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Dr. Keen
Cyber Defender & Diagnostics Lab Technician
Dr. Keen is in charge of Diagnostics and has the equipment and knowledge to fix most computer related problems.
Abandoned by her computer hacker parents when she was a child, Dr. Keen focuses on helping others overcome the attacks of cyber criminals just like her parents.
You can't direct the wind but you can adjust the sails
- Anonymous
French fries
Interests:Inventing, watercolor, playing fetch with Scout
Scout
Cyber Defender & Dr. Keen's robot assistant
Scout is in charge of keeping the Cyber Defense Force's security measures up-to-date. His computer brain carries fixes to most security and computer problems that can be administered at any time.
Scout is always eager to help make Cyberspace a safe and fun place.
Memory chips
Interests:Fixing computers, making antidotes for malware, playing fetch
March 23 2009
How Computers Work: What is RAM?
RAM is short for Random Access Memory and is a type of computer memory, used for short-term data storage. In most computers, it is an integrated circuit board installed in the motherboard. Random Access means that the stored data can be accessed in any order, regardless of where it is physically stored on the board. You can think of it like a bucket to store data in. Whenever you need to retrieve it, you just reach in the bucket and grab it.
The opposite of RAM is Serial Access Memory, or SAM. SAM has to be accessed in the order it was stored in, like a cassette tape. RAM is faster than SAM because the computer doesn't have to scan through a bunch of data to find what it needs. SAM is useful for long connected bits of data that don't need to be accessed randomly, like a video buffer.
How much RAM your computer has can affect its performance. Some tasks like playing games or editing videos will use a lot more RAM than others. If it seems like your computer is taking forever to complete tasks, you may need to add more RAM. Fortunately it's very easy to upgrade RAM. You simply install more boards or replace the ones already installed. But, before you buy any, be sure to figure out exactly how much you need and how much can fit in your computer, and get a trusted adult to help you.
posted by Dr. Keen
topic: How Computers Work
March 2 2009
Cyber Defense Threats: Browser Hijacking
A browser hijacker is a type of malware that changes the behavior of your Web browser. Some of the things browser hijackers do include replacing your browser’s home page, adding new bookmarks or favorites, linking to inappropriate Web sites, redirecting to a site you did not click on and have no interest in visiting, and covering your desktop with pop-up advertisements.
Browser hijackers can make surfing the Internet almost impossible. Because these programs often create hidden files and change settings to reinstall themselves after removal, you can't always fix the problem by deleting them or changing your settings. You need to use a special malware removal tool and track down all the files they’ve installed to get rid of them completely.
To avoid browser hijackers, keep your browser and anti-virus software up-to-date, follow the guidelines for defending your computer against malware, and try to avoid visiting risky Web sites.