Computer Repair Shop

Using Photoshop To Fix Red Eye in Your Pictures

You've maybe had this nightmare scenario happen to you: you capture that precious moment with your 5 year old and can't wait to show off the darling one latest adorable expression, only to find that the child peering back at you from the photo appears to be demon possessed, sporting red eyes that dominate the picture. You're just sure he's actually okay, I mean you go to church and all. This unsettling malady, known in photo circles as red eye, (a technical term!) is caused by the light from your camera's flash bouncing off the retina in the back of the eye, usually caused in low light conditions, just when you needed that flash to illuminate things.

Ironically, red eye is getting more prevalent as digital cameras have surged into mainstream popularity. Since these gizmos are growing ever smaller, the Flash on a digital camera is located very near the lens, and the flash shoots directly into the iris and reflects back into the camera, causing that terrible red eye we're always so upset to see. Even the red eye reduction features that most digital cameras come standard with, which produces a pre-flash just before the picture is exposed, (always wondered why that was, didn't you!) offers little help in reducing this problem. This very seldom actually works, and you're still left with that awful red eye, staring back at you!

Since most digital cameras don't offer or accommodate any other lighting sources other than the flash, the only solution left for most of us is to fix it after the fact, and the best tool to do that by a long shot is Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop makes quick work of red eye, and if you've heard that learning Photoshop is a bear, I'm here to tell you that with a little targeted instruction, you can be using Photoshop to not only eliminate those evil eyes from your family photos, but also to benefit from all the other amazing benefits this incredible software has to offer.

Don't let those photos sit there when you can fix them fast with Adobe Photoshop!

For a great Photoshop tutorial, or to learn more about how you can improve your Photoshop skills, visit Keith's site at http://Fast-and-Easy-Photoshop.com/

posted by laptop-computer-repair-yjez @ 1:53 AM 0 comments

Five Key Steps To The Most Effective Spyware Protection

Antispyware programs alone are insufficient to protect our computers and data from spyware. Not only are there rogue programs being marketed that fraudulently claim to detect and remove spyware, but a single spyware blocker will not remove all spyware.

My own spyware remover evaluation of popular antispyware programs shows the best will only remove around 50 percent of spyware. This figure will vary with the amount and types of spyware presented to the spyware blocker. For instance, another independent test has shown spyware detection and removal at the 70% level.

My point is... if you have an antispyware program, and you have spyware installed on your computer, then there's a good chance your software is not removing all of it. Current advice for home and small office users is to use at least two antispyware programs -- but more of that later.

Spyware can be installed and have its effects on our computers through a number of different routes. So, by plugging these holes in our system, we can reduce the amount and type of spyware that does get through. This, in turn, means our spyware blockers have a lighter spyware load with which to deal.

What now follows are five steps to plug those holes and ensure that we have the best protection against spyware available...

1. Install A Two-Way Firewall

A number of spyware programs use our Internet connection to send our data, such as our address book and financial information etc, to a third party. Other spyware will connect to base and download more advertisements or other malware to be run on our PCs.

Having a firewall that controls outward bound traffic, as well as inbound, will block and warn of this activity.

For those of you relying on the Windows XP firewall, you may already know that it only screens incoming traffic, so you are not protected against spyware that is 'phoning home'.

2. Check Your Anti-Virus Blocks Trojans

Anti-virus (AV) software is not currently designed to detect spyware. However, most AV software is good at stopping viruses and worms that are carrying a spyware payload.

There are a few AV programs that are very effective at stopping Trojan horses... often used as spyware or to take control of PCs, turning them into zombie computers.

By ensuring you have one of these top AV programs, you'll not only have the best performing software against viruses and worms, but also better protection against Trojans than provided by spyware removers.

3. Patch Your System

Some types of spyware infect computers through system vulnerabilities.

Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Outlook and Outlook Express have frequent security flaws, so are attractive targets for spyware and other malware.

By regularly checking for fixes, known as patches, for these flaws across all your software programs, your system will be at its optimal security setting against spyware and other malware.

4. Change Internet Explorer

Most of us use Internet Explorer (IE) as our Internet browser. However, IE has been consistently plagued with security flaws, as mentioned above. A number of these flaws are to do with ActiveX controls, which spyware, such as browser hijackers and dialers, have taken advantage of.

Security was so poor with IE, that US CERT advised people to use a different browser for their computer protection.

The new IE7 browser is currently under test and promises to offer more protection. While you're waiting, I'd advise you to try an alternative browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Opera, which, although not security heaven, are more resilient against spyware and other attacks.

5. Install Top Of The Line Spyware Removers

The final -- and mandatory -- step in spyware protection is the installation of antispyware.

As I said earlier, there are fraudulent antispyware programs out there and even with the best antispyware, there is a high risk that all spyware will not be removed from your PC.

Part of the answer is to install at least two, reputable and tested commercial programs. I say "commercial" because the programs I have tested and recommend far outperform the freeware programs.

I'm not saying don't use free antispyware. In fact, the second part of the answer is to install three -- or even all -- of Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot - Search & Destroy, Windows Defender, SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard.

Why? Although not as effective as the bigger-bucks-development of the top antispyware products, tests have shown they can pick up spyware sometimes missed by their more affluent cousins.

By combining two commercial and three free spyware remover programs, running one each day and taking the previous steps, you'll have erected an optimized shield around your computer to guard privacy and online security against the worst of spyware.

Dr Pete Walker's website advises home/office users about the online dangers and their impact. Independent tests and reviews show what really works for your protection. See the Spyware Remover Evaluation at http://www.guard-privacy-and-online-security.com/spyware-remover-evaluation.html

posted by laptop-computer-repair-yjez @ 1:41 AM 0 comments