carawmorris'  Instablog

Some believe that USB flash drives have changed technology for the best. In fact, the widespread successes of these devices have made the CD/DVD drives superfluous. However, these devices are not only limited to storing data -- today, you can use this device to boot up your personal windows desktop on any PC (given the fact that the PC possesses the hardware performance requirements). Storage capacity on these tiny drives are increasing rapidly, in fact, there's also rumors on the internet that a 1000 gigabyte USB flash drive will soon be available on the consumer market. However, that's a different story all together, we are here to discuss Imation's latest innovative device: Iron Key.

Imation's new product "Iron Key" may not be a ground breaking innovation to most. However, the concept of bootable Windows 8 operating system is certainly to excite some Windows loving freaks. You no longer have to lug around your laptop wherever you go, in order to access your data. Iron Key lets employees, professionals, and military personnel access their windows desktop from virtually any type of computer equipped with a USB port. All one has to do is find a personal computer with minimal hardware requirements to run Windows 8, plug in the iron key, and viola, you now have access to all your personal files on your personalized Windows 8 operating system -- on someone else's PC or MAC. Iron Key is based on "Windows To Go", an enterprise feature from Windows 8 - giving its users a fully portable desktop which can fit in the pocket of your jeans or shirt. The device only enables you to access your Windows 8 desktop while it's plugged in. Once you remove the device from the USB port, the service is suspended and can only be resumed once you plug it back in.

The concept of an operating system on a USB drive is nothing new. In fact, similar devices have already been on the market for some time now. In essence, the Iron Key is engineered to function like a hard-drive, making it far more sophisticated than your top-of-the-line USB flash drive - and this is something that Imation claims sets Iron Key apart from other bootable USB flash drives. However, the Iron Key is far from being the perfect bootable flash drive. One of its disappointing factors is that you cannot create a separate storage partition on the device. Second disappointing factor is its security feature, which is hardware based. It's easy to hack through, and virtually anyone determined to steal your data can do so with little effort. We recommend you install a third party software, developed to password protect USB drives and other portable hard-drives.

In order to boot up Windows 8 from your Iron Key, you'll need to change the BIOS settings by redirecting the boot-up process from your external drive - which in this case is your Iron Key. The Iron Key is capable of reading at speed of 300 MB per second and can write data at speeds of up to 100 MB per second. However, these figures are only true if your computer is equipped with a USB 3.0 port. If you're still using a PC that's integrated with USB 2.0 ports, then you can expect to receive much lower performance.

For more information please visit:

http://www.newsoftwares.net/usb-secure/

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

The latest addition to Seagate's line-up of external drives is no doubt the highly anticipated Seagate Backup Plus. The Seagate Backup has replaced the Go Flex - a brand you may have heard of in the past. However, the Go Flex is no longer available on the market, which means the Backup Plus is here to stay. Nonetheless, if you are concerned about the adaptors to your old Go Flex external hard-drive - and are looking to replace it with the newer Backup Plus - don't fret. You can still use the Go Flex adaptors on the Backup Plus. The Backup Plus is quite similar to the Go Flex in several ways; however, the most apparent similarity is that the Backup Plus also comes in two parts - one being the adaptor and the other- the drive itself. You're probably wondering, so what does the 'plus' stand for? The special feature "Plus" lets you backup other things, such as backup of online content, for example, you can backup your facebook profile with this external-drive.

The Backup Plus is capable of working on either Mac or Windows without the need to re-format. Out of the box, you get the necessary software to run it on a Mac, the software enables you to write and read NTFS. Testing the speed on the Backup Plus yielded satisfactory results. The Backup Plus performed exceptionally well with USB 3.0 and 2.0. In regards to aesthetics, the Backup Plus is available in several colors, plus, it's also slightly compacted than its predecessor. If you are looking to back-up data from your PC, then the Backup Plus is certainly worth looking at. The drive retails at around $140.00, and you get a disappointing 1 terabytes of storage capacity. However, that being said, for some people it may be more than what they really need. There are cheaper versions of the Backup Plus which offer slightly less storage capacity.

The hard drive itself is at around 2.5 inches, and connects to your PC through a USB 3.0 cable for maximum data transfer speeds (provided your machine is equipped with USB 3.0 ports) The USB 3.0 cable serves two roles: the data transfer cable as well as the power cable. Nonetheless, there are options available in respect to connectors; you can purchase FireWire, e SATA and thunderbolt, if you want to. As mentioned earlier, if you had previously owned a Go Flex and purchased different cables for it, you don't have to throw those away - you can use them on your new Backup plus. In regards to data security, there's no such software provided that will safeguard your portable data. However, it's always a good idea to purchase third-party data security software, as it's more reliable and is always bug-free when compared to integrated software. The software can work on virtually any portable data storage medium -- helping you to password protect USB drives and external drives - such as the Seagate Backup Plus. Final thoughts: The Seagate Backup Plus is no doubt fast, portable, and not to mention - good looking. Additionally, the option to back-up online content certainly sets it apart from its competitors. However, the Seagate Backup Plus is not without its flaws. For $140.00 there are portable drives that offer much larger storage capacity.

For more information please visit:

http://www.newsoftwares.net/usb-secure/

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

You often hear it from others, "it's good to back-up the data on your PC from time-to-time". Right about now, you are probably saying: "that's just geek-talk". However, these tips are not just for geeks, it's for the everyday computer users - such as you. Doing so, you ensure the safety of your identity and your privacy. Below are simple to understand tips for securing your privacy and keeping your computer organized:

Pay attention to privacy settings on social networks:

Social networks are notorious for violating privacy rights of their users; this is why it's usually in your best interest to quit using them. However, for some reason, you are not able to do so, then its best to tweak the various different privacy settings on your profile. Try to figure out which setting does what and how it can help you safeguard your privacy.

Organize your desktop:

If your desktop is cluttered, and you can barely make out where you placed your tax return - you my friend are an unorganized person. Not only will you waste time locating important files on your desktop, but your computer's performance will significantly be impacted negatively. Once you've managed and mustered up the courage to organize your desktop, you'll notice that it's quite pleasing to the eyes - looking at properly organized desktop. Moreover, make it a habit to keep it that way.

Avoid downloading malware:

You don't have to be a computer geek to know what malware is. With a little reading, virtually anyone can learn how malware works, just knowing simple facts on malware can make you more vigilant web user. Furthermore, it makes perfect sense to invest a few dollars on decent antivirus software, such as AVG, Norton, or MacAfee. Think about it, what's more expensive, corrupted windows or a decent antivirus subscription -- we all know the answer to this one.

Keep away from free Wifi:

Free Wifi does come with a price my friend - your privacy. Although, it's best to not use free Wifi, an itch for catching up on social media or perhaps the urgent need to check your email can be overwhelming, and that's when you become prone to attacks by cyber-crooks. Think of public Wifi as a hub where Cyber-criminals are waiting for you to connect, so that they can steal personal data from your PC. If you have confidential information, such as tax returns (containing social security numbers), copies of driver's licenses, or perhaps corporate data such as financial reports, marketing strategies or lists of important clients, then it makes sense lock and hide such data with software such as Folder Lock Lite.

Read up on various internet scam and hoaxes:

Think of an internet as a lawless place, rampant with scams, hoaxes, and myths. You may receive a seemingly innocent email, prompting you to log-in to your bank account in order to verify your identity. You do so without giving it a second thought - you my friend just became a victim of phishing. Your log-in credentials are most likely recorded by a key logging software running in the background. What's more, is its highly probable that your funds would be transferred into an offshore account before you find out you've been scammed.

For more information please visit:

http://www.newsoftwares.net/folderlock/lite/

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.