Showing posts with label computer for disaster preparedness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label computer for disaster preparedness. Show all posts

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Protect Your Computer

I am still working my way through what to do about the Java problem security warning. US Homeland Security, no less, issued a warning that people should disable Java on their computers because of ongoing security problems.

 I can't tell you exactly what to do about the problem, but since I am not very techy and take a while to get through this stuff, I think I will pass on what I know so far so those of you who are more tech savvy than I am can get right on it.

 First, I am giving you a link to Homeland Security's computer security section. They are the ones who issued said alert about Java. Here is your link:
http://www.us-cert.gov/current/

I believe the following link at the CERT section of Homeland Security is about part of the problem with Java: http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/625617

The above link to CERT also explains the problem with Java in more detail and tells how to deal with it. One of these suggestions is to update to the latest version of Java that is compatible with your system. Unfortunately, they also say that updating won't fix all of the Java problems. You can still get hacked anyway.

 The other solution from CERT seems to be to disable Java or the web browser part of it on your computer. Apparently this will also mean some things you may want to use on your computer won't work. 

 As I understand it, Apple users are more vulnerable than other PCs to the Java problem. I'm trying not to laugh about that one. Apple users usually sail serenely past many malware and hacker problems that the rest of us are subject to. I am not enjoying their discomfiture, but some of them are inclined to gloat.

 Other PC users do not seem to be invulnerable to this Java problem, it just isn't quite as bad.

 Here is a nice quote from Tech News Daily about the problem: "Java is a favorite target of cybercriminals because it is so easy to exploit, and also because users are frequently using outdated versions of it."

 Here is a link to their site if you want to read their whole interesting article: http://www.technewsdaily.com/4165-disable-java-computer.html Here is a link to a site Tech News Daily offers that will check whether you need your Java updated and has the updates there:
http://www.java.com/en/download/testjava.jsp

Tech News Daily offers more information about how to deal with your Java problem. I believe it may be a good idea to read it. They also have a sister site: Security News Daily that may tell you more about it. Here is a link to that site: http://www.technewsdaily.com/security/

My apologies for not giving you more definitive information about the Java problem, but not being very technically proficient, this is the best I can manage for you at this time. Since computer use is a vital part of emergency preparedness, for many people, including me, I felt it is important to share what I have anyway. 

 Computer repairs or replacement can be very damaging to people, so we all need to do the best we can to protect our investment. I hope you, dear readers, will make it through yet another hazard safely.


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Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Search Engines For Disaster Preparedness

Some of the readers who have found their way to my blog have used search terms that show they do not know how to look up preparedness items, like food. This is one of the most important uses of your computer for preparedness. I already posted a while back on the subject of computers for preparedness. This time I am going to post about search engines for preparedness.

You do not need to know much about computers or even the internet to use a search engine to find preparedness food and other disaster supplies. You do need to be able to figure out words to put into your browser to get the items you are looking for to show up on your monitor screen.

You do not need complete sentences when you are looking for something on the internet. Complete sentences can actually be a hindrance in your search. A complete sentence can have the search engine looking up millions of appearances of the word "and", for example. This slows down the results and gives you a lot of useless information.

An example of what you don't want in your search is: "Where can I find disaster supplies?" Below is a screen shot of a search with that sentence. Notice that you got almost 5 1/2 million results. You probably don't want to spend the time to look at 5 1/2 million search engine results.

Worse yet, the top results page are probably going to be very expensive. If you need to stretch your emergency preparedness budget, buying cute little disaster kits all packed into an attractive box is not the way to go. That kit will not be tailored to your individual needs and will cost much more than you picking out what you want in your emergency supplies. This does not mean that you cannot use anything on the results page, however. It won't hurt to compare items and prices.


Below is an example of a search for 
About 5,479,203 results
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Google results on its sister website
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Try your search now!

First Aid Kits & Supplies **

Disaster Necessities First Aid Kits and Supplies Disaster Necessities carries a wide and varied range of Emergency Survival Disaster First Aid Kits and First Aid ...
www.disasternecessities.com/page/215688 - Proxy - Highlight

Buy disaster kit supplies for home disaster survival preparedness **

Buy disaster preparedness supplies for home, office or school. We have a disaster kit your disaster relief needs. Disaster survival supplies at affordable prices.
www.kits4disastersurvival.com - Proxy - Highlight

Disaster Necessities: Emergency Preparedness, Survival ...

We have everything you need to keep your family safe when disaster strikes. ... At Disasternecessities.com you will find all the supplies you need to be prepared in a ...
www.disasternecessities.com - Proxy - Highlight

Emergency preparedness supplies - disaster preparedness kits ... **

We offer a variety of emergency preparedness supplies. Whether you are looking for emergency survival kits or disaster preparedness kits, you will find we have what ...
www.kits4disastersurvival.com/emergencysupplies - Proxy - Highlight

Survival Gear: Disaster | Earthquake | Hurricane | Wilderness ... **

Survival Gear: Disaster, Emergency Preparedness, Camping & Survival Supply 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Supplies for Earthquake, Hurricane, Tornado, Twister ...
www.first-aid-product.com/pgSurvival.htm - Proxy - Highlight

Earthquake kit supplies disaster preparedness survival kits ... **

Time is precious, so don't waste it creating your own survival kit. The experts at Earthquakestore have ready made survival supplies, disaster supplies, and emergency gear ...
www.earthquakestore.com - Proxy - Highlight

First Aid Kit, First Aid Supplies, Emergency First Aid Kits ... **

First aid kits and disaster preparedness supplies for emergency medical treatments. Our first aid product supply and refills can be purchased direct online worldwide.
www.1staidsupplies.com/store.php - Proxy - Highlight

Make a Disaster Plan for Your Pets : The Humane Society of ... **

Disaster supply checklist for pets ; Find a safe place ahead of time; Don't forget ID ... Animals left behind in a disaster can easily be injured, lost or killed.
www.humanesociety.org/ issues/ animal_rescue/ tips/ pet_disaster_plan.html - Proxy - Highlight

Disaster Planning for Pets, Family : The Humane Society of ... **

... re advised to evacuate, pack up your pets and supplies, and go. But in situations when sitting out the disaster ... it in a prominent place where your neighbor can find it.
www.humanesociety.org/news/news/2011/03/disaster_planning_2011.html - Proxy - Highlight

Disaster Supplies Kit - The Disaster Center - Home Page **

If you need to find water outside of your home, you can use rainwater. Even though it is unlikely that an emergency would cut off your food supply for two weeks, you should consider preparing a supply that will last that long.
www.disastercenter.com/guide/kit.html - Proxy - Highlight




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