Tips Guides

Pen Drives, the high capacity movable storage device of the computer, is not just a boon for the IT and other business sectors, but it has been proved to be the most dangerous device to harm any organisation. While data security and confidentiality matter the most in any government and private organisation, a pen drive is the most useful device for the corporate spies or hackers to take data easily and misuse it.

Among the threats for an organisation associated with a pen drive, the most important is transmission of viruses. As most of the antivirus software fail to detect the viruses in a pen drive or safeguard the computer, a computer can be easily infected by a virus transmitted through pen drive. This portable device can be responsible for data loss and data theft. In corporate sectors, many employees have found with taking malicious software, video clips, computer games, MP3 files, pornography pictures and other inappropriate files violating corporate rules.

However, restricting a pen drive in a corporate environment is next to impossible. They are too small in size to be carried stealthily and also they are getting cheaper everyday. These days, the pen drives are available that can not be identified by a metal detectors as well. Hence, the security threats involved with a pen drive is hard to combat with. However, some measures can be chosen to deal with the serious issue.

Educating the user:

It is hard to stop the gadget junkies from using pen drives as it has become the `must-have` for them. And sometimes, pen drives becomes essential for any work progress. But it is possible for the office authorities to educate the users on the use of pen drive while taking data to their home out of the office or bringing any data to the office.

Lock desktop security:

Many companies are adopting the security policy of locking the computer automatically when not in use for a few minutes. Though it is a perfect alternative, using a pen drive or misuse of data are possible when the computer is unattended by someone. The interval of locking can be reduced in a high risk environment. In a workstation with access to sensitive data the lock desktop can prevent misuse of pen drive to a large extent.

Rigorous anti-virus policies:

The company or the corporate authorities should configure antivirus software to scan and detect every attached drive and removable media. The users of every interface should be trained to scan the files before opening them. This can reduce the effect of the virus in case it is transmitted through a pen drive.

Restriction of USB ports:

In the corporate environment or any other place the USB ports of the desktop computers can be made disabled to prevent the use of pen drive by the outsiders. In place of the USB port, the legacy port can be used for using the peripherals. Even software can be used to restrict the access of end user to the I/O devices and many other plugs and play devices.

Use of secure devices:

Companies should take care of issuing only secure devices to the employees and also these devices should be approved to purchase. The users having potential access to sensitive data should be allowed the devices with security features and they should be trained to use all the security features.

Educating the security personnel:

The security personnel of a company must know how a pen drive looks like and what dangers it can cause if it is with a miscreant. Any unauthorised person in the company premises with a pen drive should not be ignored. Rather, legal steps can be taken to seize the device.

It is barely possible to work in any corporate environment without the help of a pen drive. But looking at the scenario, where the large business sectors are facing potential threats due to pen drives everyday, some of the above security measures can be adapted to, at least, reduce the hazards of misusing pen drives.

You can have access to portuguese articles about pen drives from page Pen-Drive

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil

Be it a slip of the finger or an accidental move of a mouse, almost everyone has experienced that dreaded feeling of deleting something that we should not have. Perhaps even more astonishing, however, is the fact that such things need never happen. There is a whole class of data protection software out there which will undelete many of our most egregious and painful mistakes. The big question then, is why doesn’t everyone have such software on their systems?

It is generally acknowledged that there are several classes of software that you should never be without if you own a computer. Defrag and anti-virus software are obvious necessities. Anti-spyware software is now becoming just as important.

Certainly, data protection software has been around for a long time now, but a casual survey of almost any group of computer users will show that virtually no one has such software installed on their systems. And, this is even the case with big networks, where the value of a lost document could mean serious dollars lost.

The usual reason seems to be a misguided confidence in the recycle bin which is standard on most computers. However, the recycle bin is actually no protection at all when compared to the available undelete software on the market today, and large networked systems can be especially vulnerable if there is no recovery resources installed on the system.

The recovery capability of some rescue-ware can appear to be miraculous at times. There is software, such as Undelete 2009, which has the capability of recovering virtually any file that has been deleted from the home or networked computer. This software also provides version protection for Microsoft Office Files of earlier saved over versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.

The reason for this is that higher end undelete software creates a number of defenses — not unlike the walls of a castle — which makes it very difficult to “accidentally” delete any type of data permanently.

How does it do this?

It’s extremely risky to wait until you delete a file before you decide to invest in file recovery software. Every read/write action increases the chances of overwriting the file you need to recover,” says one industry expert. Even browsing the internet for file recovery software or procedures increases your chances of permanently deleting the file you lost. With the increase in storage capacity more people are storing irreplaceable photos, video, music, financial and tax information on their computers. Without any protection, human error or even computer viruses can destroy these files forever.

When it comes to maintaining important files, technology can be a blessing or a curse. Unfortunately, files can be deleted or mistakenly modified just as easily as they were originally created. For those of use wanting some piece of mind when it comes to protecting our data, it would be wise to obtain some kind of data protection type software as soon as possible. After all, with so much money spent to create documents and data, why take chances?

Debby Jones is a freelance writer who is known for writing his reviews on diverse topics. His current article features his take on the benefits of having a data protection plan for large businesses. Visit Diskeeper.com to download Undelete 2009

A file recovery tool can help you undo the problem or mistake that lead to losing your important files. You may start worrying: ‘Is my data going to be there? What if it’s not? What am I going to do?’ Take a deep breath. Then, take the next few minutes to learn some warnings and advice that could save your data.

The warnings that save data

Don’t reboot your computer again! Many times people believe that if they restart their computer, their data will show up. But this is not how you recover lost files and folders. When you do this, the chances of using a file recovery tool to recover your data becomes less. Now your computer’s operating system could over write some of the files you are trying to recover by restarting your computer. The same danger exists when the computer is being shut down. This lead directly into the next not to do point.

Never turn off your computer when you notice a problem has occurred. Unplug it instead! Normally turning off your computer is not a problem. But when you are dealing with data recovery and running a file recovery tool, it could keep you from restoring your data. When you shut off your computer, the operating system is still able to interact with the file system and could end up writing over your files. If you cut the power source, you also cut off any connections and interactions within the computer, increasing the probability of getting back your files.

Did you know that even an idling computer can potentially over write data that you are trying to retrieve - even if you never touch the keyboard? It is a real possibility. Pull the cord from the wall without shutting down like I previously mentioned. Doing so, means a file recovery tool has a better opportunity to work. Last, if files are open close them. If you are looking at this page from the computer you want to perform data recovery stop and cut the power source.

A couple more recovery tips

Don’t even think of using the recovery system CD in lieu of a file recovery tool. Sure, it can get your system going again, but it will completely wipe out your data. Unless you have a backup of your data on another computer your data will be gone for good. And there is nothing that a file recovery tool can do to help.

One last important tip - never install or operate any file recovery tool on your computer either - not even on a separate partition. You should always download, run and recover data to another storage device that is functioning. If you fail to take this important step, your computer could potentially overwrite the files you need recovered. That is why it is so important to download, run and recover your data onto a second hard drive. Always protect your data, no matter what.

Getting that file recovery tool to work, or not!

Determining what lead to your data loss is the most important part of choosing the right file recovery tool. Are you dealing with an undelete situation, lost or corrupt files? Are your files damaged, or are you simply having trouble locating them? The answers to these questions will be your guide to finding the one that matches your problem.

If you just don’t have a clue about your problem, contact a professional company that specializes in hard drive data recovery and promotes their own file recovery tools. Beware that some technicians may tell you that using a file recovery tool is dangerous, but that isn’t true. They’ve been around for a long time and are only getting better. So, if you hear otherwise from someone, they probably don’t have a file recovery tool to offer to you. Remember, you can always send your media to a professional service that specializes in data recovery after you try file recovery software.

The moment you think realize you have lost important data, you should immediately stop using your computer and call an expert in recovery for advice. If they are the real thing they will have their own file recovery tool available for you try out. And when several of them fall short you then know service is necessary. If all this seems like more than you can handle, you may just choose to skip the file recovery tool and use a professional right away.

Using a file recovery tool is not rocket-science, but you at least have to know the basics. Ken Roberts dispels the mystery of file recovery , giving you specific precautions and steps to take before the recovery begins.

Hard disk data recovery is probably not something you even think about until it happens to you. Once it does, you will quickly become familiar with all of the various techniques that can be used to retrieve your lost data.

But before you jump right in, you need to understand the difference between physical and logical damage to your drive. Once you understand this you will have a much better idea of how to proceed. You can begin narrowing down hard disk data recovery solution choices available to choose from.

Clarifying the technical terms

Logical damage is when no mechanical problems exist with your media. If this is the case, you may be able to use a hard disk data recovery software to reclaim your data.

If you are dealing with physical damage to your hard drive, you may have noticed strange, warning noises coming from your drive. If you suspect that this is the problem, shut it off immediately and do not use any software utility to recover the data no matter what. For safety reasons it is best to contact a qualified hard disk recovery specialist for more information.

Hard disk data recovery utilities

Cheap, fast and efficient are only a few of the benefits you may experience using a software recovery tool successfully. But in order to get the best results, you need to know how to find the best program for your situation. Retail marketers have broken down the full-scale hard disk data recovery utilities to sell the components separately in order to make more money. What they have also done is create a situation that easily confuses the average computer user.

The easiest way to tell the difference between all of the products available on the market is by paying attention to the price. If the price falls under seventy five dollars USD, you have an undelete utility. Prices between seventy five dollars and one hundred twenty five dollars USD are full-version hard drive recovery software. You will even find a solution costing several hundred dollars. Products in this price range are generally used by technicians for data recovery, and some individuals use them as well.

Explaining differences in service

Hard disk data recovery applications are not the answer for every data recovery situation. The same goes for choosing a data recovery specialist or computer repair technician. There are pro and cons for each choice.

Your local computer tech may know about disk recovery and even have some entry-level success recovering data. The main benefit you may experience when you hire a tech, is that they are easily accessible in your neighborhood, and their rates are much lower than what data recovery experts charge for performing recovery tasks.

If you are dealing with hard disk recovery, you have probably done all you can do to recover your data on your own. If you choose to allow your local computer shop to give it a try, make sure to ask the technician to give you a sector image of your media before they begin the recovery process. The reason for this important step is that most technicians rush into the recovery phase quickly, unaware of the problems it could cause your business if something goes wrong. Once you get an image of your data, you can safely allow them to perform data recovery tasks on the other drive. You must insist that they make moves to protect your data by giving you a copy, no matter what.

Going with the experts

Professional data recovery experts practically eat and sleep hard disk data recovery. They may also be skilled at computer forensics which is beyond the abilities of the average computer generalist. It isn’t easy to find expert hard disk data recovery experts since there are so few available in the industry. Searching online can make things even more confusing because a search for hard disk data recovery can pull up thousands of results with no distinction between local technicians and the expert firms.

The only way to know who you are dealing with is by calling. You don’t need to know any technical terms, you just need to ask whether they produce and sell hard disk data recovery products in addition cleanroom data recovery services. If this is the case, you have reached an expert recovery firm. Local technicians will usually offer a menu of additional computer related services. When you know exactly what to look for, it helps make finding a hard disk data recovery professional to handle your data a lot easier.

Ken Roberts offers hard disk recovery data advice for those in need. You can find his software and services and a lot of other hard drive recovery information at his website. Ken can be reached by phone at 800-444-3225 for interviews and questions about recovery.

What if a disk data recovery crisis happened to a major publishing house preparing to debut their newest magazine? Imagine what it would take to recreate all of the lost articles, photos and advertisements in enough time to still make the release deadline. Disk data recovery could be the solution for recovering the data needed to preserve your business reputation and your job in record time.

What to do to get fired

If it weren’t for disk recovery services, the corporation that lost the important data and files because of an improperly monitored backup system had a lot at stake. Beyond any short term money they were about to lose, the long term business relationships that could have been damaged as a result would have been a hefty price to pay. In the end disk data recovery experts were able to salvage the data. The only causality involved firing the technician responsible for checking the backups regularly.

For various reasons, this company prefers to remain anonymous. They had knowledge of the many do-it-yourself disk data recovery software. Obviously this company could have used a disk data recovery program to resolve the problem, but they were not willing to risk compromising their only data source any further. They trusted the hired technician to perform regular backups, so they were unwilling to take any more chances. Business relationships and millions of dollars were at stake.

The best solution

If you are a solo business owner, or any other small business, you may not be able to just jump in and opt to have a professional disk data recovery service recover your lost data. You may want to try using a disk data recovery tool instead for a fraction of the cost.

Disk data recovery programs can cost very little but most good ones go for just about a hundred bucks for the more powerful utilities. Professional services usually set you back hundreds of dollars and even thousands. All of this depends on the complexity of the situation and how quickly you need your data back. It’s important to know that there are some situations where only professional disk data recovery services can help.

Take all necessary precautions

A common vulnerability that often goes unaddressed has to do with local back up. Regularly scheduled backups can help prevent data loss reducing the need for disk data recovery. As laptops become more commonly used in business, the need for disk data recovery services is increasing as well. When you take a laptop away from the company server, it can become a liability unless certain data management measures are taken.

If you pre-install disk data recovery software on a laptop, it will records all your records, and better yet, a USB portable storage device can quickly create a file backup for data preservation. The operating systems that come pre-installed on your operating system are what is known as ‘pseudo data-safety system protection’. If you go ahead and install a disk data recovery program that retrieves lost data, if you unexpectedly lose a file you can request the file return intact right away.

Protect your information

It would be unfortunate to lose a job or an important client just because you forgot to confirm data backups as required. This is a preventable situation. But when data loss does occur, make sure to use disk data recovery software as soon as data loss occurs or you could risk losing your information for good.

Ken Roberts has experienced real disk data recovery stories like this daily for just about two decades. His advice is data recovery doesn’t even have to be a topic of conversation if you backup data properly on a consistent basis. Visit his site or call 1.800.444.3225 for help.

Pen drives are the portable USB device with flash memory to store or transfer audio, video and data files from hard disc of one computer to another. As the name suggests the device resembles a pen or pencil in its shape and size and its memory is built in drive. These data storage devices are equipped with a large amount of memory space.

Generally considered as the improved version of older floppy or recent compact disc, pen drives with smallest memory space can also store a large amount of data. Any common type of files that can be loaded into a floppy or CD can be transferred to a pen drive. Apart from that pen drive are able to house photos, spreadsheets, word documents, music tracks, movie clips, etc. The pen drives are simple to use. One end of the pen drive is designed to connect to the USB connector of the desktop or the laptop to get the pen drive activated.

The files are easily dragged and dropped into the memory and can be forwarded for further use. The function of the pen drives depends on the operating system available. Pen drives prove to be an easy and practical way of transmission of data if the laptop or desktop is constructed with an USB port and the operating system is compatible. The data and information are stored in the memory of a pen drive in the form of an array. Memory chip is the backbone of pen drives which enables multiple read write and reliability.

IBM for the first time introduced the device with flash memory in the year 1998 and it got instant acceptability. Earlier pen drives were available with 8 MB storage capacity. These days the pen drives are being developed with 32GB, 64 GB and even 80 GB storage space. However, the pen drives with high storage space are not that popular for their high price. But the days are not far when pen drives with terabytes will be common in use.

The previous generation of pen drive is the thumb drive. They were also named as the flash drives, the chip sticks and the USB keys. But the core technology is same with every form. In comparison to its previous generation, the pen drives now come with greater and advanced features and are the multi-utility flash memory.

Now the advanced version of pen drives is available with in built cards that enables transferring data from the cards of a mobile phones or camera without the help of a computer. This forms a useful device as the data can be transferred to this larger storage space easily from equipments with smaller memory capacity.

Pen drives are one of the products of the faster changing technology. They are constantly changing in their shapes, sizes and storage capacity. The pen drives also differ in there features. Some pen drives come with in built rechargeable batteries and they get charged when the pen drive is connected to the USB port of the computer.

Almost all pen drives are developed with the built in sound recorder. They even give the provision of MP3 playback using a earphone but lack the clarity of sound. Some pen drives come with mini LCD displays that help in browsing the MP3 songs stored in them.

The technology of pen drives are changing just as the mobile phones and now the pen drives are available with micro sized one pixel cameras. Sooner the market is going to find pen drives with LCD based view finders.

The latest version of the pen drive is gaining popularity and almost every computer user today is found with one of some capacity or other.

You can have access to portuguese articles about pen drives from page Pen_Drive

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil