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When it comes to professions in the computer world, certifications can speak volumes regarding your abilities and performance. And for quite some time, CompTIA A+ Certification has been the industry standard for a vendor-neutral certification regarding entry level technicians, and is a much sought out certification path..

CompTIA A+ Certification tests on the basic understanding of IT technology and what the proper troubleshooting solutions would be regarding this technology. It also tests on the basic ability for other computer knowledge like network security, environmental issues, and general safety. Overall, it’s a very strong certification to carry and will get you far in the world of technology based computer careers.

The test to earn your CompTIA A+ certification is actually broken down into two smaller exams. The first is a mandatory requirement that covers the “Essentials” of hardware and software knowledge. But one of the best parts about this system is the ability to choose the second part of your exam. You have a choice of elective exams which will allow you the ease of mind to pick one which you feel best reflects your strengths in the computer world. They are aligned to better suit your career goals and will help show potential employers that you are well prepared in the field and have a credential specific to the area in which you are applying. There are three elective categories and those are IT Technician, Remote Support Technician, and Depot Technician. Again, you only need to select one of them, but if you aren’t absolutely positive of what specific role you hope to take, don’t fret. An A+ certification in and of itself will speak well of your capabilities.

There are many different options available to those who wish to become computer certified. Achieving an A+ certification has its advantages, as it is regarded as the industry standard in the computer technology world. Having earned your A+ certification shows your employer (or potential employer) exactly what you know and what you value.

Suppose you want to configure a wireless network on a Windows laptop. It is not as difficult as you might think. Here are the steps that you will follow to successfully configure the wireless network.

The first thing to do is double-click “Wireless Network Setup Wizard” in the Control Panel. which will guide you through the configuration process.
On the Welcome page of the wizard, you will click “Next” to continue.
On the “Create a name for your wireless network” page of the wizard, you can specify a service set identifier (SSID) – or text identifier – for the wireless network you’re creating.

By default, Windows assigns a Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption key to secure access to a wireless network. However, you can choose to assign a WEP key manually instead, or to enable Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption.

WPA provides better security, but not all devices are compatible with it. You choose to accept the default option to enable Windows to assign a WEP key to the network automatically, and you assign the network the name “EasyNomad.”
You type EasyNomad in the Network name (SSID) text box, and click Next.
On the “How do you want to set up your network?” page, you can choose to configure the required network settings once and save them to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive for use on other devices. Alternatively, you can choose to configure settings on each computer in the network manually. Using a USB flash drive is easier and more secure.
Accept the default selection of the “Use a USB flash drive” (recommended) radio button, and select “Next”.
You will then need to plug the flash drive into a USB port on the computer and wait for the drive letter to display in the wizard.

Once the flash drive letter displays, you will select “Next” to continue.
The network settings are saved to the flash drive. To transfer these settings, you need to plug the flash drive in the following order:

1. Plug into the wireless access point
2. Plug into each node you want to add to your network
3. Plug back into the computer on which you’re running the Wireless Network Setup Wizard

After you have performed all of these steps in the order indicated, you will select “Next”.The wizard successfully completes and the wireless network is ready to use. By default, the wizard is configured to delete all network settings from the USB flash drive for security reasons.

To exit the wizard and return to the Network Connections window, simply select “Finish”.

Setting up the network is not as difficult as you think. If you would like more information on taking your skills to the next level, you might want to persue a computer certification path.

Probably! Spyware is one of the fastest-growing internet threats, infecting more than 90% of computers These unobtrusive, malicious programs are designed to silently bypass firewalls and anti-virus software without the user’s knowledge. Once embedded in a computer, it can wreak havoc on the system’s performance while gathering your personal information. Unlike viruses and worms, spyware programs do not usually self-replicate.

The first and most common way for spyware to infiltrate a system is when the user inadvertently installs it. Spyware is often embedded, attached, or bundled with a freeware or shareware program and is unknowingly installed by the user himself. The user downloads a program to their computer, and once downloaded, the spyware program goes to work collecting data for the spyware author’s personal use or to sell to a third-party.

The user of a downloadable program should pay extra attention to the accompanying licensing agreement. Often the software publisher will warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested program. Unfortunately, we do not always take the time to read the fine print. Some agreements may provide special “opt-out” boxes that the user can click to stop the spyware from being included in the download. Be sure to review the document before signing off on the download.

Another way that spyware can access your computer is by tricking you into manipulating the security features designed to prevent any unwanted installations. The Internet Explorer Web browser was designed not to allow websites to start any unwanted downloads. That is why the user has to initiate a download by clicking on a link. These links can prove deceptive. For example, a pop-up modeled after a standard Windows dialog box, may appear on your screen. The message may ask you if you would like to optimize your internet access. It provides yes or no answer buttons, but, no matter which button you push, a download containing the spyware program will commence. Newer versions of Internet Explorer are now making this spyware pathway a little more difficult.

Finally, some spyware applications infect a system by attacking security holes in the Web browser or other software. When the user navigates a webpage controlled by a spyware author, the page contains code designed to attack the browser, and force the installation of the spyware program.

There are a couple things you can do to prevent spyware from infecting your computer system, and probably the first thing you might want to do is to invest in a reliable commercial anti-spyware program. Sometimes, it may be necessary to back up your data, and performing a complete reinstall of the operating system, in order to remove the spyware program. It might even be helpful to take a look at A+ training programs, which are available online or on cds, to become more familiar with the removal of spyware.