Today is the era of technology. People use computer and technology everywhere at anytime. Indeed, it is easy to see th is the era of technology. Technology has made lives easier; however, it also has problems. Computer crimes such as privacy violation came out as technology grows. Malwares such as virus, worms… becamse a concern in the society today. Among those is rootkit, one of the most dangerous malware. Let’s discover more about rootkit.
First of all, what is a rootkit? According to the Shelly’s book Discovering Computers and Microsoft Office 207, a rootkit is “a program that hides in a computer and allows someone from a remote location to take full control of the computer” (Shelly 184). In fact, the term “rootkit” came from UNIX system. The term is divided into 2 parts: “root” and “kit.” Like physical roots of a tree, “root” here is implied administrator privileges of operating systems. The “kit” means the programs enters an operating system made up of more tools.[1] In short, rootkit is like a virus will manipulate other users’ computer by attacking the deepest level of operating system and then gain control of it.
Rootkit first came in early 1990s. According to Patrick Dickey, the first person use rootkit is rumored to be Lance Davis and Steve Duke. They are believed to be the first persons using rootkit when inserting a rootkit into a Sun Microsystems version of SunOS.2
Today, there are many types of rootkit available. The newest rootkit is Mebromi, “a new rootkit that targets computers’ BIOS making the infection harder to detect and eradicate, and persist even if the hard drive is physically replaced.” 3
So, how to prevent computers from being affected by root kits? To answer the question, it need to know how rootkit get into computers. The typical way root kits enter computers is through its physical installation on a computer “after first obtaining user-level access, either by exploiting a known vulnerability or cracking a password.”4 As the result, the best way to protect your computers from rootkit is to make sure unauthorized users could not gain the access to your computers. To do so, you need to have strong password and make sure they can not use your computers when it is already logged on.
Even though you try your best to prevent your computers from rootkit; there is chances that some root kits may already get into your computers without your consent. So, you should detect to find and remove rootkit if available. There are many types of rootkit detectors available such as Sysinternals, Tripwire, RKHunter, and Chkrootkit. In fact, even though you use one of those software to detect and remove root kits, “the only sure way to get rid if it is to completely erase the computer’s hard drive and reinstall the operating system.”3
It is interesting to know that one of the most famous technology companies even attach root kits to their products and sell to customers, gaining controls of customers’ computers. It is the case of Sony. Recently, Sony has been sued by many states including Texas and California for its copy-protection technology. According to the article “Sony Sued for Rootkit Copy Protection” by Gregg Keizer, Attorney Alan of California filed a class-action lawsuit against Sony BMG Music Entertainment, claming that the company has violated “anti-fraud statues and a third that forbids anyone placing spyware on a computer.”5
What a week for us! After the wonderful start with all victories in Premiership, we got the 1st draw against Stoke City last Saturday and today is another draw against Basel in Champion League. However, I still confident about the team's campaign so far. We still on the first place of the Premiership table with the same points with Manchester City. In champion league, even though we only have 2 points after 2 games, it's still not so bad because all the 3 teams are not very strong. We still have a big chance to win to table round with the 1st place. Let's watch match highlights of the last 2 games:
Anyone used to hear the saying: “No risk no reward.” Indeed, risk and return are always linked together. In finance, an investments with high risk always implies high reward. So what is the relationship between risk and reward.
According to the text book Fundamental of Financial Management by Brigham, the formula for quoted interest rate is as follow:
Quoted Interest Rate = r = r* + IP + DRP + LP + MRP
Where:
r*: the real risk-free of interest.
IP: inflation premium which is the premium to take risk of inflation.
DRP: default risk, the premium for taking risk of default which occurs when debtors or companies invested could not pay money back to investors.
LP: liquidty premium, the premium for taking the risk of liquidity which is the ability of converting securities to money.
MRP: maturity risk premium which is the premium paying for risk of maturity.
After all, this is the basic formula for investors to estimate normal interest rate or normal return for investments. They will base on economic and financial conditions to estimate r*, IP, DRP, LP, and MRP in order to have an expected normal return.
Reference:
Eugene F. Brigham. Fundamental of Financial Management. 2009. South Western Centrage Learning. Page 168-169.
I did not have my first computer till I was in high school. I still remembered the first day I had my own personal computer (a Compaq laptop); I stared at the laptop with all my excitement of the new technology that would bring me to the world and spent my whole day with it. Indeed, computers played in impact on my life since after I started using it because I could discover many things about the world from Internet. Through youtube, online news…I am connect to the wide world. In fact, I could not remember the model or the version of Windows of my first laptop; however, I am using Sony laptop which uses Windows 7 Home Premium. At first, I did not even now what Windows operating system is or why it is important. Fortunately, I take CIDM course in school and discovers many interesting things about operating system, especially Windows 7 Home Premium that I am using. Let’s discover it!
Before exploring Windows 7 Home Premium, we should need to understand what operating system is. From Shelly Cashman’s textbook Discovering Computers & Microsoft Office 2007, the academic definition of an operating system is “a set of programs containing instructions that work together to coordinate alll the activities among computer hardware resources” (Shelly 137). Following is an image illustrated how operating system relate to other parts of a computer:
To illustrate, one could compare the role of an operating system to a computer with the role of a coach to a football team. The coach is the one who connects all parts of the team together from physical training staff to individual players. Without a coach, a football team will only be separated individuals and they will not be called a team. Windows 7 is the most effective operating system produced by Microsoft Inc. Windows 7 has several versions including Windows 7 Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional... I am using Windows 7 Home Premium which is very popular to students and basic computer users. From my CIDM class, I have discovered 5 interesting things about the operating system.
Managing Memory:
One function of an operating system is managing memory. By managing memory, an operating system try “to optimize the use of random access memory (RAM)” (Shelly 141). Like putting stuff in a truck which has its limited space, how much one could be put in does not depend only on how big the truck is but also how he arrange to put things in the truck. A clever person could put more stuff in a truck by optimize the it space than another who just randomly throw stuff into the truck. In fact, one of areas that Windows 7 is focused most is managing memory. With its 64-bit Windows, the operating system gives computers access to more memory, prevent computers slowing down when users open many programs at the same time. To illustrate, imagine you do an addition involving long numbers in your head. Without being able to remember the numbers in your head, you will take forever to get the result. Likewise, a computer may get frozen if its memory is small and its user open so many programs at the same time. Indeed, the 64-bit version included in Windows 7 Home Premium “… can all use up to 192 GB of memory (far more than even a power user would typically need), making them ideal for specialized computing tasks that require enormous amounts of memory, such as rendering 3D graphics.”[1]
Coordinating Tasks:
The second funcrtion of operating systems is to coordinate task, “[determining] the order in which task are processed” (Shelly 141). To understand how operating system coordinate tasks, let’s visualize a common situation in a restaurant. When a restaurant gets very busy, a manager would coordinate tasks for employees in the most effective way to minimize waiting time of customers. He does not necessarily take orders on first base first come; instead, he would base on types of orders to serve. For example, the 1st and the 3rd customer each wants to order a strawberry smoothie. Since making 2 cups of strawberry smoothie at the same time would save time, the manager would make 2 cups of strawberry smoothie for the 1st and the 3rd customers. The 2nd customer does not wait more because making 1 cup of smoothie takes as long as making 2 cups. Similarly, the manager could minimize waiting times of all the customers by cleverly coordinating task at the most effective way. Similarly, an operating system will coordinate tasks (commands of users) in the most effective to minimize waiting time of the user. Windows 7 Home Premium is focused on maximizing speed of computer. To speed up performance of computer, Window 7 Home Premium has a program called “under-the-hood tune-ups” which “uses less memory when it's idle and less graphics memory when you launch and switch between windows.” Also, the operating software has a program called ReadyBoost which could “speed up your computer by using storage space on most USB flash drives and flash memory cards.”[2]
3. Controlling a Network:
The third unction of operating system is to enable computer working in a network called a “server operating system.” According to Shelly’s book Discovering Computers & Microsoft Office 2007, “[a] server operating system is an operating system that organizes and coordinates how multiple users access and share resources on a network” (Shelly 143). In fact, Windows 7 Home Premium has a feature called HomeGroup which is a new program that enable users to effectively connect their computers with other computers in a house to share documents, music, videos, printer… In the other words, with its special feature called HomeGroup, users could easily use connections between computers or other utilities such as printers in a home.For example, I could print papers directly from my brother’s printer by using the HomeGroup without having to transfer my files to a medium such as USB. However, it does not means that user may lose their privacy; they could choose to share or not to share whatever they want. For example, if I don’t want to share my pictures with others, I could uncheck the option of sharing pictures. In short, Windows 7 Home Premium has designed HomeGroup to assist users in study, work, or others, but not to cause any problem or incontinence to users.
4. Configuring Devices:
Another function of an operating system is to configure devices. That is, the operating system will configure how software or applications will communicate to the operating system. The task falls on drivers. According to Shelly’s book Discovering Computers & Microsoft Office 2007,a driver is “a small program that tells the operating system how to communicate with a specific device” (Shelly 142). In the other words, a driver defines the way a device will interact with the operating system. One of the most popular driver program is Plug and Play which is found on most of USB flash drivers. Indeed, Plug and Play is a program set up to enable an operating system automatically configure the device. For example, if one plugs his USB into a computer, it will be automatically configured in seconds and be ready to use.
5.Providing a User interface:
Finally, an operating system also provide user interface which “controls how you enter data and instructions and how information is displayed on the screen” (Shelly 138). There are two types of user interface. The first type called Command-Line Interface is an older type in which users have to write command in words to instruct computers do a specific task. In fact, on the early stage of computers, this was the only way for users to request their computers do something. The second type called Graphical User Interface is newer and mostly used today. “With a graphical user interface, you interact with menus and visual images such as buttons and other graphical objects to issue commands” (Shelly 139). Indeed, Windows 7 Home Premium is specialized on graphical user interface to make computers personal to users. With its new features such as Shake, Peek, or Snap, users would efficiently work on desktop. For example, with Snap feature, users could easily divide the desktop into two halves to use run 2 programs at the same time. Following is the promotional video about some features of Windows 7:
After learning more about Windows 7 Home Premium, I appreciate that I have it. I could do more things with it and use it more effectively. In fact, I never appreciate it because I did not know what makes Windows 7 Home Premium be more effective than other systems and why anyone is using it. I am fortunate because I was born in time when technology has been developed so much; thus, I could do many things that my grandpa or even my parents could not do before.
No one who concerns about sport of any kind would not know about ESPN. Indeed, ESPN.Com is one of the biggest sport website in the world. It covers almost any kind of sports including: football, basketball, soccer, hockey, race, baseball… On ESPN.Com, users could not only read news but also watch videos such as sport interview or game highlights… Especially, ESPN.Com also has many sub-website for each single sport. In short, it does not matter what sport do you like, you can all go to ESPN.Com to update news about your favorite sport.
The best thing I like about ESPN.Com is that is has a separated page for Manchester United soccer team (MANU) so that the fans could go there for all news about Manchester United. Because I am a crazy fan of Manchester United, I usually go here to read all news about MANU. I never miss a single news about the team! For example, today, I was on the Manchester United page of ESPN.Com and read a news about what Evra, the captain of Manchester United (an international soccer team from England), said as being interviewed. (Actually, when I search for news about Manchester United on Google News, I found this story heading “Evra: We have to stay focused” from ESPN.Com on the first line!) Evra warned his teammates to not over-confident after their destructive winners from the first 4 games. Indeed, Manchester United has enjoyed the new season so far with its winner on all first 4 games against competitive teams including West Brown, Totenham, Arsenal, and Bolton. However, the captain warned his teammates to keep focusing on training and practice because the best competitor Manchester City was also playing very well. They also won all the first 4 games so far. According to Evra, Manchester United will see a great pressure by Manchester United, its neighbor and also enemy for the championship title, because they have so many top class players. Manchester City has spent more than billion to buy super-soccer-stars around the world including Toure, Bary… and most currently Narshi and Aguero.
It seems that another economic downturn is on the way in Europe and the financial market was reacting. On two of the most famous finance websites, both Yahoo! Finance and MSN Money addressed the current environment of the financial market in Europe in specific and in the world as general.
On the MSN Money website, heading with the title “Get Ready for the Next Crash,” Jim Jubak, reporter of MSN Money, explains what is going in the economy of Europe and its potential affect to the US and the world economy. According to the article, the financial market is expecting a replay of the US crisis in 2008 as many American giant banks went bankrupt in short time, starting with the Lehman Brothers. As the result, a heavy intervene by European Central Bank to bailout some major banks is expected by the financial market. In explaining the situation, the article reports that the root of the crisis came from debt crises in Greece, Italy, Germany, and Spain, and Protégée. Indeed, European banks have hold a huge amount of debt from the governments of these countries. However, because of series of mistakes by bank regulators, and central banks, Greece is showing its difficulty of carrying its debt. As Greek government debts are likely to be default, investors are expecting an expanding European crisis could take place as Greece finally declared default. So what is the suggestion for investors. It is get away from banks. So, investors now should pull money from banks to secure or low risk investment such as US bond because the crisis is taking place.
Similar to MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance also address the economy in Europe. Heading with the title “Fear of Greek default hurts markets in US, Europe,” Pan Pylas, the reporter of Yahoo! Finance also revealed that a fear of an expanding European crisis is taking place. Anyone is concerning with whether or not Greece will declare default on its government debts. Indeed, the market believes it will be a default eventually. From what is happening on the market currently, the article conclude that the market is expecting a same story of the US recession in 2008. What it means? It means that investors are expecting European Central Bank will do what the US Central Bank did before in 2008; they bailout some major banks. However, the reporter also point out that it is a little difference in the two story because the European Central Bank would not have enough power to intervene as much as the US Central Bank did before. From the article, countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, and other European countries are preparing to face the upcoming crisis if Greece declare default on its government debts. They are all pessimist and be conservative to save themselves. So what is the suggestion for investors. Not surprisingly, the article agree the article from MSN Money that investors should pull money from banks to invest in secure low risk investment such as US bonds. Anyone should play conservative in bad time.
From the market overview page on both websites, the current indexes for DJIA is 11.061.12 up .63% from previous day, S&P500 is 1162.27 (up .70% from previous day), and NASDAQ (2,495.09up 1.10% from previous day) . Below are the charts:
Welcome anyone!
Let's me first briefly introduce you about my blog. The main purpose of the blog is to share with you what I have learned about Computer and Microsoft Office 2007. Especially, I want to share with you how computer and technology is important to Business. However, please do not misunderstand me that this blog would only talk about computer and business; I also share with you my best (almost crazy!) interest, Manchester United (MANU). If you are among the millions of MANU fans, you are my best friends now! In fact, Manchester United is one of the top top famous soccer club in the world. The team is from England and have been so famous for its attractive soccer and its world class players including Wayne Rooney, Vidic, Ferdinand, Nani, Chicharito, Park Ji Sung, Scholes.... Manchester United always proud of its history as the most successful soccer club in England and is currently viewed as real force in Europe. In short, the blog will served for 2 purposes: education and entertainment. From Rainal,com, visitors will learn information about how computer and Miscrosoft Office 2007 influence business and enjoy interesting news about Manchester United.
This is my favorite video of Manchester United which showed the moment
we became the winner of Premier League and Champion League.
I was playing around on Youtube and found this interesting video. It show you a tour in the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA. It was interesting to see from the video the first computer, first flash drive.... It was amazing. You see how big the computer is? It's really big and weird as compared to computer today. But without the it, we will never see computers as today.
