Network Repair

Saudi-owned TV website hit by cyber attack (AFP)

2008-10-20T19:27:00.001-07:00

AFP - Computer hackers claiming to adware spyware removal software Shiite shut down adware spyware removal software website of Saudi-owned satellite channel Al-Arabiya on Friday, a month after Iran reported similar attacks on many of its websites by hardline Sunnis.

Adobe Reader is a software designed to securely view PDF documents. PDF stands for Portable Document Format and its biggest advantage is the fact that it has cross-platform compatibility. You can open a PDF file on a Linux computer, or Windows, or even on your mobile phone if it has Symbian. This format was created in 1993 by Adobe Systems, but because it was hard to make it popular in the beginning, Adobe decided to start releasing Adobe Reader for free, in order to beat the competition of other formats such as Common Ground Digital Paper, Envoy. Nowadays, PDF is the standard for printable documents and its widely used for publishing e-books. PDF has undergone a lot of changes and updates, eight in total, corresponding to the number of Adobe Reader versions, with 8.0 being the latest one.

A PDF file contains vector graphics (for shapes and lines), text and raster graphics (for photos). The latest PDF versions support hyperlinks inside the document, forms, JavaScript and there all types of plug-ins that can extend its functionality even further.

There are several advantages that have contributed to the popularity of PDF. It supports full-text search in the whole file. It produces files with smaller size, so you can upload your files on the Web without worrying about download times. The ability to optimize PDF files is another advantage. The navigation trough the documents is made really easy thanks to the clear interface, more on which you can read in this article.

A great benefit associated with Adobe PDF is the fact that such files look and print exactly as intended across a wide variety of platforms. The Adobe Reader software is free and easy to download from the official website or at http://www.freesecuredownloads.com/acrobat/index.html. Over the past years, it has gained tremendous popularity with more than 200 million downloads. Hence, it's the most effective way of distributing documents to a broad audience across a broad range of operating systems.

An inside look of a PDF file reveals that the structure consists of - header, body, cross-reference table, and trailer. The header holds the version of PDF. The body is the document itself with all objects that carry information, like fonts, images, words, etc. The cross-reference table is filled with pointers to all the objects in the PDF file. The trailer contains pointers to the xref table and to key objects contained in the trailer dictionary.

In order to create PDF files, you need Adobe Reader, but if you don't want to spend money on this software, you can download PDF creation program, and there are plenty of them available online. Adobe Acrobat though, is the most comprehensive tool allowing a single user to create and interact with PDFs. You can create files by scanning paper documents, which the software will renter as text, so you will be able to search trough it, or even edit it. Digital source of information are also an option. The paper-to-digital conversion is made possible with Adobe Capture, available in Personal or cluster Edition.

1. Navigating in Adobe Reader

To make the most out of this software, you need to get familiar with all its capabilities and interface. There is so much more than what you see at first glance.

Adobe Reader is available as a standalone application or it could be opened inside a browser window, but either way, the interface is almost the same. It consists of a document pane at the center that displays PDFs, and a navigation pane on the left holding buttons that allow you to navigate through the document.

-Creating PDF files:

As mentioned, there are different methods of actually creating PDF files, one of which is available through the Reader. Just go in the File menu Create Adobe PDF Online. Your IE browser will open http://createpdf.adobe.com. You must register for an account in order to use this service. Once logged in, click on Convert to Adobe PDF and browse to select the file on your local computer. Select the desired options and press Create PDF.

-Dealing with Toolbars:

First check if the Toolbars are unlocked by right-clicking on the main toolbar on top and see if the option Lock Toolbars is unchecked. You can move toolbars from side to side, you can choose which ones you like to hide or show and if you select the More Tools option, you will be given a list of all the available toolbars.

-Changing the View:

To change the navigation pane view, click one of the buttons to the left of the navigation pane. If you want to customize the display colors for page background and document text, choose Edit > Preferences > Accessibility. To set the default zoom level and page layout, choose Edit > Preferences > Page Display.

You can switch between Reading Mode and Full Screen Mode, available in the View menu. In Full Screen Mode, all toolbars are hidden, Adobe Reader fills the whole screen, so that you can focus easily on the content. In Reading Mode, the navigation pane and toolbars are hidden, just the menu bar is present.

-Updating Adobe Reader:

Adobe Reader can be updated in various ways. The update process can be automatically triggered by a specific PDF file, for example, one that contains unknown language fonts, then the Reader will as you whether you want to download the fonts. You can choose to make the updates manually by selecting the last option in the Help menu - Check for updates. This feature will connect to the central Adobe server and see if any new components are available. If that's the case, you will be given a list of the updates that are about to be installed, but once again, manual confirmation is required.

If you want to set automatic updates, go to Help > Check For Updates, in the Adobe Updater window, click Preferences and select Automatically Check For Adobe Updates. The last thing to do is specify whether you want weekly or monthly updates.

2. Working with PDF files in Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader provides users with plenty of different ways to manipulate PDF files. Of course, it allows you to view them, save them in PDF or in text format, or search the entire content of a file.

We all know that a search is performed by clicking on Find in the Edit menu, or Ctrl+F. This is all good, but if you want to search all PDFs in a given folder, press Edit > Search and select All PDF Documents in.

Should you want to convert a PDF file into a text document, go File > Save as Text, and the file will be saved with .txt extension. No content will be lost except for the images.

To use portions of the PDF content in other files, you can Copy and Paste the selected text. In case the Cut, Copy and Paste commands are not available, this means that the author of the document has set restrictions against copying the text.

Copy and Paste functions are not applicable just plain text, but for images as well. Using the Select Tool, draw a rectangle surrounding the given image, right click and select Copy.

3. Movies, Sounds and 3D models in PDF

PDF is a very rich format and it can include various multimedia features, like video clips, digital audio, and even 3D models that can readers can move, zoom in/out and examine piece by piece.

The main multimedia formats that can be embedded are Flash, MPEG, MP3, QuickTime and Windows Media files. The activation of such content requires the reader's approval in order to prevent playing multimedia from unverified sources. To change this default behavior of Adobe Reader, go into the Preference menu > Multimedia Trust and check the permissions.

To add 3D models inside your PDF file, you need Adobe 3D, which supports a variety of three dimensional file formats. You can even embed 3D CAD models. User interaction with such file types is simple. Just click on the 3D model with the Hand or Select Tool to activate it. The 3D toolbar will open up and the animation will be played.

4. Working with PDF forms

Adobe PDF forms are basically a computerized version of a paper form, which the user must fill out and send over via email, CD or publish it on a website. PDF forms are especially useful for ebooks, so that readers can test their knowledge by answering a test (in a PDF form), which is then send to a server so that results can be estimated.

-Types of Forms:

PDF forms can be quite simple, just consisting of blank fields or they can be interactive. The interactive ones are designed to be submitted on the Internet. The Form type is determined by the method of distribution. The following types are available:

-Fill-in & Print forms the user enters text in static fields, saves the PDF file and then prints it out

- Submit-by-email - such forms contain a button which sends just the data inputted by the user, attaching the complete PDF from into an email message

- Submit-online PDF forms - all data is send to a server for further processing. This option is only available when the Adobe Reader is open in Web-based mode.

To send the data you have entered in a PDF form, press the Submit button.

For a secure download of Adobe Reader, free of any spyware and adware, visit http://www.freesecuredownloads.com/acrobat/index.html.

Working for http://www.freesecuredownloads.com

Guide to Adobe Reader

2008-10-20T19:24:00.001-07:00

An inside look of a PDF file reveals that the structure consists of - header, body, cross-reference table, and trailer. The header holds the version of PDF. The body is the document itself with all objects that carry information, like fonts, images, words, etc. The cross-reference table is filled with pointers to all the objects in the PDF file. The adware spyware removal software contains pointers to the xref table and to key objects contained in the trailer dictionary.

1. Navigating in Adobe Reader

To make the most out of this software, you need to get familiar with all its capabilities and interface. There is so much more than what you see at first glance.

-Updating Adobe Reader:

2. Working with PDF files in Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader provides users with plenty of different ways to manipulate PDF files. Of course, it allows you to view them, save them in PDF or in text format, or search the entire content of a file.

We all know that a search is adware spyware removal software by clicking on Find in the Edit menu, or Ctrl+F. This is all good, but if you want to search all PDFs in a given folder, press Edit > Search and select All PDF Documents in.

Should you want to convert a PDF file into a text document, go File > Save as Text, and the file will be saved with .txt extension. No content will be lost except for the images.

Copy and Paste functions are not applicable just plain text, but for images as well. Using the Select Tool, draw a rectangle surrounding the given image, right click and select Copy.

3. Movies, Sounds and 3D models in PDF

PDF is a very rich format and it can include various multimedia features, like video clips, digital audio, and even 3D models that can readers can move, zoom in/out and examine piece by piece.

4. Working with PDF forms

-Types of Forms:

-Fill-in & Print forms the user enters text in static fields, saves the PDF file and then prints it out

- Submit-by-email - such forms contain a button which sends just the data inputted by the user, attaching the complete PDF from into an email message

- Submit-online PDF forms - all data is send to a server for further processing. This option is only available when the Adobe Reader is open in Web-based mode.

To send the data you have entered in a PDF form, press the Submit button.

For a secure download of Adobe Reader, free of any spyware and adware, visit http://www.freesecuredownloads.com/acrobat/index.html.

Working for http://www.freesecuredownloads.com

AFP - Computer security specialists warn that hackers are using fake YouTube pages to trick people into opening their machines to diabolical software.

XP Antivirus Removal - How to Properly Conduct an XP Antivirus Removal

2008-09-24T21:18:00.001-07:00

If your computer has been devastated by XP antivirus 2008 you are not alone. Some estimate this program is perhaps the #1 most popular and fastest spreading form of malware on the internet today. Not only does it spread virally through the internet, the virus can be quite a handful to eliminate manually. There are also very few XP antivirus removal tools available also.

XP antivirus is a counterfeit anti spyware remover. How it works is it typically infects your computer through a codec. A codec is a program that decompresses video software downloaded from the internet. When downloading a corrupt video file it will often come with a codec that will transmit XP antivirus onto your computer

The program will then send fake pop up warnings that Mycuredcomputer computer is infected with spyware, viruses, and other malware. In order to remove the junk from the computer a prompt to purchase the software is placed with the warning.

The reason why the program has been so effective in fooling people is the fact that it looks and it's name sounds like an official Windows program. But it is far from official and if you have any traces of this malicious software I recommend you remove XP antivirus immediately.

In earlier versions this could simply be done by going to the Add/Remove Programs option in your control panel. But the 2008 version is far more tricky. It encodes itself amongst other registry files, attacking different parts of your hard drive. To get rid XP antivirus manually can be very difficult and time consuming.

Why not just use a top flight spyware removal program to do it for you? With an XP antivirus removal tool, ridding yourself of the spyware can be as simple as a few clicks of the mouse!

Want to squash those annoying pop up ads and get your PC running like new? Come get your free scan and remove XP antivirus today!

Jim Marshall is an expert computer technician with fifteen years of experience in the industry. Since his own computer was destroyed by malicious software, he has been studying anti-spyware, adware, and malware systems for years.

http://www.spyware-fix.net

Could the Real Key to SOA Success Be a New CIO?

2008-09-18T07:36:00.001-07:00

There's a lot of talk about the viability of the CIO role, but sometimes, a CIO can make all the difference.

And, as it turns out, this is particularly true with SOA implementations.

A new CIO coming on board during a business and IT reorganization often made the difference between SOA failure and SOA success, according to Anne Thomas Manes, an analyst with the Burton Group who recently studied real-world SOA implementations.

Manes presented her findings during this year's Burton Group Catalyst Conference. SearchSOA.com covered the conference, which also included a testimonial about Cigna Group Insurance's struggle with SOA. According to the article, Cigna Architecture Director Chad Roberts said the company's SOA started four years ago with a "technical focus mostly based on integration," but within two years, the SOA implementation had faltered. One big problem: It was seen as "an IT thing."

It took a new CIO to move SOA from "an IT thing" to a "business-enabling thing."

Of course, successful SOA doesn't require a change of the CIO guard. The article enumerates other factors named by Manes, including starting agile or iterative development methodologies. But I couldn't help but notice most of the factors found in successful SOA implementations would depend on strong, business-focused leadership from the CIO.

Likewise, Manes' list of SOA failure factors trace back to too much focus on technology and too little change in the IT culture. Unfortunately, the Burton Group uncovered more failures and missed opportunities than success stories: 50 percent of the 20 companies surveyed reported a complete failure rate, with an additional 30 percent describing SOA as "neither successful nor wholly failed."

I can't say I was surprised. During a recent interview, Ron Schmelzer of ZapThink told me that business users have a much better understanding of what SOA is than technologists.

"...technologists are the wrong place to have this conversation. SOA is enterprise architecture, SOA is not standards-based integration. Web services is standards-based integration. ... The irony of this is the business fully understands the SOA perspective."

Techies want to boil SOA down to its parts, which is understandable, since they have to build it. But along the way, they're missing the big picture. Schmelzer compared it to blogging. If you're just talking about technology, blogging is just a bunch of Web pages, and yet, blogging is so much more. Business users embraced blogging as a new communications tool, but to many in IT, blogs are just so many Web pages.

Certainly, SOA can help IT with Free Virus Removal like integration. In fact, many companies are moving to SOA for just this reason and integration might even offer you a way of demonstrating an ROI for SOA. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that - so far as it goes.

But as Manes' research shows and analysts - including Schmelzer and David Linthicum - have repeatedly said, it's only a small part of the SOA picture.

The sad part is, SOA really could be the key to delivering the responsive, business-enabling IT that CIOs keep promising business users. In a recent post, Linthicum put it bluntly:

"Summary: SOA is not tactical. You need to consider the people, and you need to consider the business. SOA is holistic and systemic to the business. SOA is not a project, it's a journey. SOA is not integration, it's architecture. SOA is about business agility, not governance or other technology."

Increasingly, I'm starting to believe the real question isn't "How do you define SOA" or even "Is SOA worth pursuing," but whether IT can get out of its own way to deliver on SOA's potential. For that to happen, IT will need a CIO who understands SOA and can lead the charge for change.