Hackers have found a new hook to trick people into opening malicious attachments: send emails that purport to come from office printers, many of which now have the ability to email scanned documents.
"This is a new tactic we haven't really seen before," said Paul Wood, senior intelligence analyst for Symantec.cloud, the company's web-based security and email branch.
The emails invariably contain some kind of Trojan downloader, which can be used to download other malware or steal documents from the computer
Symantec published examples of the emails collected recently in its latest monthly Symantec Intelligence Report. The emails at first glance look quite convincing, with a subject line "Fwd: Scan from a HP Officejet." The email reads "Attached document was scanned and sent to you using a Hewlett-Packard HP Officejet 05701J" and then "Sent by Morton."
Wood said it is common for the scammmers to spoof the sender's name and make it appear the email came from the same domain as the one that belongs to the recipient. Some of the messages captured by Symantec appear to be at a cursory glance internal company email, which makes it more likely that the person who receives the message will open the attachment.
The attachment is a ".zip" file, which is odd. Wood said it is unlikely that most printers with the email sending ability can actually send a ".zip" file, as those printers mostly send image file, he said.
Although Windows has the ability to open ".zip" files, there is evidence the scammers are trying to obscure the ".zip" extension for those who use third party tools to unzip the content. In some archiving tools, the malicious attachment appears to have a ".doc" or ".jpg" file extension. The hackers have manipulated file names to make it less likely to arouse suspicions, Wood said.
The overall social engineering technique is along the same lines as other methods observed of late, such as sending emails purporting to be from well known couriers with various malicious attachments, Wood said.
Source : computerworlduk
The College of Engineering will soon have a new 3-D printer, allowing students and faculty to create models of their work using plastics and other types of materials.
The Objet 30 printer is a newer, better version of the engineering department's current 3-D printer, according to Hamid Hefazi, mechanical and aerospace engineering chair.
The mechanical and aerospace engineering department (MAE) will use the printer in a number of required courses that focus on computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
Christiane Beyer, associate professor in the MAE department, uses 3-D printers and other manufacturing technology to teach her CAD/CAM class.
"This Additive-Manufacturing technology is an excellent addition to our newly established laboratory with cutting-edge technologies," she said via email. "It will provide superior educational opportunities to our students, particularly in their capstone design projects as well as many qualified research projects."
Students working on design projects such as gearboxes, automobile parts, rocket parts or airplane parts will complete their models using the printer. It works layer by layer to build a functional 3-D model part after the dimensions are created using computer software.
"The printer, aside from being more accurate, uses a different type of material to build the part," Hefazi said. "The parts built by the previous printer were not really functional. This one uses plastic, and you can actually use the part. It's functional."
The printer was purchased using a $50,000 grant from the DENSO North American Foundation, and is expected to arrive in early October. It will be the newest addition to the Automotive, Research, Development and Education Laboratory.
"I think the 3-D printer will add more depth to the computer-aided design lab," said Kyle King, senior mechanical engineering major. "It's something other schools don't have, and more students will want to attend CSULB because it's something a lot of schools don't offer."
This printer is also faster and more accurate than older models. It is an expansion of the rapid prototyping laboratory.
"Up to now, what you would do is you would design a model and see it on the computer, but you didn't have an actual physical model to see how it works and functions," Hefazi said. "This device, the 3-D printer, actually makes a physical model of your computer design."
Rapid prototyping the technique used to quickly create a model using data from a computer-aided design program, which is how the printer functions. The MAE department is in the process of expanding the lab, according to Hefazi.
"Rapid prototyping is an emerging technology of tremendous potential," Hefazi said in a press release. "By funding the MAE department's acquisition of this additive-manufacturing system, DENSO has empowered our faculty and students with the ability to engage in state-of-the-art research and development projects in this arena."
The DENSO North America Foundation was established in January 2010, as an extension of the DENSO Corporation in Japan. The foundation awards grants to colleges and universities throughout North America in an effort to advance higher education in engineering and related programs, and to develop a skilled and knowledgeable workforce.
For most people, a computer has become a necessary part of their daily lives. Whether it is for work or personal use, we often have to print out a number of documents on a daily basis. As with any device, we have to make adjustments. When using a computer printer, one will expect at some point to see their toner run low. One has a couple of options to fix the problem when their computer printer toner runs low.
Although the printer runs electronically, it needs the toner cartridge to provide toner for the printed paper. One choice you have when the printer toner runs low is to purchase a new toner cartridge. A new cartridge is expensive, so it may take more sense to refill the cartridge when you notice blurry and faded printed copies. Because toner cartridges can be expensive, check online for special deals on toner or ask an office supply store about rebates, discounts, and sales. It is important to know what type of toner cartridge you use before making a purchase. When replacing the toner cartridge, open the printer's interior panel. Locate the cartridge handle on the inside. Once you got the handle, pull out and up to remove the used cartridge. Insert the new cartridge in the spot where you removed the old cartridge.
A cheaper way of fixing toner that is running low is to refill the toner cartridge with new toner. When refilling a toner cartridge, make sure you have the right toner. If not, you could damage the printer. You can do the refilling or have someone else do it for you. There are many online sites that sell toner refill kits. A quality refill kit will come with a set of instructions. If not, and you are unsure how to refill the cartridge, get a professional or contact the printer manufacturer or a computer store for help with refilling. Your toner refill kit will have the tools and toner to refill your cartridge. After refilling, reseal the hole with the tools from the refill kit. There are toner refill kits for cartridges where you burn the fill hole and then when done, there will be aluminum tape in the kit to secure over the hole. Shake the cartridge and then reinsert the toner filled cartridge back into the printer. One cartridge should only be reused about three times before you buy a brand new one. As well, there are now printer toner cartridges that contain 'smart chips' which will have to be replaced for the cartridge to perform past its life expectancy. When refilling a toner cartridge, make sure you are refilling it while wearing old clothes and over an old towel so you do not make a mess on an item that you like.
Fixing a printer with toner running low does not have to be difficult or expensive. As long as you know what your options are and what to do, fixing it will not be a problem and you will be able to continue with high quality printer output.
Source: EzineArticles
So once we get down to the dollar for dollar, the modern equation has changed, even though the standard answer from printer dealers hasn't.
Of course, the question of repair cost and printer cost isn't the only thing to consider anymore. You have to consider down time, technological advances, and a whole mess of other things. In the end, you won't get a short, simple answer... but you can make a list of pros and cons taking into account each of the following:
Small Consistent Repairs - If a machine breaks down every other month, it's probably time for an upgrade... even if the repairs are cheap. They aren't supposed to break often. If yours is, then either the parts are getting old and brittle, or the machine itself isn't made for the amount of work you're giving it. An acceptable 'break free' period is four months.
Parts - With smaller machines, parts availability is usually the deciding factor when trying to decide whether to replace or repair. Especially with inkjet printers. As a matter of fact, the odds of being able repair an inkjet machine is very slim, because inkjet parts are usually not manufactured--the machine was designed to be replaceable.
Down Time - Sometimes it's not the end of the world when a machine sits in the corner for a week waiting for parts. Sometimes it is the end of the world. If your business relies on your machine, then you need to consider a few things: 1-Is the machine reliable enough to go for long periods without breaking? 2-Is the machine a popular model, and are there parts readily available when the machine DOES break? 3-do you have anything for 'backup'? If you answered 'no' to any of these questions, you ought to think about buying a good, reliable, POPULAR machine.
Technology - Hey--it changes, and it changes fast. If you're still using something with a parallel port, then it might be time to switch over. Yes, they'll always have things to help you convert from USB to parallel, but there are other software and memory changes that might make it impossible to use old printers. If you're thinking about upgrading your computer systems in the next couple of years, you ought to upgrade your printer as well.
Supplies - It's really hard to let go of an old printer when you have a whole stack of unused toner cartridges. Especially if you can't sell them to recover some of your cost. If the printer is costing too much to repair, then you end up spending a dime to save a nickel. However, some of the 'old reliables' can be used for bulk printer or for back-up printers, so it's not always a total loss.
While these are all good things to consider when paying for a printer repair, sometimes the final decision comes down to a simple budget consideration. The most important question might simply be: Do we have enough money budgeted for a new printer? Your technician can't help you answer that, but his experience can usually help you foresee the price you'll pay if you hold on to your old machine.
Source: EzineArticles
Gone are the days when the typewriter was the main piece of office equipment. This antique has been replaced by computers that enable employees to work at the speed of light. It is not unusual to see two projects pulled up on a computer screen while the employee is composing an email and talking on the phone. The laser printer is the sidekick of the office computer and it sees an enormous amount of use. Companies suffer big losses when they fail to have laser printer repairs completed in a timely manner by a professional.
In a recent business survey of over 3,000 individuals in charge of corporate printing functionality, 72 percent reported downtime at least monthly. The main reason why employees could not print? Staff failure to report that the printer was malfunctioning. In the largest companies surveyed, 43 percent said their staff was lax in reporting a faulty printer. This means that in any given month, over 250 employees within a single business suffer at the hands of printer downtime.
Ignoring an issue like printer repair is detrimental to a company. To succeed in this economy, a business must be faster, leaner, and more creative than its competition. Leanness comes at the hands of the most productive workers and creativity spills from their minds onto the computer screen. To get their best ideas into hard copy form, laser printers are required. If the office printer is not working, the business is not able to produce fast results.
Inexperienced repair technicians often have difficulty identifying what is preventing the device from operating. They have not witnessed the variety of things that can go wrong with a laser printer. Workers with decades of experience have seen it all. This enables them to quickly diagnose and address the issue, whether it is a worn out part or a tiny paper jam deep in the workings of the printer.
Printer repair is a necessary expense, but it does not need to be wasteful. By calling on the most skilled service companies to perform the repair, a business saves money in the end. The printer will be fixed properly the first time and will be optimized for use within the busy office environment. Running diagnostic tests enables repair technicians to identify potential issues before these begin affecting printer operation.
The most skilled repair technicians know how to properly take apart the equipment to get at the heart of the issue and they reassemble the device like the professionals they are. When desired by the client, spare parts can be used to save the business money on things like fuser and other major assemblies. Refurbished parts help to reduce environmental waste and are backed by a warranty.
Poor management of the printing function costs the average business over $125,000 annually in lost productivity. For companies with over 250 workers, this figure can reach nearly $1 million. A business can recoup this cost simply through timely reporting of printer faults and laser printer repairs by only the most experienced professionals in the field.
Source: EzineArticles
As part of their endeavor to contribute towards saving the ecosystem, Dell has come up with recycling solutions which is offered for not only Dell printers and Dell computers but even for other computers, printers and other hardware manufactured by other companies. This is probably one of the largely convenient alternatives for everyone since Dell already has the proper infrastructure for programs pertaining to recycling. In addition to this, Dell has various recycling events to educate people with reference to the dangers of inappropriate disposal of Dell printers.
The following points will elaborate on the need and way of recycling of Dell computers and printers.
1. The reasons for recycling Dell computers and Dell printers
Computers and printers of Dell and other companies must be recycled owing to 2 primary reasons:
The different materials in the computers as well as the printers can be used again for the production of various new kinds of products. This in turn will result in lessening the quantity of material which goes into the landfills as well as in reducing the requirement for the different kinds of raw materials needed in the manufacturing of computers and printers.
Few constituent materials of the computers as well as the printers ought to be disposed off or reprocessed in a particular way in order to guard the environment.
2. Regarding the data on the hard drive
Prior to recycling the Dell products, a backup is required for all the indispensable data as you will be removing all the data from the hard drive. Also, you are liable for removing or deleting all the data which is in your computer hardware.
3. The recycling program of Dell
Dell has an extensive recycling program. It includes computers and printer hardware along with printer ink cartridges as well as toner cartridges. As a matter of fact, Dell has taken it upon itself to recycle its branded computers and printers absolutely free of cost when you buy a fresh Dell printer. Most importantly, Dell accepts the computers, printers and other hardware from different manufactures for recycling.
4. What do you need to do?
To be able to recycle your Dell printers and computers visit the dell recycle support page.
Choose the 'Item Type' which is applicable to your product that you wish to recycle. Then enter the 'Unique Product Identifier' to begin the gratis recycling program by clicking on 'Recycle Now'.
In this way you can very easily get your old Dell Computers as well as Dell Printers recycled. The most critical component to dispose is the monitor of the printer which has a CRT or cathode ray tube. It has lead that can pollute drinking water if disposed carelessly.
The chips and other semi conductor parts both in the computer as well as the monitor may have large amount of cadmium. Batteries and some components in the motherboard have mercury. Dell takes care of segregating these metals and for reuse. Besides, it also saves you the time as well as effort with which you would otherwise dispose your computers and printers.
Dell is the first manufacturer to have made this kind of an eco friendly move and it has been appreciated globally for its outstanding contribution. Dell has expanded its recycling program through a number of tie ups with different organizations.
Source: EzineArticles
Time typically spent typing up homework assignments after school in the computer lab at Olga Reed Elementary School will finally be spent in front of a brand-new laptop screen in the privacy of the twin girls’ Los Alamos home.
When eighth-graders Denis and Genesis Gervacio moved to the United States from Mexico four years ago, they set their minds on learning the English language and getting good grades.
The identical twins are now on the path to college, which could be a tough road without the proper tools.
That’s where the new laptop and printer donations from the Santa Maria business community come in.
“I want to thank the program,” Denis said on Wednesday following the Business Appreciation Luncheon put on by the Santa Maria Valley Industry Education Council and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The Gervacio sisters received one of seven computers doled out through Computer Connections, a partnership between the two organizations to give computers to deserving, under-served students to use toward their education.
The computers were presented to two high school, three junior high and three elementary school students from four local districts during Wednesday’s luncheon, with Bob Hatch, chamber president/CEO, encouraging those in attendance to continue making donations to keep the nine-year program going.
More than 160 computers have been awarded so far, he said, and the chamber has vowed to keep it going.
“It goes without saying that this is what it’s all about,” Hatch said, motioning toward students who humbly accepted their gifts after being picked by the schools.
The luncheon celebrated all business partnerships with the valley’s education community, and school district superintendents awarded plaques to special volunteers or businesses that went above and beyond service.
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Superintendent Doug Kimberly thanked Westburg & White, Inc. Architects and Planners for diligent work spent on current construction projects — a performing arts center at Pioneer Valley High School — and past ones, such as building plans for Pioneer so it could open in 2004.
“We were literally busting at the seams,” Kimberly said, referring to high enrollment at Santa Maria and Righetti high schools.
Guadalupe Union School District Superintendent Ed Cora gave a shout out to Santa Barbara Foundation’s Katherine Harvey Fellows for the $15,000 donation to expand its preschool program.
At the conclusion of the luncheon, Denis and Genesis picked up their computer to take home, accompanied by Olga Reed eighth-grade teacher Mike Luis.
“They’re wonderful young ladies,” said Luis, who nominated the shy, soft-spoken 13-year-old girls for the program. “I knew it would make such a difference in their high school careers.”
source : santamariatimes.com
A network is a group of two or more computers that intelligently share hardware or software devices with each other. A network can be as small and simple as two computers that share a printer or as complex as the world’s largest network: the Internet.
Intelligently sharing means that each computer that shares resources with another computer or computers maintains control of that resource. Thus, a USB switchbox for sharing a single printer between two or more computers doesn’t qualify as a network device; because the switchbox—not the computers—handles the print jobs, neither computer knows when the other one needs to print, and print jobs can potentially interfere with each other.
A shared printer, on the other hand, can be controlled remotely and can store print jobs from different computers on the print server’s hard disk. Users can change the sequence of print jobs, hold them, or cancel them. And, sharing of the device can be controlled through passwords, further differentiating it from a switchbox.
You can share or access many different types of devices over a network, but the most common devices include the following:
* Printers
* Storage drives
* Modems
* Cameras
* Media players/recorders
* Game consoles
Entire drives or just selected folders can be shared with other users via the network.
In addition to reducing hardware costs by sharing expensive printers and other peripherals among multiple users, networks provide additional benefits to users:
* A single Internet connection can be shared among multiple computers.
* Electronic mail (email) can be sent and received.
* Multiple users can share access to software and data files.
* Files and folders can be backed up to local or remote shares.
* Audio and video content can be streamed to multiple devices.
* Multiple users can contribute to a single document using collaboration features.
* Remote-control/access programs can be used to troubleshoot problems or show new users how to perform a task.
Types of Networks
Several types of networks exist, from small two-station arrangements, to networks that interconnect offices in many cities:
* Local area networks—The smallest office network is referred to as a local area network (LAN). A LAN is formed from computers and components in a single office or building. LANs built from the same components as are used in office networks are also common at home.
* Wide area networks—LANs in different locations can be connected by high-speed fiber-optic, satellite, or leased phone lines to form a wide area network (WAN).
* The Internet—The World Wide Web is the most visible part of the world’s largest network, the Internet. The Internet is really a network of networks, all of which are connected to each other through Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). It’s a glorified WAN in many respects. Programs such as web browsers, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) clients, and email clients are some of the most common ways users work with the Internet.
* Intranets—Intranets use the same web browsers and other software and the same TCP/IP protocol as the public Internet, but intranets exist as a portion of a company’s private network. Typically, intranets comprise one or more LANs that are connected to other company networks, but, unlike the Internet, the content is restricted to authorized company users only. Essentially, an intranet is a private Internet.
* Extranets—Intranets that share a portion of their content with customers, suppliers, or other businesses, but not with the general public, are called extranets. As with intranets, the same web browsers and other software are used to access the content.
Note: Both intranets and extranets rely on firewalls and other security tools and procedures to keep their private contents private.
Requirements for a Network
Unless the computers that are connected know they are connected and agree on a common means of communication and what resources are to be shared, they can’t work together. Networking software is just as important as networking hardware because it establishes the logical connections that make the physical connections work.
At a minimum, each network requires the following:
* Physical (cable) or wireless (usually via radio frequency [RF]) connections between computers.
* A common set of communications rules, known as a network protocol.
* Software that enables resources to be served to or shared with other network-enabled devices and that controls access to the shared resources. This can be in the form of a network operating system or NOS (such as older versions of Novell Netware) that runs on top of an operating system; however, current operating systems (OSes), such as Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux also provide network sharing services, thus eliminating the need for a specialized NOS. A machine sharing resources is usually called a server.
* Resources that can be shared, such as printers, drives, modems, media players, and so on.
* Software that enables computers to access other computers sharing resources (servers). Systems accessing shared resources are usually called network clients. Client software can be in the form of a program or service that runs on top of an OS. Current OSes, such as Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux include client software.
These rules apply both to the simplest and the most powerful networks, and all the ones in between, regardless of their nature. The details of the hardware and software you need are discussed more fully later in this chapter.
Source : tomshardware
Computer printer ink is a type of ink that comes from printers that will release small droplets of ink onto paper. Virtually all modern printers now use color ink. The cheaper color printers will use a combination of three colors, and these are magenta, cyan, and yellow, and they will also print black as well. The three primary colors are used to create the wide variety of colors that can be found in nature. Some printers will use ink that is based on CMYK to make sure the color black is pure. The prices of computer printers may vary widely, and the same can be said for the ink. While a basic color printer can be purchased for less than $100, high quality color printers can cost thousands of dollars.
The cost of computer printer ink cartridges for cheap printers can be expensive over the long term. For instance, if the black cartridge is not separate from the other colors, you may need to buy an entire unit once your black has been used up. In the printer ink industry, this phenomenon is called consumables. Another thing that you will want to look at is the quality of the resolution. When you look at the resolution quality of ink, it is important to place an emphasis on the text instead of the graphics. The graphics will almost always appear higher in quality than the text. When you are looking at a printer model, you can compare it to other models by having them print out sample images.
Purchasing a high quality paper that is coated will enhance the look of your computer ink. These coated pieces of paper will not absorb the printer ink in the same manner that the ink is absorbed by standard printer paper. While coated paper is more expensive, the cost should be considered when you are about to purchase ink for your printer. If you need to print high quality images to be used for advertisements, you will need to obtain what is called a wide-format printer. These printers are used to produce text and graphics for large posters, billboards, or banners. In addition to printing images on paper, these printers can be used to print images on materials such as vinyl. They have a professional level of quality, and they are often used by large companies.
The way in which ink is printed on materials will fall under two categories, and these are "drop on demand" and "continuous ink." As the name suggests, printers which use the continuous ink method will spray a bunch of droplets onto the material. While this method is still common, drop on demand will force the ink out of the chamber by using electricity or heat. A thermal technique will be used to warm up a resistor than will push the droplets out of the nozzle. An air bubble will be generated within the chamber. Some companies have also begin using crystals to expand the ink. This is one of the most cutting edge advance in printer ink technology.
Article Sour: ceEzineArticles
If you get the following error when you try to install a Printer in Windows.
"Operation could not be completed. The print spooler service is not running" Then you may need to restart the print spooler and ensure that (RPC) Remote Proceedure Call service is also runnung. Here's how to go about fixing
# 1: Go to Start, Run to open the Run dialog and type services.msc and click OK. Or you could try starting the service by typing "net start spooler" in the run dialog box then click ok.
# 2: Scroll down and Double-click the Printer Spooler service, and in the dialog box, change the startup type to Automatic. This sets the Spooler service to start automatically when you restart the computer. Click OK.
# 3: Restart the computer and try to install the printer again.
# 4: * If that didn't work, your printer drivers may be currupted. Uninstall all printer software from your computer and start over from scratch. This may include bundled software that came with your printer as well. If printers etc. is listed in the Control Panel under Printers & Faxes, you should consider deleting them aswell.Clean out everything possible that might be hanging the Printer Spooler service. Once the reinstallation is completed, updated the printer driver software from your printer manufacturers website. You may also consider installing only the applications you need to operate your printer.
