Rectifying a bad transaction with a big company takes tenacity — and a few dirty tricks.

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The Apple rumor mill is back up and running its dirty tricks again. This time we hear that the iPad is supposed to get an OLED screen just like we heard in the past MacBook Pros and iPhpnes were going to get the better screens. So being burned at least twice before, we’re a little hesitant to take this report seriously.

DigiTimes,

Apple reportedly has started development of the second generation iPad using the same design concept as for the iPhone 4G, and will use an OLED panel, according to sources in the component industry. Apple is said to be aiming to launch the device in 2011, but a Digitimes Research senior analyst said the cost of OLED panels are much too high for the iPad.

We’re inclined to agree with the senior analyst. No one has complained about the first-gen iPad screen so Apple will likely opt to spend its budget on bigger flash memory chips and extras like a camera. Still, no one argue that an OLED-equipped iPad would be sweet. The only thing that would be better is an iPad with an USB port and SD card slot.

As long as your computer has access to the world wide web or internet, especially e-mails, then it may be only a matter of time before you get attacked by malicious spyware program, virus, worm, or hacker. Every day we get customers coming in who are experiencing computer problems due to these threats, and it is only getting worse.

What’s even more worrying is that several of my customers keeps coming back to my office a few days or weeks later complaining about the EXACT same computer problems and ends up paying for ANOTHER repair just to get their computer up and running again.

Imagine having these kinds of difficulty with your restaurant. POS computers being infiltrated, damaged and completely destroyed by viruses and worms. You absolutely have no way of protecting your restaurant POS system if you do not take extra precautions.

Here are 3 of The Most Dangerous Computer Threats You Must Be Aware Of

One of the most dangerous aspects of online threats is their ability hide their existence and penetrate your system without your knowledge. Hackers and the authors of malicious spyware and malware programs go to great lengths to create harmful programs that are difficult to identify and remove.

This can mean that malicious computer programs can directly be downloaded and work its dirty tricks on your system before you aware of its existence. Below are the two most common threats you’ll need to guard against with a brief explanation of what they {are|are and how you acquire them}:

Spyware: Spyware is a computer program often installed without the user’s permission. This program gathers your info and your online activities and then reports it back to some outside person. Sometimes advertisers uses this sneaky program to secretly monitor their customers’ activities. So Better becareful on what website you visit before clicking on that “download” button.

Most spywares are secretly attached to files you download over the internet, like free scripts, music files, and screen savers. While thinking you are only downloading a legitimate program to add emoticons to your e-mails, you are unknowingly also downloading a truck full of spyware programs.

Malware: A combination of the terms malicious and software. This type of computer program is designed specifically to infiltrate and damage your system, this include viruses, worms and Trojans. Malware is a bit harder to remove and will try to fight back when if clean it from your system. In some extreme cases, we have had to completely wipe out all of the information on the computers’ hard disk and start with a complete re-install of the operating system. Frequently, malware is also designed to attach itself from your e-mail account to all the friends and colleagues in your address book without your knowledge or consent.

Hackers: These are programmers for whom computing is its own reward, has the habit of breaking into other people’s computer just for the sheer fun of it but causes no harm. But today, hackers are widely known as evil programmers who loves to modify your files, cause damage to your system and even design the spyware and malware programs to attack your computer.

So if you’re a restaurant or any other retail establishment owner, having no kind of security for your POS systems at all, then your system is surely one of the easiest targets.

Some of them have criminal intent and purposely use these programs to steal money from individuals and companies. Some have a grudge against the big software vendors and seek to harm them by secretly attacking their customers. Others do it purely for fun. Whatever the reason, hackers are getting more intelligent and sophisticated in their ability to access computer systems and networks.

Here Four Simple Steps You Can Take To Secure Your Computer From Malicious Attacks

1. Keep an up-to-date anti-virus software running at all times. You ought to make sure it has an auto scan and update feature that will make sure your computer is using the most current protection available and regularly scanning for threats.

2. Consider another browser like Mozilla Firefox as an alternative to the browser MS Internet Explorer. Hackers have ways ways to access and download malicious programs to your computer via a security hole in Internet Explorer. Even worse about this is that even if you do not click anything and/or download a program to get infected. You are easily attacked if you use an older version of Windows such as Windows 98.

Mozilla Firefox is a completely free web browser that does not have the same security problems as IE. A growing number of our clients reporting that they prefer using Mozilla Firefox than Microsoft IE. Switching from IE to Mozilla is a simple and cost-free way to add more protection to your computer. You can easily download this browser at www.mozilla.org.

3. [Never. This goes without saying because most viruses are replicated via e-mail. If it looks suspicious, don’t open it, just get rid of it immediately!

4. Setting up a firewall. A firewall is designed to block unauthorized access while allowing outgoing communication. many internet users will just get a DSL or cable Internet connection and plug it directly using no firewall.

Always remember that the internet is an open field where you are vulnerable from all kinds of things that may come in your way. You have access to the world, but on the flip side, the world has access to YOU. Take note that hackers have programs that automatically scan the Internet for computers connected via a cable or DSL connection without a firewall. And once they find one, they they immediately access your computer, download vicious programs, and can even use YOUR computer to distribute viruses to your friends and other computers, all without your knowledge or consent.

Just one simple click os a mouse and they’ll gain easy access to your restaurant POS system, collect all customer and employee data, destroy your computer system, and sends out virus-infected emails to your customers and friends using your email account! It will surely be the end of your hard work, a huge waste of money on the restaurant POS solutions you’ve bought, and possibly the downfall of your business if you let this things happen to you.

The author Michael Tash is the Vice President of Customer Relations at POS-For-Restaurants. With over 20 years of restaurant experience, POS-For-Restaurants.com helps you use your technology to be more efficient and more profitable.

The world of information technology has become a competitive arena where there are a lot of dirty tricks been used. In such an environment, protecting you and your intellectual assets is one of the key priorities. When it comes to the protection, computer network security plays a major role, as anyone who is willing to steal your information involves penetrating the organization’s network.

In an organization, there are many levels of security established when it comes to the computers and the computer network. Each of these layers of security measures should complement one another. There are a number of views that should be seen when it comes to computer networking security. First of all, the staff that is responsible of computer network security system should be knowledgeable of the bits and pieces of network security and the basic of securing a network. In this aspect, the staff should have a through knowledge in how TCP/IP and UDP protocols work and the possible vulnerabilities of both.

Next, the risk management comes. The organization should have a thoroughly interpreted risk management and mitigation criteria establish in a case of offend of the computer networking security. There are many classes of security threats when it comes to computer networking security. Unauthorized access and DoS (Denial of Service) attacks are the most common types of network threats. There are thousands of hackers and automated scripts on the Internet looking for an opportunity to breach the security of networks. For penetrating the computer networks, the modern hackers use some of the modern technologies.

Firewalls are one of the widely used methods for heightening computer networking security. Among the firewalls, there are three different types; hybrid systems, gateways, and packet filtering. Organizations use one or more types of these firewalls when interfacing with the external networks such as the Internet for implementing computer network security. When selecting a suitable firewall for the organization’s network, the possible threats, nature of the business, and the design of the computer network should take into account.

In addition to firewalls, there are other computer networking security devices such as secure modems, crypto-capable routers, and virtual private networks (VPNs). These devices make sure that the threats do not penetrate the network and able to identify if there are any patterns of data coming in to the network. They can also see if the data is originated by genuine sources. When it comes to VPN, it reduces the exposure to the external networks.

Before everyone gets in a huff, let’s consider Amazon’s intentions with these patent applications. Surely they would never allow advertisements to be placed in books which you have purchased legitimately at full price, so let’s put that out of our heads. But what if you could take a few bucks off the cover price at the cost of a few contextual ads relating (if possible) to the book’s content? Personally, I wouldn’t mind — partially because I don’t use a Kindle or intend to any time soon, but more because it’s a no-lose situation. Amazon wouldn’t risk alienating its loyal Kindle base with dirty tricks like this, so it’s safe to assume it’ll be at least somewhat opt-in.

An abundance of free or reduced-price content would widen the appeal of the reader — I imagine many people are put off e-books by the idea that they are not getting their money’s worth. As offensive as the idea of inserting ads into a book is to me (and surely to the average reader), it’s almost certainly part of a value proposition which increases the utility of these expensive little buggers.

The wording of the patent requests also includes the language “in response to a consumer request for content,” which could probably be massaged into referring to downloaded books that have been paid for, but more easily fits streamed or dynamically generated stuff like news or Google Books content. There’s also talk of including the ad in printed versions of said content, which bothers me a bit more than the other part. At any rate, I’m convinced that advertisements are unlikely to appear in the kinds of books and publications you’re paying full price for right now, so if this is ever implemented, you’ll probably (hopefully) be able to read your Vanity Fair unmolested.

[via Slashdot and TechGeist]