Neoli Marcos asked:


For many of us, the Internet is a mecca of free things. From free MP3 downloads to free ring tones to free porn to free screensavers. “Free” is a favorite word of Internet users who readily combine it with just about anything. Free anything is the motto, it seems.

No doubt the Internet is democratizing everything, and astrology is no exception here.

Enter online horoscopes, the unlikely but exciting intersection between technology and astrology.

When was the last time you checked your horoscopes?

Did you find yourself nodding? Did you wish to go the other way, and in effect prove your horoscope wrong? Or perhaps you can’t help but wonder how it is that a few lines of general-sounding prescriptions and cautions can be so predictive. And tempting.

Horoscopes’ appeal to people is not just because they are free, that they are widely available in dailies and magazines and on the Net too. Nuggets of advice just waiting for us to look into them. And we, well, we are inquisitive creatures, forever curious about the future, not just ours, but other’s as well—our loved ones’ perhaps, friends’, enemies’, anyone we come in contact with. We just have to take a peek.

Horoscopes offer us a neat capsule of our fate. They’re there, for free, and there is certainly is no harm in consulting them, so much the better if things turn out well because of them.

Free Horoscopes You Share with Everyone Else

But free horoscopes aren’t always the best. Daily horoscopes found at the newspapers and in the Internet may be free, but unfortunately this virtue is also their weaknesses. The price people pay in getting free horoscopes is the fact that they share the same predictions with everyone else who shares their star sign.

The principle of Barnum Effect operates in this scenario. Quite bluntly, the Barnum Effect states that “there is a sucker born every minute.” In the realm of astrology, this means people can be so gullible as to believe that their horoscope for the day applies to them perfectly, even if virtually anyone can claim that.

Daily horoscopes, in fact, are deliberately prepared by astrologers to make them apply to almost anyone, so that it serves as sneak previews for the day. Of course, the astrologer doesn’t sacrifice the quality of divination.

For more accurate horoscopes though, the astrologer needs to study and calculate alignments of the stars and planets, birth date and location, cusps, aspects, patterns, and relationships with other signs in the Zodiac.

Needless to say, these crucial factors are all absent in the generic horoscopes we get for free in newspapers. Truly predictive horoscopes then are those that are personalised and tailor-fitted to individuals, carefully prepared by a credible astrologer. They may come with a price, but it is a price always worth it.



ULYSSES
Pinky Mcbanon asked:


The explosion in Internet use has brought with it the very real threat of viruses that can attack the unwary user. Viruses come in many forms - installers, Trojans and worms all of which can affect the performance of your computer and your privacy seriously. Viruses affect the computer either by corrupting programs or by replicating themselves and denying resources to legitimate programs. Trojans usually come disguised as something desirable and are activated when you try to open or run them. Worms and some Trojans may send themselves to people in your address book in emails, without your knowledge.

Even though the threat posed by viruses is serious, a few precautions taken in time can help you protect and sanitize your computer against viruses.

1. Browse with Caution - Most viruses enter your computer as a result of clicking on pop ups or other links in websites that are not trustworthy. Do not follow links or click on pop ups that could install viruses on your computer.

2. Open Emails Cautiously - At times, even if the subject is innocuous, emails can contain links that lead to a virus entering your computer. If the email is not from a trusted source, treat it with caution.

3. Open Email Attachments with Care - The attachment that the email urges you to open may contain a virus! Make sure your mail manager allows you to preview the type of file (.exe, .com, .vbt in attachments are probably viruses. The same goes for screensaver programs that come to you unsolicited).

4. Installing downloaded programs - Programs downloaded from the Internet can pose a serious threat to your computer. Make sure that the program you have downloaded is from a trusted site or has a certificate issued by a trusted certifying authority.

5. Firewall - There are several firewall software packages available that allow you to prevent unauthorized access to your computer that could be initiated by an infected system.

6. Antivirus - A good antivirus package residing in your computer can be the best protection you can have against viruses. Choose an antivirus package that can comprehensively defend itself against viruses.

7. Regular Virus Scan - The mere presence of anti-virus software in your computer is not enough. Scanning of your computer for viruses must be done on a regular basis to locate and isolate viruses.

8. Update the Anti-Virus - It is very important to update the anti-virus program itself periodically. New viruses are introduced every day and the manufacturers of the anti-virus software update the virus database and capabilities of the anti-virus program regularly.

9. Update windows and all other software - Do not forget to update the Operating System and other software regularly as they are frequently patched to overcome security loopholes and vulnerabilities.

10. Removable Media - Removable media like floppies and USB drives are a major factor facilitating spreading of viruses. Use only trusted devices on your computer.



SHANDA
Dec
15
CD Mohatta asked:


Halloween is a festival of great popularity. People of all the age groups enjoy Halloween and every one loves it. Because it is fun and only fun. Everyone likes Halloween because there is nothing serious about it. Just go about scaring people and tricking and treating. Children especially love the day.

During Halloween everyone wants to love the fear and the fun. How can those working on computers be away from that? Because during Halloween Internet offers many free goodies. You get ecards, Desktop wallpapers and Screensavers all free. Download and enjoy. Send, share and enjoy. Have fun, because it is Halloween.

Getting good screensavers for Halloween is a matter of good search. As most of the screensavers weigh a lot, downloading takes some time. If you do not like your selection, you have to download another. Therefore search for a site of good reputation. Choose few of them and download.

Now you can get Halloween screensavers with calendars on them. You cannot only watch the dates but the designs are equally mesmerizing. You will get a large collection of screensavers with calendars not only for Halloween but all major festivals. They are all in flash with video and the text is absolutely lovely.

Holidays are to be enjoyed. One should forget work for that day and rejuvenate oneself. The enjoyment fights with our stress and gives us a new freshness. Halloween is one such festival. Screensavers for Halloween will not only scare you but also those who pass by you and watch the screensaver.



MONROE
Matthew Wright asked:


To understand how one goes about preventing spyware and adware for free from entering your system and also spyware and adware removal, one must understand where spyware and adware comes from. There are two main entry points for spyware and adware.

Click Here - Spyware and Adware Prevention

There’s more detailed information about spyware and adware prevention and removal, you can even try out some new free tools that will help you stay spyware free.

To summarize here though, the first point of entry for spyware and adware is free programs that people download from the internet from questionable sources. These programs almost always have spyware and adware, or worse, even trojans bundled with them. To avoid downloading spyware and adware, before you download anything from the web you must ask yourself a few simple questions. Do you trust this website? Do you really need this program? What’s in it for them to offer this free software? For example, suppose you want to download Mozilla. Do you trust www.mozilla.org? Yes. Do you need this program? Yes. What’s in it for them? Fame, glory, opposing the evil Microsoft monopoly. Could it contain spyware and adware? Unlikely. Now suppose you want to download a free screensaver program at some shady website. Do you trust the website? Questionable. Do you need this program? Not really if you think about it. What is in it for them? Theres no fame or glory, it’s not an open source project. Could it contain spyware and adware? Hmmm.. In most cases it comes down to money and by bundling spyware and adware in with their programs they can generate revenue to pay for the screensavers.

Other common programs that bundle spyware and adware include file sharing programs, browser toolbars, etc. All potentially can contain spyware and adware.

The second point of entry is through your browser. A lot sites out there try to get you to say yes to spyware and adware. When you go to a site and it asks you to install a program you’ve never heard of before in order to view the website, that is a major red flag for spyware and adware. Yes, it’s true that there are legitimate browser extensions that you should install when it asks you like Macromedia Flash, for example. But if you don’t think you need it, just click no. Some sites are a bit trickier though. They will keep on asking you over and over again until you say yes, and it’s difficult to avoid. Here is another top tip to get you out of that mess….

Click no and quickly press the Alt-F4 key combination to close your browser before it asks you again.

Search for spyware and adware removers on google or another reputable srearch engine and you should get good spyware and adware links. (tip)



JERROD
John Hilgenberg asked:


Nearly everyone with a connection to the World Wide Web utilizes the free screensavers and wallpapers that seem to flood the net today. Pop-ups and flashing banners on your favorite websites and SPAM in your e-mail all claim to have the latest and greatest free screensavers available. But with all of the hearsay and worry about spyware and adware possibly attached to the free downloads invading your computer, just whom are you supposed to trust?

The truth is simple- free screensavers and other downloads are only as good as the websites that provide them. If you choose a quality, trustworthy site that clearly states that their products are spyware and adware free, you can feel more secure about utilizing such Internet freebies. If you’re unsure about the ulterior motives of such a website, do a bit of research and see what those who downloaded their screensavers and such had to say. The best free screensaver sites will be proud to display all of their comments, both positive and negative.

Now that the safety and security issue have been covered, we’re going to touch upon some of the “bonus features” for downloading free screensavers and wallpaper!

First, variety is the spice of life, especially when it’s free! Think about how many times you’ve changed your mind on tiny details that don’t matter very much, never mind the things you look at every day. Nothing spices up a boring computer screen more than a flashy new screensaver, complete with your favorite movie, celebrity, or inspirational quote to liven up your day. And since they’re free in cost, spyware and adware, you can change your mind (and your screensaver) as often as you like.

Are you a big fan of the seasons and holidays? Do you begin to wear your Christmas socks the second that Wal-Mart puts up their holiday décor? Do you put up Halloween decorations as soon as you take down your 4th of July ones? The holiday screensaver trends are here, perfectly designed for you to follow and change as you’d like to, even daily if you have the time and desire. Put up your favorite star one day, followed by a New England winter scene the next. Many screensavers are available in both home and workplace editions, and different formats and sizes to adapt to your computer.

Of course, modern technology brings us new and exciting things every day. Flash animation makes for some interesting conversation between co-workers. And you’re not limited to screensavers for your laptop and/or desktop PC, as Personal PlayStation (PSP) has it’s own variety of screensavers made especially for this compact device.



FRANCESCO
Cdmohatta asked:


Designers are always trying to do something new with screensavers. As Internet usage increase, the screensavers are becoming more popular. The latest innovation in screensaver designs is calendar screensavers.

Screensavers - Why This Popularity

It is not difficult to understand why screensavers are becoming so popular. Most of them are free. They give enjoyment. Most of them come with lovely music. They are fun to watch and share. To sit on a computer for hours can become tiring. Screensavers give the much-needed break.

Calendar Screensavers - Why Different



These screensavers are animated video shots. The animated image has a beautiful calendar. It looks lovely to look at and some of these are fabulous and totally free. Agreed that many users will not use the calendars on the screensavers to know about date, but is usage the only reason for getting something? Then luxury cars would never sell.

Varieties -

You can download free Calendar screensavers with the following main topics and more - 4th July, Birds, Butterflies, Christmas, Flowers, Halloween, Love & Romance, Ocean Life, Natural World, Happy New Year, Miscellaneous, Seasons, Sports, Saint Patrick’s Day, Thanksgiving, Transport, Valentines Day and Waterfalls.

Enjoy free downloads of Calendar Screensavers. Watch them whenever you get tired and need to relax, enjoy and listen to lovely music.



REYNA
Rober Ron asked:


Tired of seeing the same wallpaper image on your desktop computer at work? Do you feel bored and unmotivated with the same old image greeting you on your desktop screen? If you have run out of images or photos to post as your wallpaper, maybe its time to turn to the many wonderful websites offering free desktop wallpapers. With a few clicks on your keyboard you would surely arrive at the best site to cater to your wallpaper needs. There are hundreds and hundreds of such websites and looking for the perfect wallpaper need not be very difficult anymore. These sites usually come very organized. They have categories and usually show which ones are their top picks. The more famous categories include cars, animals, photos of celebrities, movie scenes or posters and scenery from nature.

There are reports showing that your wallpaper could actually influence how you think and feel at work. After all, it’s the first thing you see when you start up your computer. A calming photo of a sailboat maybe the thing you need to exude that peaceful aura. If motivation is what you are after, why not post a photo of a destination site or a dream vacation you have been saving up for? Photos of babies, or family pictures could also do the trick. There are many available images you can download for free from these websites. There are also those 3D wallpapers and those that have an animation that would surely entertain you or whoever sees the desktop of yours.

Free desktop wallpapers are not the only things available online. There are also specific softwares you can download for free that would have different features to improve the overall look of your desktop. Some of these softwares are programmed to change your desktop wallpaper at certain time intervals or even on certain days. You will not even be bothered to set the photo or image of your choice into fitting it into your screen or to set the resolution of your computer screen. With a few clicks the software itself will fix it for you. Additional features concerning your screensaver are also included. Themes for the overall look of your computer may also be altered. With just a few clicks, you are definitely on your way to giving your desktop the needed revamp.

Enjoy looking through many types of wallpaper from these sites or even make one yourself. The best thing about this is that you can do this for free. You need not purchase expensive software, or buy images online. All you have to do is click and download. It’s as easy as that. By changing your wallpaper design, you could be changing your mood as well. Desktop wallpapers may be a reflection of your personality too. So go on, express yourself. Start choosing from the wide collection of free desktop wallpapers most sites are offering. Show what is important to you or simply put something that pleases your eyes. Whatever you decide on getting from the free desktop wallpapers websites, it would truly be something special and personal.



KATINA