Good computer quotes

Before software can be reusable, it first has to be usable!!
--Ralph Johnson

If debugging is the process of removing bugs, then programming must be the process of putting them in.
--Edsger Dijkstra

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third works.
--Alan J. Perlis

If the code and the comments disagree, then both are probably wrong.
--attributed to Norm Schryer

Every program has (at least) two purposes: the one for which it was written, and another for which it wasn't.
--Alan J. Perlis

Copy and paste is a design error
--David Parnas

Any code of your own that you haven't looked at for six or more months might as well have been written by someone else.
--Eagleson's law

Measuring programming progress by lines of code is like measuring aircraft building progress by weight.
--Bill Gates

The primary duty of an exception handler is to get the error out of the lap of the programmer and into the surprised face of the user.

Beat Online Identity Theft

Unless you have been hiding under a rock lately, you will be well aware that there is a new breed of criminal. The levels of Online Identity Theft have reached new heights.

Why should you protect yourself?

For a start, someone who steals your identity can obtain credit, insurance or even somewhere to live. If they commit a crime with your stolen identity you may be arrested and the onus is on you to prove your innocence.

Here are some quick tips to make sure you don’t fall victim to online identity theft:

• Whenever you use your credit or debit card, you are entitled to obscure 12 of the 16 numbers. Use a pen and delete the first 12. Credit card details are needed to steal your identity and obtain credit in your name so take this out of the equation first.

• Don’t give out your social security number unless it’s required. Banks may ask for it and that’s fine but some businesses may ask for it to generate an ID. You are not entitled to do this so find a compromise with them.

• Shred your used personal documents. Think of your social security details, lender statements, phone company bills and even medical receipts. Before you destroy anything, make sure you won’t need them again. It will be virtually impossible for someone to steal your identity now.

• Don’t give out personal details on the phone unless you have initiated the conversation. Some companies call you from “xxx cellular” and ask to go through some security questions, asking for your mother’s maiden name etc. Online Identity Theft criminals use these techniques often so don’t give them this info and ask them to put it in writing instead.

• If you use a home wireless network, make sure it is secured. It is easy for criminals to locate an unsecured network with a wireless card, and then use special software to hack your banking sites and passwords. Get a new router with special security. This is a common problem and one of the main causes of online identity theft.

• If you think your identity has been stolen you need to do the following; first contact your bank and credit card company and request an immediate cancellation and replacement. Speak to one of the main three credit bureaus to issue a fraud alert. File a police report which can be later used as evidence for creditors. Contact the Federal Trade Commission, who manage a database of online identity theft cases and file a report. This report can be used by investigating officers and will save you time.

• Above all, use your intuition. Don’t carry your credit card numbers and don’t take extra ID if you don’t need it. If you eat in restaurants, take the receipt home with you.

If you follow these tips you too can avoid becoming victim to online identity theft.

Richard Ashby-Jones is well-known internet researcher specializing in home and internet security. Find other helpful advice on http://www.vital-home-security.com

Source: Internet

Laptop Security: Quick Facts, Tips

Quick Facts

Thinking of taking your laptop on the road? It’s a great way to work and stay in touch when you’re out and about, but you need to take some steps to keep your laptop safe–and in your possession. Here are some things you can do to keep track of your laptop:

• Treat it like cash.
• Get it out of the car...don’t ever leave it behind.
• Keep it locked...use a security cable.
• Keep it off the floor...or at least between your feet.
• Keep passwords separate...not near the laptop or case.
• Don’t leave it “for just a sec”...no matter where you are.
• Pay attention in airports...especially at security.
• Use bells and whistles...if you’ve got an alarm, turn it on.

Keeping Laptops From Getting Lost or Stolen

A laptop computer defines convenience and mobility. It enables you to work from home, a hotel room, a conference hall, or a coffee shop.

Maybe you’ve taken steps to secure the data on your laptop: You’ve installed a firewall. You update your antivirus software. You protect your information with a strong password. You encrypt your data, and you’re too smart to fall for those emails that ask for your personal information. But what about the laptop itself? A minor distraction is all it takes for your laptop to vanish. If it does, you may lose more than an expensive piece of hardware. The fact is, if your data protections aren’t up to par, that sensitive and valuable information in your laptop may be a magnet for an identity thief.
Chances are you’ve heard stories about stolen laptops on the news or from friends and colleagues. No one thinks their laptop will be stolen– at least not until they find the trunk of their car broken into, notice that their laptop isn’t waiting at the other side of airport security, or get a refill at the local java joint only to turn around and find their laptop gone.

OnGuardOnline, a website managed by the federal government that is devoted to computer security, protecting personal information, and guarding against Internet fraud, suggests keeping these tips in mind when you take your laptop out and about:

• Treat your laptop like cash. If you had a wad of money sitting out in a public place, would you turn your back on it – even for just a minute? Would you put it in checked luggage? Leave it on the backseat of your car? Of course not. Keep a careful eye on your laptop just as you would a pile of cash.
• Keep it locked. Whether you’re using your laptop in the office, a hotel, or some other public place, a security device can make it more difficult for someone to steal it. Use a laptop security cable: attach it to something immovable or to a heavy piece of furniture that’s difficult to move – say, a table or a desk.
• Keep it off the floor. No matter where you are in public – at a conference, a coffee shop, or a registration desk – avoid putting your laptop on the floor. If you must put it down, place it between your feet or at least up against your leg, so that you’re aware of it.
• Keep your passwords elsewhere. Remembering strong passwords or access numbers can be difficult. However, leaving either in a laptop carrying case or on your laptop is like leaving the keys in your car. There’s no reason to make it easy for a thief to get to your personal or corporate information.
• Mind the bag. When you take your laptop on the road, carrying it in a computer case may advertise what’s inside. Consider using a suitcase, a padded briefcase or a backpack instead.
• Get it out of the car. Don’t leave your laptop in the car – not on the seat, not in the trunk. Parked cars are a favorite target of laptop thieves; don’t help them by leaving your laptop unattended. That said, if you must leave your laptop behind, keep it out of sight.
• Don’t leave it “for just a minute.” Your conference colleagues seem trustworthy, so you’re comfortable leaving your laptop while you network during a break. The people at the coffee shop seem nice, so you ask them to keep an eye while you use the restroom. Don’t leave your laptop unguarded – even for a minute. Take it with you if you can, or at least use a cable to secure it to something heavy.
• Pay attention in airports. Keep your eye on your laptop as you go through security. Hold onto it until the person in front of you has gone through the metal detector – and keep an eye out when it emerges on the other side of the screener. The confusion and shuffle of security checkpoints can be fertile ground for theft.
• Be vigilant in hotels. If you stay in hotels, a security cable may not be enough. Try not to leave your laptop out in your room. Rather, use the safe in your room if there is one. If you’re using a security cable to lock down your laptop, consider hanging the “do not disturb” sign on your door.
• Use bells and whistles. Depending on your security needs, an alarm can be a useful tool. Some laptop alarms sound when there’s unexpected motion, or when the computer moves outside a specified range around you. Or consider a kind of “lo-jack” for your laptop: a program that reports the location of your stolen laptop once it’s connected to the Internet.
• Where to turn for help. If your laptop is stolen, report it immediately to the local authorities. If it’s your business laptop that’s missing, also immediately notify your employer. You may also wish to review the FTC’s information for businesses about data breaches. If it’s your personal laptop and you fear that your information may be misused by an identity thief, visit the FTC’s Identity Theft page for more instructions.

Source: Internet