If you're interested in running Mac OS X, but you don't want to pay ridiculous prices for a normal Mac, then a Hackintosh just might be for you. Right now, the newest iteration of OS X is 10.8, known as Mountain Lion. In this guide, we'll show you how to install Mountain Lion on your PC with the newly released "Niresh" distro.

We've previously covered how to install Mountain Lion on a PC using tonymacx86's Unibeast tool, which requires you to have an existing Mac OS X installation. This usually means that you have to install Snow Leopard on your PC first, or find a real Mac. We've also covered how to install Mountain Lion on a PC using a "distro" like iAtkos, which allows you to jump straight to Mountain Lion. However, you can't set up iAtkos on a regular DVD, and iAtkos doesn't work with AMD or Atom processors. If you find either of these limitations to be inconvenient, then using the Niresh distro instead may be your best option.



The difference between Niresh and iAtkos

Distros are pirated copies of Mac OS X that have been modified to work with a PC. If you don't have any qualms with the legal issues regarding distros, they're actually the most convenient way to set up a Hackintosh. If you're interested in installing Mac OS X on your PC with a distro, then you'll have two main options: Niresh, and iAtkos ML2. iAtkos is the far more popular choice of the two. However, there are a few reasons why you may want to use Niresh instead.

• Niresh works with regular DVDs. iAtkos only works with the less common (and more expensive) dual-layer DVDs and Bluray discs, because the iAtkos installer is slightly too large to fit on a regular DVDs. 
• Niresh is distributed as an "ISO" file. The ISO format is a standard DVD image format that works on just about everything. Meanwhile, iAtkos is distributed as a "DMG" file, which is a proprietary "disk image" format made by Apple. DMG files are rather difficult to work with, since they don't work with Windows by default. To set up iAtkos on Windows, you have to use special software like Transmac. 
• Niresh supports AMD and Intel Atom. Normally, computers that use AMD or Intel Atom processors are unsupported by Mac OS X. However, Niresh includes experimental "patched" kernels that may allow Mac OS X to work with these processors regardless.

On the other hand, iAtkos offers a few key advantages over Niresh. Most notably, iAtkos includes built-in support for installation on RAID volumes and MBR partitions.

Requirements:

• An existing Windows computer/Mac/Hackintosh: This is the computer where you will download and set up Niresh. Either Windows or Mac OS X will work. Make sure your computer has a DVD/Bluray burner (just about every DVD/Bluray drive nowadays can act as a burner, too).


• A Hackintosh-compatible computer with an empty hard drive: This is the computer where you will install OS X Mountain Lion. It can be the same computer as the one mentioned in the previous point. If your computer already has Mac OS X Lion installed, Niresh will just update Lion to Mountain Lion normally, without deleting any of your apps or files.
  
  However, not every computer will work with Mac OS X. Be sure to read the Hackintosh compatibility guide very carefully, to check whether or not your computer qualifies. Also, Mac OS X needs its own hard drive-- a minimum of 10 GB of space is required, but at least 50 GB of space is recommended. As far as we know, Niresh will not work on a hard drive where Windows is already installed.


• Niresh 10.8.2 (Free): Niresh is a "distro" of OS X Mountain Lion that has been modified to work with PCs. You will need to use a bittorrent client to download the file, which is a little less than 5 GB in size.


• A DVD: In this guide, you will write Niresh onto a DVD, and boot your computer from Niresh to install Mac OS X. Any empty DVD will work.


• Multibeast (Free): Multibeast is a collection of kext files that your Hackintosh will need to run properly, after the initial installation. Be sure to download the newest version 5 of Multibeast, not the older versions 3 or 4 (which are for Snow Leopard and Lion, respectively).

1.  Create your Niresh DVD
Burn Niresh onto a DVD disc. You will be booting your Hackintosh from this Niresh DVD, in order to install OS X Mountain Lion. On Mac OS X, burning capabilities are built-in to the operating system-- just insert an empty DVD into your DVD/Bluray drive, right-click on the downloaded Niresh file, and burn it.

However, if you're using Windows, you will need to use a program such as ImgBurn. While Windows 7 and 8 include built-in DVD burning software, in my personal experience, ImgBurn tends to be far more reliable.

DOWNLOAD: ImgBurn

Depending on the speed of your DVD burner, this can take up to few hours. Wait until the DVD has been successfully burned, and then proceed to the next step.

2. Set up the parts of your PC
I covered these steps in my Snow Leopard guide, but they're worth mentioning again:

• Unplug all USB-connected devices from your computer before you begin the setup (except your keyboard and mouse). A faulty external USB hard drive can cause your Hackintosh bootloader to give you EBIOS errors on startup.
• Open up your computer and unplug any extra internal hard drives that your computer has, besides the hard drive that you're installing OS X on. (Just unplug the hard drive SATA cables from your motherboard.)
• If possible, connect your monitor to the DVI port of your computer's graphics. The Mac OS X installer sometimes has problems with HDMI and VGA. 

NOTE: If you're installing Mac OS X on a computer that already has Windows installed, you may have to enable AHCI for Windows beforehand. Otherwise, Windows won't boot afterwards. Also, after installing Mac OS X, you should also sync your clock on Windows with Mac OS X.

3. Set up your motherboard's BIOS
The BIOS is basically a settings page for your motherboard. To enter the BIOS on my own computer's Gigabyte P67A-D3-B3 motherboard, I have to press the delete key when it boots (before the operating system starts). Different manufacturers set different keys for opening the BIOS.

NOTE: If you have a newer Gigabyte motherboard that uses the UEFI interface instead of BIOS, check out our guide for setting up the UEFI instead.

If your Hackintosh already has Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Lion installed, the only thing you'll need to change in the BIOS is the "Boot Device", so that your Niresh DVD has highest priority.

If your Hackintosh doesn't have Snow Leopard or Lion installed yet, you have to change a few extra BIOS settings. Before starting, reset all of your BIOS settings to their factory defaults. On Gigabyte motherboards, you can reset your BIOS settings to their default by selecting "Load Optimized Defaults" on the main page of the BIOS. Once your BIOS is running on its defaults, you need to change these three settings:

Boot Device - Change the boot device of your computer so that "CDROM" is first. You need to do this for Niresh to work. After you finish installing Mac OS X, you should change this setting back to default, so that "Hard Disk" is the first boot device (this optional, but it will speed up your boot times).

HPET - Change this to 64-bit.

SATA Control Mode (your BIOS might call this a different name) - This will probably already be set to "SATA", "IDE", or "RAID". Change it to "AHCI". Mac OS X only works with AHCI.

Keep in mind that the BIOS on most motherboards do not support using a mouse, so you'll probably have to navigate through the BIOS with the arrow keys on your keyboard. Press "Enter" to change a selected option in the BIOS. On my Gigabyte motherboard, I have to press F10 to save my changes.

4. Boot into Niresh
Insert your Niresh DVD into your computer's DVD drive, and restart your computer. If things go well, your computer will boot into Niresh instead of booting from your normal hard disk. You will then be able to view the black-and-white Niresh menu.

If you do not manage to reach the Niresh menu, check your motherboard's BIOS settings to make sure that the changes you made in Step 3 were properly applied. If they were, but you still cannot boot from Niresh, go back to Step 1 of this guide and try again with a DVD (preferably using ImgBurn).

At the Niresh menu, press the enter key (or return key) to start the OS X Mountain Lion installer. If you are trying to install OS X Mountain Lion on a computer using an AMD or Intel Atom processor, you'll have to type the boot flag "amd" (without quotation marks-- for AMD) or "atom" (without quotation marks-- for Atom).

In the worst case scenarios, instead of loading the Mac OS X installer, you may end up at a dark gray screen that tells you to restart your computer (a kernel panic), or you may end up with a small crossed-out sign (a loading error). If you get a kernel panic/loading error (or if the Mac OS X installer simply won't start within 10 minutes), you'll need to enter some boot flags. To enter boot flags, manually restart your computer by pressing your computer's power button. Then, once you've booted back into the Niresh menu, try typing any necessary boot flags before pressing the enter/return key. Check out this list of common boot flags for reference ( PCIRootUID=0 and -x are two popular boot flags).

5. Install Mountain Lion

Once you've entered the OS X Mountain Lion installer, you will come up to a page that asks you for a "destination" for your Mountain Lion installation. 

If you're installing Mountain Lion on a computer that has never been turned into a Hackintosh before (i.e. doesn't already have Snow Leopard or Lion installed), the hard drive selection box will be blank. We'll have to fix that. To do this, start up Disk Utility, which is located under the Utilities menu in the top bar.

You need to use Disk Utility to erase a hard drive partition so that OS X Mountain Lion can install itself on it. In the sidebar of Disk Utility, choose the hard drive where you want Mountain Lion installed, and erase it by using the "Erase" tab. In the screenshot below, my hard drive is called "21.47 GB VBOX HARDDRIVE".

When erasing, the format should be set to "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)". You can also partition the hard disk by using Disk Utility's Partition tab. Mac OS X cannot boot from a partition that's larger than 1 TB in size, so if you have a 2 TB hard drive, you will have to partition it.

On the installation page for Mac OSX, the hard disk/disk partition should now be showing up. Select it, and then click the "Customize" button on the bottom left. This is where using a distro becomes really useful: Niresh allows you to install extra Hackintosh drivers and kexts, straight from the OS X Mountain Lion installer. The "Customize" page essentially does the same thing as Multibeast, though the layout (and most of the names of the options) are different.

However, choosing the right options from this page can be really tricky, so unless you're absolutely certain about which drivers and kexts you need to install for your computer, I don't recommend installing too much stuff from here. The default selection will enable Mac OS X to boot from the hard drive without any assistance. For most computers, that will be enough (at least for the initial installation). If you wish to install more, refer to our guide to Multibeast. Otherwise, you can figure out the rest in Step 6, where you'll actually set up your Hackintosh with Multibeast.

After you're done with the "Customize" page, install Mountain Lion. This will take at least 30 minutes.

Once the installation finishes, remove your Niresh DVD, and restart. At the boot screen, you'll see an icon for the hard drive where you installed Mountain Lion. Select it (use the arrow keys on your computer) and press "Enter". Mountain Lion will boot. Mission accomplished!

Once again, if you get a kernel panic/loading error when you try to boot your new Mountain Lion installation (or if the installation simply won't start within 10 minutes), you'll need to enter some boot flags. To enter boot flags, manually restart your computer by pressing your computer's power button. Then, once you've booted back into the Niresh menu, try type any necessary boot flags before pressing the enter/return key. Check out this list of common boot flags for reference ( PCIRootUID=0 and -x are two popular boot flags).

Another common issue with Niresh is that it tends to lag out of the account creation process, and skip straight to the Mac OS X login screen before you can make your own account. If this happens, simply log into Mac OS X with the following credentials:

Username: root
Password: niresh

This will log you into the "root" account of Mac OS X. From here, open the System Preferences app, go to "Users & Groups", and create your own account. (We don't recommend that you use the root account permanently, because it is insecure.)

6. Multibeast
Multibeast is a collection of kext files that you'll need to install for your Hackintoshes to have sound, internet, a high resolution screen, and more. Different Hackintosh builds require different Multibeast setups, though most setups are very similar. Find out what Multibeast options you need to install. If you have a Gigabyte GA-P67A-D3-B3 motherboard like me, check out my own Multibeast setup.

If you're just updating your Hackintosh from Mac OS X Lion, you don't have to reinstall UserDSDT, Easybeast, or Chimera in Multibeast after installing OS X Mountain Lion. Mac OS X treats Mountain Lion as just another update-- this generally means that the only things you have to reinstall in Multibeast are audio kexts and ethernet kexts. You might also have to reinstall miscellaneous kexts, such as TRIM Enabler (for SSDs).

To run Multibeast in OS X Mountain Lion, you have to go the "Security" section of System Preferences in Mac OS X, go to the "General" section, and check "Anywhere" in the "Allow applications" section. After running Multibeast, you'll also probably want to change your BIOS settings back to normal (from Step 3).

Once that's done with, you should be running a fully functional copy of OS X Mountain Lion on your PC. If you plan on updating Mac OS X in the future, check out our guide to updating your Hackintosh. Congratulations!

Today I've got a reader-requested tutorial about how you can install WordPress on your Windows 7 computer (same applies for Windows XP & Vista). This is such an important part of my WordPress working life, and if you don’t know how to do it, now’s your chance to learn. But first…..

Why Would I Want to Install WordPress on my Computer?

Installing WordPress locally gives you a fantastic test environment. You can install as many WordPress as you want on your computer. On mine I’ve got:

• Single-site
• Multisite
• Beta
• Plugins
• WordPress

This gives me all sorts of scope for testing stuff out, playing around – aWordPress playground right on my computer.

Let’s get started:

1. Download Xampp

Xampp is an Apache distribution containing MySQL, PHP and Perl. This makes it awesome for WordPress. You can download it from here. 

There are a number of different distributions so make sure you select the distribution that’s correct for your operating system. For the purposes of this tutorial we want the Windows distribution.

Click on the distribution.

Click on the installer.

2. Install Xampp

Double click on the installer and choose your language.

Decide where you want to install xampp.

Click install.

Sit back, relax, wait for it to install.

3. Fire up Xampp

Start Xampp. Start Apache and MySQL.

You may get a warning from Windows. You want to make sure that Windows allows access.

You can check to see if your new local server is installed by visiting http://localhost

Nice!

4. Set up MySQL Database

On your Xampp control panel click the admin button beside MySQL.

In your browser you’ll be taken to the MySQL dashboard. You need to fill in the details for your new database:

• Set your MySQL connection collation: to utf8_unicode_ci
• Choose the name for your database. I’m naming this one singlesite – you can call it whatever you want.

Note: if you are doing a live installation on a server you must add a username and password. Do not use “root” ever on a live site. This isn’t necessary on a local installation.

5. Download and unzip WordPress

Download WordPress.

You need to unzip it to the correct folder on your computer. Find the Xampp folder and navigate to xampp>htdocs

Unzip WordPress there and rename the WordPress folder to whatever name you want. I usually match mine to my database name.

6. Configure WordPress

Open up wp-config-sample.php and find the MySQL settings.

Here is what you need to update the settings to:

/** The name of the database for WordPress */
 define('DB_NAME', 'singlesite');

/** MySQL database username */
 define('DB_USER', 'root');

/** MySQL database password */
 define('DB_PASSWORD', '');

/** MySQL hostname */
 define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

Remember to replace singlesite with whatever you called your database.

Save the file in your root WordPress folder as wp-config.php

7. Install WordPress

Open up your browser and navigate to http://localhost/singlesite/

The familiar WordPress installation screen will appear.

Fill in your details and click “Install WordPress.”

There you go – WordPress is installed locally on your computer.

:)

1. Download xampp wget: 

http://www.apachefriends.org/download.php?xampp-linux-1.8.1.tar.gz

2. Unzip
tar xvfz xampp-linux-1.8.1.tar.gz -C /opt

3. Update available packages
apt-get update

4. Install 32 bit libraries
sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

5. Open browser and see xampp splash page

http://localhost

6. Change permission
chmod 777 -R /opt/lampp/htdocs/

Source: http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-linux.html#374

The Firebug entry point and also the only Firebug UI visible immediately after installation is s Firebug button (icon) placed at the right side of the navigation Firefox toolbar.

This button is called Firebug Start Button and its main purpose is to open Firebug UI by clicking on it (you can also use F12 key to open Firebug) but, the button does much more than just opening Firebug...

Activation Status

Another purpose of the start button is indicating Firebug activation status. If Firebug is opened in your browser and collecting information about the current page (e.g. HTTP traffic) - the button is colored. If Firebug is deactivated and not representing any performance penalties - the button is grey.

Firebug is activated

Firebug is deactivated

There is also a tooltip associated with the button displaying detailed info about activation status.

Firebug is fully deactivated.

Firebug is activated on one page and panel Cookies is disabled.

Errors

If there are any errors on the page, the button indicates that by showing a badge with number of errors.

Menu

There is also a popup menu associated with the button

By default, the button indicates errors on the page and Firebug UI is located at the bottom. See detailed description of individual menu items on Firebug wiki.

Start button at the bottom

If you prefer to have the button at the bottom of the browser window (within Firefox add-on bar), use Firefox Customize Toolbar dialog.

Open the dialog through Toolbar Layout... menu.

As soon as the dialog is opened, you can drag the start button icon and drop it at the add-bar at the bottom of the browser window. That's it, don't forget to make sure the add-on bar is checked to be displayed (see the screenshot above).

 

Blogging has developed from a specialized hobby to a full-time occupation. Many writers live off of their blogs, and anyone with something unique to say can gain an audience and a steady paycheck with the right techniques.

Starting A New Blog

Launching a blog requires some planning. This starts with the name and address of the blog.
It’s important to pick a good domain name, as the URL of a website is one of the most powerful tools that a blogger has at his disposal for repeat traffic. Think of a domain name as a 21st century toll free number: It has to be memorable or it won’t be effective.

• blog’s domain name should be descriptive of its subject and preferably a bit unusual. For example, a blog about arrowheads could simply be titled, “Arrowheads And How To Identify Them,” but something like “As The Arrowhead Flies” would be more memorable.

Bloggers should also try to pick a unique subject or to bring a unique perspective to the entries. Writing about hundreds of subjects will rarely lead to a successful blog. Content should be focused and direct. Visitors should know exactly what type of information that they can find on the blog, and using direct and simple approach improves the chances of regular traffic.

Blog Hosting Providers

Most bloggers use a hosting provider like WordPress.com or Blogger. There are several major advantages to these services. They’re inexpensive and may even be free until a blog develops large amounts of regular traffic. Also, the online blogging software provided by these hosting services offers instant, easy organization for a blog of any size.
Many bloggers know only basic HTML and don’t really want to invest a lot of time into things like page design. For these individuals, integration with a hosting provider can keep costs down while streamlining the blogging process. They’re also ideal for first time bloggers because they simplify the process. By using a hosting provider you’ll spend more time writing and less time worrying about page design and web programming languages.
Professional and amateur bloggers will need to consider the price and uptime of various hosting providers before making a selection. The service packages of websites like WordPress.com and Blogger change quite often in both price and offerings. It’s usually a good idea to start out with a package that offers at least 50% more capability for incoming traffic than you plan on using each month. This way, your blog won’t suddenly crash if you write a successful post.
Blogging services can quickly become expensive. They’re worth the money in the long run, as they’ll allow you to keep all of the earnings from ads on your new blog–which is something that free alternatives with “unlimited bandwidth” won’t offer you.
Speaking of money, you’ll have to be on the lookout for ways to make a profit from a blog. Most blogs use ads from Google and Amazon Marketplace. Many bloggers also offer other services and products directly from their sites.

Promoting Your Blog

Blogs need to be promoted in order to flourish. It’s very rare for a blog to receive large amounts of traffic from search engines like Google alone, especially when the blog’s just getting started. A good promotion strategy is absolutely essential, and a strong promotion strategy begins with social media websites.
Promote each blog post from a new blog on websites like Twitter and Facebook. Don’t spam your friends and followers; only post a single link to each blog post, and try to reach out to other bloggers through social websites. Developing a relationship with other writers will allow you to learn about the good habits that lead to regular traffic. You can even ask another writer to post a guest entry on your blog from time to time. This is a good way to build an audience of regular readers.
Always check the comments for each entry and respond to your readers. Cultivate a sense of community by interacting with each commenter and even addressing some of their questions or comments directly in new blog posts. This encourages the return traffic that is important for a new blog.
Finally, blog regularly. Any blog will fail if it doesn’t have regular posts. Posting once a day or more will keep visitors coming back and will quickly lead to better opportunities for money and better traffic. Every blogger should consider consistency to be extremely important–keep a consistent stream of quality entries for the best possible success.

Deciding whether to buy a Mac or a PC should be based on two main points: your budget and whether the computer is primarily for business or pleasure. Both types of computers are excellent for specific tasks, although if you are planning to go to work and bring your computer with you, you may need to consider what types of computers your coworkers will have to make it easier to swap files or compare notes. Here a few basic tips on how to choose the right computer for you.

Budget

There’s no debate—Macs are far more expensive than PCs. If money is a big issue for you, you’ll want to buy a PC. However, Macs aren’t overpriced. Unlike PCs, each computer is designed for maximum efficiency in both processing speed and ease of use. While PCs frequently crash and are vulnerable to spyware and viruses, Macs resist most viral attacks and operate at a consistently high standard with virtually no technical issues. If you can afford it, a Mac is an excellent investment which will work for you for years.

Business

While Macs have always been the preferred computer of graphic designers and other creative individuals, for most corporate office work, PCs have long been favored over Macs. For this reason, PCs still dominate in most business settings.
Up until a few years ago, the major software designed for business suites, like the Microsoft Suite, was designed chiefly for PCs. However, the popularity of other Apple products such as the iPod and iPad has started to change the way Macs are perceived in the larger corporate world. Most business software now has versions available for both Macs and PCs. Because of their heftier price tag, Macs still have a long way to go in making a dent in the corporate world, although in terms of functionality they perform just as well as a PC.
Graphically, Macs have richer displays and a Linux based operating system that makes them ideal for manipulating complex information such as layered graphical displays. Photoshop was initially designed for the Mac. If you are buying a computer for use in a professionally creative setting, your coworkers will likely also be using Macs.

Programming

Computer programmers are evenly split on whether Macs or PCs make better programming tools. The truth is, it comes down to a matter of personal preference. Macs developed a comprehensive suite of developer tools with their OS 10 which, if used properly, can help you get to the moon. PCs have always been oriented toward programming; in fact, the DOS/Windows interface was developed mainly as a way to stay competitive with the user friendly Mac interface. However, many programmers have complained that Macs are slower than PCs when it comes down to executing large amounts of freshly programmed code.

Personal Use

If you enjoy playing video games in your spare time, buying a PC is probably the best choice. This is partly because PCs are easier to hook up to auxiliary equipment like television sets or other devices. Although USB ports are evenly distributed between Macs and PC, the higher data transfer portals of a Mac do not always adapt easily to most conventional televisions, making it difficult to quickly relay information between the two devices, whereas the higher data transfer portals of a PC are usually very adaptable to auxiliary devices.
If, on the other hand, you prefer to design or develop creative projects in your personal time, Macs are a much better choice. Because Apple has invested so much time in making the user interface incredibly easy to use, spending time creating music or drawing or editing movies becomes less about the computer and more about the activity; you forget you are using a computer, and can instead focus on the act of creation. PCs have a more rigid approach; it’s hard to forget that you’re on a computer.

Cloud Computing and the Future of Virtualization

Of course, with the tech community excited about the potential of cloud computing, computer memory is going to become less of an issue, with flexibility, mobility, and processing speed becoming increasingly important when making purchasing decisions. Mac’s suite of mobile devices are far better adapted to shifting between different geographical areas while also offering enough functionality to make them viable business tools. However, for now you should buy the computer that best suits your needs, and plan on the inevitable: no matter what you buy now, in a few years it will be completely outdated anyway!

With millions of computer users browsing the web at any given time, there are plenty of targets for malicious coders. While computer experts don’t always know why coders choose to build harmful computer programs, the fact is that it happens all the time. Computer viruses can steal personal information, interfere with normal operations, attract spam and even shut down your computer’s hard drive. Protecting your computer is critical for browsing success.

Start With the Basics

Most computer systems come with security features already in place. For example, the Windows operating system is packaged with Microsoft Windows Security Center. When you first open, boot up and register a new computer, you should make sure that this program is functioning. It will give basic protection against spyware, viruses and malware. In addition, a basic firewall is built into this program, providing additional protection and stops for potentially harmful programs. Upon activation, don’t be surprised if your security system needs immediate updating. Software that protects your computer needs regular and consistent updating to stay useful. Viruses are constantly being generated and the several-month lag between when your computer was made and when you first started using it can mean that the database the security system is loaded with is severely out-of-date.

Upgrade to Meet Your Needs

Many people operate computers for a long time with only basic protection in place. However, heavy computer users or those who have risky browsing habits can sometimes benefit from upgrading their virus, spyware and malware protection, as well as using a fuller-featured firewall; this is especially important if you use a networked computer system. Basic or free virus protection will still scan and update for viruses. Paid programs, however, offer more features, including ease-of-use and convenience features. The most important thing is to verify the publisher and make sure you are getting what is promised. Most well-known virus protection programs, such as AVG and Norton Security, have reviews available to help you make your choice.

Learn About Spyware Risks

Spyware creates risks that many computer users are not aware of. If you are only protecting against viruses, you could be leaving your computer open to damage. Most people are familiar with spyware that initiates and attracts annoying ad programs. Spyware, however, can be much more malicious as well. Your shopping habits can be tracked by spyware. While not exactly harmful, some people consider this a breach of privacy. The worst spyware programs interfere with normal operations and can even track what you type, sending personal information to people who want to steal your identity. Some spyware redirects your browser to different web addresses, increasing your risks of virus infection and fraud.

How Viruses Work

The main difference between spyware and viruses is how they are spread. A virus reproduces itself and attaches to any document that the computer sends, while spyware can be stored as a cookie or tracking code. A virus is most often found traveling with a piece of computer software, such as a document, picture or piece of music. When dealing with email, it is necessary to open an attachment to become infected, indicating that, in most cases, the computer user must somehow invite the malicious software to replicate on their system. Of course, most people have no idea it is there or what is happening. Some of the sneakiest and most harmful viruses actually masquerade as virus protection software, making them extremely hard to detect. Because of this, it’s crucial to be familiar with your particular virus protection program and know what it looks like and what the normal scripts and prompts are during operation. Viruses do some of the same things that spyware does; they just accomplish it differently. An active virus can steal personal information, generate ads or shut down your system, including the very virus protection programs that can fix the issue.

Take Steps For Protection

Like anything, the best way to protect against viruses is to be educated. Become familiar with what malicious software may look like. If you get an email or are asked to download a file that you don’t recognize or looks suspicious, do your homework. Research virus protection, spyware, malware and firewall programs and use them to their fullest capacity. Set the software to update and scan automatically to make sure that the system is constantly monitored. In addition, regularly check on the databases published by various virus protection services; many will provide lists of symptoms and risks, as well as the standard way the file gains access for no cost to the public.

To catch the attention of your readers, instead of posting daily in your blog without any fact, you can post occasionally with some matter of interest. Depending on the type of blog it is important to post with appropriate information. For example, if you have a “how to” blog it is important to update the blog with proper information or if it is a personal one fill it with stories. Blogging is like writing a book with a constant motion and patients; this will help retain the readers. But this is not that easy; at some point you may get distracted and end up repeating earlier posts. At this point accept guest posts as Sreejesh has done. With this you will gain experience of having guest in blogs resulting in creating rules.
A blog is always on a particular subject, but variations are needed to maintain interest. Suppose a parenting blog have “how to” posts, mothering stories, etc. To avoid boring the readers a blog should have variety in posts like funny, insightful, how-to, testimonial and personal stories. Soon you can start experimenting with your blog by brining sub-topics under your main subject. Now stick to the popular ones.
For example, I have a website that teaches people how to build WordPress websites, and I presumed that people want tutorials on how to build websites. But I have found that they are interested in other things like making money online, and getting traffic to their blogs.

Regardless of the topic it is a good practice to get engaged with the guests directly. For example if you are using the mothering blog, you might describe the difficulty you are having with bedtime and then ask your readers for suggestions. After your problem is solved, write a post about it and refer the suggestions you got from your readers, highlighting them in your blog.
Let’s take another example where your blog is about managing your economy, you may ask your readers to help you finding best online deals and also you can post information you have. Blogging is like a conversation where you have to allow the other person to talk to avoid boringness and to increase interest. It’s also very important to respond back to your readers comment as they might be excited to get your feedback. A responding blogger is always interesting. How you do something, may also get the attention of your readers.
There are numerous interesting ways to keep retain your readers. One of which is to make deals on your blog and to participate in the contest the reader have to answer a question you posted or have to comment on it. Also readers can follow you on your blog or “like” your facebook page. Making deals are always good but viral marketing strategies can also be used to make own products. In the beginning you may have to expend your own money for the deals or you can search for sponsors. After carefully selecting, approach the business full with information of the followers in a day, week and month. Make the deal to advertise the business. You can request to post a review of the product. This will be more attractive. If everything goes smoothly you will find businesses approaching with products and deals.
Installing Commentluv will help giving back to readers. Commentluv Premium is even better. I can inform in a better way. It may seem difficult to keep the readers interested, but few points like interesting matters, variations within subject and different ways to engage your readers. If you keep things simple, it will be easier and interesting. After you are skilled in retaining and engaging your readers in your blog, you can go ahead and learn how to monetize your website traffic.