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Security

Top 5 Tips for Maximum Windows Protection

Sometimes it’s best to illustrate power when we put it to numbers and all we’re going to say is that at the present moment there are over 400 million users of Windows 10 alone.

The other fact that there isn’t a precise number determining how many Windows users there are in the world speaks volumes of just how popular Microsoft really is.

Chances are that you’re reading this article from your Windows operated device and if so, then you’re here to find out more about taking you Windows Protection to the next level.

There are many ways to get around protecting your Windows operating system and many of them depend on which Windows you use and how much you know about online security.

We’ll share with you five tips that can be applied to practically any Windows you have to ensure its protection.

How To Achieve Maximum Windows Protection:

1. You Need Your Backup System

top 5 tips for maximum windows protection and security

One of the first things you should do to enhance your Windows protection is to have a backup plan or, to be more exact, to have a working backup system.

Prevention is the best thing you can do when it comes to your online security. Doing regular backups of your most valuable information is one way to be sure that everything crucial is kept safe at all times.

Sometimes problems don’t come from the outside but happen within your hardware and there’s no security software to keep you safe from these troubles.

There are many big name companies that offer excellent solutions for backing up your data and all you need to do is take your pick. You should also think about how you want to secure your files – an online cloud or external hard-drive?

There also a few rules to remember – have three copies of all important information on different types of backup support, make sure that the files are safe with strong passwords and set up your backups to be done automatically so that you don’t have to worry about them.

2. Antivirus Program and Firewall

top 5 tips for maximum windows protection and security

You probably know that having an antivirus program is one of the first things you need to do to keep your internet security in check.

It’s quite easy to find antivirus these days, seeing that there are many strong security companies that offer their services both for free and for a fee.

All you need to do is establish what level of protection you need because free versions of antivirus programs will cover some basic security levels, but if you need more than that, you’ll have to pay to make sure your security status is good.

Also, check to see if your chosen antivirus comes with a firewall, which is a very important component of your internet shield.

If the firewall is not a part of package deal, you can always resort to Windows Firewall, which will do a decent job in protecting your OS from outside threats.

3. Against Malware and Spyware

top 5 tips for maximum windows protection and securityYou may need an additional level of protection against the latest forms of malware and specifically spyware, which is becoming more and more annoying with each passing year.

Changing your default browser, showing popup ads everywhere, redirecting your every search to malware riddled websites – this is the chaos that goes with spyware.

Some particularly nasty forms can even track your internet activities and use these records against you by stealing your financial details or your identity.

This is why you should also have strong anti-malware installed on your Windows and why most of us must use VPN (virtual private networks) to keep under the radar of surveillance and hacker tracking.

Believing you’ve got nothing to hide won’t save you from cybercriminals that are able to use even the smallest piece of information to disable your security systems.

4. OS and Software Should Always Be up to Date

top 5 tips for maximum windows protection and security

Updates exist for a very good reason and that is to keep all the potential holes in your security patched regularly. That is why updates are fairly frequent and why you shouldn’t be irritated by them, even though they can be unwelcome.

The truth is that both your operating system and pieces of software you use should always be up to date, otherwise black-hat hackers will take full advantage of them and infect your Windows with gods know what. It would be wise to let both your system and your software update automatically so that you don’t have to handle everything manually.

It would be wise to let both your system and your software update automatically so that you don’t have to handle everything manually.

Also, take a closer look at what software you actually use and what just lingers around in your system, slowing it down unnecessarily. Whatever you don’t need, you should promptly get rid of to improve your device’s performance and security.

5. Use Your Restore Option

top 5 tips for maximum windows protection and securityAs soon as you install your Windows (enter number here) you should set restore point where you can have clean installation you can go back to in case something endangers your OS. This is yet another smart precaution you should

This is yet another smart precaution you should take, because this restore point will get you back to square one of your system, before any potentially problematic programs were installed. As you can see, you should always have a failsafe (or a few) to get your Windows on track faster, and you can be sure that clean installation

As you can see, you should always have a failsafe (or a few) to get your Windows on track faster, and you can be sure that clean installation restore point is going to work.

Protecting your Windows both online and offline is not a one-time thing. Security is not an exact science, which means that you will always have to work on improving it, sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less. The catch is never to let anything slide, if something looks suspicious, check it out, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The catch is never to let anything slide, if something looks suspicious, check it out, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

About The Author:
Thomas Milva has been in the business of information security for four years, and strongly believes that he picked the best timing for his profession, which he often underlines in his articulate articles for wefollowtech.com. Most of the time, he works from home, and whenever he’s free, he organizes hikes for his dog, his girlfriend and himself. Tom’s home, for the time being is Baton Rouge.

 

Categories
Tech News

Everything You Need To Know About Microsoft Creators Update Coming In 2017

The recent Microsoft Conference it was not all about hardware. Microsoft Creators Update is the new update of Windows 10 after the Anniversary Update.

There is no doubt that development of Windows 10 continues, and will for a long time. Microsoft’s new scheme is launching new updates often, thereby, gradually improving the system.

The first such update was code-named “Redstone” and was published late last year. The second was the Anniversary Update published this year on the anniversary of Windows 10.

What’s New in Windows 10 update

This new update called “Creators Update“, brings minor but very useful developments for some users, and above all for creators.

This new update will be available for free in early 2017 for all users of Windows 10.

Microsoft Creators Update is based on three aspects:

  • The mixed reality becomes important, with the growth of virtual reality and augmented reality.
  • Players can share their games with everyone.
  • Connectivity will be increased.

The first point has to do with the way presentation of information has changed. We have moved from 2D to 3D, so Windows will adapt to the times.

The transition to three dimensions

With Creators Update, “3D is for everyone,” says Microsoft. But what does this mean?

It means appealing to a new generation of creators who don’t just use lines of code to develop, but build three – dimensional interfaces. Accessibility receives a boost, especially for the younger ones.

The creation process should be as easy as taking a picture. For example, if we want to capture a sandcastle that we have created, we can use the 3D tool capture of Windows to scan the object and send it to our friends or family.

microsoft creators update coming soon

Although a mobile was used in the show, it will also be available on all Windows devices.

Paint 3D allows us new creations using three-dimensional objects. For example, we can take a photograph of some people, and add a three dimensional object. Surprisingly, you can export Minecraft creations for use in Paint 3D, and even print them in 3D. Remix3D.com is a website where we can share and download 3D models

Paint 3D is compatible with the Pencil Surface to create objects. Using this tool you can easily modify and customize objects. And when we’re done, we can easily share on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks. Of course, Edge will be able to display that 3D content.

microsoft creators update coming soon

It is not only this application that will gain the power of 3D. Other Microsoft apps will also be compatible with this technology. In the demo it was shown how PowerPoint lets you include 3D objects and animations, by simply moving the object.

Edge now supports Hololens, to display web content holograms. We can see the content we’ve created with 3D Paint and we can upload to the web using Remix3D

It was also shown that any website can take advantage of this technology. A web store, for example, can allow us to see the object that we buy. If we want a chair, we can move the 3D object and see if it fits with the decor of our home or if it fits in the living room.

microsoft creators update coming soon

In Windows 10 we can actually use our device to get our own “virtual space”. It’s like the Windows desktop, but allows access to applications in three dimensional space. For example, we can look to the side and watch a video we’ve uploaded. We can look away and open Paint 3D to continue creating. And we can also see 3D content.

HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Acer are developing devices with six degrees of motion, from $ 299. They do not need their own room and are compatible with Windows 10 technologies.

microsoft creators update coming soon

Video games in Windows

Microsoft has finally realized the importance of games in Windows 10. Whether in eSports or sharing videos of Minecraft, underneath all of them, there is a Windows installation. We can not forget about the Xbox One S, a Windows 10 device.

For Creators Update, Windows 10 has three new features. Broadcast streaming video games segment is dominated by Twitch and YouTube, but Microsoft also wants to take part in this race. With Windows 10, everyone can enjoy live streaming. We just need to press Win + G, and the games bar opens. Then hit the record button, and automatically start streaming.

Whether on a computer, an Xbox One or a smartphone, we can participate in this streaming. Those who participate in streaming can also play with us, creating custom tournaments on Xbox Live and Xbox app. Arena is the part that will handle this.

microsoft creators update coming soon

We just have to choose the game and a window where you can configure the tournament, the players, the game type, or even the date and time it starts.

The best-selling console in the last three months in the US, Xbox One S had its role to play. Thanks to games that we buy in Xbox S, we can play them on PC, and vice versa. With the Creators Update, the Xbox One S will gain support of Dolby Atmos to further improve the sound in movies and games.

Connectivity with family, friends and colleagues in Windows 10

Finally, Microsoft has taken some serious steps in improving connectivity. Specifically connectivity with others. Sharing on Windows 10 will be faster and easier than ever. All you have to do is drag the file directly to the avatar of the person you want to send to, appearing in the task bar itself. We may also be able to share directly from an app by pressing the appropriate button.

The Creators Update attends various aspects in making a connected experience. Mail and Skype will merge into a single application. Xbox Live and other Microsoft apps will be a part of a central app. From this app you can choose the app you want and communicate transparently

The Creators Update also allow us to share our feelings directly from the desktop. We just have to hover over the avatar of the person you want, and see the recipient as emoji.

microsoft creators update coming soon

The Microsoft Creators Update is now available on Windows Insider, but if you do not want to use unstable software, you will have to wait until early 2017.

The other eye-catching events in the Microsoft Conference:

Categories
Tech News

Windows 10 grows as Edge slowly advances step by step

A month after the release of the major update for Windows 10, known as Update Anniversary (Anniversary Update) now companies aimed at establishing the data on the most widely used operating systems and can tell what their market deployment is. For this case Netmarketshare dedicated itself to identify what browsers and operating systems are prevailing on the market and if we stick to the latest figures, Windows 10 and generally Microsoft are doing very well, with your browser Edge.

And in the case of the latest Microsoft operating system, it is consolidated into second place in the most used OS just behind the Windows 7 with a 47.25% market share . In the case of Windows 10 it seems that the Anniversary Update has done well and has experienced a growth of 2% from 22.99% now enjoying a better market share.

In addition, with Windows 7 and Windows 10, the bronze medal is occupied by the beloved Windows XP, although already graying has more presence than Windows 8.1 and the first system “not Microsoft” from the list, such as Mac OS.

Edge progresses slowly and still has long way to go

And if things go great with respect to Microsoft operating systems, the browsers will still have a long way to go. And we do not talk to achieve Chrome, because the penetration of this market is very strong (over 53%) but is at least experience growth without pause.

Statically in this regard Microsoft Edge remains around 5%, while its predecessor, Internet Explorer has dropped to 27.38%. The aim of Edge in principle should be to approach the  declining Firefox, but now the goal is still far away although the tests performed demonstrate that Edge is a browser with a remarkable performance.

Lime and sand so for Microsoft, with Windows 10 that continues to grow even though it is no longer free update and a browser such as Edge still needs the backing of the public to be an option more preferred over Chrome, Opera or Firefox.

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Tech News

After Windows 10’s Launch BT Cortana Button Is Here Too

The long wait is over for the Windows 10 fans with the release of Windows 10, the latest and probably the last OS from Microsoft. Undoubtedly, one of the best features in this latest Windows version is Cortana, the promising virtual assistant.

To enhance the joy in experiencing Cortana, Satechi a California based company has released the BT Cortana Button. In this article we take you through what this Cortana Button is all about and let’s get started.

Source: www.pocketnow.com

What is Cortana Button?

The Cortana Button is a palm sized innovative Bluetooth button designed for Cortana by Satechi. For those who mostly access their Windows smartphone and computer remotely, Cortana Button is as good as it can get.

This button works fine below the 40 feet operating range. It is sleek, sports a ultra compact look and also easy to carry. This button also includes a mount and can be attached easily to your bicycle or cars and even keychains.

This small device allows users access the new Window’s personal virtual assistant, Cortana. Users can schedule a meeting, check weather reports or send text messages simply by pressing a button. That’s what we call a simple and hands free technology.

This button similar to the other Satechi buttons contacts wirelessly to your Windows phone or computer using the built-in Bluetooth.

There’s no more additional software required and once connected via bluetooth users can access Cortana’s full capabilities.

The other advantage is that now that your device concentrates less actively than when the “Hey, Cortana” feature is enabled, a bit of your  phone’s battery can be conserved as well.

Because it simply looks like a small keychain you probably won’t have any troubles carrying with you wherever you go.

There’s atleast no social awkwardness packed with this piece of technology. Now that we are running towards complete home automation systems, this BT Cortana Button could be our first step into the future.

You can purchase your Cortana Button directly form Satechi’s official website or click here.

Categories
Virtual Reality

Microsoft HoloLens – Here’s All You Need To Know [Future Tech]

Wearable Tech is fast becoming an integral part of our lives. It undoubtedly is the future of all computing. Many wearable tech products including smart watches, fitness bands, virtual reality headsets have successfully captured people’s imagination, but nothing exceeds the brilliance of the new Microsoft HoloLens, an augmented reality headset.

Source: http://cnet1.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/r/2015/01/22/70a240a1-d4dc-44ff-b7f6-8d665797bf44/resize/770x578/37e2080c2732b6f83058dae830a35d19/microsoft-hololens-mixedworld-rgb.png

 Image Courtesy By : Cnet

 Microsoft Hololens :

Microsoft has announced that this device will work with all the Windows 10 devices and helps you experience computing in a completely different angle. Since Microsoft announced the HoloLens, I have been waiting eagerly to experience what Microsoft promises. So, in this article we explain you exactly why we believe HoloLens will be cracker of a technology this year:

 

Loads of Fun for Gamers:

Something you can be assured about the Microsoft HoloLens is the enjoyment it gives you. Particularly, if you happen to be a hardcore gamer, you are definitely going to enjoy HoloLens the most! This device is all about interacting with video games and experiencing the game in a newer dimension. Once this device is released (HoloLens), Microsoft will probably waste no time in providing streaming solutions for gaming, forming a display for the Xbox consoles.

 

Design To Perfection:

With Microsoft HoloLens, you can altogether become a better designer than ever before. Map, scan, edit, and manipulate surfaces and objects all with whole lot of ease. The most amazing part is, with HoloLens you can build your designs in the computing environment as if you are really building it in reality. This unique feature is a result of the ability to visualize the virtual image of the final product using HoloLens. This means you get to become a better designer without having to sweat it. Because you can get more closer to the digital world than ever before, you can design your dreams to reality.

 

Travel Everywhere:

HoloLens takes you to places you probably can never afford to go. Simply, wherever you wish to be, HoloLens puts you there virtually. You can explore any place on this planet from the comfort of your home. If you really wish to.. even going to Mars wouldn’t be a big concern with HoloLens.

 

Transforming Education:

Learning will never be the same with HoloLens. Students can virtually see whatever they are interested in learning about. It means that they can better interact, explore and experience learning in an altogether different perspective.

 

Like never before, Microsoft HoloLens will manage to take us closer to the virtual world. We can then interact and hence innovate many more technologies for our convenience and Windows 10 is going to make all of this happen to us.

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Tech News

The Artificial Intelligent Personal Assistants [Future Tech]

The Artificial Intelligent Personal Assistants [Future Tech]

 

For a long time, there have been a lot of predictions made by science fiction authors and movie makers on how widespread Artificial Intelligence could cause severe catastrophic issues. But, so far everything’s good and instead of sending any negative signs, somehow they have become an integral part of our daily lives. Thanks to the Intelligent Personal Assistants in our smart phones, we can carry their services with us everywhere. Here in this article we take you through the science behind these Intelligent Personal Assistants and a whole lot more.

 

What is an Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA)?

An Intelligent Personal Assistant is a AI-based software agent that can perform tasks completely based on the user input. The special charm of this technology is that it is built with the ability to access online resources in processing user commands. These online resources can be as simple as the weather conditions, news, retail prices etc. There are a lot of these IPAs in the market including the IBM’s Watson, Samsung’s S Voice, Apple‘s Siri, Microsoft’s Cortana, Google Now and so on.

 

The additional ground breaking feature in these Intelligent Personal Assistants is that they don’t completely relay on user’s input. Some activities like management of tasks, updating information without user’s permission are all handled effectively by an IPA.

 

Actually speaking, these Intelligent Personal Assistants in real time deliver only a very small fraction of what they are build to do. The development of an IPA solely focuses on providing a user interactive system which can actually converse with people. The fact that these solutions can understand our languages and are active to learn more, and get better with time are all the plus points of this technology.

 

An IPA is a combination of technological breakthroughs in voice recognition, natural language processing, machine learning, web semantics with Artificial Intelligence (AI) giving rise to a whole new innovative remake of the now obsolete PDA (Personal Digital Assistants).

 

The Most Popular IPAs in the Market

 

  • Siri

Siri is that application on Apple’s IOS-IPhone and IPad which gets activated on our natural language commands and performs a set task. It has this well crafted interface with which it can answer all user’s commands. It is only built for the Apple family and an IOS-IPhone or an IPad is a must to check out this IPA. All it has to hear to get started is “Let’s talk Siri”.

 

  • Google Now

Google Now is the application of Google’s Android that can be used on any of the Android built-in tablets and smart phones.  It definitely can do a lot more stuff than Siri. Comparatively, its performance is also much better compared to Siri’s in many aspects. Though it came into the market after Apple’s Siri, Google Now could establish itself providing better features and functionality than Siri.

 

  • Cortana

Cortana is Microsoft’s Intelligent Personal Assistant and is a part of Windows 10, set to launch sooner. Before its full level release, Cortana has already had some success in the previous versions of Windows. So, there’s nothing wrong for Windows to hold until everything is set and then products like these are always meaningful.

Categories
Tech News

Microsoft Windows 10: What’s in it for Gamers

 

Microsoft’s Windows 10 isn’t only about consumers, enterprises or professionals; it in fact has a lot to offer to gamers as well. Well, Microsoft seems to have done its homework in bringing the prowess of Xbox consoles to the PC environment. Microsoft has over two decades of experience in the PC gaming environment, which dates much before the start of Sony’s PlayStation consoles. However, equipped with higher end features like DirectX 12, Microsoft’s Windows 10 is all set to bring much higher end gaming to your homes. Here, the big talking point is how exactly?

The History of Gaming

Undoubtedly, Microsoft’s Xbox has had a very successful run in the market from the time it is released (in 2001). All this work put in to the gaming world started on the verge of MS-DOS. Eventually Microsoft managed to come up with this world class gaming console (Xbox).
Though they were late in bringing out their gaming consoles, their gaming endeavors in PC helped them dominate the gaming industry.

On one side we can all be thankful to Microsoft for its contribution to the gaming industry, which now employs thousands of people around the world. Intel’s latest figures sum up all the hardcore and casual gamers and reveal an astonishing 711 million users actively involved with the gaming industry. All credit to Microsoft.

DirectX 12 is more than a killer

Microsoft is all set to release the newest graphics API – DirectX 12 with Windows 10 only. This partly seems to be the reason Microsoft announced free upgrades to Windows 10 for the first year to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.

It was actually a clever move by Microsoft and now it doesn’t really have to bother about the backward compatibility of DirectX 12. This is also one way of converting the huge Windows 7 user base to Windows 10 without much effort. On the other side, this move also encourages gamers to develop games making use of the DirectX 12’s API.

DirectX 12 is undoubtedly the best because of two main reasons, one being as it takes a lower level functionality that AMD’s Mantle already have. And the other is for making this functionality available to every GPU that can run Windows (say ARM, Nvidia and Qualcomm). It only means that users can now get better performance out of their GPUs and can more efficiently use their CPUs even with less system power.

Better PC friendly interface

Many of the Microsoft’s users, including PC gamers are stuck to Windows 7 for its friendly interference. Windows 8 and 8.1 were a class apart and partly failed for their poor functionality. Even these OSes weren’t so attractive or appealing for gamers. But now that Windows 10 is a package of the pluses from Windows 7 and the smoothness of Windows 8 and 8.1,

Microsoft can expect a lot more of users converting to the Windows 10 OS, making it a grand success. Anyways, Microsoft has already suffered the wrath for neglecting PC gamers and has learnt its lessons the hard way. So, we can expect Windows 10 to be more of a power packed PC gaming environment designed to impress gamers including enterprises and consumers.

Also Read: Everything You Need To Know About Microsoft Creators Update