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Staying Safe Online

June 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

 

The worlds cities connection via internet 

Image via Wikipedia

In today’s technological world, most people spend a majority of their time online. We work, play, research, and even do homework online. The Internet is a wonderful thing, but it can also be a scary place. The reality is, there are hackers out there who are looking to steal innocent people’s information – often those who have no idea that a hacker is into their personal files.

 

But, there is hope. You can stay safe while online by following a few simple steps. See below for three ideas for staying safe while on the Internet.

1.       Get anti-virus software. The number one way to protect your identity and your personal information online is to get anti-virus software. There are a number of companies out there willing to help you here. Try Norton, TrendMicro, of McAfee to start.

2.       Never give out your personal information. You want to keep as anonymous as possible online. If you blog, never post pictures or other information that would divulge your location. Are you on social media sites? Be sure to keep your phone number and your address private. It’s pretty easy for a hacker to find out who you are with just a little bit of information, so be careful.

3.       Use a secure connection. Sure, it might be tempting to just use your neighbor’s internet connection, but this can also be dangerous. You want to get your own, secure network in order to keep hackers at bay. Your own internet connection is a small price to pay for security.

Remember to play it safe while you are online. Are you following these simple guidelines?

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Motorola Droid

February 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Motorola MILESTONE smartphone displaying Wikip...

Image via Wikipedia

With the increasing number of phones on the market, and with the different features, options and accessories that come with each, it’s hard to know when you’ve found the right phone for your needs. The Motorola Droid received much attention from mobile phone consumers when the product hit the market in December 2009 as a cutting edge internet and multimedia enabled smart phone operating under the Android system. Designed by Motorola, a leading American telecommunications company based in Schamburg, Illinois, the phone is distributed exclusively by Verizon Communications. But what sets the highly anticipated and touted phone apart?

The Motorola Droid, also known as the Motorola Milestone outside of the United States, offers reliable Wi-Fi networking, a headphone jack to listen to media files, a five megapixel digital camera, an interchangeable battery and a touch screen display. The phone also teamed up with Google Maps to offer free turn by turn navigation to provide drivers with efficient and reliable traffic directions. The phone was also the first in which Google Maps Navigation was initially installed. For its hearing impaired consumers, the Motorola Droid also offers hearing aid compatibility.

The Motorola Droid was heavily marketed as Motorola’s response to the Apple iPhone and was promoted as an alternative to the Apple product. Cutting edge marketing campaigns were created to introduce the launch of the phone to the market in a way that would wake up, and shake up, the communications industry. During its first week in stores, it is estimated that more than 250,000 Droids were sold. In the first 75 days of the product launch, Motorola sold more than 1.05 million phones. This number was greater than the number of iPhones sold during its first 74 days of its own launch. The Motorola Droid was most recently upgraded in March 2010.

Filed Under: General, Technology Tagged With: , ,

OnStar

February 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Relying on the Verizon Wireless network, and an abundance of vehicle diagnostics and GPS technologies, OnStar is the leading provider of subscription based communications on the road. The company, a subsidiary of General Motors, offers in-vehicle security services, hands free calling, diagnostics to unlock and operate vehicles remotely, and turn by turn navigation programming.

OnStar services rely on data communications and mobile phone voice diagnostics as well as local information from GPS technologies. Drivers and passengers riding in a vehicle equipped with the OnStar program have access to an abundance of OnStar professionals for cases of emergency, direction needs, or car trouble. If a vehicle carrying OnStar is involved in a collision or accident, the program automatically contacts emergency services. This service is called Advanced Automatic Crash Response and has been marketed heavily as a differentiating factor in vehicles that carry OnStar service. It is designed primarily to assist response efforts should an emergency arise and ensures that the safety of OnStar’s clients and customers is the company’s number one priority.

Additional advantages of the computerized OnStar network include an in-vehicle emergency button that gathers current vehicle data and the vehicle’s exact GPS location. OnStar operates three call centers to accommodate emergency requests in a safe and efficient manner. Each call center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. OnStar also offers Stolen Vehicle Tracking information should a vehicle equipped with OnStar services be stolen. This service provides police and emergency personnel with the exact location of the vehicle and tracks it while it remains in route.

As OnStar services are only available in vehicles made by General Motors and Saab, it is helping these car companies to offer a platform of on the road, custom services that many of their competitors cannot. In Latin America a similar service exists known as ChevyStar, but additional competitors to the OnStar brand remain a distance away.

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