Top 5 Worst Computer Viruses

In this article I will be covering 5 of the worst computer viruses in history. The computer virus has been one of the most devastating influences on our computer systems. Viruses are malicious code designed to read, write and erase computer data. These malicious pieces of code are capable of causing a world of problems for your systems and yourself.

As the user, you are equipped with the ability to track down and erase all instances of the virus, or you could simply format everything and start over. However, both of these choices will lead to loss of time and data, potentially. These viruses are also capable of transferring the data on your computer to another, essentially violating your privacy. Fred Cohen was the first notable person to identify a computer virus, and defined it as a self-replicating program, designed to adversely modify our systems as a virus. Since them, the name virus has stuck.

There was a time when viruses were only capable of infecting a system through manual means, but thanks to the evolution of our technology, viruses today are mostly transferred through the internet.

 

1. ILOVEYOU

One of the trickiest computer viruses was discovered for the first time in the year 2000, in the Philippines. It was essentially an email with the title ILOVEYOU which contained an email attachment (a virus). Around 10% of users online made the mistake of opening it. The attachment was a VB script. It worked by mailing the same email out to all the contacts in the users address book, while attacking the hard drive of the system it was on, this ultimately led to over $10 billion in damages.

2. Melissa
This virus was named after an exotic dancer from Florida, and it was created in 1999 by David Smith; it was a Microsoft Word macro. It worked by spreading itself through email. The virus would arrive in peoples Inbox with the subject title “here is the document you asked for, don’t show it to anybody else”. This was of course, designed to goad people into clicking on it, and for those who did, the virus would immediately forward itself to all the people in the users address book. After some time, the virus was able to replicate itself across a large portion of the web.

Though it didn’t adversely affect the internet, it did cause a big problem for many email services, as it increased traffic tenfold; this ultimately led to email services running considerably slower. David Smith was eventually arrested and sent to jail for 20 months, he was also fined $5000 by the US government. Though, it didn’t cause any real damage to any systems, it was one of the first viruses to gain any sort of recognition.

3. SQL Slammer

This virus successfully shut down South Korea’s online capacity for around 12 hours, affecting over 500,000 servers across the entire world.

This virus worked by affecting servers, not computers. Compared to other viruses, this one was very small, no larger than 380 bytes. It worked by generating random IP addresses and sending itself to these IP addresses. If the IP address belonged to a computer system that ran Microsoft’s SQL Server Desktop Engine (unpatched version), then that computer would become infected and send itself out to more random IP addresses. This virus was able to infect over 75,000 computers in less than 10 minutes. It created so much unwanted traffic that it overloaded thousands of network routers across the world, which eventually led to shut downs.

4. My Doom
My Doom was another virus, a worm to be exact, which arrived in 2004. It became another fast spreading email virus, much like ILOVEYOU. My Doom was able to infect two million computers, and created a massive denial of service attack that adversely affect the whole world wide web. It replicated by sending itself via email. It fooled people into clicking on it by using the subject line “Mail Transaction Failed”, and it would send itself out using the email address book of the user. The damages of this virus were said to be in the range of $38 billion.

5. The Klez Virus

With the natural progression and advancements in our technology, new viruses have been developed and pushed out there; one of such viruses, known to quite a number of people is the Klez Virus. It first arrived on the scene in 2001, and its unique characteristics lead to it floating around the internet for several months. The Klez Virus successfully replicated itself via email services. There were numerous versions of it; all made its behaviour either like a Trojan, worm or virus. As a virus it was capable of disabling the internet security software on an end users computer and act as a fake antivirus removal tool itself.

When the virus came out, there were many new versions that were released shortly after, these updated versions were capable of spoofing. It was also capable of deleting email messages and rendering a computer system inoperable.


--AUTHOR INFO--

Uchenna Ani-Okoye is a former IT Manager who now runs his own computer support website http://www.compuchenna.co.uk

All the Ways Blended Learning Enhances Dull IT Training Courses

Did you know that the eLearning market reached $46,674.7 million in revenue worldwide in 2016? And, how wouldn’t it, when it effectively replaced the traditional classroom by allowing everyone to learn valuable content according to their learning pace.

However, given there are numerous online educational courses available today, not all of them possess the same value. Meaning, although the majority of IT training programs provide an accredited certificate, the process of learning can be quite uninteresting, especially the seminars which can take all day.

But, there is a way to improve the online IT educational program and it’s called blended learning. By combining this approach with the already made course material, the learning process can be fun and the content rapidly conquered. So let’s take a look at the benefits and methods to successfully correct any IT learner’s struggles.  

What is Blended Learning?

Blended learning is the unique mixture of traditional face-to-face learning and educational online technology. The goal is to bring the classroom to the comfort of one’s home while the student retains the control over time, pace, and the path of the course.

Commonly referred to as “hybrid learning” or “mix-mode courses”, blended learning can uphold any type of learning experience with a portion of the technology involved. Basically, it supports in-class activities and represents an actual classroom while the learning takes place outside of it or online. Simply put, students are still obligated to use the LMS and complete online courses via computer or mobile, but they still get a sense of the traditional in person classroom setting.

The fact is that this way of learning improves the student’s performance which was proven by a study conducted on algebra pupils. In addition, 76% of educators agree that blended learning is highly beneficial for students while 59% of teachers believe the learners are more motivated by this approach. So, why not blend IT courses with effective training techniques?
  
How Can This Approach Improve IT Training Courses? 

First of all, no one disputes the quality of IT eLearning and training, but, simply, it can be better. While learners have the chance to review and pick the time to really learn lessons, sitting for hours and watching a small screen is not a great way to efficiently comprehend the material. This is precisely where blended learning kicks in to raise engagement by introducing a teacher giving the lecture. And, exactly like in a classroom, the instructor follows a program needed to be delivered to the whole class.

This type of teaching doesn’t always require students to be physically present. They can watch the lecture over their mobiles or tune in with other devices.

A blended learning scholar will get their learning content via learning management system and use other interactive means which makes the learning process more fun.   

And, the benefits keep on multiplying as this method provides the ideal refreshment, as students can switch and select the type and lesion of the day and enjoy learning process from beginning to end. Likewise, it’s easier for students to participate because course discussions can be held in the online classroom, or via email and/or social media forum.

Having said that, another great feature comes with assessments. Blended learning in IT courses will simplify the assessment process by conducting it online. As you get a live teacher, he or she will easily assess the student’s productivity with the use of online tools for measuring the overall individual score. With evaluations presented in person during the class, the feedback is quite beneficial to both students and teachers. Apprentices will know how to improve their learning while instructors will be able to better conduct their teaching and realize where they should focus their efforts more.   

Additionally, the use of technological perks doesn’t stop there. Instructors can use these online gadgets to make a survey and see how they can improve their content as well as their teaching. Therefore, the accent is always on the learners and finding the best way to improve their learning.

So, not only do course attendant get a chance to use various styles during their studying, but they can also always choose when and where to engage and complain, if they experience issues in regards to adjusting the content according to their pace.
Then again, the main point of blended learning is providing freedom intertwined with different, yet highly engaging learning sources suitable to each personal style. And, the choice always falls back on the learner who is never really alone due to the ability to overcome a problem via online discussions.

All in all, by correctly applying blended learning with the learning management system of choice, IT students will experience more excitement and a desire to dedicate more time to such a learning method. Also, as this system allows better tracking of individual performances, training courses will be made more efficiently. With each following session, students will make the most of their learning, as the classes adjust to their tempo. And, since they will feel no pressure or get overwhelmed by the content, the learning process will be more inviting and fun than ever before.

Author Bio:

Kamy Anderson is an ed-tech enthusiast with a passion for writing on emerging technologies in the areas of corporate training and education. He is an expert in learning management system& elearning authoring tools - currently associated with Pro Profs.

5 Ways Live Chat can be implemented in different industries

Customer support has been a hot topic in business in the past dozen years. Companies are competing to bring the best possible service and experience for their consumers and this is how they are able to keep a loyal base of customers that makes them sustainable.

There are many ways in which businesses work on improving this aspect of their organization, but now there are even tech solutions that go had in hand with customer support and allow organizations to cost-effectively improve this area of business. One of the best solutions that companies use today is called live chat software.

With online chat software, companies can reduce their running costs, give valuable information to customers, help them more quickly, start valuable customer relationships, and scale better. To achieve this, a business needs to use this tool in a proper way. There are many types of businesses that can use live chat and here are 5 different industries that will find it very useful. 

1. Software industry 

 
The software industry has probably been one of the fastest growing, since the beginning of the 21st century. No matter what branch of software industry you are looking at, software developers are constantly looking to provide new solutions, optimize their products, and give new features.

Given the fact that changes happen often and quickly, it's important for providers to be able to explain all the important things about their software quickly and update them when needed. This is presenting a problem for software companies, as they are unable to clearly explain what their software can do.

This is why software providers and a majority of those who offer cloud solutions can utilize on live chat to explain their offers and adjust them to their current or potential customers. We are talking about complex products and companies will be able to explain all the features, hear the customer’s needs, and connect the dots during a live chat conversation.

On top of that, customers looking to buy software solutions are in most cases tech savvy and they are almost always open to contacting a business through the chat help tool and relying on this kind of communication channel to get help.

2. Ecommerce
 

Online stores are becoming very popular. Simply put, there are more and more people looking to buy something online and more business organizations that want to fulfill this need. This can be a very profitable business model but it has its difficulties.

One of the most common problems for ecommerce stores is that their conversion rates are quite low because of the fact that they are not communicating with their potential customers as well as they should. This is where live chat comes into play, as this is an engaging customer support tool that has the power to convert visitors into buyers.

Ecommerce stores can be messy and confusing because they have so many products available. Customers can have a lot of questions they need answers to quickly or they will simply bounce away. By approaching potential customers with a chat help tool, you can offer them instant help that can allow them to make direct purchases.

3. Real estate business

One of the industries that has been changed a lot by the acceleration and growth of the internet is real estate. One of the most notable changes is that real estate is now more transparent than ever and this is why people are looking for properties to buy online as well.

Although people usually don’t want to buy a house directly from a website, they like to see what their options are and compare prices while surfing around the web. Sellers and real estate agents can only post offers online and wait for potential buyers to go through their ad and compare different offers.

However, this is slowly beginning to change with the use of live chat solutions. With the implementation of live chat tools, the people who work in real estate have gained the ability to engage people and work on generating leads directly. Real estate is all about selling complex properties that have a lot of features.

With live chat, sellers can make more transparent offers, talk about features and give a dose of real life interaction to the communication. With live chat, a seller will be able to recommend adequate property solutions and show potential buyers their property in detail and in advance.    

4. Pharmaceutical industry

 
One of the most sensitive aspects of people’s lives is their health. Everyone wants to take care of themselves and their loved ones as best as possible. This industry has grown so big that it has entered the online world as well and online pharmacies are slowly starting to grow.

Online pharmacies are still not accepted and people are reluctant to buy drugs this way. This is why this business is looking for ways to get accepted by people and become more legitimate and trustworthy.

This is where live chat steps into play as it can give them the ability to create human interaction, add a human face that can be trusted to the picture, and give important advice regarding this sensitive subject.

5. The hospitality industry
 

When it comes to the hotel industry, the most important things here are attention to detail and quality of service. Apart from the fact that these kinds of service providers need to be punctual and polite when dealing with customers - making sure everything is clean, greeting people, setting the table properly and so on - they also have to have this kind of approach online as well.

When customers are booking a hotel, they want to know all the details and you need to provide them. In this business, establishing relationships with customers is as vital as acting as a true host. With live chat software, a provider can instantly start a relationship with customers and talk about everything they need and want to know.

When renting apartments or rooms, people have different needs and wishes. With live chat, you can quickly find out what they are and how to give customers exactly what they need without a single detail missed. This is how more sales will be made and how you can bring your accommodation business closer to people.

These are the 5 industries that can effectively utilize on online chat software solutions. There are many other types of organizations that can also rely on live chat to improve their results. The only important thing is to use it adequately and adapt it to the way you do business.

Author Bio:

Jason is a technical writer currently associated with ProProfs Chat. He enjoys writing about emerging customer support products, trends in customer support industry and the financial impacts of using such tools. In his spare time, Jason likes traveling extensively to learn about new cultures and traditions.

Drone Delivery - The Future of E-Commerce

Amazon has been shaping the e-commerce world for years, but its recent endeavor could shake the entire industry. The company recently filed a patent for a huge, floating blimp that would serve as an overhead warehouse of sorts. This warehouse would house numerous items, along with smaller aerial delivery drones to deliver those items. This concept would take the “fiction” out of “science fiction.”

Amazon is calling these huge blimps Airborne Fulfilment Centers (AFCs). In short, they would be stocked with products, piloted into the air, and then placed strategically over positions where there is a spike in demand for the items that are placed onto the AFC. When a customer places an order, a smaller drone would grab the package and fly to the ground in order to make a delivery. 

One example that Amazon used during its patent filing was to place an AFC over sporting events. Fans could place orders for snacks and souvenirs on Amazon, who would then deliver the items down to them. These AFCs could also be used to provide giant hotspots for Wi-Fi access and display advertisements on the side. The entire idea, like everything else Amazon comes up with by adopting various technology research services, is truly innovative.

How Does This Patent Affect the Future of E-Commerce?

 
It's worth noting that this whole concept is still on the drawing board. It's still quite a way into the future. There are still just too many technological blocks right now. In fact, there's a chance that it could never become a reality. Companies file crazy patents all of the time to protect their ideas, just in case.

With that said, this idea is so detailed that it's hard to call it just another crazy idea. The patent seemed to be quite detailed. Amazon filed another patent that same week too – a patent for systems related to drone defense against hacking, lightning, and projectiles. Yes, people shoot projectiles at drone for fun!

Amazon continues to pour its resources into all kinds of automation technology. That tells us that the industry is going to see some big changes in the coming years. Here’s a look at what those changes might be.

Flying Drones

We expect to see drone delivery become the go-to method for major commercial retail websites over the next ten years. As it stands right now, drones can carry up to five-pound packages while traveling a distance of approximately 20 miles. Furthermore, they can fly at speeds of up to 70 mph. Flirty has even developed a drone that's capable of delivering packages right to a consumer's doorstep.

The main bottleneck right now is the lack of government regulations when it comes to drones. Companies simply don’t want to risk huge investments only to find that new legislation passes that makes it an unviable option. Once this bottleneck is overcome – and it will be very soon – then drone delivery will start to take off.

Ground Drones

These will probably become the most viable option. Ground drones were actually created well after flying drones. They are really great at navigating sidewalks and can navigate the final mile to a customer's doorstep. As of the time of writing this post, ground drones can carry up to 9 kilograms and travel up to 10 mph.

Delivery ground drones have been used in Australia to deliver pizza. The main advantage is that they will make delivering packages much less expensive while essentially speeding up the process. This new technology will create a same-day-delivery buying experience online.
As technology continues to develop, we’ll see radical changes in the industry. The future of drone deliveries is not as far off as some people tend to believe. It’s right around the corner!

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Website Development Company

Setting foot on the World Wide Web brings with it a whirlwind of questions, queries, ambiguities and thoughts. One needs to tread on the path of the digital world carefully if success is to be ensured. The journey starts with selecting the right website development company. It's thought of more so as a step in the right direction because partnering with the right website development company can mean all the difference between your online success and failure.
Every company is shrouded behind the glass screen you are currently looking at, what goes on behind the scenes is any one’s guess. So how does one pick out the best website development agency from a realm of them? Here’s how:-

1. Experience & Expertise

One of the easiest ways of finding the best website development company is by looking at its age; the number of years it has been in business, their scope of work, the type of clients they have worked with and what those clients have to say about that agency. Gauging a website development company based on the number of years it has been in the business and its areas of expertise will answer a lot of questions for you. From the very basic question of “whether they will be able to handle it” to the more uncertain question of “do they really know their stuff.” It’s a basic parameter that can simplify the process of hiring the right website development company for you.

2. Communication

Every agency is eager to acquire business but not all of them are fans of keeping the client updated and informed about the milestones and the overall progress of the project. This not only becomes annoying but is downright frustrating because you being the client are completely in the dark about your project. Make sure that the company you hire for web development has effective two-way communications and believes in keeping the client in theloop every step of the way. Without effective communication, your project will be nowhere near what you thought it would turn out to be.

3. After Sales Support

Getting the job done is only half the work, caring for the customers after they have settled their accounts and fixing their problem is what being the best website development company is all about. Being with them every step of the way and ensuring that a client does not suffer at the hand of the agency, those are the type of people you should be working with. Make sure that whatever website development company you choose has strong after sales support in case there are problems that need to be fixed after final delivery.

4. Portfolio

Before you enter into a contract with any website development firm, be sure to check out their portfolio. A good website development company will proudly present their portfolio on their website and give detailed insights of their business, what they have done and what they are capable of. If a website development agency does not have a showcase of their previous work then that is a company you need to stay away from. A portfolio allows you to look at the company beyond its website, it allows the work of the company to speak on behalf of them. Visit the websites in the agency’s portfolio and even contact some of them to get feedback.

5. Affordability

 
Just because its good doesn’t mean that it has to be expensive. The best web development company should also be the best when it comes to pricing because it's not just the type of development they provide that makes them the best, it's their price scale that defines how adaptable and realistic they are in their business approach.

Finding the best web development company does not have to be a daunting task, take the aforementioned points into account and you should have a very clear idea about the standing a company in terms of how great, efficient and affordable the company is.

Author Bio

Having been in the SEO and web design and development industry in California for a number of years, Saad Muhammad Khan has successfully helped various organizations get back up in the digital spectrum and has enabled them to do what many others could not. He has been in the business for 7 years and has no plans of stopping any time soon.

How to Display any Message on Windows Startup

Learn how you can Display any Message on Windows Startup by applying some registry hooks which will allow you to insert and show any text on your Windows startup screen. So, just  follow below tutorial to get this done.

By default, Windows doesn’t show you any type of extra message other than the boot animations during its startup. 

If you are also willing to put in some kind of message to your Windows startup screen then read below tutorial by which you can easily set your own message to your computer.

In this method, we are going to work with the Registry settings of your windows and please remember don’t do any changes on your behalf as it could lead to serious effects on your system. Be careful to apply this method step by step!

 Steps to Display a Message During Windows Startup:

1.    At First, Open up the Registry editor, by typing “regedit” in the run window of your windows means “Windows+R” to open run window and type “regedit” in it and press enter. Grant permissions if required.

Or you can simply search “regedit” in your Cortana search bar as shown in below image.

 

2. Now inside the Registry Editor, navigate to the following address:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System 

 3. Find two values named “legalnoticecaption” and “legalnoticetext”. 

Double click the “legalnoticecaption” value to open it. This value actually serves as the title of your message so just use your text in the value data field that you want to appear as the text message on your windows startup screen. Click OK after setting your text in this value field.

 

4. The “legalnoticetext” value is the whole message text under the title as by the “legalnoticecaption” and is placed below the title. You could either set up the message in the value data field of the properties panel or just leave the value blank so that the title only appears as the message. Click OK after setting your text in this value field.

 

5. Now, just RESTART your computer

After the restart, you could notice that there would be the text message appearing on the startup screen that you have set up before. If you wish to change or remove the message from appearing then just delete the text from the value data field of “legalnoticecaption” and “legalnoticetext” inside the registry editor again!