The Vulnerabilities of Outdated Operating Systems

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Keeping your computer’s operating system up-to-date is rudimentary to keeping the system secure. Why? Whether your computer is built around a Windows, Mac, Unix, or Linux-based operating system (OS), the developers of the operating system – whether maintained commercially or through open source communities – are attempting to enhance the capabilities, features, and most importantly the security of the system. When a manufacturer releases a new OS, they are not just looking to profit from a new product, they are striving to produce and distribute a better product. In fact the latest trend this past year in commercial operating systems released by top corporations in the industry (i.e., Apple and Microsoft) is to provide consumers with FREE upgrades to the latest operating system. This means that corporations are not even profiting from the distribution of their latest system. So why not upgrade your computers’ operating systems when there are no financial costs involved?Going back to why developers change operating systems on a regular and ongoing basis; while it has everything to do with business, only a fraction is about profits. One of the greatest advantages with a free market is that businesses will compete to produce a better, more desirable product. While competing to improve products, in this case, operating systems, the developers strive to enhance virtually all aspects of a system, including but definitely not limited to its security features. This is not an article on economics, but on why users should focus on the benefits in upgrading computers’ operating systems, instead of the drawbacks, and how upgrading the OS may improve the security of the computer and the user’s data it stores.Often users have kept computers on the same operating system (usually the OS pre-installed when the computer was purchased) for years and even decades. Non-technical users will hesitate to upgrade the OS in order to avoid making any changes that might break the computer, or worse – might rearrange the desktop, menus, and toolbars in such a manner that it is difficult for the user to navigate or utilize. We get it, change is scary. When desktops and menus change appearance, and options are relocated, it can be hard to adjust to the new layout. Yet, if a user can overcome the temporary inconveniences of navigating a new operating system, he or she will experience the comforts and assurances that come with the upgrade.Over a period of time, the number of exploits into any (and every) type of OS will increase thanks to penetration testers, hackers, and malware developers. The truth of the matter is that the longer a system is in circulation, the longer programmers have been attempting to exploit it through hacks, cracks, malware, and other tricks. It is a never-ending game of breaching and patching a system that makes it more secure. The problem with legacy operating systems – note, the word legacy is meant to describe a product that is no longer supported by the manufacturer – is that any newly discovered vulnerabilities in the system will never be patched or secured. Security vulnerabilities can allow attackers and/or malware to bypass network protocols, execute remote codes, escalate access privileges to system programs and files, disclose or collect user profile information, corrupt system drivers or files, cause a denial of service, and perform other activities that could harm the user, the system, and/or application(s).When an OS reaches the end-of-life date set by the manufacturer, there will be no more resources or support available to maintain the retired system. The manufacturer will invest its resources in a new(er) system or product. Thus, when a manufacturer retires a system, so should the users. Users that keep their computers’ OS upgraded and up-to-date will have access to multiple types of patches for vulnerabilities, including:

Definition Updates. Definitions added to system databases are used to detect malicious code, phishing websites, and/or junk mail (spam).

Security Updates. An update will include patches or fixes for a product-specific, security-related vulnerability.

Service Packs (Windows-only). A service pack consists of a batch of cumulative hotfixes, security updates, critical and non-critical updates.
A computer that has a supported OS can access the latest definition/security updates and service packs that are tested and released by the developers. Users that do not upgrade their computers’ operating systems, which have reached end-of-life, are leaving their computers and data at risk of being compromised.

Assessing Therapies Through Interaction and Education

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Traditional cognitive behavior therapeutic studies help to identify issues that cause psychological stress and challenging behaviors. Cognitive behavior therapy also teaches the person how to solve problems through goal-oriented activities or systematic procedures. Functional assessment collects functional assessment information and identifies the hypothesis or hypotheses maintaining problem behavior. The information will confirm that the hypothesis or hypotheses are correct then a summary will be developed based on the functional assessment findings. There are a number of different tools used to assess social skills, physiological setting events, quality of life, and other important areas of an individual’s life that can be used in a functional assessment. In the mental health field, research, and statistical significance cannot be explained by chance alone. Therefore, statistical significance and assessment is important in examining cognitive therapies.Therapy through interaction teaches individuals how to communicate, improve decision-making skills and improve attention span. It also facilitates communication and socialization among staff and individuals. Communicative development varies with individuals because of functioning ability. Communication tools increase the ability to initiate, anticipate, engage, and interact. At times, a person can have difficulty using objects based on joint attention, difficulty in interpretation, and motivation.Therapy through education is an intervention that investigates, defines, and addresses an individual’s pattern of learning strengths and deficiencies. Therapy goals include restoring self-esteem; improving the learning process, developing learning strategies, and helping the person feel comfortable in his or her learning environment. Processing is the way we think and learn. We have strengths and weaknesses concerning learning. We learn by taking in information through our five senses. Some people learn better by watching, and some people learn better by listening which refers to visual and auditory processing. Attention and memory are also a part of processing. As attention deficits are more accurately and more frequently diagnosed, their effects on learning are also more specifically identified. Attention deficits make a student less available for learning. This means that the person may not be paying attention and missing a good portion of any lesson in the classroom. The purpose of education therapy will be to train individuals on how to improve their money management skills, independent living skills, and cognitive awareness.When an individual can learn or improve on a new skill, he or she will feel a sense of accomplishment. Assessing these skills will assist the individual in improving in problem or weaker areas. Furthermore, the accomplishment will improve self-esteem, which may stabilize moods and alleviate challenging behaviors. The development educational through interaction is very important to everyone’s lives. Learning new ways to develop skills will give individuals better opportunities to become independent and integrate into society.

How Do You Get a Cash Loan Without a Credit Check?

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With the rising cost of living and limited income, most of the people today face cash shortage. This leads to frequent borrowing of loans some of which results in defaults, arrears etc. This situation leads to negative credit profile of the borrowers.The worst problem of negative credit issue or in other term bad credit profile is the reluctance of lenders to offer you any loan.However, owing to the tight economy in general, negative issues in credit profile have become extremely common. There are several people who now have a bad credit profile.So can we really deny the facility of borrowing cash to a person who is in need but have a bad credit profile? No; no competitive and open market can afford to deny this basic right to any citizen, however bad credit profile he or she has. After all even these people face cash crisis and they need to be supported to meet their needs.What are bad credit loans?It is therefore lenders have now started offering loans to people with bad credit. While offering loans, lenders now do not differentiate among borrowers on the basis of their credit profile. These loans are commonly referred to as bad credit loans. But these are also known by many different names such as bad credit cash loans, cash loans without credit check, bad credit payday loans etc.How do you get a cash loan without a credit check?Normally when you apply for any loan, lenders ask you to submit various documents including your credit score. Your credit score is used to check your previous track record of borrowing loans, repaying the loans, timely repayment, defaults, arrears, bankruptcy etc.In fact your credit score makes everything very clear. Lenders carry out verification of your credit profile to corroborate the information that you have provided in the application form with the findings of lender’s verification. So, based on the credit verification lenders decide whether to offer you any loan or not. In case of traditional loans, lenders normally reject your application if you have a poor credit profile.However if you have a bad credit profile and you apply for a cash loan, now lenders offer you cash loan without any differentiation. So how lenders offer you lenders offer you a loan even when you have a bad credit profile? Lenders offer you a loan even when you have negative issues in your profile because they do not look at your credit history to decide your eligibility.In other words, lenders do not carry out any credit check to decide your eligibility. Therefore however bad credit profile you have, you get cash loans from lenders.In fact these loans are offered to you on the basis of your present needs and current financial status. Therefore lenders do not carry out any credit check to decide the eligibility before offering you this loan.Special benefitWhen you borrow a cash loan without a credit check, you get a hidden opportunity. This is the opportunity to repair your bad credit profile.When you borrow cash loan despite your credit issues and repay this loan as per the terms of repayment, your profile improves and you can see the difference when you choose to borrow any loan the next time.The flip sideHowever like any other loans, the cash loans without credit check also have a flip side. Lenders offer you cash loans despite your poor credit history. So you are a risky borrower. Also, you do not provide any collateral to get these loans. Therefore lenders do not have any assurance or security of getting their loan back. These factors make these loans quite risky which results in a high rate of interest.Because these loans are risky, lenders also charge a high penalty on late payments and defaults.Therefore you should borrow these loans only when you actually need it. Moreover before borrowing you must decide the amount that you need to meet your needs. You should not borrow more than that of your actual needs. You should also plan in advance about its repayment to repair your existing bad creditors profile.