn more from this helpful article from Huffington Post). Maintaining a regular (healthy, non-obsessive) exercise routine has been proven to reduce stress, improve mood, enhance self-esteem, and increase energy levels. During exercise, the body releases chemicals called endorphins which interact with receptors in the brain to causing euphoric feelings and reduction in physical pain. Read 13 Mental Health Benefits Of Exercise. 5. Get More Sleep Nearly everyone feels a little crabby after a rough night's sleep. Disrupted sleep is common in many emotional disorders and it's difficult to know which started first -- stress or poor sleep. A study from the University of Pennsylvania showed that losing just a few hours of sleep increases feelings of stress, anger, sadness, and exhaustion. Click here to read 10 tips on how to increase your Zzzzzs from the National Sleep Foundation. "People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you are fortunate. But happiness is the result of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly." ― Elizabeth Gilbert

Ten Tips for Choosing a Career

One - Evaluate Your Work Style The right career for you will be suited to your work style. Are you a self-starter who accomplishes goals on your own, or do you need the discipline of a structured work environment to do your best? An honest evaluation of your work style will help you decide whether a career where you work independently is right for you. If you're naturally a daydreamer or a procrastinator, you may do well in a career where a supervisor help you stay on task. Two - Know Your Talents Do you have a hobby or a talent that you love and are good at? Think of ways to transform activities that come naturally to you into a career. Working with wood, playing an instrument or trying different hair styles can lead to careers as a custom furniture marker, a musician or a hair stylist. Doing what you love can lead to a rewarding career. Related Reading: Questions to Ask When Choosing a Career Three - Set Financial Goals One of your goals should be to choose a career where you can earn enough money to meet your financial goals. If you want to own a vacation home on every continent and fly to these homes on your private jet, a career as a retail clerk will probably not help you achieve your goals. You may have to make some compromises along the way, but generally speaking, the career you choose should allow you to meet your financial goals. Four - Do the Math Before Going Back to School Before you pay -- or, worse, borrow money -- for college or graduate school, make sure the career you choose is worth the expense. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the cost of an undergraduate college education rose 25 to 37 percent between 2000 and 2010. If you need to go back to school to qualify for your dream job, look into programs that repay your student loans if you work in a public service position for a few years after graduation. Five - Assess Your Social Needs You'll spend one-third of your life with the people you work with, so choose a career that's a good social fit. If you're a loner who doesn't enjoy social interaction, you may be well-suited to a career where you work independently or work from home. If you love to meet new people, you may find a career in sales fulfilling, where you work with the public. Six - Conduct Informational Interviews A 15-minute informational interview with someone who has a job you think you want can help cement your career choice. Many people will be happy to meet briefly with you to talk about the pros and cons of what they do and tell you whether they would make the same career choice if they could turn back time and choose differently. Start and end the meeting on time, ask probing questions and listen carefully to the answers. Seven - Use Self-Assessment Tools Use do-it-yourself resources to help you narrow your career choices. Take online quizzes to help you assess your aptitude for certain types of work. Review online job descriptions and career information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to help you understand what the education and training requirements are for different kinds of jobs. Many books and workbooks are also available to guide you through the self-assessment process. Eight - Hire a Career Coach If do-it-yourself tools aren't right for you, a professional career coach can help you measure your aptitude for success in different professions and navigate your transition from the job you have now toward your dream job. If you feel like you're stuck on your current career path, a coach may provide the counsel you need to jump-start the process and move onward and upward toward success. Nine - Get Real-Life Experience Follow the example of companies that use interns and temps to evaluate an individual before they extend a job offer. Real-life experience in the work environment where you think you want to work can help you make up your mind for certain. Job shadows, internships and temporary assignments give you a realistic view of a day in the life of a profession. Ten - Be Patient Finding the right career is a process, not an event. An entry level position in your field may not be your dream job, but it can give you a foothold on the career ladder you want to climb. It takes time to develop your career, but setting goals and following a plan to achieve them can help you fulfill your career aspirations.

   TIPS TO BE A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER

• If you shoot digital, it's better to underexpose the shot, as underexposure is easy to correct later on in software. Shadow detail can be recovered; blown highlights (the pure white areas in an overexposed photo) can never be recovered, as there is nothing there to recover. Film is the opposite; shadow detail tends to be poor compared to digital cameras, but blown highlights are rare even with massive overexposure.^[8]
• Your camera does not matter. Nearly any camera is capable of taking good photographs in the right conditions. Even a modern camera phone is good enough for many kinds of shots.^[7] Learn your camera's limitations and work around them; don't buy new equipment until you know exactly what these limitations are, and are certain that they are hindering you.
• Western societies tend to prefer snapshots with faces or people filling the frame, e.g. within 6 feet - East Asian tourists tend to takes photos of people standing at least 15 feet from the camera so they appear tiny and the photos is mostly location/background - the photo is not about 'me' but showing the place I went to.
• Get your photos off your memory card as soon as possible. Make backups; make several backups if you can. Every photographer has, or will, experience the heartbreak of losing a precious image or images unless he or she cultivates this habit. Back up, back up, and back up!
• If the camera has a neck strap, use it! Hold the camera out so the neck strap is pulled as far as a can, this will help steady the camera. Also, it'll also stop you from dropping the camera.
• Keep a notebook handy and make notes about what worked well and what did not. Review your notes often as you practice.
• To find an interesting angle at a tourist location, look where everybody else is taking his or her picture, and then go somewhere different. You do not want the same picture as everybody else.
• Don’t be afraid of taking too many pictures. Take pictures until you feel like you got the best shot possible! It usually takes time to find the perfect composition, and your subject deserves this time. Once you found something that interest you, treat it like a treasure and give it your attention.
• When shooting photos of children, get down to their level! Pictures looking down at the top of a child's head are usually lame. Stop being lazy and get on your knees.
• Install photo-editing software and learn how to use it. This will allow you to correct color balance, adjust lighting, crop your photos, and much more. Most cameras will come with software to make these basic adjustments. For more complicated operations, consider buying Photoshop, downloading and installing the free GIMP image editor, or using