As many internet users join the internet community a common term keeps popping up, torrents/ Bit Torrents. What exactly is a Bit Torrent and how it works?
Peer to Peer (P2P) Networks
A peer-to-peer network, commonly referred to as P2P is a network of people who share files. IE: Person to Person trading. In the past there have been many programs and networks that offered Peer-to-Peer file Trading. Perhaps the biggest and oldest file trading network via peer-to-peers is IRC or Internet Chat Relay. IRC to this day is still the largest file trading community on the web. With their major networks such as dalnet, which houses more than 100,000 users makes IRC the ideal spot for file trading.
IRC is an advanced way for people to trade files, generally non-newbies are very familiar with IRC and use IRC constantly. What about the average users though? I bet you remember Napster. Napster was a Peer-to-Peer network created by Shawn Fawning which was mainly a music trading site. There was one problem with Napster, it was vunerable enough to be shut down. Now Napster is a legitimate pay site while IRC and Bit Torrents remain free.
Essentially a Peer-to-Peer network works as such, a person has a file they want to share. They make the file available to a program which then allows users to connect to that person's computer and downloads the file. Once the person who just downloaded this file has it, they now also share this file with all the users of the software and network. That is the essential part of a Peer-to-Peer network. The more people who have the file and are sharing, the better speeds and reliability you have to get a file. Now on to a Bit Torrent.
Bit Torrent
A Bit Torrent is a small file that contains data of where and how to get a file. A bit torrent connects to a tracker which announces the file. Announcing a file means it sends the data needed to connect to the peers and seeders of the file. A seeder in the bit torrent world is a person who has the whole file and is sharing the file with everyone who has the bit torrent file. Seeders are absolutely necessary and without a seeder for a bit torrent file, no one can get the whole file. Generally when you download a whole bit torrent file, you seed it for at least 12 hours. That way you are giving back what you taken.
No one likes strictly leechers. A strict leecher in the Bit Torrent and Peer-to-Peer world is a person who just downloads and downloads and never seeds the bit torrent file or allows people to download off of them. Strict leechers are bad because it breaks what the entire Peer-to-Peer network was based on. Just remember Seed for 12 hours after you download a file to avoid being a strict leecher. Seed for longer if can. With that downloading a bit torrent file is not as complicated as it sounds. With the right websites and software Bit Torrents are an ideal way to share and download files.
Bit Torrents are handy for just about any situation where you need to send files to more than one person. uTorrent's Free Bit Torrent software allows you to create your own bit torrent for sharing. With this awesome free feature from uTorrent you can now share images with 10 people at once and minimize the time and bandwidth it would take to send all 10 images to all 10 people.
Legality of a torrent and the ethical issues involved –
The main question arises about the legality of a torrent and the ethical issues involved with downloading torrents and seeding, or uploading, torrents. Really the torrent community has a bad reputation, for merited reason. Most torrents are used to transport illegal and pirated material. But for the few people who do not use torrents in this way, the legality views can hinder their projects and plans.
Torrents Save Money
Torrents are an ideal solution for any small software company starting out. The reason being is that bandwidth is expensive. A torrent can easily save a small company starting out or even a larger company money by utilizing a system where peers help share the files.
The Torrent system is also ideal for Non-Profit organizations to help get their software or files out to their employees for little to no cost all the while having the volunteers be able to help out with their own computer bandwidth. The biggest organization to utilize the BitTorrents would be the Linux community, who offers free open-source operating systems for those who cannot afford Windows and or want more functionality from their computers.
The Ethical Views
Torrents are noted for their bad reputation and for a lot of people this will shy them away from ever downloading a torrent. For the few companies that choose to use Torrents this will effectively limit their customer base. Torrents, in it self are not unethical; however, how torrents have been abused by many software pirates is. If you are downloading a torrent to obtain a copy of software, the best way to make sure what you are downloading is not illegal, is first check the companies website (if it is hosted on a 3rd party website). See if the software you are downloading requires to be purchased. If it does you have a couple options, one you can help out the business by informing them of the torrent. Two you can download the software from that torrent, but be sure to buy a genuine license key. Three do your own research; talk with the company etc. doing this will save you from having any type of lawsuits for downloading illegal software.
Just remember that not all torrents are bad or good. Always virus scan what you downloading and make sure the software you are downloading is legal, if not go straight to the company.
Ending Notes
In the end Torrents are not all illegal, although there is a vast community out there that do use torrents illegally, torrents can be considered a viable solution to expensive bandwidth; thus allowing companies, non-profit or profit making, pass along their savings to their customers all the while making access to their files easier. Remember a lot of time and effort go into making movies, games, and software. Give credit where credit is due.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Follow this and forget about formatting computer for years :)
One of the most persistent myths about Windows is that you need to reinstall the operating system regularly to keep it running at top performance. Let’s take a look at the real problem and how to fix it.
Today I am talking about the myth that Windows slows down over time, and how to solve the problem. The reality is that Windows doesn’t slow down if you just take care of your PC a little more. Follow these procedures, and you won’t have to wonder if spending hours backing up data, installing from disc, and re-installing your essential applications is really necessary.
Why Windows Slow Down Over Time?
I’m not going to sit here and tell you that your Windows PC will never slow down—because for many people, they almost always do. What actually slows your PC down are too many poorly written applications that stay resident in memory and waste CPU cycles, having too many badly written low-level applications that hook into Windows, or running more than one antivirus application at a time. And of course, if you’ve run your PC’s hard drive out of space, you can hardly blame Windows for that.
If you aren’t getting the picture, the problem is usually the person behind the keyboard that installed too many junk applications in the first place.
Stop Installing Junk Applications
Installing software should be thought of like feeding your PC. If you constantly feed your PC garbage apps, it’s going to get sick and won’t be able to run fast anymore. These poorly written applications clutter your drive with unnecessary DLL files, add always-resident Windows services when they don’t need to, bloat up your registry, and add useless icons to your system tray that waste even more memory and CPU cycles. Usually you can get away with using a few terrible applications, but as you continue to install more and more of them, your PC will slow down to a crawl.
Be Smarter About What You Do Install
I would recommend a lot of software applications around here, but you should keep in mind that I m not trying to tell you to install every single one of them at the same time-just install the applications that you actually need and you’ll generally prevent the dreaded format and reinstall.
Few tips to help you know what applications you should be careful with:
• Apps that function as an Explorer plug-in, because they directly hook into the shell and any problem will make your entire PC slow or in the worst case, crash repeatedly.
• Antivirus applications are notorious for slowing your PC down, and you should never, ever, ever use more than one real-time antivirus application at a time. I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials as a free, fast, and awesome antivirus tool.
• Anything that says it will "Speed Up Your PC" or "Optimize Your RAM" will most likely slow it down, or best case, do nothing at all. Avoid these like the plague.
• Make sure to install official system drivers from the manufacturer website. Drivers have a huge impact on performance, and you want to have stable, updated drivers.
• Registry cleaners are a mixed bag, and really aren’t going to speed up your PC in most cases. The biggest problem, however, is that too many of the commercial registry cleaners set themselves to run at startup in the system tray, wasting your memory and CPU cycles.
• You should strongly consider the idea of using portable applications wherever possible, since their self-contained nature means they won’t clutter up the rest of your PC with things you don’t need.
Keep Your Computer Clean and Trim
Once you’ve rid yourself of your junk application habit and resolved to only use healthy, useful applications, you’ll want to make sure to keep your PC clean of any remaining clutter that doesn’t need to be there. You can set up a shortcut to manually run CCleaner silently with the push of a button, but your best bet is to set up CCleaner to run automatically on a schedule, so you don’t have to remember to do it.
Since CCleaner is only going to clean up temporary files, you’ll still need a good solution for keeping the rest of your PC clean-and Lifehacker’s own Belvedere can help you automate your self-cleaning PC or automatically clean up your download folder.
With all of this automated file deletion going on, your hard drive is likely to get a bit fragmented. If you’re already running Windows 7 or Vista, automatic defrag comes out of the box and probably shouldn’t be messed with, but Windows XP users will need to use Windows Tasks to setup a schedule and automatically defrag their drives.
Use a Virtual Machine or Sandbox to Test Software
If you still want to test out all of the latest software, including apps that look a bit rough around the edges, your best bet is to use a virtual machine to test out anything before putting it onto your primary operating system. You can install all of your software in an XP or Windows 7 VM just like it was a real PC, and with the latest VMWare player releases, you can even enable Windows Aero in a guest VM. If you are new to the idea and need some more help, you should check out our beginner’s guide to creating virtual machines in VirtualBox, or Windows 7 users can check out our guide to using XP Mode. If you don’t want to go the virtual machine route, Windows XP and Vista users can alternatively use Windows SteadyState to protect their PC and roll back all of the changes on a reboot.
Today I am talking about the myth that Windows slows down over time, and how to solve the problem. The reality is that Windows doesn’t slow down if you just take care of your PC a little more. Follow these procedures, and you won’t have to wonder if spending hours backing up data, installing from disc, and re-installing your essential applications is really necessary.
Why Windows Slow Down Over Time?
I’m not going to sit here and tell you that your Windows PC will never slow down—because for many people, they almost always do. What actually slows your PC down are too many poorly written applications that stay resident in memory and waste CPU cycles, having too many badly written low-level applications that hook into Windows, or running more than one antivirus application at a time. And of course, if you’ve run your PC’s hard drive out of space, you can hardly blame Windows for that.
If you aren’t getting the picture, the problem is usually the person behind the keyboard that installed too many junk applications in the first place.
Stop Installing Junk Applications
Installing software should be thought of like feeding your PC. If you constantly feed your PC garbage apps, it’s going to get sick and won’t be able to run fast anymore. These poorly written applications clutter your drive with unnecessary DLL files, add always-resident Windows services when they don’t need to, bloat up your registry, and add useless icons to your system tray that waste even more memory and CPU cycles. Usually you can get away with using a few terrible applications, but as you continue to install more and more of them, your PC will slow down to a crawl.
Be Smarter About What You Do Install
I would recommend a lot of software applications around here, but you should keep in mind that I m not trying to tell you to install every single one of them at the same time-just install the applications that you actually need and you’ll generally prevent the dreaded format and reinstall.
Few tips to help you know what applications you should be careful with:
• Apps that function as an Explorer plug-in, because they directly hook into the shell and any problem will make your entire PC slow or in the worst case, crash repeatedly.
• Antivirus applications are notorious for slowing your PC down, and you should never, ever, ever use more than one real-time antivirus application at a time. I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials as a free, fast, and awesome antivirus tool.
• Anything that says it will "Speed Up Your PC" or "Optimize Your RAM" will most likely slow it down, or best case, do nothing at all. Avoid these like the plague.
• Make sure to install official system drivers from the manufacturer website. Drivers have a huge impact on performance, and you want to have stable, updated drivers.
• Registry cleaners are a mixed bag, and really aren’t going to speed up your PC in most cases. The biggest problem, however, is that too many of the commercial registry cleaners set themselves to run at startup in the system tray, wasting your memory and CPU cycles.
• You should strongly consider the idea of using portable applications wherever possible, since their self-contained nature means they won’t clutter up the rest of your PC with things you don’t need.
Keep Your Computer Clean and Trim
Once you’ve rid yourself of your junk application habit and resolved to only use healthy, useful applications, you’ll want to make sure to keep your PC clean of any remaining clutter that doesn’t need to be there. You can set up a shortcut to manually run CCleaner silently with the push of a button, but your best bet is to set up CCleaner to run automatically on a schedule, so you don’t have to remember to do it.
Since CCleaner is only going to clean up temporary files, you’ll still need a good solution for keeping the rest of your PC clean-and Lifehacker’s own Belvedere can help you automate your self-cleaning PC or automatically clean up your download folder.
With all of this automated file deletion going on, your hard drive is likely to get a bit fragmented. If you’re already running Windows 7 or Vista, automatic defrag comes out of the box and probably shouldn’t be messed with, but Windows XP users will need to use Windows Tasks to setup a schedule and automatically defrag their drives.
Use a Virtual Machine or Sandbox to Test Software
If you still want to test out all of the latest software, including apps that look a bit rough around the edges, your best bet is to use a virtual machine to test out anything before putting it onto your primary operating system. You can install all of your software in an XP or Windows 7 VM just like it was a real PC, and with the latest VMWare player releases, you can even enable Windows Aero in a guest VM. If you are new to the idea and need some more help, you should check out our beginner’s guide to creating virtual machines in VirtualBox, or Windows 7 users can check out our guide to using XP Mode. If you don’t want to go the virtual machine route, Windows XP and Vista users can alternatively use Windows SteadyState to protect their PC and roll back all of the changes on a reboot.
You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time.
Answer all of them immediately. OK?
Let's find out just how clever you really are.
Ready? GO!!! (Scroll down)
First Question:
You are participating in a race.
You overtake the second person.
What position are you in?
Scroll down
Answer: If you answered that you are first,
you are absolutely wrong!
If you overtake the second person and you take his place,
you are second!
Try not to make a mistake in the next question.
To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you
took for the first question.
Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
Scroll down
Answer: If you answered that you are second to last,
you are wrong again.
Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?
You're not very good at this! Are you?
Third Question:
Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only.
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30.
Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10.
What is the total?
Scroll down for answer.
Did you get 5000?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
Don't believe it? Check with your calculator!
To understand why you added wrong, read this issue:
http://www.mountainwings.com/past/1025.htm
Maybe you will get the last question right?
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughters:
1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3.Nini, 4. Nono.
What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Scroll down
Answer: Nunu? NO! Of course not.
Her name is Mary. Read the question again.
Okay, now the bonus round:
There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush.
By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully
expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.
There is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses,
how should he express himself?
Scroll down
Answer: He just has to open his mouth and ask, so simple.
KEEP THIS GOING TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE!
Let's find out just how clever you really are.
Ready? GO!!! (Scroll down)
First Question:
You are participating in a race.
You overtake the second person.
What position are you in?
Scroll down
Answer: If you answered that you are first,
you are absolutely wrong!
If you overtake the second person and you take his place,
you are second!
Try not to make a mistake in the next question.
To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you
took for the first question.
Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?
Scroll down
Answer: If you answered that you are second to last,
you are wrong again.
Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?
You're not very good at this! Are you?
Third Question:
Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only.
Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30.
Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000. Now add 10.
What is the total?
Scroll down for answer.
Did you get 5000?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
Don't believe it? Check with your calculator!
To understand why you added wrong, read this issue:
http://www.mountainwings.com/past/1025.htm
Maybe you will get the last question right?
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughters:
1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3.Nini, 4. Nono.
What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Scroll down
Answer: Nunu? NO! Of course not.
Her name is Mary. Read the question again.
Okay, now the bonus round:
There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush.
By imitating the action of brushing one's teeth, he successfully
expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.
There is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of sunglasses,
how should he express himself?
Scroll down
Answer: He just has to open his mouth and ask, so simple.
KEEP THIS GOING TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE!
How to: Disable Windows Security Center Balloon Warning
Introduction
Do you ever get annoyed with the Windows Security Center Pop-Up telling you that you are not protected because you do not have any Anti-Virus Software, or Automatic Updates is turned off? Well so was I. That is why I searched the internet for the answer and I finally found it. In light of that here are detailed instructions on how to disable those Balloon hint tips from the Windows Security Center.
Removing Annoying Balloon Pop-Up
In order to remove the annoying balloon pop-up from windows security center we need to follow these steps exactly. Click on the Windows Start button. Next click on either Programs or All Programs and from there click on Accessories and than to System Tools. Click on Security Center which should pull up the Windows Security Center window which shows the Anti-Virus, Windows Update and Windows Firewall.
Look to the left hand side, you will see a Resources pane. Once you find the Resource pane in the Windows Security Center window click on the "Change the way Security Center alerts me." A Window will appear with multiple check boxes which allow you to choose what you want to be alerted on. My personal setting is un-checking all, Windows Firewall, Anti-Virus and Windows Update. If you leave any of these boxes checked Windows Security Center will alert you if you disable that item. For example, if I do not un-check Windows Firewall, and I find out that my Router has a built in firewall that works 100times better than Windows Firewall ever will and I decide that I do not need that on, the second I turn off Windows Firewall a red security shield will come up on my taskbar displaying a balloon hint that states something like I am un-protected and click here to protect yourself.
Following those simple steps you can choose what to be notified on and what not to be notified on.
Ending Notes
I hate Windows telling me what to do. I am glad Windows Security Center has the option to disable these alerts, as the Security Center alerts annoy me. Whether you want to choose to have it alert you for one item instead of 3 this tutorial should help you accomplish your goal of being less annoying by Windows Security Center.
Do you ever get annoyed with the Windows Security Center Pop-Up telling you that you are not protected because you do not have any Anti-Virus Software, or Automatic Updates is turned off? Well so was I. That is why I searched the internet for the answer and I finally found it. In light of that here are detailed instructions on how to disable those Balloon hint tips from the Windows Security Center.
Removing Annoying Balloon Pop-Up
In order to remove the annoying balloon pop-up from windows security center we need to follow these steps exactly. Click on the Windows Start button. Next click on either Programs or All Programs and from there click on Accessories and than to System Tools. Click on Security Center which should pull up the Windows Security Center window which shows the Anti-Virus, Windows Update and Windows Firewall.
Look to the left hand side, you will see a Resources pane. Once you find the Resource pane in the Windows Security Center window click on the "Change the way Security Center alerts me." A Window will appear with multiple check boxes which allow you to choose what you want to be alerted on. My personal setting is un-checking all, Windows Firewall, Anti-Virus and Windows Update. If you leave any of these boxes checked Windows Security Center will alert you if you disable that item. For example, if I do not un-check Windows Firewall, and I find out that my Router has a built in firewall that works 100times better than Windows Firewall ever will and I decide that I do not need that on, the second I turn off Windows Firewall a red security shield will come up on my taskbar displaying a balloon hint that states something like I am un-protected and click here to protect yourself.
Following those simple steps you can choose what to be notified on and what not to be notified on.
Ending Notes
I hate Windows telling me what to do. I am glad Windows Security Center has the option to disable these alerts, as the Security Center alerts annoy me. Whether you want to choose to have it alert you for one item instead of 3 this tutorial should help you accomplish your goal of being less annoying by Windows Security Center.
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