Saturday, October 11, 2008

How to Identify a Safe Website for Your Kids

If you have children in their tween years, more than likely they are wanting to get online and have some fun. However, it's important that you work to keep your kids safe online. There are actually some great sites out there for kids, but as a parent, it's important that you monitor your kids when they are online so you know that they are using safe websites. It's your responsibility as a parent to make sure that your kids are going to safe sites on the web. So, how do you identify a safe website for your children? Here are a few great tips that can help.

Look for a Highly Monitored Site - First of all, when you are trying to identify a safe website for your kids, you'll want to look for a highly monitored site. These types of sites are much safer for your kids. Sites with high monitoring don't allow too much personal information about the kids using the site and kids need parental permission to join as well. So, for the best and safest sites out there for your kids, ensure that the site is monitored closely.

Ensure the Site is For Kids - Another important tip to remember when trying to find safe sites for kids is to ensure that the site you're considering is actually for kids. You don't want your children out there on sites that are not specifically designed for kids today. This is definitely important, so take the time to check out the sites your kids want to use to make sure that they are really sites that are for kids and by kids.

Inappropriate Language and Pictures are Not Allowed -When looking for safe websites for kids, it's important that you make sure that inappropriate language and pictures are not allowed up on the site. Take a look at the rules of the site to ensure that language and pictures that are inappropriate are not allowed, and that if they do occur, that these episodes are handled very strictly. Pictures and language should always be g-rated on a kids site.

Talk to Your Kids About Internet Safety - Talking to your children about internet safety is important as well. You may not always be right beside them when they are on the web, so letting them know how to be safe online is important. Make sure that they know what sites are appropriate for them and also let them know basic principles of staying safe, such as avoiding talking to people they don't know on the web, and giving out any personal information. They should know that it is never okay to answer questions about their personal information, such as their full name, where they live, or their phone number.

Check Into Privacy Policies - Before you allow your child on any website, you should check into their privacy policies. A privacy policy for a website should include the information that the site collects, choosing where the information is displayed, access to the information that is provided, and security that keeps that information protected. These are important aspects to a privacy policy. You don't want your children giving their information to or getting involved in a website that may sell their information or ask for too much information from them. So, ensure that you take a good look at the privacy policy of the site before you decide that it is a safe website for your kids.

Remember, the safety of your children is in your hands and identifying safe websites is important. By following these tips you'll be able to rest assured that your kids are safe and having a great time.

from: MyDailySecurity.com


To find more about shoes
click here

Friday, October 10, 2008

Gaming Not-Roundup: An Easy End to Videogame Piracy? You Wish

As we've become painfully aware over the past couple of weeks, game publishers will do just about anything if it means pointing an over-sized foam middle-finger in piracy's direction. But, with EA's recent decision to plunge a grimy claw into an old wound that was finally beginning to scab over, another lesson has been hammered into our collective conscious: DRM doesn't work. It alienates legitimate customers and pushes budding pirates right over the edge.

However, there are other, much more viable methods of thwarting thieves, most of which are only now heaving themselves upward and making awkward, Bambi-esque strides into the limelight. Thus far, however, only one such anti-piracy tool has proven itself stupidly lucrative: the subscription fee.

During this week's Activision Analyst Day event, Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith mused about a possible Guitar Hero subscription service -- part of the publisher's plan to "monetize" the series. In addition, he noted that Call of Duty could fall under a similar, dollar-shaped banner.

Taken on its own, I see no problem with this pseudo-announcement. In both cases, a subscription service would have us lazing in a warm tub of new content with minimal hassle, and, as WoW has kindly pointed out, PC piracy of those games would slope off drastically.

But try ka-ching-ing a few more subscriptions onto your bank account's emaciated form and suddenly, this idea doesn't seem quite so dandy.

Blizzard currently has lifeguards and a series of diving boards stationed around its money vat because WoW is at the zenith of the MMO industry. More importantly, though, WoW is occupying the tippity-top all on its lonesome; no other MMO even comes close. And there's an obvious reason for WoW's totalitarian rule: it's the best. People flock to the game for a good time, and gladly part with $15 every month because -- let's face it -- Age of Conan and games of its ilk definitely aren't slurping up WoW's audience like they once hoped. The majority of WoW's frothing masses get their MMO -- and in many cases, gaming -- fix from WoW and only WoW. Their money is for the Horde.

Two or three subscriptions, though? That's a line only the hardest of the hardcore (and also the too-"busy"-to-cancel lazy) are willing to cross. Even if a plethora of subscriptions siphoned from your wallet the exact same amount of money as paying for individual updates, I'd wager that you'd still be reticent to flash your cash. Why? A single purchase is next to nil. It's an impulse buy. But a subscription fee just screams "commitment," and that's when our brain's little red light flashes to life.

That single negative threatens to obscure any and all positives a subscription-based industry might bring with it. However, all is not lost.

If publishers were to place all of their subscriptions under one, semi-cheap banner -- like a monetized Battle.net or SOE's Station Access, but with every game the publisher offered for a single fee -- customers might not be so overwhelmed by swarms of subscriptions. But even in such a condensed form, the majority of people would probably stick with one publisher -- one commitment -- likely fragmenting the market in the process. If the industry keeps consolidating, though, fragmentation may not be an issue. Really, Activision, EA, and Ubisoft already provide the majority of games we play these days, so a movie industry-like structure may not be far off.

And, of course, we haven't even touched free, ad-supported titles -- which could snugly ride shotgun with subscription-based programs -- but that's another article altogether.

So, what's your opinion on subscription fees? Where do you think they should stand in the fight against piracy? Are they the solution, or will they only lead to unnecessary complications?

from: MyDailySecurity.com


To find more about shoes
click here

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wireless Security Cameras

You know the myriad of activities that go on in a large metropolis. People go to offices to take care of business, shop owners try to sell their wares, students go to attend classes, and drivers maneuver the cars and trucks around-such a lively bunch of activities.

Unfortunately, a less-than-pleasant activity also strives in the city-crime. Every city has its share of lawbreakers that disrupt its peace and harmony. Crime can range from simple violations, such as illegal parking and speeding, to really serious ones, such as, murder. To combat them, each city dispatches law enforcers. Law enforcement uses the latest in weaponry, technology, and techniques in catching and apprehending criminals.

However, in most cities, the officers of the law are usually outnumbered. To make up for the disadvantage, they resort to surveillance cameras to monitor public areas. Surveillance cameras alert operators to areas where violations of the law occur, allowing them to dispatch police officers more quickly. Also the images caught on tape can be used as evidence if the criminal does manage to get away.

New types of surveillance camera are in use now in many cities. These are called wireless security cameras. As the name implies, these cameras are not connected by any wires. Standard cameras are connected to a central monitoring system via cables.

These wireless gadgets are gaining popularity. In fact, police units are installing them on several areas in the city. Too, government agencies, businesses, and private citizens are also using them.

The main advantage of a wireless system is that these systems are not limited by cables. That means they can be placed anywhere without much concern about the placement of cables. The signal is carried via a broadcast signal, which can also be accessed through the Internet if permission is approved.

Wireless systems generally use a five-to-one compression ratio. Higher compression rates are also available so that the images would be DVD quality. The downside of this high compression rate is that the hard-disk space of wireless cameras are filled faster than with a cable-fed camera. Wireless systems can time stamp the images.

Furthermore, more advanced wireless security cameras can alert operators by sending them an e-mail if an unusual activity is detected.

There are also disadvantages to the usage of wireless security cameras. For example, digital video recorders can sometimes pick up the signals from these cameras, threatening the security of the images. Also, if one knows the proper frequency, the signals can be jammed. Jamming a transmission means scrambling or blocking the signal so that it does not register properly in the monitors. Jamming a police transmission is a crime and is dealt with severely.

Also, they are not appropriate for long-term surveillance. That's because transmitting the signal requires a larger-than-usual amount of power, draining the battery power more quickly than their wired counterparts. Also, if they are not stored properly, they can be stolen with ease; there aren't any wires that are attached to them which helps secure these gadgets to their mounts or posts.

from: MyDailySecurity.com


To find more about shoes
click here

5 Do's and Don'ts of Installing a Home Alarm System

1. DO install your home security system. It will not work if you buy one and leave it in the box or only partially install it. The burglar might as well steal the security system and install it in his or her own home.

2. DO turn the security system on. See above. Why would you take the time to install a security system and then fail to hit the on switch? If you can leave the security system on.

If it is something you have to turn on when you leave the house then try to create some sort of reminder so you don't forget to turn it on when you leave. If you have too why not leave a note for yourself in your car because it will only take you 5 seconds to turn your alarm on but it can cause you months of pain and distress should you forget and thieves break into your home.

3. DON'T tell thieves the name of the alarm company you use, because they can then figure out how to bypass the wiring in your home's alarm system. It isn't that hard to figure it out if you know what alarm system a home uses.

Those signs that tell burglars what alarm company you use? They are more dangerous than not having a security system. DO use signs that tell burglars or thieves that you use some form of alarm system. This will at the very least deter them. They will probably not try to figure out what alarm system you use on their own if you do not tell them outright. They will just move on.

4. DO turn out your lights when the time comes. A burglar is going to know you are not home if your light stays on all day and night. It is an old wives tale that this deters thieves, and it wastes energy. If you can buy something that will turn lights off and on at timed intervals, this is much better than leaving lights on or off when away.

5. DON'T put your high-value items in the same spot. If a thief does get in despite your alarm system or lack thereof, you don't want them to hit the jackpot. Try dispersing them in various places. DO keep valuables in places other than your bedroom because that is usually the first place a thief will look.

If you follow these simple tips you are going to have a much better time deterring thieves than if you simply hope and pray for the best. Remember a good security system is a good thing to have, but if you combine that with a little common sense you will go a long way toward deterring thieves.

When it comes to protecting your families well being and assets from brazen thieves, it pays to get the right advice for first time. With 12 years experience in home and business security systems E Security are the security experts you can trust.

from: MyDailySecurity.com


To find more about shoes
click here

Why Would Someone Steal Another's Identity?

Identity Theft can happen to anyone. You or the people you know such as a friend, family member, even a neighbor it can happen to anyone even people who you've never met before. Scary isn't it? But it's the truth that it can happen anytime anywhere and most of the time you won't even know it until the effects start kicking in.

Why in the world would anyone want to steal another person's identity? What in the world do you think was going through their heads when they stole another person's identity? The most common answer is money. To most people who live in the darker side of life, money is what makes the world go round. With money you have power and with power you can do anything with that power.

But how can stealing someone else's identity can bring another person to power? Easy, they use that information to create a fake identity and use it at their leisure. From creating false bank accounts, credit accounts and other accounts where money is heavily involved can be used with someone else's identity.

The most common account where identity theft is involved is the use of another person's credit card. Millions of dollars have been lost by someone else using another person's credit card. You heard that right. Millions of dollars with the capital letter M. But how is that possible you ask? It's quite simple actually. Because many people are too slow to report their credit card stolen that it's impossible for them to know that someone else used their credit card to buy something without their consent.

But what about all the security you ask? That again is a simple question to be answered. The security is quite primitive. The only way to prevent someone else from using your lost or stolen credit card is to report it missing immediately. If you don't you are responsible for what items that were charged on your card. It can be something petty as a few dollars to something extremely expensive that you have no possibility of paying off resulting you in financial debt.

Back to the security issue the only security that a credit card might have is the signature. But think about it carefully. Who the hell is actually making sure that whoever is signing for that card is the real you? No one is actually. Not a single person. Instead anyone can sign the piece of paper and get away with it because it's just a simple signature. It may be bounded by law that if you sign it you are being held responsible. But the person is already stealing your identity what is another crime or to added to that? It's practically nothing to them.

So what can I do to prevent from getting my credit card stolen or what do I do when it does get stolen. One to prevent your card from getting stolen is to get one with a picture of yourself on it. Though it's not the best method it can help a person quite a bit because for the most part the person that will be taking care of the transaction will notice that the person using the card is not the same person who the card belongs to. Another method is to not carry a credit card around with you or don't carry multiple credit cards with you because they can all be stolen. But if you do happen to lose or get your card stolen by someone, report it immediately as mentioned before or you will suffer the consequences.

from: MyDailySecurity.com


To find more about shoes
click here