Graphic design contests refer to events which involve designing of print media design contents like logo, banner or flex, visiting card, illustration, brochures and so on. Normally, one can find hundreds of such contests online, though, it is recommended that one validates the originality and genuine nature of the event and the organizers.
Normally, graphic design contests are organized by upcoming ventures, in order to promote their brand, their product and/or their services to a vast population in one go. There are many others who are seeking potential ideas for their logo or other purposes. So instead of approaching multimedia service providers, it is the designers who approach the company. A company then announces prizes in form of cash, vouchers and accessories and so on. There are also some multimedia ventures who propose to recruit the winners into their own ventures.
It is recommended that one goes carefully through the stated terms & conditions of the contest. Some contests are restricted to a particular country, though they accept artworks from foreign candidates. Also, some contests are exclusively restricted to amateurs or fresher’s and prohibit the entry of industrial professionals. One must also keep a tab of the dates of submission of the artwork.
One should follow the codes given by the organizers like image resolution, image size, the color mode (RGB, CMYK, etc), the software which can be used for execution, the final output format, file size limits and so on. While sending the artwork, make sure you have named & organized the source files correctly.
Categories: General
Blogs are the in-thing today and everybody on the planet wants to have one. WordPress being one of the most trusted and used platforms has suffered a great deal from the relentless attacks conducted by hackers who use it for spreading malware to the millions of users on the platform. Another weak link in the blogging trends are the millions of hosting companies, who all want to host as many people on earth they can so they earn as much profit as possible. These hosting servers and service providers might smell good on the outside but can be quite rotten on the outside so getting the right information on the hosting service you aim to use is vital for the survival of your blogging efforts. Web hosting review sites have sprung all over the place and are proving to be the best source of information for budding bloggers and SEO marketers. They offer unbiased information regarding the several or so hosting services giving you the tools to determine the best web hosting information around. These analytical tools may spell success or failure for your blog and thus SEO efforts, so don’t go out without them.
Tags: Cost Analysis, Hosting Information, Web Hosting, Web Hosting Reviews
Categories: General, IT Security Basics, Malware, Real-World Issues, Tips
I didn’t realize that there are still a lot of people who do not really pay attention to securing their WiFi at home. I guess that I have always taken it for granted that once you set up any connection for home use, you install passwords and other measures to protect it. Apparently, in this day and age, not everyone has the same idea.
My colleague was telling me, just last week, that his connection at home seems to be running exceptionally slowly. First thing I asked him: are you using a wireless router? When he said yes, I asked him about a password. Just as I guessed, he said “What password?”
I moved to a new building a month or so ago and have been having problems having wired Internet hooked up. I have a mobile dongle which I can use to a certain extent but guess what? One day, I turned my WiFi on and voila, the laptop automatically connected to some fella’s wireless connection.
The fact is that this is such a common thing. Hotels, shops, and other establishments are also guilty of this neglect. I have a friend who works from home and is entirely dependent on the Internet. When her connection goes down, she simply gets in her car and drives to a nearby hotel where she can mooch.
It may seem funny or amusing, but if an unscrupulous individual gets wind of your unsecured WiFi, you just might get your bum bitten. If I were you, I’d make sure my WiFi is secure. How to do this? Let’s look at this in the next post.
Tags: wifi
Categories: Wireless Security
If you are in charge of network security, one thing you may want to consider as far as laying down the law in safeguarding your network is the regular change of user passwords to avoid potential hackers and cracks based on how their passwords can be easily guessed.
For some users, it is easy to figure out their passwords. The normal passwords that people use include:
1. Birthdays
2. Anniversaries
3. Car Plate Numbers
4. Mobile Phone Numbers
5. Adding 123 to their names, or
6. Using “PASSWORD” as their password
Now there will be a lot of potential combinations depending on the length of the password. That is why the longer passwords (8 alphanumeric characters) are encouraged for users who access the network.
But while the probabilities of guessing or cracking passwords offer a lot possibilities, employing a regular maintenance as far as changing them is indeed something ideal to combat these hackers or malicious people from gaining access to the network and the programs in use.
Once cannot avoid the fact that some people’s curiosity and call for fame are the main reasons for wanting to be a hacker or code cracker. It is evident in people who are looking to try out their skill. They don’t think of the outcome which can cause a lot of problems.
So one good tip to avoid being hacked is to think like one. Once you do, think of security policies that can make it hard for you to breach a system. That is the best way to stay efficient in your line of duty in any organization.
Tags: network, passwords, security, systems
Categories: IT Security Basics, Network Security, Security Policies
You just have to look at how Microsoft always announces certain patch releases for their software these days. Nothing is definite and safe just yet especially if you consider hackers and computer geeks trying to discover flaws in certain computer software such as an operating system. There will always be something discovered and the loophole can be entirely critical and dangerous.
Unlike in the latter 1990’s, today we rarely see patches being given since they have more or less covered the security threats ranging from viruses to malware today. There are still recommended patched needed. But surely, they are not as rampant and dangerous compare to before. And to make sure that you are using authentic software, they make use of software authenticity codes to know if you are using genuine software or not.
Microsoft can be commended for this but it still remains that there are still a lot of flaws as far as their software releases are concerned. But to make sure that customers do not experience these unfortunate mishaps, a continuous research and development for such threats has to be implemented. We can see these days that something will suddenly break out and if you are not protected, chances are you are missing a patch.
As much as possible, apply these patches. If you are in doubt, read on them or even ask for technical support. Security breaches in the IT world are common and to stay away from such a discomfort, it is best to be updated and make sure you are well-protected.
Tags: Malware, Microsoft, patches, security, viruses
Categories: IT Security Basics, Malware, Operating Systems
Closed Circuit TV Cameras (CCTV) have indeed become a new face of overall protection and security. At the rate that security is breached and terrorism growing rampant these days, it is apparent that any place or business establishment needs to work up its security measures to ensure maximum protection for the innocent consumers and people who are unaware of threats that may come their way.
But one issue that has been heard all throughout the world is on their reliability. You can monitor various activities but then what? What action would you take? If you do, would it be enough to avoid any accidents that may suddenly occur.
Apparently, many establishments just want to avoid the trouble. Mischief lingers anywhere these days and the best thing that you can do is to try and avoid them. Compared to the early days, tighter security through videos allows the place owners to monitor abnormal and suspicious behaviors to which the proper steps to avoid them can be done.
The list goes as far as advanced security measures such as the high security of sealed places where new technology as thumbprints, eye scanners and card swiping for better monitoring of accessing people limits the list of potential breaches in a certain area.
This has helped a lot and in times where something unfortunate may happen, investigators can have a better time catching culprits thanks to these hidden monitors. These days, that is why most mischievous people have made it a point to survey before attacking. Sadly, some of them have found a way to get around CCTV security as well.
Tags: access, cctv, monitoring, security
Categories: IT Security Basics, Physical Security, Real-World Issues
I was only able to fit in two tips in the previous post but no worries, here are more things for you to look at.
To subscribe or unsubscribe? What to do?
You know those e-mail messages informing you of one thing or another and then at the bottom it says “To unsubscribe to this service, click on this link…” or something like that? Well, many are legit but here’s the thing – this tactic is also being used to get you to click on the link and gather information from you. What you should do, instead of immediately unsubscribing, is to first double check if you really have subscribed to that service. Otherwise, you just might find more spam mails in your Inbox. If you’re unsure, just mark the address as spam so that it can be filtered in the future.
Guard “important” e-mail addresses
Some people guard their phone numbers zealously. They would only give their numbers to people they know very well and people who they are ok with contacting them. How come, when it comes to e-mail, it seems that people are less guarded? It shouldn’t be the case. You don’t know who will end up knowing your e-mail address and start sending you stuff that you don’t need or worse, malware. If I were you, I’d set up another web e-mail account that is separate from your main e-mail account.
Remember: There is no such thing as absolute privacy
Whatever you code into your computer and send through e-mail is never ever really totally private. Just bear this in mind when writing anything. It will keep you safe.
Tags: e-mail security
Categories: E-mail, Privacy & Anonymity, Real-World Issues
It is very essential that security will be maintained getting along with your reliable hosting needs. It is therefore conclusive that when you are secured you will also have reliable hosting too. The internet is now a priceless resource fore everyone- young ones to adults. It is mainly used for the purpose of educating and entertaining people all over the world. It is very essential to know the advantages and so with the advantages of the virtual world, especially that it have becoming so fast changing from time to time. It is also very important to guide children in their viewing or surfing the internet because these might lead them to such devastating and malicious viewing to restrict for children sites. Certain software called the keylogger software can certainly protect your children and almost everyone online.
Children might sometimes be in a situation in which they cannot fully handle the situation while they are using the internet with no restrictions and without their parents consent. Online internet users are really exposed to some dangers just like in chat rooms that are public and those of which from instant messaging softwares. Your children may start communicating with someone who he or she does not know and might lead to the trap of someone else’s malicious intentions.
When it comes to making your children aware of the dangers of IT security, it is easy to tell them everything however, most of the time it is better for them to learn themselves. Children love to get information in short bursts, and the best way it through a blog. Save a link to a blog site about internet security and they can read through to their hearts content.
For your reliable hosting, there is some software, which can do more than protecting site. These softwares have a lot of other uses. The softwares can be used to detect and to have a record of all sites that were visited all the electronic mail that was sent and so with every instant messages and more activities done to your computer on a daily basis. If you have this software, you cannot just protect your children but also your employees at the workplace. Plus you can even use this to monitor your husband or wife whom you think is cheating on you.
Categories: General, IT Security Basics
How often do you use your personal e-mail? How about your work e-mail? I am willing to bet a huge sum that you can’t even answer those questions because you know that you spend a HUGE amount of time on e-mails. You spend so much time that you can’t even track it – but that’s how it is with most people today. E-mail has become part of everyone’s lives that it is not even given a second thought.
When it comes to security, however, we should give e-mail more than a second thought. Do you know just how many security pitfalls there are when it comes to e-mails? LOTS.
Here, take a look at some of these tips and you’ll realize that you haven’t really been paying attention to e-mail security.
When sending to a mailing list or to many people, use BCC.
B-what, you may ask. You know the two other fields below the TO field? One is CC (carbon copy) and the other is BCC (blind carbon copy). Using BCC means the recipients in the list will not see the e-mail addresses of the other recipients. This is particularly important in the eyes of the recipients who may not want unknown people finding out their e-mail addresses. Perfect situation to use this: when sending forwarded whatnots through e-mail.
Don’t be trigger happy.
That is, when you receive e-mails with links in them, asking you to immediately click on the link for one reason or another, DON’T. Even if you are worried to death that PayPal might close your account for no reason, DO NOT CLICK ON THAT LINK. The chances are that it’s not PayPal. If you really want to make sure, open another window and type the URL manually. Whatever you do, don’t click that link.
Tags: e-mail security
Categories: E-mail, Real-World Issues, Tips
The average person spends a lot of time and money on making sure that his personal laptop or desktop computer is secure. From firewalls to anti-virus software to spyware removers – all these kinds of software are installed onto computers to make sure that any kind of malware is kept out. But do you pay as much attention to security on your mobile phone?
According to a recent survey conducted in the UK, mobile phone users do not really pay that much attention to security. IT Pro has this story:
Results from a survey of UK mobile phone users has found too many of us are playing fast and loose with sensitive data stored on our mobile phones.
More alarmingly though, it also found that the majority (99 per cent) of those questioned also used their mobiles for business use, creating a potentially weak security link to their employers’ corporate systems.
So what kind of sensitive data is stored in mobile phones? I think that you can answer this yourself but let’s take a look at some of them:
• Bank account details
• PINs
• Passwords
• Social security numbers
More than these things, mobile phone users also admitted to accessing and storing business data on their phones. This includes downloading spreadsheets and other business documents.
The worst part is that despite the fact that this information is stored in mobile phones, the units themselves do not have passwords and other forms of security measures.
The bottom line? At the very least, we have to put passwords on our mobile phones. Even better, enable encryption.
Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/osde-info/763025492/sizes/s/
Tags: cellphones, mobile.-security
Categories: Real-World Issues, Tips, Wireless Security
