Windows 7 OS is scheduled to be available to the public market in just over a month. There are many doubts and apprehensions about the capability of this OS as its earlier version Vista is a failure. It seems Microsoft has given enough weight this time to what the Windows users really wanted – a simpler and friendly OS. Windows 7 has some novel features while improving the older ones. Moreover, some flop features in Vista are removed from Windows 7 to improve the performance.

There are some advantages along with disadvantages of opting to Windows 7. The following information may help you in deciding whether you really need to upgrade to Windows 7-

Reasons to switch to Windows 7

1. Application compatibility can be achieved by “Windows XP mode” by running virtual windows XP machine.
2. Windows live essentials: It is a free software that make possible to do more things like instant messaging, e-mail, photo editing, and blogging.
3. Improved search operation performance, as results will come instantly as categorized in groups. Moreover, key words are highlighted enabling easy file identification.
4. Supports 64-bit PC that can handle huge amounts of information than a 32-bit system.
5. Power management can be efficiently done by new features such as, running less number of background activities, automatic screen dimming, unused ports are not run and life indicator to battery.
6. Multi touch technology allows to use more than one finger while operating the touch screen either at application level or system level.
7. Protect files with features such as “Use Bit Locker” and “Bit Locker To Go”
8. Continuous access to corporate resources with a broadband connection. No need to get a VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection.
9. The feature “Domain Join” allows to connect multiple PCs, with or without a server.
10. Supports 35 languages. So, you can easily switch among them by logging off, again logging on. Moreover, it supports handwriting recognition.
11. System startup, shutdown and resumes are faster.
12. Appearance of the desktop has improved by including fresh wallpapers, retooled task bar and improved gadgets
13. Easy data sharing between two or more PCs by using “Share with” option.
14. Windows 7 can read larger than 131 GB hard drive (unfragmented).
15. Upgrading Vista to Windows7 will get 223% better performance while running IE8.
16. In Action Center you can find information you need regarding system maintenance, trouble shooting, security issues etc.

Reasons to avoid Windows7

1. Older PCs doesn’t have hardware compatibility to achieve ‘Windows XP mode’.
2. Windows7 provides less battery life to the notebooks than Windows XP.
3. Need to do clean install if you want to upgrade from XP to Windows7.
4. If you’re an XP user you need to learn a new user interface.
5. Runs the browser 11.5% slower than Windows XP.
6. Requires high configuration like Vista.
7. Very expensive to buy.

Comparison of System Requirements:

These descriptions and features will help you in learning ins and outs of Windows 7. Windows 7 has fixes to the drawbacks in Vista and it is desirable to move to the new OS. For the XP users, you may need to think twice before moving to Windows 7. Ultimately it is you to decide based on your computer usage and requirements.

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The criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication is known as Phishing.

Types of Phishing

Phishing is usually carried out by email or instant messaging and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website, which is similar to the legitimate one. Since the fake website is similar to the original one, it requires tremendous skill to determine whether a website is fake or not.

1. Misspelled URLs: Phishers use some sort of deceptive techniques, which design a link in an e-mail (and the spoofed website it leads to) apparently belong to the spoofed organization by using misspelled URLs or of sub-domains. Sometimes the phishers make the anchor text for a link appear to be valid, whereas the link actually goes to the phishers site.
2. Whaling: Phishing attacks directed specifically at senior executives and other high profile targets within businesses is known as Whaling.
3. Image Phishing: Phishers have also used images instead of text to make it difficult for anti phishing filters.
4. Cross site scripting: An attacker can even exploit flaws in the original website’s script against the victim making it even more difficult to detect since everything from the web address to the security certificates seem to be original. This technique is known as cross site scripting.
5. Phone Phishing is the case where in a customer gets a call asking him to call back to discuss his problems while accessing his bank accounts. The person then is trapped into giving his sensitive information such as credit card information and the like.

Measures to counter phishing

People need to change their browsing habits when it comes to phishing. For example, when asked to reveal their sensitive information they should directly contact the company to make sure the mail is genuine and shouldn’t fall prey to mails that address them as “Dear Customer”. Paypal, for instance makes it a point to address the users by their usernames.

One of the major flaws of the user is the Click-through syndrome where he treats any pop-ups as a case of misconfiguration and proceeds with his work without heeding to the warning of the computer.

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Unified communications

McAfee says that searching for Yuvraj and Aishwarya in the cyberspace can damage one’s PC. The research from McAfee on India’s glamorous celebrities from the world of cinema, cricket and politics to reveal the most risky celebrities on the web, has rated Yuvraj and Aishwarya on top.

Fans searching for ‘Yuvaraj Singh wallpapers’, ‘Yuvraj Singh downloads’, ‘Yuvraj Singh photos’, or ‘Aishwarya Rai wallpapers’, ‘Aishwarya Rai videos’, and ‘Aishwariya Rai screen savers’ have a one in five chance of landing at a website that’s tested positive for online threats, such as spyware, adware, spam, phishing, viruses and other malware.

Spammers and malware authors are cashing on the search terms for latest celebrity news and download to lure people to open their malicious websites.

The other celebrities in the list are M. S. Dhoni, Namitha, Shriya Saran, Harbhajan Singh, Sania Mirza, Asin, Bipasha Basu and Shahid Kapoor.