Many of us have been using the art program of Microsoft i.e. Paint for creating images and painting them with the help of a mouse. The program has been used by beginners as well as experienced. The easy to use program offers you to select from a wide variety of colors, select images, make changes in the size of images, crop them, use spray paint, pencils, erasers, make shapes, make changes in existing photos and many more exciting things. It has been used by artists to create high quality designs using the tools available. As Microsoft has launched its new version of Operating System i.e. Windows 7 in the market, comparisons have started to pop out.
Paint has been included in almost every Microsoft operating system. Microsoft has revamped Ms Paint in new Windows 7 by making it undergo a major facelift. Rather than being hidden in the menu, all of the tools are neatly placed at the upper part of the window. Microsoft has extended its ribbon interface form Office 2007 to new Windows 7 Paint. All the grouped controls are positioned on the header rather than being positioned on the left side. Although, this version uses the PNG file format by default for saving pictures, users can save their images as bitmap files, as well as GIF, PNG, TIFF, and JPEG. Transparency and artistic brushes are helpful in bestowing a truly realistic result. The brushes can only paint for a short span of time and after that user will have to re-click. The idea is to give a feel that the brush has run out of paint. Anti-aliased shapes provided can be resized freely.

Apart from ribbon interface, the following new changes have been introduced by Microsoft in Paint of Windows 7:

Brush stroke types now have better and exciting choices More shape selections are now added The image menu had been restructured to manage functions like image selection, cropping, resizing and rotation Canvas size is 800*400 pixels by default, which can be changed using property menu. Now rulers and gridlines can be used to assist you in drawing Although many changes have been made but there are certain things that have been kept intact by Microsoft; for instance the colors palette is absolutely unaffected.

The following options are available in the tool box:
* Free-Form Select
* Select
* Eraser/Color Eraser
* Fill With Color
* Pick Color
* Magnifier
* Pencil
* Brush
* Airbrush
* Text * Line * Curve
* Rectangle * Polygon * Ellipse
* Rounded Rectangle

Hence, overall if we see ribbon interface is a major new improvement being made in Windows 7 Paint. Besides better appearance, it provides better usability too. People using older versions of MS Paint will not find it difficult to adjust to the new Windows 7 version.

Certainly even the new version of Ms Paint is aimed to fulfill basic painting needs, the improvements to the interface is a clear enhancement from the older Vista and XP versions to provide better user experience.

In the absence of this feature you also face threat from drives such as USB and external storage drives.
When you use this tool to encrypt the system drive in Windows 7, a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 1.2 can be used by BitLocket to validate that the boot components, such as BIOS, the hardware profile, and the operating system that has not been modified from the configuration that was present when the drive was unlocked. A TPM is used to store keys, passwords, and digital certificates. You can find this chip on motherboard of a computer.

BITLOCKER1If not present on the system, the operating system drive may be encrypted by using an encryption key that is stored on removable media, which must be present every time the drive is unlocked. Besides TPM additional authentication methods for example personal authentication number (PIN) and the presence of an external startup key can be required to provide multi factor authentication before unlocking the operating system drive.

BitLocker protection can be used for fixed or removable storage drives. A fixed drive is a device that is permanently fixed and cannot remove frequently from the computer. There are data drives SCSI and ATA are example of fixed storage device. Removable data drives can be removed without shutting down the computer. USB drives and memory cards are examples of removable data drives. BitLocket uses encryption keys that are derived from the operating environment. These keys can be a password or smart card.

You should use this tool very carefully and with proper instructions. If an unlock method fails, such as if the TPM detects a change in boot components or a password is forgotten, you will need to use a recovery method to access your data.

Before starting the recovery process, you must determine that the drive was not tampered with and isolate the computer from the network until any risk presented by the system is determined. If the recovered drive is an operating system drive, the user must suspend and resume BitLocker protection in windows 7 setup to update the BitLocker profile with the changed configuration. If the OS drive boot components were changed and the computer has a TPM, the TPM should be reset by using the TPM Management snap-in. If the recovered drive was a data drive, you can use the Manage BitLocker option in the BitLocker Control Panel item to reset the unlock method.

Find it easier to log on to the computer using fingerprint biometric devices with new Windows 7.

Growing number of computers include embedded fingerprint readers which results in the authentication of user. Software needs to be provided by the manufacturer so that biometric devices can be supported. This results in the difficulty for the user to manage the use of the devices.

Windows 7 offers more consistent user experience. Its advanced features allow the user to launch fingerprint application. It offers the following:

1. Availability of biometric devices in windows 7 can be controlled by the user.

2. For biometric devices, Device Manager tool supports managing drivers.

3. To configure the use of the biometric data to log on to a local computer Credential provider support is made available.

4. You can easily update with Windows update as Biometric device driver software are available

As Windows 7 has been officially launched by Microsoft, users are in dilemma regarding various issues related to the Operating System. Windows XP users do not know whether they can upgrade to Windows 7 directly or they only have the option of clean installation. Users running Windows 32 bit Vista wants know whether they can upgrade to Windows 64 bit or they will have to install Windows 7, 32 bit version only. There are many confusions pertaining to the new Operating System installation. But, there is nothing to worry. Both clean and in-place installations are quick and easy.
Before thinking of any kind of upgrade, check whether you system meets the minimum requirements for the new OS, windows 7 installation:
* 1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
* 512 MB of system memory
* 20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
* Support for DirectX 9 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memory
* DVD-ROM drive * Audio Output

It is true that people running Windows XP on their computer have no choice other than 'clean install". While upgrading through this process, a certain things like taking proper backup should be kept in mind. Once you have taken back up of all the existing data, applications and everything; you can boot to Windows 7 installation disc. Select "Custom Installation" and re create primary drive partitions. It may take anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on your system configuration. Now, re-configure the Operating System and restore backup.

Some of the system requirements as suggested by Microsoft are as follows: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit) DVD Drive to install from DVD 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit) DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

If your system fulfills all the above requirements, you can go for Windows 7 anytime you wish. But, there are some additional requirements to use certain features. For instance, a USB flash drive is required to use BitLocker to go. Or, if you want to run Windows XP Mode, it requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V enabled.

People who have hardware that supports 64 bit Windows can easily upgrade from Vista to Windows 7, 64 bit version through in-place upgrade. All the applications, programs, settings, and files will be available as it is. But, in case you have a 32 bit version of Windows Vista running on your system, you will only be able to do in-place installation for 32-bit version of Windows 7. And, if you want to upgrade 32 bit Vista to 64 bit Windows 7, again you will have to opt for clean windows 7 installation. 64 bit version of any operating system can manage much more information at a time than a 32 bit version.

The install process for Windows 7 is absolutely simple and pain-free, particularly if you have strong hardware configuration.

Office space consolidation is a great idea, regardless of the economy. When dealing with subleasing or selling the space, however, there are a few issues you should take into consideration regarding the physical and logical segregation of your IT infrastructure.
Regarding your business, consider the following: Have you conducted an IT assets audit? A network security audit? We recommend performing an IT assets/network security audit annually and whenever major changes occur--office moves, consolidations, prior to switching accounting systems, after mass layoffs, et cetera.

Other points for consideration:
* When you move your employees/staff, are you organizing them by current lines of business or future growth strategies? Make sure to leave room for staff growth, as the last thing you'd want to do is constrain your business expansion plans.

* An office consolidation is a disruption in your business processes. Are you poised to take advantage of it? This is a great opportunity to re-evaluate your technology needs and increase productivity. For instance, if your PCs are three to five years old, this is a great time to look at upgrading or replacing older, slower systems. And if your staffs have become more mobile, you may be better off switching over to laptops. Also, if you have legacy servers in your wiring closet or IT room, have you considered consolidating them into smaller, faster servers? Server virtualization is a great way to combine several separate systems into one or two physical systems.

When it comes to subleasing, consider the following:
* Is your wiring plant (the network and telephone cables that run throughout your space and converge into the telephone closet or IT room) set up such that you can physically isolate and segregate the network and telecommunications jacks in the sublease space into their own switches?

* What about Internet access for the subtenants? Will they share yours, or can you segregate them and put them on their own DSL or cable modem circuit?
* Does your telephone system allow you to bill separately for the phones in the sublease space? Or will you charge the tenants a flat rate?
* Will the subtenants be allowed off-hours access to the space? What about access to the IT closet?
* Will the tenants have access to your printers or faxes? We find that Sharing high-end color printers, scanners, plotters, et cetera can be a real Challenge, especially if these resources are set up in the default "we Trust all network traffic modes".
* Does your office have wifi (wireless Internet) access? If so, have you locked it down and secured it? Does it allow unfettered access to your network assets or is the wireless traffic shunted to an untrusted zone?
* Will you allow your subtenants access to your wireless network? Allow them to set up their own?

Finally, if you are selling off space, consider the following issues:
* When selling off space, you must absolutely ensure that the network and telecom wiring is segregated off your network.
* If you can partition or physically isolate your IT closet, great. If not, you may have to get those cables re-run into a new IT closet/IT space.
* For a whole host of security, reliability and compliance reasons, you must ensure that no one in the sold-off space can access your network and telephone systems. You cannot control what the buyers will do in their space, so you must ensure that your wired and wireless networks, servers and desktops are safe and secure.

Overall, to maximize ROI, when performing changes to your IT infrastructure, pay attention to the operating expenses, not just capital expenditures. Over time, reasonable investments in capex can lead to significant decreases in opex.



About the Author
As tech crisis management experts, Brainlink understand the word "fast." Speed is critical in a crisis and we move quickly - with well thought out actions

10 Common Mistakes people make with Email
1. Using ALL CAPS in emails.

2. Don't put a useful signature in email. e.g., name, job title, phone #, etc.

3. Use overly lengthy disclaimers

4. Ridiculous out-of-office messages.

5. Advertise your cell provider or email provider "This message sent from my Verizon Wireless Blackberry" or "You can watch movies at Yahoo.com"

6. Use lengthy CC lists instead of BCC.

7. Forget that anything sent over email can never, ever, be truly deleted. - Morgan Stanley emails, etc.

8. Use Gmail - ECPA provisions, David Airey domain hijack, and Gmail contacts XSS hack.

9. Rely solely on online tools. It was just a few years ago when some woman who ran some sort of sewing club had her e-mail account killed by one of the big e-mail companies, such as Hotmail or Yahoo!. She sent something to the site's club via a mailing list, and, apparently, the service identified her as a spammer. Her lament was that her e-mail address was no longer valid, and it was the only address that all the club members knew. There was no mechanism for recourse, and she could not contact anyone because she kept the mailing list on the hosting site.

10. Use Yahoo, Aol or Hotmail addresses - especially ones that don't establish a relationship between the person and the address.

Tips & tragedies of eNetworking

What is eNetworking?

Using websites or emails to network with people - e.g. Fredslist, Yahoo Groups, LinkedIn, MySpace, Facebook, etc.

What's great about them?

A) Allow you to meet people across a wide geography. Good sites also let you create relationships using primary and secondary contacts.

B) It's easy to email 10,20,3000 people in a day. Not so easy to meet them all in person.

C) They are self-recording and form a perpetual memory bank. Once you create a relationship or join a group, it's there for your review and use. Dropping or or getting kicked out requires significant effort. What's bad about eNetworking?

A) Makes people lazy. Most people transfer what works for them in face-to-face meetings or their office to the ecommunity. That does not usually work - the etiquette, needs and desires are different.

B) Easy to become a lurker - someone who reads, scans or browses, but never really participates. Networking is NOT a spectator sport!

C) Kids today have no idea how badly they could be screwing up their lives because digital memory is indelible - - Harvard student denied job interview due to facebook posting, - intern busted for going to Halloween party, when he called in sick, due to MySpace/facebook pictures, - MySpace slut trolling, - LI Perfume couple jailed for keeping servants as slaves - daughter's facebook pages reveal their lifestyle

Why is this bad? Kids today WILL be your employees and networking resources tomorrow.

D) The internet never forgets - that angry/dump response, the crude efforts at humor, the accidentally CC'd personal email will stay around forever. See "Googling your privacy away"



About the Author
Buggy hardware and software, Compliance issues, Changing privacy policies, Confusing licensing options, Cost overruns. These problems happen despite high levels of investment in technology. Brainlink will help to solve these problem.

Online scam and thefts increase day by day. These thieves roams near to you but invisible, infact you can not see them but you realize their presence once you get kicked with money lose. Online ecommerce is riding with extreme speed as people want to get all things sitting on (Bull) seat. However internet changed the world and commerce definition is changed to E-commerce- Easy shopping and Easy payment. You would be happy as you having an e-commerce website or want to start in feature. Before you step up you should check follow with your website.
Why only few customers use my website out of thousands? Buyer always check online store (E-commerce) prior to payment process. It is great that you offer good price and good service, but what if your website is not secured for safe payment process. As a new ecommerce businessman or non technical person or as an online buyer you should check this 'Is this website secured for safe payment process?' Well first I will let you know hacker safe website always starts with HTTPS://. Website only using HTTP:// is not a secure website as it does not support data security.

How to seller achieve SSL certificate for website?

SSL certificates are used to provide data security over online website. SSL certificates are kind of security certificate and issued by third party (CA-Certificate Authority). Website owner has to apply for website security SSL certificate for along with business and website ownership identity. CA follows domain and business verification process and only issue SSL for genuine request. If seller failed to verify then CA will not issue SSL certificate. Somehow we always used to trust third party verification. There are many CAs like VeriSign, GeoTrust, COMODO, Thawte, RapidSSL, GlobalSign, etc. All this CAs now offering their reseller to sell SSL certificates direct to customers. Resellers are only used to sell SSL certificates the verification and SSL issuance process will be handled by CA it self. So it is safe buying SSL from resellers.

How SSL secures online data?

SSL certificate is developed on basis of data encryption and decryption technology. SSL certificates are used to support 128 to 256 bit encryption and decryption. Seller has to install SSL certificate on his website where is host the website. Once the website is successfully installed with SSL then SSL security site seal should be enabled on home page of website. Now anyone browse website from any PC anywhere in the world, enters CC or personal information. These all content will be encrypted before it travel from PC to Server. So data is secured on road. No one can decrypt and read this data. Only seller website server can encrypt and read this. This is type of End to End strong security.

Running a SSL secured ecommerce website will increase your customer trust and this trust will lead you to more business. I believe is as a buyer or seller always use only SSL certificate secured website. Thus you will never get abused with private data stealing or money loses.

The three biggest threats to modern businesses are hackers, employees, and regulators.
Hackers:

Today's hackers aren't just a couple of kids who live at home and have too much time on their hands. They're hardened criminals, living all over the world, and they're in it for the money. They'll use sophisticated, automated tools to try to infect your computer with spyware, viruses, Trojans and other so-called malware. Their purpose? To take over your computer and steal your identity. To use your PC to infect other machines and send out SPAM; to collect your IDs, your passwords, and the details of your bank account..To take anything and everything of value that's currently stored on your computer-or in your internet browser.

Employees:

Hopefully, we've all got employees who are both competent and trustworthy. So what's the problem? Carelessness, inattention, or even simply ignorance about how they should protect themselves. Common risks include:

* Employees who engage in peer-to-peer file sharing

* Employees whose laptops or home computers, which contain valuable customer data, are stolen

* Employees who lose backup tapes, CDs or DVDs

* Companies who lack a proper IT staff due to budget cuts or other reasons, and whose computer networks are haphazardly serviced by an assortment of consultants, nephews, and friends

Regulators:

Information security is important, and that's exactly why state and federal lawmakers are growing more concerned about it. But navigating the complex body of rules and regulations they've set forth is no easy task. Will your own networks hold up under scrutiny?

* HIPAA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and PCI/CISP Credit Card Security Compliance laws & rules affect almost all small businesses.

* 21 states have now passed data breach or Personal Information Privacy Act (PIPA) laws .

* The IRS and the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets are thinking about applying the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to non-profits.

* Federal Data Breach laws that would protect Social Security Numbers, Driver License Numbers, and Credit/Debit/Checking account numbers are being discussed in the U.S. Congress. Sound scary? Unless your business is adequately protected and prepared, it can be.

Brainlink's expert IT security team can evaluate your networks and make sure the right defences are in place. We'll spot the problems. We'll fix the mess. We'll do it quickly and effectively, and we'll even help you save money in the process.



About the Author
Brainlink a deep understanding of the technological, financial, regulatory, licensing, and legal challenges of today's workplace. Our experience allows us to identify root causes of problems and develop plans to fix them. We manage all aspects of the solution including hardware, software, networks, e-commerce, and database management.