Apr
30
Insurance Related Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself From a Fire Loss
Filed Under Wildfire Protection | Comments Off
Kurt Kamm asked:
Have you ever really thought about what would happen if you lost your home in a fire? If you live in a fire prone area, you may have thought about it and concluded, “It will never happen to me.” If you have ever evacuated, you might have had a tiny ball of fear in the pit of your stomach, and thought, “Gosh, I hope everything is OK.” If you have ever sat in your car and watched walls of flame and smoke sweep through your neighborhood, you have probably bargained with Fate, thinking, “If we get through this, I’ll be more prepared, I promise.”
In 2007, a fire started by downed power lines and driven by 60-80 miles-per-hour winds, swept through Malibu. The Sheriffs’ Department came to our home at 4:30 AM and told us we had 15 minutes to evacuate.
After the fire, I spoke to my neighbor, whose home was completely destroyed. I asked her how she was doing, and her reply was that she and her husband were busy going through their credit card charges for the last five years trying to identify things they had purchased, and the cost. Can you imagine having to do that?
The first thing you must do is make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. Could you rebuild your home, or buy one of equal quality with your insurance proceeds? Is your home insured for cost, or replacement value? If it is insured for replacement value, does it have a built-in inflation or cost of living adjustment? You owe it to yourself to know the answers to these questions.
Equally important is the insurance on the contents of your home. Chances are that you are under-insured. Take a look at your policy and see what the dollar coverage is. Think about it. Walk through your house and add up the replacement cost of the bigger items, your furniture, television set(s), clothing, and jewelry. You can ask your insurance agent to send someone out to help you determine the adequate amount of coverage. Yes, it may result in a higher premium. No one wants to spend money unnecessarily, but a couple of hundred dollars extra per year in the premium may be money well spent.
Second, you need evidence of what you have inside your house. There are companies who will come to your home and make a videotape of all your belongings. An alternative idea is to take pictures of your most valuable items, but why not have a documented record of everything you own on videotape? If your home burned down, how long would it take just to make a list of its contents? A videotape will insure that you don’t miss anything and that there will be no disputes as to whether you actually had all the items you claim. Your insurance agent can recommend local companies who can do the videotaping.
Third, if you have any receipts or appraisals for your more expensive possessions, set them aside. You may want to make a list of the cost of your more valuable items if you don’t have receipts or appraisals. Your videotape and documentation should be kept in a safe deposit box. It won’t do you any good if it gets burned up with the house.
While on the subject of insurance, you might find out if it covers loss of landscaping. It either does, or it doesn’t. I lost 20 mature trees in the fire. I was amazed, and pleased, to find out that my homeowner’s insurance provided coverage for the lesser of either the actual value lost, or $2,500, per shrub.
Finally, if your house should burn down, there are professional consultants/engineers who will help you negotiate replacement value with your insurance company. If you suffer such a loss, these people will probably find you. In case they don’t, you should know they exist and consider hiring one to assist you. They do it for a living, you would be doing it for the first time.
Lester
Have you ever really thought about what would happen if you lost your home in a fire? If you live in a fire prone area, you may have thought about it and concluded, “It will never happen to me.” If you have ever evacuated, you might have had a tiny ball of fear in the pit of your stomach, and thought, “Gosh, I hope everything is OK.” If you have ever sat in your car and watched walls of flame and smoke sweep through your neighborhood, you have probably bargained with Fate, thinking, “If we get through this, I’ll be more prepared, I promise.”
In 2007, a fire started by downed power lines and driven by 60-80 miles-per-hour winds, swept through Malibu. The Sheriffs’ Department came to our home at 4:30 AM and told us we had 15 minutes to evacuate.
After the fire, I spoke to my neighbor, whose home was completely destroyed. I asked her how she was doing, and her reply was that she and her husband were busy going through their credit card charges for the last five years trying to identify things they had purchased, and the cost. Can you imagine having to do that?
The first thing you must do is make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. Could you rebuild your home, or buy one of equal quality with your insurance proceeds? Is your home insured for cost, or replacement value? If it is insured for replacement value, does it have a built-in inflation or cost of living adjustment? You owe it to yourself to know the answers to these questions.
Equally important is the insurance on the contents of your home. Chances are that you are under-insured. Take a look at your policy and see what the dollar coverage is. Think about it. Walk through your house and add up the replacement cost of the bigger items, your furniture, television set(s), clothing, and jewelry. You can ask your insurance agent to send someone out to help you determine the adequate amount of coverage. Yes, it may result in a higher premium. No one wants to spend money unnecessarily, but a couple of hundred dollars extra per year in the premium may be money well spent.
Second, you need evidence of what you have inside your house. There are companies who will come to your home and make a videotape of all your belongings. An alternative idea is to take pictures of your most valuable items, but why not have a documented record of everything you own on videotape? If your home burned down, how long would it take just to make a list of its contents? A videotape will insure that you don’t miss anything and that there will be no disputes as to whether you actually had all the items you claim. Your insurance agent can recommend local companies who can do the videotaping.
Third, if you have any receipts or appraisals for your more expensive possessions, set them aside. You may want to make a list of the cost of your more valuable items if you don’t have receipts or appraisals. Your videotape and documentation should be kept in a safe deposit box. It won’t do you any good if it gets burned up with the house.
While on the subject of insurance, you might find out if it covers loss of landscaping. It either does, or it doesn’t. I lost 20 mature trees in the fire. I was amazed, and pleased, to find out that my homeowner’s insurance provided coverage for the lesser of either the actual value lost, or $2,500, per shrub.
Finally, if your house should burn down, there are professional consultants/engineers who will help you negotiate replacement value with your insurance company. If you suffer such a loss, these people will probably find you. In case they don’t, you should know they exist and consider hiring one to assist you. They do it for a living, you would be doing it for the first time.
Lester
Apr
28
How do you get past the fire safety code for the sims 2 for gamecube?
Filed Under Fire Safety | 1 Comment
sunnyaugstclover asked:
It wont let me put anymore furniture in the house is there a cheat for it?
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It wont let me put anymore furniture in the house is there a cheat for it?
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Apr
24
Anyone has a job as a fire safety guard ?
Filed Under Fire Safety | 2 Comments
Apr
21
Wildfire Pepper Spray Why it Might be Best for You
Filed Under Wildfire Protection | Comments Off
Jack Krohn asked:
There are hundreds of self defense products in the world. Almost all of them started off being used by military or police agencies throughout the world. Almost all self defense products are still used by them. If it is good enough for them maybe you should give it some consideration for your own protection and that of your family.
Pepper sprays are amongst the most popular. They use Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) which comes from cayenne pepper. Their measure of ‘hotness’ is Scoville Heat Units (SHU’s) and almost all are in the 2 million range. A habanero pepper by comparison has 300,000 SHU’s.
A blast of pepper spray in the face of an attacker from a pepper spray canister causes shortness of breathe, temporary blindness from the eyes actually closing, choking and coughing. Not to mention the pain.
Wildfire pepper spray is one of only a handful of pepper sprays that are above the 10% level. It comes in at a whopping 18% making it one of the strongest pepper sprays in the market. It registers a very powerful three million Scoville Heat Units-SHU’s.
Wildfire comes in five sizes: 1/2 ounce, 1.5 ounce, 4 ounce, 9 ounce and 1lb. They range from purse and keychain size to hefty Bounty Hunter type canisters with a pistol grip. The sizes are amongst the widest variety in the industry. There’s bound to be one perfect for your needs.
Wildfire Pepper Spray is nasty stuff. It is perfect for home, auto, RV’s, outdoor or business use. It could be your first and last line of defense in an assault situation.
Please Note that even though pepper spray is legal in all 50 states, some states and cities have restrictions. Check with your local police department for pepper spray laws and pepper spray use. Literally thousands of police departments carry and use pepper spray. WHY WOULDN’T YOU?
Jack Krohn is the #1 author of Home Security Articles in the country. He owns SECURITY SOLUTIONS a one stop resource that provides solutions and answers for all your self defense and home security problems.
Linda
There are hundreds of self defense products in the world. Almost all of them started off being used by military or police agencies throughout the world. Almost all self defense products are still used by them. If it is good enough for them maybe you should give it some consideration for your own protection and that of your family.
Pepper sprays are amongst the most popular. They use Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) which comes from cayenne pepper. Their measure of ‘hotness’ is Scoville Heat Units (SHU’s) and almost all are in the 2 million range. A habanero pepper by comparison has 300,000 SHU’s.
A blast of pepper spray in the face of an attacker from a pepper spray canister causes shortness of breathe, temporary blindness from the eyes actually closing, choking and coughing. Not to mention the pain.
Wildfire pepper spray is one of only a handful of pepper sprays that are above the 10% level. It comes in at a whopping 18% making it one of the strongest pepper sprays in the market. It registers a very powerful three million Scoville Heat Units-SHU’s.
Wildfire comes in five sizes: 1/2 ounce, 1.5 ounce, 4 ounce, 9 ounce and 1lb. They range from purse and keychain size to hefty Bounty Hunter type canisters with a pistol grip. The sizes are amongst the widest variety in the industry. There’s bound to be one perfect for your needs.
Wildfire Pepper Spray is nasty stuff. It is perfect for home, auto, RV’s, outdoor or business use. It could be your first and last line of defense in an assault situation.
Please Note that even though pepper spray is legal in all 50 states, some states and cities have restrictions. Check with your local police department for pepper spray laws and pepper spray use. Literally thousands of police departments carry and use pepper spray. WHY WOULDN’T YOU?
Jack Krohn is the #1 author of Home Security Articles in the country. He owns SECURITY SOLUTIONS a one stop resource that provides solutions and answers for all your self defense and home security problems.
Linda
Apr
13
How Will Having an Attractive Woman Already With Me Help Me Meet Other Women?
Filed Under Wildfire Protection | Comments Off
Wildfire Marketing Group asked:
The best free dating tip in the world will not do the work of The Date Mentor’s Ultimate WingWoman. That’s right, wing woman! Now, a lot of you guys out there are probably scratching your heads and wondering, “How will having an attractive woman already with me help me meet other women?” Allow Brad Finsilver, The Date Mentor, to explain.
When it comes to dating, a lot of men are uncomfortable with approaching a lone attractive woman. This discomfort can increase exponentially if she is with a group of friends. Approaching a group of women with a friend can remove the awkwardness that may come from being alone. Now, if you take a guy along, he may end up stealing your love interest, or you might both get the cold shoulder. However, if you take a girl along, barriers will come down immediately, especially when she is socially aware and attractive.
When a woman sees a man who is already accompanied by another woman, in her eyes, his worth immediately increases. She will take for granted that he has already been given the stamp of approval and let down her guard. Also, a wing woman can easily infiltrate the social circles of other women without arousing suspicion. A simple, “where did you get that shirt?” leads to a conversation. Once your wing woman is talking to the one you’re interested in, the introduction will happen naturally and seamlessly, giving you the perfect opportunity to get to know her better, giving you your best shot for a follow-up encounter.
Having The Date Mentor’s Ultimate WingWoman by your side is guaranteed to tip the scale in your favor. Every wing woman has been personally trained by Brad Finsilver to ensure that you have an easy opening to meeting the girl that you desire. Her only job is to break the ice, get the conversation going, and put you within reach of making a dating connection. After that, it’s up to you.
If you would like to find out more about The Date Mentor’s Ultimate WingWoman, contact Brad Finsilver. For a free dating tip on approaching women alone, sign up for The Date Mentor’s “Ultimate Conversation Starter.” Using this technique, you’ll discover just how easy it is to start a conversation with any woman.
Wayne
The best free dating tip in the world will not do the work of The Date Mentor’s Ultimate WingWoman. That’s right, wing woman! Now, a lot of you guys out there are probably scratching your heads and wondering, “How will having an attractive woman already with me help me meet other women?” Allow Brad Finsilver, The Date Mentor, to explain.
When it comes to dating, a lot of men are uncomfortable with approaching a lone attractive woman. This discomfort can increase exponentially if she is with a group of friends. Approaching a group of women with a friend can remove the awkwardness that may come from being alone. Now, if you take a guy along, he may end up stealing your love interest, or you might both get the cold shoulder. However, if you take a girl along, barriers will come down immediately, especially when she is socially aware and attractive.
When a woman sees a man who is already accompanied by another woman, in her eyes, his worth immediately increases. She will take for granted that he has already been given the stamp of approval and let down her guard. Also, a wing woman can easily infiltrate the social circles of other women without arousing suspicion. A simple, “where did you get that shirt?” leads to a conversation. Once your wing woman is talking to the one you’re interested in, the introduction will happen naturally and seamlessly, giving you the perfect opportunity to get to know her better, giving you your best shot for a follow-up encounter.
Having The Date Mentor’s Ultimate WingWoman by your side is guaranteed to tip the scale in your favor. Every wing woman has been personally trained by Brad Finsilver to ensure that you have an easy opening to meeting the girl that you desire. Her only job is to break the ice, get the conversation going, and put you within reach of making a dating connection. After that, it’s up to you.
If you would like to find out more about The Date Mentor’s Ultimate WingWoman, contact Brad Finsilver. For a free dating tip on approaching women alone, sign up for The Date Mentor’s “Ultimate Conversation Starter.” Using this technique, you’ll discover just how easy it is to start a conversation with any woman.
Wayne
Apr
13
Devil Winds Fan California Wildfires
Filed Under Wildfire Protection | Comments Off
Mark Decherd asked:
October and November are among the most beautiful months in southern California. Temperatures remain warm, but as the saying goes, “It’s a dry heat.” The skies are crystal clear and you can see practically forever. However, after a long, hot summer with very little rain throughout the year, the entire natural landscape is brown.
While the weather is gorgeous, southern California residents bristle when the first signs of the Santa Ana winds appear: flags flapping at sunrise, winds blowing from the east rather than the west, tumbleweeds racing down suburban streets, and static electricity. The communities nestled in valleys, canyons, and foothills are vulnerable to raging wildfires that start dozens of miles away and bear down in a matter of hours thanks to the Devil Winds that carry embers at freeway speeds.
Years of drought coupled with seasonal Santa Ana winds blowing from the desert to the coast are responsible for the loss of thousands of homes throughout the region over the last few years. Major wildfires in 2005, 2007, and 2008 have devastated entire counties. Residents have learned that fires located far off in the distance can arrive at their doorsteps in a matter of hours.
Imagine going to bed after watching news reports covering a fire affecting a distant mountain community only to have firemen knocking on your doors at 3:00 AM ordering you to evacuate as the fire bears down on your neighborhood. This scenario played itself out hundreds of times during the San Diego wildfires in 2007. Monster fires can erupt overnight as well, as residents of Sylmar, California recently discovered. A single mobile home park in the area lost over 500 homes.
While the 2008 Montecito fire grabbed most of the national headlines due to the dramatic footage of multimillion dollar mansions burning to the ground and the fact that Montecito is home to many of the country’s most beloved celebrities, other wildfires sprang up in the suburbs of LA, Orange, and Riverside counties. These fires continue to rage as of this writing.
While home prices have fallen due to the housing crisis, insurance losses from these fires will measure in the billions. Rebuilding mansions and, even tract homes, is not cheap. Residents who have lost their homes have a long, sorrowful process ahead of them. First, while evacuated, many people are living with the fear of what they’ll come home to. Some will find their homes have survived, others won’t be so lucky. In between are those homeowners who return to find that their home has survived, but is surrounded by ashes – all the neighboring homes are gone.
For those whose homes have burned, the process ahead is painful. They must deal with grief, finding temporary lodging, replacing basic necessities, filling out insurance claims and FEMA paperwork, finding a contractor, and rebuilding.
People whose homes have survived also have to deal with the aftermath of the wildfire. Their homes may have minor to extensive damage including roof damage, damaged landscaping, burned fences, smoke damage, and water damage. At the very least, a layer of ash will have blanketed cars, patios, outdoor furniture, and so forth. Among the other less-devastating effects of the wildfires include inconveniences such as longstanding evacuations, freeway shutdowns, loss of power and water, loss of phone and Internet service, lack of relevant news, and prolonged stays in shelters.
The Devil Winds come and go from about October through February each year in southern California. The wildfire season has officially begun – and with a fury.
By: Mr. Mark Decherd
For more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:
Dryout® Inc.
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907
http://www.dryout.net
239-437-7100
Water Damage
Dryout Inc Emergency water damage restoration, drying, deodorization, decontamination, disinfection, mold removal, water damage repair, restoration and reconstruction of commercial and residential properties damaged by fire, water and other disasters by a network of trained specialists, technicians and restoration professionals across the USA and Canada.
Leroy
October and November are among the most beautiful months in southern California. Temperatures remain warm, but as the saying goes, “It’s a dry heat.” The skies are crystal clear and you can see practically forever. However, after a long, hot summer with very little rain throughout the year, the entire natural landscape is brown.
While the weather is gorgeous, southern California residents bristle when the first signs of the Santa Ana winds appear: flags flapping at sunrise, winds blowing from the east rather than the west, tumbleweeds racing down suburban streets, and static electricity. The communities nestled in valleys, canyons, and foothills are vulnerable to raging wildfires that start dozens of miles away and bear down in a matter of hours thanks to the Devil Winds that carry embers at freeway speeds.
Years of drought coupled with seasonal Santa Ana winds blowing from the desert to the coast are responsible for the loss of thousands of homes throughout the region over the last few years. Major wildfires in 2005, 2007, and 2008 have devastated entire counties. Residents have learned that fires located far off in the distance can arrive at their doorsteps in a matter of hours.
Imagine going to bed after watching news reports covering a fire affecting a distant mountain community only to have firemen knocking on your doors at 3:00 AM ordering you to evacuate as the fire bears down on your neighborhood. This scenario played itself out hundreds of times during the San Diego wildfires in 2007. Monster fires can erupt overnight as well, as residents of Sylmar, California recently discovered. A single mobile home park in the area lost over 500 homes.
While the 2008 Montecito fire grabbed most of the national headlines due to the dramatic footage of multimillion dollar mansions burning to the ground and the fact that Montecito is home to many of the country’s most beloved celebrities, other wildfires sprang up in the suburbs of LA, Orange, and Riverside counties. These fires continue to rage as of this writing.
While home prices have fallen due to the housing crisis, insurance losses from these fires will measure in the billions. Rebuilding mansions and, even tract homes, is not cheap. Residents who have lost their homes have a long, sorrowful process ahead of them. First, while evacuated, many people are living with the fear of what they’ll come home to. Some will find their homes have survived, others won’t be so lucky. In between are those homeowners who return to find that their home has survived, but is surrounded by ashes – all the neighboring homes are gone.
For those whose homes have burned, the process ahead is painful. They must deal with grief, finding temporary lodging, replacing basic necessities, filling out insurance claims and FEMA paperwork, finding a contractor, and rebuilding.
People whose homes have survived also have to deal with the aftermath of the wildfire. Their homes may have minor to extensive damage including roof damage, damaged landscaping, burned fences, smoke damage, and water damage. At the very least, a layer of ash will have blanketed cars, patios, outdoor furniture, and so forth. Among the other less-devastating effects of the wildfires include inconveniences such as longstanding evacuations, freeway shutdowns, loss of power and water, loss of phone and Internet service, lack of relevant news, and prolonged stays in shelters.
The Devil Winds come and go from about October through February each year in southern California. The wildfire season has officially begun – and with a fury.
By: Mr. Mark Decherd
For more information and other articles by Mark Decherd go to:
Dryout® Inc.
1415 Colonial Blvd.
Fort Myers, Fl. 33907
http://www.dryout.net
239-437-7100
Water Damage
Dryout Inc Emergency water damage restoration, drying, deodorization, decontamination, disinfection, mold removal, water damage repair, restoration and reconstruction of commercial and residential properties damaged by fire, water and other disasters by a network of trained specialists, technicians and restoration professionals across the USA and Canada.
Leroy
Apr
10
How do I advance with my voluntary fire safety program for students of schools colleges?
Filed Under Fire Safety | 2 Comments
Hasan M asked:
I am a safety advocate by profession.Fire Safety is my main field of activity.People are lacking awareness about fire hazards consequences therefrom.With a view to create general awareness,i have started a program of fire safety lectures for students of schools colleges in my locality.Response from teachers students side are encouraging.But at times,i run short of resources to deliver standard appropriate lecture in time.I have received a module of lecture for students of kindergarten to 8th level from a friendly country but i need more for higher grade students(from 9th to 12th level) for adding variety to my lectures.There is no other voluntary or non govt.organization to work in this field.We have started it with a mission to ensure fire safe children to make my country fire safe for the future.The task is huge, all types of suggestions will be considered as contribution for a noble cause.
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I am a safety advocate by profession.Fire Safety is my main field of activity.People are lacking awareness about fire hazards consequences therefrom.With a view to create general awareness,i have started a program of fire safety lectures for students of schools colleges in my locality.Response from teachers students side are encouraging.But at times,i run short of resources to deliver standard appropriate lecture in time.I have received a module of lecture for students of kindergarten to 8th level from a friendly country but i need more for higher grade students(from 9th to 12th level) for adding variety to my lectures.There is no other voluntary or non govt.organization to work in this field.We have started it with a mission to ensure fire safe children to make my country fire safe for the future.The task is huge, all types of suggestions will be considered as contribution for a noble cause.
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Apr
7
How fire safety has changed 1988 to 2008?
Filed Under Fire Safety | 1 Comment
muchbug1 asked:
I have to do an assignment about fire safty at school. Can anyone please give me some information or any websites on hte changes. I have tried for a few hours now and cant find anything.
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I have to do an assignment about fire safty at school. Can anyone please give me some information or any websites on hte changes. I have tried for a few hours now and cant find anything.
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Apr
5
A Look At How Spyware Differs From Viruses And Worms
Filed Under Wildfire Protection | Comments Off
Gray Rollins asked:
If you’ve been noticing a decrease in your computer’s performance - if it’s running sluggishly or even crashing, it may very well be infected with either Spyware, a virus, worms or all of the above. You have to be really careful when downloading things off the internet as well as opening emails from people you don’t know because those are the main sources of these infiltrators. And in case you didn’t know, even an email attachment from someone you do know could contain a virus.
And even though each of these types of pests are harmful to your computer in their own ’special’ way, there are differences among them. So to assist yourself in keeping your computer ‘healthy’, you should be aware of what they are and what they do so you can fix and/or prevent the malfunctions that result when they exist in your PC’s system.
Spyware
Spyware is most often times downloaded onto your computer along with other downloads that you actually intended on retrieving - mostly from Freeware sites. It is very sneaky and hides itself within your PC, running invisibly in the background of the operating system. Spyware tracks every action you make on your keyboard, follows you around the internet and records everything you do in order to send the information back to the program’s creator. Some Spyware even has the ability to scan documents saved on your computer as well. Advertisers are the guiltiest of Spyware generators which is one of the reasons bulk and junk emails are running amok. And the information gathered by the Spyware program can actually inhibit your life off the computer as well. Some of the originators of various Spyware use these programs to help them steal your personal information and identity.
Viruses
Viruses are also hidden entities in your computer’s operating system, but unlike Spyware, have to be executed in order to do their thing. Just like in humans, viruses are transferred from one computer to another. They are actually code that is written into programs that once clicked on and opened, spread like wildfire throughout your PC’s system. They are enormously dangerous and can actually destroy your entire operating system, wiping out all of your programs, erasing your files and infiltrating your address books.
Worms
Worms are software programs that work independently to annoy you and destroy your files, in addition to making your computer run abundantly slow. They spread themselves though network connections but unlike viruses, don’t need to be executed to launch. However, they are just as efficient at damaging your files and programs as a virus is.
Protection is Power
DO NOT EVER open emails that come from a name you do not recognize or have some ‘funky’ wording in the subject line, and furthermore, NEVER click on or download attachments from them either. Ensure the protection of your computer as well as your identity by utilizing Anti-Spyware in addition to Anti-Virus software. Just about every single operating system sold today comes equipped with some form of these programs already built in and they’re there for a reason. So make sure you keep your firewall up, run the protection software while you’re on the computer and scan your system regularly.
Glen
If you’ve been noticing a decrease in your computer’s performance - if it’s running sluggishly or even crashing, it may very well be infected with either Spyware, a virus, worms or all of the above. You have to be really careful when downloading things off the internet as well as opening emails from people you don’t know because those are the main sources of these infiltrators. And in case you didn’t know, even an email attachment from someone you do know could contain a virus.
And even though each of these types of pests are harmful to your computer in their own ’special’ way, there are differences among them. So to assist yourself in keeping your computer ‘healthy’, you should be aware of what they are and what they do so you can fix and/or prevent the malfunctions that result when they exist in your PC’s system.
Spyware
Spyware is most often times downloaded onto your computer along with other downloads that you actually intended on retrieving - mostly from Freeware sites. It is very sneaky and hides itself within your PC, running invisibly in the background of the operating system. Spyware tracks every action you make on your keyboard, follows you around the internet and records everything you do in order to send the information back to the program’s creator. Some Spyware even has the ability to scan documents saved on your computer as well. Advertisers are the guiltiest of Spyware generators which is one of the reasons bulk and junk emails are running amok. And the information gathered by the Spyware program can actually inhibit your life off the computer as well. Some of the originators of various Spyware use these programs to help them steal your personal information and identity.
Viruses
Viruses are also hidden entities in your computer’s operating system, but unlike Spyware, have to be executed in order to do their thing. Just like in humans, viruses are transferred from one computer to another. They are actually code that is written into programs that once clicked on and opened, spread like wildfire throughout your PC’s system. They are enormously dangerous and can actually destroy your entire operating system, wiping out all of your programs, erasing your files and infiltrating your address books.
Worms
Worms are software programs that work independently to annoy you and destroy your files, in addition to making your computer run abundantly slow. They spread themselves though network connections but unlike viruses, don’t need to be executed to launch. However, they are just as efficient at damaging your files and programs as a virus is.
Protection is Power
DO NOT EVER open emails that come from a name you do not recognize or have some ‘funky’ wording in the subject line, and furthermore, NEVER click on or download attachments from them either. Ensure the protection of your computer as well as your identity by utilizing Anti-Spyware in addition to Anti-Virus software. Just about every single operating system sold today comes equipped with some form of these programs already built in and they’re there for a reason. So make sure you keep your firewall up, run the protection software while you’re on the computer and scan your system regularly.
Glen