Check your power cord

CEBU, Philippines - How many times have we ignored people telling us that something bad is going to happen which eventually really happened?  Many times, I guess.  Don’t take the elevator because there’s a knocking sound on one of the iron walls when it moves up or down.  You did not listen to the lowly janitor because you think you’re far above him in many ways.  Lights go out and the elevator stops.  Now what will you do?  Scream?  Who do you wanna call?  Ghostbusters? If you have a phobia of the dark or small places, well you better find your way out as fast as you can before you die thinking you’re going to die soon. 

Your mechanic tells you to leave your car in the shop because there’s gasoline dripping from the fuel pump.  You never listen.  Few kilometers of driving, the scent of gasoline fills up the entire car.  But before you can even recognize the smell, you hear a very loud explosive sound from out of nowhere.  Boom!  That’s the last sound you will ever hear.  Adios! 

Your friend tells you not to take your motorcycle yet on the road because the wind outside is so strong.  You brag you’re once a habal-habaldriver during your teenage years which means the “no fear” attitude has never left you.  Sprocket turns and off you so on your way home.  On the highway, the wind which you ignored a few kilometers ago hits you on the right side.  You are literally swept off the road, farther to your left, like a golf ball and you land under the rotating transmission of a counter-flowing 10-wheeler truck.  Krruuukk!  Everything in you is flattened on the asphalt.  Godspeed, amigo!

Don’t ever say nobody told you because somebody did.  Hence, you can never call it accident.  Accidents are called accidents because nobody knew they would happen.  There’s a wide river that runs between an accident and an act of stupidity.  Stupidity is moving on even if you knew there’s still time to turn your back against an imminent danger.  Ever saw the movie Perfect Storm?  There was still plenty of time to turn yet they throttled fully ahead to a perfect disaster.  Then people start to say it’s better that way because drowning is the most peaceful way to die.  You won’t feel any pain as you slowly rage into that gentle goodnight.  Non-sense!  Why die peacefully when you can still bail out peacefully? 

Do not confuse stupidity with faith, like many people.  With stupidity, you still have plenty of choices available for you.  While in faith, you are left with only one way to go—leave everything to the Almighty.  Hence, you can never say “only God knows” or “God willing” when you are fully aware in advance that something bad is going to happen to you.  You can never say: well, life is just a matter of time.  Don’t blame time, God, or anybody else.  If there’s one person responsible for your demise— well clearly, that’s you.  It’s because you failed to listen.  Ponder on this: most of the things that we call accidents are not really accidents at all but sheer stupidity.  If you really want a word that’s close to stupidity, try carelessness or absent-mindedness.

Here is something very important that I want to tell you.  Between your computer’s CPU and the outlet, there’s a power cord, right? (Unless your 220 volts can be tapped via wi-fi or Bluetooth).  Although that is not impossible, I am sure you still use this flexible insulated electrical cable to power up your system.  If you think yours is already old, replace it.  If you think it’s insulated poorly or made of low quality material, buy the branded one or the more expensive type.  Most days, we tend to leave our computers on while we do other things, unmindful that the strands of wire inside the rubber insulation heat up.  When the insulation is beyond its thermal tear and wear limit, a smell of burnt rubber starts to be noticed.  Then, smoke starts to appear above the burning cord.  Flames go up from the overheated wires.  In a split second, papers on the table start to burn too.  Your room is on fire, then your house is on fire.  The entire neighborhood is on fire.  And if you are sleeping while this happens, prepare to be barbecued alive.

If you think I’m talking non-sense, go to the archives of the nearby fire department.  You will find out that the very common causes of fire outbreak are the following household items or appliances: plugged electric iron, plugged tv, plugged rice cooker, plugged water dispenser, plugged electric fans, and lastly plugged computer.  What do you think all these items have in common?  A power cord!

Digital threats

Gone are the days when viruses were the only things which netizens had to be wary of when surfing the net.

Today, nasty malware bits like ransomware and malicious scam-tactics like clickjacking and phishing stand to be among the bigger online dangers surfers should avoid and watch out for.

Here is a quick take on what these online threats are about, and what one can do in keeping their stings at bay.

Ransomware

As a type of malware, ransomware takes an active stance in hijacking computers, holding them hostage.

Typically posing as electronic warnings issued by officially sanctioned agencies, most ransomware bits “inform” computer users that “illegal activities” had been “traced” to their system(s), demanding payment (“fines” if you will), before they can continue using their rigs.

With convincing graphics and legalese, many have fallen victim to ransomware shams, with ransomware cases overseas reported to have been up and about since 2010.

Generally, ransomware infects computers the way most viruses and malware bits do, and can be filtered by a number of anti-virus suites like Avast!, McAfee, and Symantec.

Still, even with antivirus software installed, staying clear from questionable websites is the best “pinch of prevention” against ransomware’s woes.

Clickjacking

As its name would imply, clickjacking is all about fake buttons, luring surfers into clicking them.

In most clickjacking cases, “Next”, “Back”, “Play” or “Home” buttons on a webpage are masked, masquerading as standard buttons but are actually hidden commands that run scripts in the background when activated.

Most clickjacking scenarios involve page links to videos, as well as fake “Like” buttons embedded on fake webpages. Background clickjacked activities would range from disabling a computer’s default security protocols to bidding or buying stuff on online shopping portals like eBay.

While current generation browsers are designed with built-in detection systems for questionable buttons and codes, clickjacking proponents are always keen on staying a step ahead of browser and security system developers.

Regularly updating one’s browser and antivirus software, steering clear from questionable websites, and being wary of questionable webpage buttons are the best safeguards against clickjacking-borne scenarios.

Phishing

The scam in phishing essentially revolves around tactics that are geared towards stealing personal information.

From username-password combinations to online bank account details, the goal of phishing proponents is to get whatever personal information they can, regardless of how pertinent or trivial such information may be.

Typically, phishing takes shape in unsolicited emails, posing as announcements from the bank, solicitation letters from various charities, or “winning lottery” announcements.

Elaborate phishing tactics are noted to go as far as highlighting links to fake webpages in emails, links to mock pages which are explicitly made to fool netizens into voluntarily giving out any form of personal identification or information.

Though there are a number of active electronic safeguards against phishing practices, presence of mind when it comes to giving out personal information is the best defense against the scam.

Cases of identity theft are known to have been borne from phishing practices, mostly involving credit card holders and online shopping bills. —  Yasunari Ramon Suarez Taguchi

The New PlayStation 4

Featuring a PC-based processor, enhanced graphics rendering capabilities, the capacity to play while downloading games, and highlighting the new DualShock 4 controller, the PlayStation 4 was finally announced last February 20, in a New York-based event organized by Sony.

Slated to be available in retail markets by the last quarter of 2013, the new PlayStation is described to be a "supercharged PC", with its featured specs defining it as a multi-functional recreational device that easily fits with the everyday flow of its users' day-to-day activities.

Here's a quick look at the featured highlights of the new PS4.

Specifications - Built on x86 CPU standards, the new PS4 is designed with 8 gigs of RAM, backed by the presence of a performance enhanced PC-based graphics processing unit.

To come with its own local storage drive, the console is also noted to come with a secondary chip, one that is designed to efficiently handle downloading processes and tasks, allowing other essential hardware resources to focus on processing game-related content.

Functional Features - With an always-on hardware system that is aimed towards video compression and decompression, PS4 users can easily record videos and play games at the same time, without encountering any gameplay and/or video recording snags.

This video recording feature essentially arms PS4 users with the capacity to pause an ongoing game, pick out a recorded video snippet, then share the clip on social networks.

The console is also geared towards "learning" its user's gaming preferences, with an intuitive system that catalogs game titles and genres which its users are most likely inclined to enjoy.

The new DualShock 4 Controller - While the new DualShock 4 bears the distinct wireless form and functions of older PlayStation controllers, its more notable features takes shape in a new "share button", along with the inclusion of a new touch input-based interface.

Described to be a significant controller upgrade with touch, the new DualShock 4 raises the bar in where interactions with games are concerned. (YRST)

Brother: Reprinting the Rules with the new J2510 InkBenefit Multi-Function Center

As it continues to stand by its customer-first approach in offering innovative home and business IT solutions, Brother International Philippines celebrated the launch of its newest multi-function inkjet printer in Cebu last February 12 - the MFC-J2510 InkBenefit.

Packed with innovative functions and features, the newest member of Brother's Multi-Function Center series sports a sleek, compact form, boasting a page-per-minute rate of up to 20 monochrome pages/18 colored pages.

Capable of printing A3 (16.5 x 11.7 inches) size documents, the new MFC-J2510 also comes with support for two-sided document printing, and also highlights support for wireless printer-to-mobile device connections.

With a larger-sized print head, the MFC-J2510 implements a landscape-oriented printing setup (as opposed to the portrait-oriented standard), a new page feeding and printing standard that yields to faster print times and better ink consumption rates.

Essentially a printer, scanner, fax machine and copier combined in one device, the MFC-J2510 also comes with support for direct from storage media printing, just as it also comes with support for cloud storage-based printing tasks.

With the MFC-J2510's cartridges available in high yield and super high yield variants, users of the new MFC-J2510 will find a lot to love about the options and availability of the MFC-J2510's cartridges.

Also designed with Brother's new "Low Energy Standby" power saving technology, the MFC-J2510 certainly lives up to Brother's goal in reprinting the rules and conventions of printing design and technology, what with the MFC-J2510's featured highlights and capabilities as a truly impressive multi-function device.

For more information on Brother and the new MFC-J2510, visit www.brother.com — (YRST) (FREEMAN)