It did not take long for business to adapt and create full-featured systems to integrate standard calling, extension possibilities and just about everything else any business needs with a business phone system.

Each time you contact a contact centre, your standard call is being diverted anywhere around the world so a representative can handle your call. This is how many companies are providing 24-hour call centre services in many languages.

The people working in those call centres are working during the day, or they are living in the country of the language you have chosen on the service menu.

At the same time, in any booming business, we have to be careful when we are selecting our vendor. Here are some of the scams you should be on the look-out for, and what you need to make sure you have.

DoS (Denial of Service)

DoS is the probably the biggest threat to enterprise and business. DoS attacks can come from two sources. The worst cause is by your own provider. Some providers are doing this to generate more revenue by charging extra fees to repair whatever ‘damage’ caused the break in service.

The other threat is from hackers who penetrate the communication data packets being sent through the internet, and ‘jam’ the communications by pushing in more packets to create mayhem.

Most VOIP operator’s applications and communication protocols will even prevent any ISP to know where any communication is coming from, and this creates a cover for the hackers.

Fee Threats

It could be too late when you realise your next VOIP bill arrives from your provider to stop hackers who have penetrated your system, and have been making multiple calls and video calls at your expense.

VOIP calling is particularly vulnerable to attack when compared with the older PBX systems because they internet networks and not closed PBX wired networks for a single company. At the same time, a VOIP-network for your company can be a network around the whole world.

Diversion

When I am out of the office, I can divert my traditional office phone to my mobile phone. That is a great service if I have money to burn. With a VOIP-based business phone system, all of the people working in my team have an extension on our system, and it does not matter where they are in the world, whether in their office, or on their mobile phone, the caller does not know, and the costs are negligible.

Even when we ignore the issue of diversion, and just consider the ability of having a phone system that allows our extension numbers to be anywhere in the world, there is absolutely no comparison with tradition phone calls and traditional phone calling cost.

Phishing

Phishing continues to be a big part of criminal activity on the internet. We all know those letters that come in our email telling us to help someone to get money out of a bank account in another country. They are looking to get your personal details, so they can steal your money. Phishing has hit serious levels with online recruitment and job websites.

Does it sound like I have had enough of my national carrier and the expensive costs of poor service and minimal features? To put it bluntly, I have had enough of paying too much. On top of that, I am already used to video calling, and don’t feel a call without an image of the person on the other end of the phone is enough.

I am also eagerly awaiting the release of the new Windows 8 operating system, so I can take even more advantage of VOIP systems, because my smartphone, business phone system and all of my other computer devices will be running on the same operating system.

In this guide I will walk you through the steps necessary to get your new iSCSI drive initialized and ready for use.

Initialize the Disk

1. Click to open the Start Menu and right-click Computer. Click Manage when the menu appears.

Optional: You can access the Management console by typing diskmgmt.msc in the Start Menu search box. When the item appears on the search results, click to open it.

2. When the Computer Management window opens, click to expand Storage and then click Disk Management.

3. A pop-up (Initialize Disk) should appear prompting you to initialize the disk. Leave the default settings and click OK to bring the disk online.

Create a New Volume

4. Right-click the new drive (list of drives on lower section of the window). Select New Simple Volume from the menu.

The New Simple Volume Wizard will open.

5. Use the default settings and click Next until you complete the wizard.

The next step of the process will automatically format the drive which can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the hard drive’s capacity.

Access the Hard Drive

When formatting is complete you will be able to access your iSCSI hard drive as it were physically located on your computer.

If you have any comments or questions please use the comments form below.

KernSafe is global leader in storage virtualization and data security solutions from desktop to the data center. Our costumers vary from individuals, through middle size firms and finishing at big multinational companies. We are dedicated to produce the highest quality software possible and, at the same time, provide the outstanding customer support.

As one of the fastest-growing public software organizations, KernSafe is producing software that is easy to use but can also benefit in professional solutions. You can check KernSafe products offer on our website www.kernsafe.com

All you need to do is follow the instructions below to learn how to connect to the iSCSI Target from your Windows 7 machine.

Note: If you are using Windows XP, download the Initiator application from Microsoft to connect to your iSCSI Target.

Launch Initiator in Windows 7

The beauty of using Windows 7 with iSCSI devices is that the feature is already built-in. You just need to know where to look.

1. Open the Start Menu and enter Initiator in the search box. When iSCSI Initiator appears in the search results under Programs, click iSCSI Initiator to launch the application.

Configure iSCSI Initiator

2. The iSCSI Initiator Properties window will open. Click the Discovery tab.

3. Click the Discover Portal to add a target Portal.

4. Enter the IP address that you pulled from the Target (here’s how to the get the IP address in case you missed that article). Click OK.

Note: Unless you are using another port, leave the default Port entry.

Connect to Target Portal

5. Go back to the Targets tab and your target should appear on the list.

6. Select the Target from the list and click the Connect button.

7. When the Connect to Target prompt appears check Add this connection to the list of Favorite Targets. This will ensure that your computer connects to the target even when you reboot.

Click OK to finish the connection.

Once connected you will notice that the target will be listed as Connected in the Status column. Click OK to close the iSCSI Initiator window.

That’s it! You’re connected to the target. Now you just need to initialize the drive, which will be covered in a future post. If you have any comments or questions please use the comments form below.

KernSafe is global leader in storage virtualization and data security solutions from desktop to the data center. Our costumers vary from individuals, through middle size firms and finishing at big multinational companies. We are dedicated to produce the highest quality software possible and, at the same time, provide the outstanding customer support.

As one of the fastest-growing public software organizations, KernSafe is producing software that is easy to use but can also benefit in professional solutions. You can check KernSafe products offer on our website www.kernsafe.com.

On this guide I will show you how to discover the target’s IP address using iStorage Server, the software used to generate the target in Windows.

If you are on the target machine you can locate the address by following the instructions on the Find Your IP address in Windows, otherwise locate the IP address in iStorage Server using the instructions below.

How to Find the iSCSI IP Address in iStorage Server

1. Launch iStorage Server and click on the target you created located on the pane to the left.

2. When you select the target you will notice that the main application screen will display a summary of the target, titled Target General Properties.

Scroll down the page until you reach Server Portal IP Address.

Take note of the IP address as you will need it to connect to the iSCSI Target remotely. If you have any comments or questions please use the comments form below.

Before you continue with the guide below, download and install the free version of iStorage Server.

Once installed, launch the iStorage application. The iStorage Server Management Console will appear. The console is where you will be able to access all of iStorage Server’s features.

In this guide I will show you how to create a basic iSCSI Target using an image file.

How to Create a New iSCSI Target in iStorage

Click the Create button to start creating iSCSI Target in the Console window.

You will notice that new window will appear with Create iSCSI Target Wizard. The wizard will walk you through the target creation process.

Image Type and Medium Type

Select Hard Disk from the list and and click Next to proceed.

When prompted select Image File from the list and click Next.

To keep the guide simple, select Standard Image File from the list of options provided and click Next.

Image Disk Configuration

In next step you will have to create a new image file and specify its size.

1. To create the image disk, select Create a new image file.

Note: A new window will appear asking you to choose the directory where the image file should be located. Select a location that will be easy to remember.

2. Once you set the image disk location you will need to specify the size of the image. Make sure not to exceed available space on the drive you selected and of course to leave extra space should you need it.

Set the size of the image file in MB, so if you want 1GB, enter 1,024 MB.

Note: You will notice that there’s an additional option which is available to you, Use sparse file on NTFS file system. This is asking you if you would like to create a fixed or auto-expanding image file. The advantage of using an expanding volume is that space is only used when it is needed.

Aside from the obvious benefit, it has one drawback – dynamically expanding files do not offer the same performance as a fixed size set from the beginning.

This option is entirely up to you.

3. Click Next to proceed.

Access Authorization Mode

In this window you may choose the authorization method for your iSCSI Target. I will explain more about it in another article.

For now leave it as Anonymous and click Next to continue.

Complete the iSCSI Target Creation Wizard

In last step of creating iSCSI Target in iStorage Server we need to enter name for the new target.

Note: When you name the target make sure not to use spaces or other special characters.

Note: There are two options before you complete the Wizard, but we will cover these in a future article. Leave the default values and continue.

Name the target and click Finish to exit the wizard.

After successfully creating your target, you should be able to see the target listed in the iStorage Server Management Console:

In the next guide I will show you how to find your target’s IP address so that you can connect to it remotely.

If you have any comments or questions please post them below.

KernSafe is global leader in storage virtualization and data security solutions from desktop to the data center. Our costumers vary from individuals, through middle size firms and finishing at big multinational companies. We are dedicated to produce the highest quality software possible and, at the same time, provide the outstanding customer support.

As one of the fastest-growing public software organizations, KernSafe is producing software that is easy to use but can also benefit in professional solutions. You can check KernSafe products offer on our website www.kernsafe.com

In the iSCSI series we will publish this week we will discuss the benefits and usage of iSCSI as well as how to set it up on your computer.

iSCSI Basics

Don’t worry, you don’t need to buy any special hardware! You will only need two things, an iSCSI Target (something that will be able to share your device) and an iSCSI Initiator (something that will connect to iSCSI Target).

iSCSI (“eye-scuzzy”) – translates to Internet Small Computer System Interface is a technology that allows you to connect to different devices (such as hard drives, printers, scanners etc.) via Ethernet network.

What does this mean? It means that you can share a partition or optical drive through the Internet! You are probably thinking ‘This isn’t news, I’ve been able to do that for ages’. Not exactly.

The main difference is that when you share a hard disk as an iSCSI Target and then connect to it using iSCSI Initiator, the hard disk will appear as an actual local hard drive on the client. This means you can format, partition, label that drive as you wish, just like you would on a physical drive.

Same concept applies for other devices like printers, scanners, tape drives, optical drives, etc.

Getting Started

Now that you have a basic understanding of iSCSI, let’s discuss the software options necessary to set up iSCSI software.

In order to configure iSCSI targets on your computer you will need to download and install iStorage Server. iStorage Server will allow you to setup the iSCSI target that will be accessed with the iSCSI Initiatior included in Windows 7.

There is a free 20-day trial version that has available all features, but most importantly there is also a free version of iStorage Server.

If you don’t use Windows 7 you can download Initiator from Microsoft to set up the iSCSI initiatior on your Windows PC.

The next set of articles that will publish this week will show you how to configure iSCSI and initiate connections from your Windows PC.

• How to Install & Configure iStorage Server for Windows
• How to Find the iSCSI Server IP Address
• How to Connect to a Target with iSCSI Initiator in Windows 7
• How to Initialize an iSCSI Drive in Windows 7

These guides should provide you with all the instructions you will need to begin working with iSCSI initiators and targets.

KernSafe is global leader in storage virtualization and data security solutions from desktop to the data center. Our costumers vary from individuals, through middle size firms and finishing at big multinational companies. We are dedicated to produce the highest quality software possible and, at the same time, provide the outstanding customer support. As one of the fastest-growing public software organizations, KernSafe is producing software that is easy to use but can also benefit in professional solutions. You can check KernSafe products offer on our website www.kernsafe.com

Rather than tossing your computer out the window in frustration, try a few of these ideas to see if you can get your PC up and running like new.

Programs

MalwareBytes Anti-Malware

One of the first things you’ll want to look for is malicious software such as spyware, adware, and malware. Rather than spending $30 or more on a licensing agreement, download the free version of MalwareBytes.

This program is effective, fast and does a great job of detecting and removing malware.

CCleaner

Over time, your computer can build up an impressive library of temporary and unused files. Though the lengthy list may be impressive, it results in performance that is anything but.

CCleaner offers a fast and easy way to remove these files and assists you with uninstalling programs you no longer use. Best of all, CCleaner is free.

Autoruns

Many programs have a sneaky autorun feature. For commonly used programs, you can easily adjust the setting in that application’s menu.

However, there may be programs running without you knowing it. Autoruns will help you identify those programs and alter their system settings.

Ultimate Windows Tweaker

If you love Windows, but wish you could customize it more, you’ll love Ultimate Windows Tweaker. This application allows you to adjust settings you may not have even known about.

Take care to see what each change does before making it and remember to backup your system first.

Performance Tweaks

Relocate Infrequently Used Files

Photos, music, lengthy PDFs and image heavy documents are the files guiltiest of being memory hogs.

Moving files to an external hard drive or a partitioned drive won’t just help speed up your PC, they’ll serve as system backup too.

Windows Search Index

Windows Search can be extremely useful, unfortunately it is guilty of system resource gluttony. Windows Search runs constantly, which creates a serious drain on your computer’s resources.

You can opt to turn it off completely, or adjust the settings so it only searches for files in specific folders.

Disable Unused Services

PC’s come loaded with extra software and when the computer starts running slow, these programs should be the first to go. Before going down the list of programs and clicking uninstall on ones you don’t recognize, read a services guide or community forum to see what other users have done away with.

It’s easy to mistakenly delete a program or component you use often.

Use Lightweight Alternatives

Instant Messaging

Rather than keeping track of several instant messaging services, opt for a universal IM system like Pidgin, Digsby, or Trillian Astra.

These applications are lightweight and offer improved functionality. Take care not to install the extra programs that are sometimes bundled with these applications.

Change Your PDF Reader

Adobe Reader may be the only program you think of when it’s time to open a PDF, but it is far from the only option.

Foxit Reader works just as well, uses fewer system resources and is available for free.

Get a New Video Player

Video is the medium of choice for many websites and PC users. VLC Media Player is a fast and free alternative to Windows Media Player that offers a wide range of both video and audio formats.

Change Browsers

Most of you are probably viewing this article in Firefox or Chrome, but there are still quite a few people who place their trust in the often buggier and shakier Internet Explorer 7 or even IE6.

Not only do Firefox, Internet Explorer 9 and Chrome outperform these two older browsers, users have reported fewer complications and these browsers don’t cause a great drain on memory.

Like anything, computers require maintenance. If focusing on software and applications doesn’t work, consider upgrading the hardware. You shouldn’t have to invest hundreds in your old computer to get it running like new, but there are more than a few things to try before giving it a toss or kick, depending on which your frustration is most likely to inspire.

Katie Campbell is an editor for Bestcovery.com where she writes software and internet reviews. After experiencing her fair share of computer problems, she decided it was time to educate herself and help others to do the same.

This helps consumers troubleshoot their devices, use their device’s features and discover other hardware and software from the vendor. In this guide I will show you how to get to Device Stage for hardware installed on your computer.

Software/Hardware used: Windows 7 Ultimate and LifeCam HD Camera.

1. Click the Windows Orb to open the Start Menu and click Devices and Printers.

2. When the Devices and Printers window opens click on any device to open the device’s Device Stage.

Note: Devices that support Device Stage are denoted by the icon which represents the actual device. In the example above I clicked on the LifeCam Cinema webcam because its icon is an exact representation of the device. Compatible devices will use an actual image to represent the device and so only those devices will display the Device Stage.

If the device’s property dialog box opens, most likely the manufacturer has not created a Device Stage for the device or the latest drivers may not have been installed. Make sure that your computer has the latest drivers.

When you reach a device’s Device Stage you will find a brief summary of the device along with images. Some companies use this area to promote other devices, provide user manuals, support and other useful information.

In this case, Microsoft has branded the page and included links to applications installed on the computer that can use the device as well as other applications that can be downloaded. You will find that for the LifeCam Microsoft offers links registration, other Microsoft Hardware and solutions to common problems.

If your computer’s hardware uses device stage you will find a wealth of information about the device and what it can do. Did you find that your devices supported Device Stage? What do you think about it? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Photo Fuse is one of the coolest features you will ever see on any photo editing application and best of all it’s free. Check out the guide below as I show you how to get the perfect shot with Windows Live Photo Gallery.

Software/Hardware used: Windows Live Photo Gallery running on Windows 7.

1. Select the images you wish to fuse. Try to stick to images where the picture was taken at the same distance, lighting, and focus.

2. Click the Create tab and then Photo Fuse in the Tools group.

Photo Fuse doing its magic.

3. Click on the face you wish to change on the photograph.

4. A pop-up will appear with a list of images containing the same face you selected. Click on the face you like best. Repeat for other individuals in the picture.

After you select the face you wish to use, Photo Fuse will magically change the face on the original image, blending the background and making it appear as if the image was taken that way. Pretty cool huh?

5. Once you are done click the Save button.

6. You will be prompted to select a save location and to name the file. Click Save to save the new image.

Now that you know how to use Photo Fuse you may want to go over your image collection to fix all of those images that need fixing. If you have any comments or questions please use the comments form below.

The guide below will show you how to temporarily disable face detection in Windows Live Photo Gallery so that you can browse the images with little or no lag at all. If you are adding a couple hundred images this may not be necessary, but in my case I have over 20,000 photos of family and friends so face detection does take a toll on my system when Photo Gallery is running.

Software/Hardware used: Windows Live Photo Gallery running on Windows 7.

1. Click File and then Options.

2. When the Windows Live Photo Gallery Options window opens make sure you are in the General tab and uncheck Find people in your photos.

3. When you are done click OK to save the changes. You will need to close and reopen Photo Gallery for changes to take effect.

If you wish to reenable this feature simply follow the steps above and check Find people in your photos.

Once photo gallery is reopened you should not experience any lag associated with face recognition. If you have any comments or questions please use the comments form below.