External Hard Disk Drive: The Best Backup Medium

Want to backup quickly and easily? Backup to external hard disk drives.

As a hard disk is the fastest and largest backup medium you can get, you may want to backup all your important files to an external USB hard drive. You can backup literally everything: your Outlook and Outlook Express files, your bookmarks, your favourite save games, and of course, your important work documents, photos, images and maybe even videos.

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As an external HDD is detached from your system and, combined with a strong encryption algorithm, like blowfish or 3DES, you can get maximum security. Just make sure you actually remember the encryption password. You can also store your external hard disk offsite (at a friend's house, a paid locker or specialized fire-proof storage place) in case your information is very important (well, generally, anyone can do that and it can't hurt for sure).

External Hard Disk Drive: The Best Backup Medium

As external USB drives have the cheapest storage volume (about 200Gb for 0?) and you can reuse them for several years, you may as well get the cheapest backup medium at your disposal. When using a backup schedule, you can simply backup the backup program run when you are absent (or maybe even at night) to backup everything without supervision. If you need two or more backup disks, you may as well get another external HDD.

Also, now there are quite large mobile hard drives, which can admit all the necessary data: work documents, e-mail files, etc. You can also carry your data anywhere you want and feel safe, because some external USB HDDs are now hard to break by dropping.

So, go with external HDD and backup as fast as you want, as much as you want, secure your important data, get the cheapest backups and even be able to carry your backups anywhere you want.

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Computer Forensics, Data Recovery and E-Discovery Differ

What's the difference between data recovery, computer forensics and e-discovery?

All three fields deal with data, and specifically digital data. It's all about electrons in the form of zeroes and ones. And it's all about taking information that may be hard to find and presenting it in a readable fashion. But even though there is overlap, the skill sets require different tools, different specializations, different work environments, and different ways of looking at things.

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Data recovery generally involves things that are broken - whether hardware or software. When a computer crashes and won't start back up, when an external hard disk, thumb drive, or memory card becomes unreadable, then data recovery may be required. Frequently, a digital device that needs its data recovered will have electronic damage, physical damage, or a combination of the two. If such is the case, hardware repair will be a big part of the data recovery process. This may involve repairing the drive's electronics, or even replacing the stack of read / write heads inside the sealed portion of the disk drive.

Computer Forensics, Data Recovery and E-Discovery Differ

If the hardware is intact, the file or partition structure is likely to be damaged. Some data recovery tools will attempt to repair partition or file structure, while others look into the damaged file structure and attempt to pull files out. Partitions and directories may be rebuilt manually with a hex editor as well, but given the size of modern disk drives and the amount of data on them, this tends to be impractical.

By and large, data recovery is a kind of "macro" process. The end result tends to be a large population of data saved without as much attention to the individual files. Data recovery jobs are often individual disk drives or other digital media that have damaged hardware or software. There are no particular industry-wide accepted standards in data recovery.

Electronic discovery usually deals with hardware and software that is intact. Challenges in e-discovery include "de-duping." A search may be conducted through a very large volume of existing or backed-up emails and documents.

Due to the nature of computers and of email, there are likely to be very many identical duplicates ("dupes") of various documents and emails. E-discovery tools are designed to winnow down what might otherwise be an unmanageable torrent of data to a manageable size by indexing and removal of duplicates, also known as de-duping.

E-discovery often deals with large quantities of data from undamaged hardware, and procedures fall under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ("FRCP").

Computer forensics has aspects of both e-discovery and data recovery.

In computer forensics, the forensic examiner (CFE) searches for and through both existing and previously existing, or deleted data. Doing this kind of e-discovery, a forensics expert sometimes deals with damaged hardware, although this is relatively uncommon. Data recovery procedures may be brought into play to recover deleted files intact. But frequently the CFE must deal with purposeful attempts to hide or destroy data that require skills outside those found in the data recovery industry.

When dealing with email, the CFE is often searching unallocated space for ambient data - data that no longer exists as a file readable to the user. This can include searching for specific words or phrases ("keyword searches") or email addresses in unallocated space. This can include hacking Outlook files to find deleted email. This can include looking into cache or log files, or even into Internet history files for remnants of data. And of course, it often includes a search through active files for the same data.

Practices are similar when looking for specific documents supportive of a case or charge. Keyword searches are performed both on active or visible documents, and on ambient data. Keyword searches must be designed carefully. In one such case, The Schlinger Foundation v Blair Smith, et al the author, computer forensics expert Steve Burgess uncovered more than one million keyword "hits" on two disk drives.

Finally, the computer forensics expert is also often called upon to testify as an expert witness in deposition or in court. As a result, the CFE's methods and procedures may be put under a microscope and the expert may be called upon to explain and defend his or her results and actions. A CFE who is also an expert witness may have to defend things said in court or in writings published elsewhere.

Most often, data recovery deals with one disk drive, or the data from one system. The data recovery house will have its own standards and procedures and works on reputation, not certification. Electronic discovery frequently deals with data from large numbers of systems, or from servers with that may contain many user accounts. E-discovery methods are based on proven software and hardware combinations and are best planned for far in advance (although lack of pre-planning is very common). Computer forensics may deal with one or many systems or devices, may be fairly fluid in the scope of demands and requests made, often deals with missing data, and must be defensible - and defended - in court.

EZ

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5 Best Android Tablets for Under $200

Stop rushing and fretting because you are about to hear the best news you ever want to know in your whole life. The good news is that you can now afford to buy Android tablets in the market for less than 0!

Care to read below the best Android tablets sold in the marketplace - all for under 0:

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1. Sumixe 7-inch Android 2.1 Tablet (4)

5 Best Android Tablets for Under 0

It is not uncommon for people to say that cheap gadgets, more often than not, carry cheap features. But this gadget is one big exception. For only 4, you can get in here everything you want to expect from a modern tablet. The Sumixe comes with a 7-inch resistive and multi-touch screen, a 256 MB DDR RAM, a 4 GB internal memory, and a 0.3 MP camera. It also supports USB flash drives of up to 16 GB in size. And the winning feature is that this gadget is supported with Android OS 2.1 version. Can you believe that? For 4, you get to have access to the Android marketplace! If you belong to the I-want-nothing-but-cheap group, then this tablet will surely be your perfect match.

2. Corby Kyros Mid 7024 7-inch Android 2.2 Tablet (0)

Small but terrible? Well, you can say that to this new 7-inch Android tablet hitting in today's techie market. The Corby Kyros Mid7024 comes with a 1 GHz CPU, an ARM Cortex A8 especially made by Samsung, a 4 GB internal storage which is expandable up to 32 GB, and a screen resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. Also, it has an HDMI port which allows connection to HD devices. This tablet comes with an Android OS 2.2 version and is compatible connecting to Windows, Mac and Linux OS. Physically, the gadget's package is pretty slim at 4.75" x 0.53" x 7.68" and its weight at 0.87 pounds is quite very competitive. The Corby has two pre-included apps, the Aldiko E-book and the AppsLib. You can get all these features for only 0.

3. Velocity Micro - Cruz T301 7-inch Android 2.2 Tablet (2)

The Velocity Micro™ - Cruz Tablet T301 is a classic 7-inch tablet with 800 x 600 screen resolution. It comes with a 4 GB hard disk, a 256 MB RAM, and a 4 GB SD card. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi which supports 802.11n networks and a battery life which runs to a maximum of 6 hours. The gadget has media and eBook formats and more importantly, it is supported by Android OS 2.2 version. Its pre-loaded apps include the Kindle bookstore and Amazon AppStore. Be sure to control yourself from future eBooking then. You can enjoy all of these for only 2.

4. Zenithink 2 ZT-180 10-inch Android 2.2 Tablet (0)

If you're not on with the 7-inch tablets but with a budget to consider, then this gadget might just work well for you. The new Zenithink 2 ZT-180 is a 10-inch touch screen tablet with a 1 GHz ARM 11 processor and a 4 GB hard disk. It also comes with a built-in 1.3 MP camera, an HDMI port, a USB port which can support 3G internet modem, and an upgradable memory of up to 32 GB. Add to that its supporting Android OS 2.2 version and you sure have a solid cheap tablet right in your hands. In terms of design, the Zenithink is almost an exact replica of the iPad-and this you can get for only 0.

5. Archos Arnova 10-inch Android 2.1 Tablet (8)

If you're looking for a much cheaper 10-inch tablet, then try having a look on this one. You might just be blown away. Archos, the famous French manufacturer of multimedia devices, released the most recent 10-inch Archos Arnova. This gadget has a 1024 x 600 screen resolution, a 4 GB internal memory which is upgradable to 32 GB, and a USB host connection which accepts mouse, keyboard, and any other external mass storage. Moreover, it has a video playback feature of up to 6 hours, an audio playback of up to 40 hours with the screen off, and a photoviewer. The bonus point is that this gadget comes with an Android OS 2.1 version, which allows you browsing and gaming, in addition to movie-watching. This is really one of the best multimedia tablets which won't cost you much. By letting go of your 8, you will surely get a tablet which is more than what it's worth.

So, have you already decided which one you want to buy? Will you go for the 7-inch or 10-inch tablet PC? Will you go for the gadget that runs on an Android 2.1 or Android 2.2 system? Depending on your needs, you would not be disappointed with this cheap line of Android tablets. If you need a piece of advice, just choose wisely.

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How IP-based Video Surveillance Works -- Way Beyond Analog

When you're shopping around for an IP-based video surveillance system, you will need to be particularly cautious about what exactly you're looking at and what the individual terms mean. How IP-based video surveillance works is open to interpretation as far as some video surveillance and security salespeople are concerned -- not because they are trying to confuse the issues, but because there is no genuine consensus on what the term "IP-based" or related ones such as "networked" or "web-based" means.

Originally video surveillance was done based on analog technology -- closed
circuit television (CCTV) and recording on video tapes. This was fine for
recording what was going on, but it didn't broadcast actual live information, so
it wasn't practical for monitoring stores, for instance, from a remote location.
It simply provided what happened after the fact. The picture quality wasn't
great and it relied on human reliability as well -- someone had to remember to
change the tapes regularly, etc.

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Digital revolutionizes video surveillance

How IP-based Video Surveillance Works -- Way Beyond Analog

With the Internet revolution and the ever-increasing presence of Local Area
Networks, technology took great strides in video surveillance in the 1990's.
Analog camera tubes were replaced with CCD (Charged Coupled Devices) and digital
cameras became affordable for most people.

This combination meant that video surveillance could do two things: go live
over the Internet or a closed network for surveillance and provide clearer,
crisper images that could be tracked and manipulated easily. For law
enforcement, digital surveillance meant it was much easier to zoom in on images,
track particular scenes and enhance features.

The basics of IP-based surveillance

A digital camera "views" the scene in front of it, broadcasts the video
images as a digitized signal over a LAN line (Local Area Network) where it's
then transmitted to a computer or server. The server in turn manages all of this
information. Depending upon the software used to manage the digital images, it
can record, display or retransmit the images to anywhere in the world.

The software package can easily be upgraded to allow for analyzing data,
selecting specific "flagged" items to watch for and a host of other functions,
making it a truly customizable security tool.

True IP-based digital surveillance uses CCD cameras that use signal
processing that send packetized video streams over the LAN through a Cat 5 cable
rather than a coax cable network, utilizing greater bandwidth and standard
TCP/IP communication.

It also provides more intelligent data mining and information retrieval. If
security is an issue, full digital surveillance also offers the added advantage
of data encryption opportunities to protect against image tampering -- something
not possible with analog recording.

Recently, a few companies such as D-Link and Linksys have also developed fully
digital cameras that actually have completely integrated, built-in web servers
so that no external computers are needed for operating them. The signal is
transmitted directly to the terminal location for storage or play-back.

Halfway there...

The "middle of the road" of video surveillance is upgrading video
surveillance by utilizing a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). A DVR system is not
really fully IP-based, but is step toward the more advanced IP technology. In
actuality, a DVR system uses the same camera and structures for cabling as the
older CCTV analog systems, but the old VCRs have been replaced with DVR for
storage of the data. The data is converted to digital so that it can be stored
on hard disks, but the quality of the images captured remains analog since this
is how it originated.

When shopping for a system, be sure to ask if the system is digital based on
the recording (DVR) or on the camera, since many manufacturers consider a system
digital by virtue of the DVR storage system even if the camera recording the
images is still analog.

Going all the way

Some people will move to the hybrid models of a CCTV/DVR system when they
first move beyond an analog system because it seems like the next practical
evolutionary step in video surveillance. However, shifting to this method
largely ignores how IP-based video surveillance works.

With CCTV/DVR surveillance you have actually simply delayed the inevitable by
adding on a relatively new technology (hard disk, digital storage) to an old
technology (analog video over coaxial transmission lines). Rather than moving
forward into something new, you have prolonged the demise of the old.

Advantages of IP-based video surveillance

The leap into completely IP-based technology is the best bang for your buck
both monetarily and in terms of security by far. Digital surveillance can be
done over a LAN network, of course, but TCP/IP transmittal of surveillance makes
sense for remote monitoring of multiple locations and for remote recording of
data onto back-up servers and hard disks for long-term storage.

With IP-based video surveillance, you can connect your surveillance camera or
cameras to any network or wireless adapter, and you are extremely flexible in
your placement of the camera itself. A typical PC-attached video camera, while
providing digital picture image quality, still has to be within approximately
ten feet of the computer itself.

Set-up of an IP-based video system is easy -- once you've set up an IP
address, you're up and running and it's extremely stable and reliable. Because
this is the technology of the future, it is also upgradeable. You won't be
outgrowing an IP-based video surveillance system any time soon because new
developments are based on improving this market. Therefore, you will be able to
add on and improve this system for years to come while older, CCTV+DVR hybrids
will dead-end and become obsolete.

Comparing analog and IP-based video surveillance

A better way to understand the differences between analog and IP-based video
surveillance may be to compare the two and how they work:

Analog or CCTV+DVR video surveillance

o Easy to use -- operates like a VCR

o Changing cassettes and rewinding regularly means human error frequently interferes with effectiveness

o Image quality is poor

o Storage tapes wear out over time

o Broadcasting images live isn't practical

o Storage is bulky

o Uses analog recording, recording in low-grade picture quality and inability to search and track easily

o Adding DVR systems must be done in 'blocks' of 16 channels

IP-based video surveillance

o IP-based recording means instant transmittal of images anywhere in the world

o Can monitor multiple cameras from one remote location

o No decrease in recording quality over time or with repeated replays

o Digital picture quality far superior to analog

o IP-base recording is highly compressed for easier storage and can be transported over a variety of media

o Digital images can be encrypted for security purposes

o Updates and add-ons are relatively inexpensive through software packages and Internet computer networking

o Adjustable frame rates

o Remote or shared viewing may be done over the Internet or a wireless connection

o Standard IP video compression techniques are used

o IP surveillance cameras may be added individually or in groups according to your needs

If you are contemplating increased or upgrading video surveillance for your
company or home, understanding how IP-based video surveillance works will make
your decision easier. It is the future of video surveillance and, although in
the short term may be a bit more expensive, is obviously an investment in
superior quality and flexibility.

This article on "How IP-based Video Surveillance Works" reprinted with
permission.

Copyright © 2004-2005 Evaluseek Publishing.

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