Timeshare Email Scams

Posted on February 14, 2012 by christy

Timeshare Marketing Scams

01/25/12—Timeshare owners across the country are being scammed out of millions of dollars by unscrupulous companies that promise to sell or rent the unsuspecting victims’ timeshares. In the typical scam, timeshare owners receive unexpected or uninvited telephone calls or e-mails from criminals posing as sales representatives for a timeshare resale company. The representative promises a quick sale, often within 60-90 days. The sales representatives often use high-pressure sales tactics to add a sense of urgency to the deal. Some victims have reported that sales representatives pressured them by claiming there was a buyer waiting in the wings, either on the other line or even present in the office.

Timeshare owners who agree to sell are told that they must pay an upfront fee to cover anything from listing and advertising fees to closing costs. Many victims have provided credit cards to pay the fees ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Once the fee is paid, timeshare owners report that the company becomes evasive—calls go unanswered, numbers are disconnected, and websites are inaccessible.

In some cases, timeshare owners who have been defrauded by a timeshare sales scheme have been subsequently contacted by an unscrupulous timeshare fraud recovery company as well. The representative from the recovery company promises assistance in recovering money lost in the sales scam. Some recovery companies require an up-front fee for services rendered, while others promise no fees will be paid unless a refund is obtained for the timeshare owner. The IC3 has identified some instances where people involved with the recovery company also have a connection to the resale company, raising the possibility that timeshare owners are being scammed twice by the same people.

If you are contacted by someone offering to sell or rent your timeshare, the IC3 recommends using caution. Listed below are tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of a timeshare scheme:

  • Be wary if a company asks you for up-front fees to sell or rent your timeshare.
  • Read the fine print of any sales contract or rental agreement provided.
  • Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure the company is reputable.

To obtain more information on Internet schemes, visit www.LooksTooGoodToBeTrue.com.

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of this type of scam should promptly report it to the IC3’s website at www.IC3.gov. The IC3’s complaint database links complaints together to refer them to the appropriate law enforcement agency for case consideration.

This post is direct from the FBI website – please visit the FBI website for more information.

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Spending on Technology Up in 2011

Posted on February 13, 2012 by christy

Spending on technology around the world managed to rise last year, despite economic woes in Europe and a severe hard-drive shortage, research firm IDC said yesterday.

Overall, IT spending rose just 5 percent in 2011, but that proved to be a healthy gain in the face of worldwide challenges.

The 5 percent figure was calculated using constant currency, a method that does not take into account fluctuations in the exchange rate. In U.S. dollars, the picture was even rosier, with tech spending rising by almost 9 percent last year.

A surge in demand for smartphones, tablets, and software kicked in for the year, counteracting damage to the PC sector as a result of the hard-drive shortage. Emerging markets also boosted spending, with double-digit gains seen in Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

Read this article in its entirety here.

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What is a Firewall?

Posted on January 28, 2012 by christy

We have all seen the “Warning – Intrusion Attempt – Your Computer is being hacked” alerts. Many people believe this means someone is attempting to access their computer; however, what it probably means is that an infected computer that is configured to access any vulnerable computer is trying to invade yours. A computer virus spreads just like a regular virus. The more computers it can access, the better. The above warning that you have seen is your firewall doing its job – protecting your computer!

There are two kinds of firewalls: software firewalls and hardware firewalls. A firewall protects your computer from network-based threats. Almost all computers connected to the internet are under constant attack.

Some symptoms of an attack are

  • a sluggish and slow computer response.
  • the computer screen or mouse pointer flickering.
  • the occurrence of extra installed programs that you yourself did not install.
  • that your homepage has changed, and you yourself did not change it.
  • when shortcuts appear on your desktop or system tray that you yourself did not place there.
  • automatically disabled security tools that are unable to be restarted.

Software firewalls usually come standard on a computer but even with software firewalls, these attacks can occur. There are additional steps you can take to protect your computer further. Consider a NAT router with hardware firewall. The router’s job is to “route” data between computers. NAT routers allow you to share a Network Address Translation connection. What this means is that when your computer initiates a connection on the internet, the router keeps track so that when a response is returned to your connection, it knows where to send it. Without your computer initiating the connection, the router will not recognize an inbound attempt; therefore, it doesn’t know where to send the connection, thereby being forced to ignore the attempt and block all inbound attempts that you did not initiate.

Software firewalls can provide additional protection from computers on your own local network, and together, hardware and software firewalls can perform complimentary functions that when used together will give you a greater degree of protection than either one alone. Be advised that a firewall of any kind will not protect you from threats that you invite onto your machine yourself, such as in email, attachments, downloads, and removable hard drives.

Many broadband internet connections have a NAT router, but it’s important to be sure yours does. Contact your computer services specialist to determine if you are behind a NAT firewall, or if you need additional protection.

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What’s That Noise Coming From Your Hard Drive?

Posted on January 24, 2012 by christy

To be a computer owner means at some point your hard drive will break down. Whether it’s the result of old age, early life failure, accidental dropping, sharp impact, viruses, or user error that causes the drive to go out, it is important  to keep in mind the steps to try and protect any data that may be retrievable as a proactive measure.

Also important, is to keep an eye on the symptoms of an imminent hard drive issue so you have a chance to back-up your data and get a professional to intervene. Some symptoms of a potential imminent fail are:

Symptom:

 Abnormal Noises Coming From the Hard Drive

  • Clicking
  • Clunking
  • Thrashing
  • Knocking
  • Drilling

 

Missing Data

  • Documents you saved are missing
  • Programs suddenly stop working

 

Hard Drive Error Messages

  • “Can Not Detect The Hard Drive”
  • “Hard Drive Not Found”
  • “Disk Read Error”
  • “Drive Verify Failure”
  • “Imminent Hard Disk Failure”
  • “Serious Disk Error Writing Drive”

 

Computer Crashes

  • Sudden automatic rebooting
  • Windows “blue screen of death” a.k.a “Stop Error” (computer reverts to the blue screen after encountering a critical error.)
  • Computer screen freezes, especially when trying to access files

 

Monitor Problems

  •  Flickering
  •  Dimming
  •  Color Distortions
  • Fails to refresh after closing a program
  • Remains black after powering on

 

Lengthy Access Time

  • Takes an exorbitant amount of time to access files or do simple tasks

 

Action:

  • Never Open The Computer or Hard Disk Drive
    Hard Disk Drives tolerate very little mishandling. Even a 3 inch drop, or the smallest speck of dust or other contaminants can disrupt the balance of the drive’s ecosystem. This could eliminate the possibility of recovering the drive.
  • If you are able to back up data at all, act very quickly—you probably don’t have much time.
  • Contact your computer services technician immediately.

When you consider all of the important details you may have on your computer; confidential details, personal, or business related documents – it is vital to have a data backup system in place.

Today, the most popular trend is to use an online backup service, that not only automatically backs up your data in case of equipment failure, but backs up your data off-site in the event of a theft, fire, flood or other catastrophe at your house or business.

In the event of a drive failure where you do not have a backup system, it can be very costly to recover data.  Attempting to fix the hard drive yourself may lead to more damage, so it is best to leave the hard drive powered off and call a professional to assist.

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Upgrading to a Wireless N Router

Posted on January 20, 2012 by christy

If you have high speed cable internet such as Comcast or RCN, then you have a DOCSIS cable modem in your house or business. (If you have Verizon FIOS, then this article does not apply to you.)

The Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification, or DOCSIS, enables one to hook up their PC to a local cable TV provider’s line in order to receive data. Many refer to this as a cable modem or broadband service. There are variations of DOCSIS used by different broadband providers, which often confuse customers who are unaware of what this terminology means and how it affects them.

Some terms that may help explain the three levels of DOCSIS are outlined below:

  • Downstream SNR shows signal strength to your cable modem when compared to the noise on the line. If the noise level increases, the SNR value decreases. A user may experience problems such as intermittent connection issues with an SRN value below 30 Mbps.
  • Downstream Power shows the power of the signal your cable modem is getting. The level of downstream power should be -15 to 15dB, but it’s even better to be -8 to 8dB.
  • Upstream SNR shows how much signal the facility for processing and distribution is getting from your cable modem compared to the noise level.
  • Upstream Power shows the level of the signal from the cable modem to the provider. The number should be lower than 55dB. The lower the number, the better the connection.

Each of the following DOCSIS versions builds upon the previous. The first DOCSIS was released in 1997 and lacked in its ability to support a large area of consumers. The most recent version features pros from its previous versions along with multiple channels to create a wider customer reach. Below you will find a breakdown of the DOCSIS specifications.

  • 1.0
    • Single channel support led to difficulty handling multiple customers due to low upstream.
    • 38 Mbps downstream
    • 9 Mbps upstream
  • 2.0
    • Single channel support does not allow for numerous performance possibilities, but increased upstream aids in delivering greater speeds to a greater number of customers in a given area.
    • 38 Mbps downstream
    • 27 Mbps upstream
  • 3.0
    • Multiple channels are bound together to increase performance for greater speeds.
    • 38 Mbps downstream
    • 27 Mbps upstream
    • No limits to the number of channels that can be used so a 3.0 cable modem with 4-channel support has the potential downstreams of over 100 Mbps.

Each DOCSIS builds upon the one released before it, and while there is more to the DOCSIS 3.0 specification than just increased downstream and increased upstream, this is a great place for cable providers to start in their competition against fiber-optic providers while providing a better service to subscribers.

At a minimum you should have a DOCSIS 2.0 modem in your house.  This enables the most common high speed internet offerings, which is usually between 12 Mbps – 15 MB/s service.  Most homes have DOCSIS 2.0 modems unless you have the same modem your cable provider installed in your house way back in 1997 – 2001 when broadband service was originally deployed.

The DOCSIS 3.0 modem has the ability for speeds of 20Mbps and greater.  But just having a DOCSIS 3.0 modem will not make your internet faster unless you actually upgrade and buy the faster service from your cable provider.

Most new cable installations will have a DOCSIS 3.0 modem regardless whether you actually buy the faster speeds, thus enabling you the option to upgrade your speed later without having to change equipment.

Also, if you have a DOCSIS 3.0 modem, you should probably have a newer wireless N router that has the processing power to route the higher speed traffic. (See my previous article on wireless N routers.)

If you are unsure what type of modem or speed you are purchasing, you can call your cable provider or your local computer support provider.

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Is it the Year of the Ultrabooks?

Posted on January 10, 2012 by christy

So, what are ultrabooks, exactly?

A few months ago, an ultrabook was this: an 11 or 13-inch slim laptop, with SSD flash storage, with a sleek look, quick processor, and no optical drive.  But now, we are seeing 14 and even 15-inch ultrabooks. They are changing in that they are a bit thicker and heavier than their original counterparts.  These newer, larger ones may even have regular SATA hard drives, optical drives, or dedicated graphics from Nvidia.

Although they seem to be changing specs, they are still under an inch, most likely using a lower-voltage, more power-efficient processor, maybe with graphics, maybe with a DVD drive.  So, in this, what is being called the Year of the Ultrabooks, it seems as though Ultrabooks are really just thinner, more sleek-looking laptops.  They pack a lot of punch for a smaller, lighter product. This can be beneficial for people who travel, but need more than what an ipad or other tablet has to offer.

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HP Announces Their 27″ Screen

Posted on January 3, 2012 by christy

Available in the U.S. on January 8, the Omni 27 will start at $1,200. Configuration options will include Intel CPUs ranging from the Core i3 to the Core i7 series, with 4GB and 8GB memory variants discrete graphics chip options from both AMD and Nvidia, and up to 3TB of hard-drive capacity.

Respectable specs aside, the 27-inch display is the main attraction. HP is not using the same high-resolution, 2,560×1,440-pixel display as Apple. Instead, the Omni 27 will only hit 1,920×1,080 pixels. That lower resolution will put off design professionals, but the large display will make the Omni 27 enticing for those interested in a PC for home entertainment.

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Tips for Purchasing Your Next TV

Posted on December 20, 2011 by christy

‘Tis the season for giving … Or for getting a good deal! The advertisement listing code can read like another language. In the quest to find your next TV, you may see details such as:

Samsung LN46D630 46” 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV

The above code will be deciphered by going through each portion individually. While Samsung is pretty well known as the manufacturer, and most would recognize LN46D630 as a model number, there is a slew of other numbers and letters that make up this code. Look below and you’ll see each specification in order relating to above example:

Specifications

46″ is the diagonal measurement of the TV screen. Whether it says 32″, 40″, or any other number, the TV measurement always refers to the length of the screen diagonally.

  • When considering size, you should consider your room size, as well a s how far away you sit from the TV while enjoying your favorite shows.

 

1080p stands for 1080 progressive. This refers to the resolution of the TV.

  • Resolution is the clarity of your TV. If you consider all the dots that it takes to make one image, the larger number of dots will result in the best image because the image is more densely created. Higher resolution on HDTV models are especially beneficial.

 

120Hz refers to hertz. This number can be as high as 240. Higher numbers are better for watching sports and other action shows. This affects how quickly the screen changes images so the actions are smooth.

 

LCD is the type of TV screen, as are LED and Plasma.

  • LCD stands for liquid crystal display. LCD screens are best in a well-lit room due to its use of a backlight as well as the use of existing room light. These screens come in wide variety of options available and are energy efficient.
  • LED, this stands for Light Emitting Diode. This screen works in the same way as an LCD screen, but the backlights are LED instead of fluorescent ones. LED are also considered more energy efficient than other options.
  • Plasma screens, come in larger sizes. They have excellent picture quality, and are good for watching sports and action programs.

 

Contrast Ratio is not too important, and as you can see, it’s not in the example above. If you are comparing two models from the same manufacturer, you will want to choose the TV with the biggest difference. However, from manufacturer to manufacturer, it is not as big of a deal.

Other important things to note are the various accessories, cables, and warranty options available to you.

 

Accessories

These days, just about everything comes with optional accessories and televisions are no different.

  • Built-in speakers are often inadequate for viewing pleasure. Buyers may opt for portable speakers strategically placed around a room for the optimal experience.
  • DVD players are popular devices with a laser assembly that shines the laser beam onto the surface of the disc to read the pattern of bumps. The DVD player decodes the MPEG-2 encoded movie, turning it into a standard composite video signal
  • Blue-ray players use an optical disc format developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data.
  • Media boxes allow for the use of streaming media to be displayed on your TV (Note: If you buy a Smart TV you can get these media features built in and thus do not have to buy these extra boxes)

Types of media boxes:

  • Roku
  • AppleTV
  • Logitech Revue
  • Boxee Box
  • Slingbox

 

Smart TVs
Some TVs, dubbed “Smart TVs” have access to additional features already built in to the tv. Through a simple menu system one can search for movies, shows and videos via online services and across connected devices, browse the web from your television, chat with friends, and access apps.  Smart TVs have applications to stream media and interact with the Internet, thus eliminating the need for an extra media box like a Roku or Apple TV.

 

Connections/Ports/Cables

Coaxial Cable

  • The cable that comes from the wall to the back of the TV.

 

HD

  • HD connections are either Component (5 cords, similar to composite (red/yellow/white)), or HDMI. Don’t forget, you must have an HD antennae or subscribe to HD service through your provider.  It is good to have 2 or 3 HDMI connections since this is the most popular and widely used connector for DVD, Blue Ray, etc…

 

Ethernet Port

  • This is used to connect your TV to your home network and get on the interent or use Smart TV applications

 

Wifi – Like Ethernet, but wireless which can be handy to eliminate cables.

 

Composite

  • Composite video originally was created as a solution for television’s transition from black & white to color. It is unable to completely separate the colors, and does not provide a very clear signal.

 

S-Video

  • S-Video  solved some of the problems that came with composite video. It provides better color separation and a much cleaner signal. S- Video does so by keeping separate the color and picture parts of a composite-video signal. This is rarely used anymore.

 

PC Input

  • Some TVs allow you to connect your PC directly to your TV to watch slideshows, your websites, or stream TV shows and movies through your computer.

 

Component

  • Component In video improves the picture quality by not only separating the color from black & white portions of the picture but by further splitting the color information into two signals. Component video is the predominant method of hookup from HDTV set-top decoders to HDTVs.

 

In – or – Out

  • The term TV-In refers to audio/visual signals, also called “AV signals” from electronic equipment that generates AV signals.
  • The term TV-out refers to the connector of equipment providing an analog video signal acceptable for a television AV input. TV-out is different from AV-out in that it only provides video, no audio

 

Warranty

A Manufacturer’s Warranty is generally included in the cost of the television. The range of how long of a warranty you are given is from 90 days to a couple of years.

Extended warranties offer extensions of the warranty provided by the manufacturer, and cover the TV in case something happens after the expiration of the manufacturer’s warranty or in some cases problems that occur outside of the manufacturer’s covered problems.

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What’s New for Microsoft in 2012?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by christy

Next year is one of those years that can’t come soon enough for Microsoft. It’s not that 2011 was a particularly difficult year. The company posted record revenue for the fiscal year that ended June 30. And its 2-year-old PC operating system, Windows 7, hit 500 million copies sold, further embedding it as the most widely used operating system in the world. But 2011 had few big product launches at the company, Office 365 and Internet Explorer 9 notwithstanding. Next year will be altogether different. Microsoft is prepping the big kahuna of its product arsenal, Windows 8. The company hasn’t set a date, though most analysts expect the flagship operating system to debut before the end of the year, and perhaps in time for back-to-school shopping. From that product, much else from Redmond flows. Continue here to read about five things to look for from Microsoft in 2012.

 

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Computer Ergonomics

Posted on December 7, 2011 by christy

 

If you have been suffering from back aches, sciatica, stiff neck, or any other number of ailments, you may need to reconsider the ergonomics of your work station. Millions of people spend hours a day in front of a computer.

Unfortunately, many computer users are unaware that they may be putting stress and strain on muscles, tendons, and the skeletal system just by their posture while performing work duties at their desk.

Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or lying down. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities.

It is important to keep bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly. This prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy. Good posture decreases the stress on ligaments holding the joints of the spine together, as well as prevents the spine from being fixed in unnatural positions.

Do:

  • choose a suitable chair.
    • Look for a chair with a proper backrest that will provide support for your lower back.
    • Ensure the seat base is not too big or too small.
    • Make sure the seat front does not press against the back of your knees and lower legs.
    • Select a chair with ample cushioning and without hard edges that may put place pressure on areas that should remain supported.
    • Buy a chair with armrests that support your forearms while doing computer tasks.
  • relax your shoulders, keep elbows close to the body, and allow your upper arms to hang normally at the side of the body.
  • keep hands, wrists, and forearms straight, in line, and parallel to the floor.
  • keep your torso perpendicular to the floor.
  • face forward and keep your head level and in line with your torso.
  • keep thighs and hips supported by a well-padded seat.
  • arrange knees so they are about even with the hips, keeping the feet slightly forward.

Don’t:

  • sit in the same position for more than 30 minutes without adjusting.
  • over-reach when typing
  • allow your feet to dangle
  • swivel your chair to a point where you are no longer facing forward to complete your work.
  • complete high repetition tasks without getting up periodically to stretch and move around.
  • ignore potential medical problems related to your work station. Detection of a potential injury can prevent further damage from occurring.

The best way to ensure that you are working with the proper posture is to sit with your back against the support of the seat back. If when facing the computer, you are looking upward or downward, adjust the height of your chair or your monitor. With your upper arms at your side and your forearms resting parallel with the floor, you should easily reach the keyboard. If you feel as though you are over-extending your wrists, be sure to move the keyboard closer. These minor adjustments can make a difference in your overall comfort.

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