Like how the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears goes, Goldilocks crept into the Three Bears house to eat their porridge, sat on their chairs and slept on their beds; a hacker or a invasive software can come into our computers to “eat” our information and use it for their own evil devices.

Should we allow these hackers avail themselves to our personal information? NO!!

Luckily, we have software that we can use to protect our computer from this immoral hackers and software. There are many softwares that can be used to protect the computer but I will only cover 3 sections - Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and Firewall.

Anti-Virus Software

This type of software helps to protect your computer against computer virus that infect the computer to destroy files, reformatting the hard disk. Viruses are spread when it is sent to an uninfected computer via the intranet or the Internet, or by carrying the virus on a removable drive, e.g. USB thumb drive.

Viruses are spreading with much help from the ease of transferring files across the Internet via e-mail, MSN sharing folder, and downloading off the World Wide Web. So how do I protect myself against this?

On my desktop and laptop, I have installed AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition (version 7.5) to protect my computer against viruses that might be accidentally downloaded or transferred to me. Voted by PC Pro as Software of The Year 2007, it helps scan my programs, files in real-time to help clear them as virus-free, updating itself whenever I log on to the Internet and best of all - it’s offered to all as free!!! It is also offered as AVG Anti-Virus Version 8.0 to those who want to pay for extra services like anti-spam, firewall and much more.

Anti-Spyware Software

Spyware as defined by Wikipedia is a software that is installed into the computer without the user’s knowledge and monitors the computer’s activities and may take partial control over the computer’s activities. It can collect the user’s personal information, install additional software that slows down the computer’s processing speed, blindly accessing unknown websites that might increase the chances of getting a virus. Spyware software is not as malicious as viruses but is seen as an annoying and an invasion of privacy.

On my desktop, I have installed Ad-Aware to protect and scan my computer for spyware, Trojans and worms, and Ad-Aware helps me to destroy these nasty things too! Ad-Aware has a feature called TrackSweep that “sweeps” away my Internet surfing trails to further increase privacy. Similarly to AVG, this is a free version and has paid versions for increased protection.
Firewall Software

A firewall is a barrier that is between your computer and the Internet. This barrier’s aim is to prevent threats from the Internet from spreading to the computer. The firewall works in the background of the computer to monitor Internet traffic through the computer and when it determines a suspicious request or traffic flow, it blocks it from entering and connecting to the computer. Also, a firewall can help hide your computer from view from the Internet. Invisibility cloak!

Both for my laptop and desktop, I have installed ZoneAlarm Free Firewall to help protect my computer from unwanted intrusions. Here is what ZoneAlarm looks like.

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With all these softwares protecting my computers, I feel much safer. But of course, I should not let my guard down and download suspicious looking files or go to unknown websites that might increase the risk of infecting my computer with viruses and spyware.

Maybe the Three Bears should have installed a “firewall” to keep unwanted people of their property. Or in the first place, lock the door!!

References

AVG Free Advisor - AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-virus/us/frt/0

PC Pro: News: Hot Topics: PC Pro Award Winners 2007 http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/hot-topics/news/143886/

Wikipedia - Computer Virus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus

Ad-Aware 2007 Free - Lavasoft http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

Wikipedia - Spyware http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware

ZoneAlarm by Check Point - Why You Need a PC Firewall http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/support/zasc/whyFirewall.jsp

The full name?

News Markup Language.

What does it do?

It is an electronic infrastructure that helps assists in keeping track of news items and its related media to  publish news in any format; video, photos, text and in any language.

Why do we need this?

According to newsml.org, the need for NewsML arose from the ever-growing and expansion of the Internet and the continuous use and re-use of news around the world.

Publishers around the world can publish content from these sources gathered easily and consumers will be able to read all the news on a certain topic in different languages and different media types.

Publishers are also able to create personalised news information catered to different types of consumers on NewsML.

Who created NewsML?

NewsML is created and maintained by the International Press Telecommunication Council (IPTC) whose mission was to safeguard the telecommunications interest of the World’s Press. NewsML is a registered trademark of the IPTC.

IPTC maintains 2 versions of NewsML.

NewsML 1 that was released in 2000 and is now currently at version 1.2.

NewsML -G2 that was released recently in 2008 and is currently at version 2.0.

References

IPTC/NewsML Web            http://www.newsml.org/pages/

Reuters - NewsML Showcase         http://about.reuters.com/newsml/

OMG….

that was the first thought as i saw the exam paper.

Mr Abel Choy’s instruction was to write about half a page for the definitions and examples. *sheesH* and its 5 marks!! how to elaborate until half a page? *faints*

i think that was the most difficult part of the paper. after that it was relatively easy. the information flowed out of me easier than question 1 and 2.

i really hope that i can score well for this paper. *cross fingers*

argh!! its tommorow!!

everybody study for it yet??

gambate everyone!

To gain the attention of the consumers, websites must come up with innovative ways and attention grabbing words and pictures to keep the consumers on their site. After all, the next competitor’s website is a click away.

Many types of multimedia can be employed to make the site more interactive and colourful. Pictures, videos, Flash multimedia are just some of the ways a site can make itself more interesting.

In this entry, I will look at the Singapore’s website of Sony Ericsson and note its multimedia features that are used to market the new products.

Adobe Flash

Used extensively in their site, it is the best way to interact with the consumers and to get them interested in the product.

An interesting and unique feature of Sony Ericsson is to allow the consumer to “try” out the phone online!

Pressing the “keys” of the phone will simulate the actual functions of the phone, similar to using the actual one. This will allow the consumer to try out the phone in the comforts of their home, without going down to the mobile phone shop to test out the phone. In this Flash version of the phone, you can simulate a call, take a photo, send a short message, and explore certain areas of the phone. It is almost as real as the real product!

Another example of Flash used in Sony Ericsson’s website, is the website’s ability to browse and compare different phones at the same time. In the screenshots above, you can see how I was able to click and drag the phones I want to compare into the template and generate a comparison of the phones features.

Video and Pictures

Some other multimedia used to market the product, would be the standard pictures, showing the customers what the phone looks like. A video is also used to showcase the phone’s features and distinct qualities. More of its features can be showcased in a 30 second video rather than clicking on a few links to get the whole picture.

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To conclude, these are not just the only multimedia types avaliable to market the product and the brand. With the variety of multimedia avaliable on the Internet, it is possible to use unique ways to market the product. For example, product testimonials through podcasting, promotion of brand through virtual reality game -Second Life and so much more!