How to Maintain Computer Security

Computers with internet connections has opened up the entire world and dissolved the boundaries. While it is possible to be connected with the entire world, it is equally opens up more instances of malware malfunctions from any location. So certain precautions must be taken in configuring and maintaining computers. Let us look at the various steps to be taken to safeguard computers.

Use Latest Operating Systems– Operating systems such as Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows ME are outdated and insecure. Using your computers with these old OS can put your computer at risk. You need to upgrade your computer with the latest OS like Windows 10. Or you can buy a new computer with the latest operating system installed. A new OS Windows Vista can also be used. Engineers who have passed the FE Exam by taking an EIT Exam Review Course will know the importance of updating a computers vital operating system software.

Frequently Update Microsoft Windows – Even if you have the latest version of the Windows OS, you may need to keep adding new patches to the existing software. But before installing critical updates you need to make sure that you backup your system data.

Use Antivirus Software – You should protect your system with suitable anti-virus software. Even if you have anti-virus software, you should periodically check the hard disk for any lapse in security. Engineers taking the FE Exam Prep for Electrical FE Exam should be well-versed in the use of antivirus software for effective computer system protection.

Spyware – Install spyware protection software in your computer. Hackers may install spyware in your system and later hack your system. So, periodically update your spyware protection.

Use Legal Application Software – When you install application software make sure it is a legal version and not pirated one. Having a legal software allows you have clean and above board system. The FE Exam Preparation for the FE Exam involves knowing all the fair and legal steps that should be followed in keeping a computer device safe and protected from malpractices.

Use a Firewall – A firewall is important to protect your computer. A firewall prevents outsiders from entering or using your computer. When you purchase a router/firewall, you should make sure that you reset the default password. Otherwise is like leaving your house unprotected from theft. Firewalls also protect your computers from hackers.

Use Complex Passwords: Use passwords that are greater than eight characters. You should change your passwords every three months and make sure you do not reuse the previously used passwords. Do not use the same password at your home computer as well as workplace computers. If one password is compromised then the other is also lost.

Use Personal Biometric Devices: Instead of using passwords, you can think of using bio-metric devices to login to computer and banking systems. The FE Exam Prep Course will help you to know the use of safety using biometric devices.

Backup your Important Data: Several devices are available to backup your data like CD-RW drive, DVD recordable drives, USB and External hard drives are available for backup.

Get the Support of Experts: Don’t hesitate to contact experts who can help you to secure your computer. The FE Exam Prep Course provides the right insight into the various methods of ensuring protection for your sensitive data.

Encrypt Your Network Connection: Make sure to protect your computer by ensuring that you browse for websites and other Internet locations by using HTTPS option. This ensure that the website can be accessed using secured communication network.

Disable Images in E-mail – Allow rich HTML content only from trusted sources. Opt for a Plain Text content for unfamiliar sources. This ensure that your virtual and local spaces are well protected from malwares.

The above points will ensure that the user’s computer and their internet spaces are clean and well protected from all forms of malicious external activities. The above points will ensure that the user’s computer and their internet spaces are clean and well protected from all forms of malicious external activities. The Fundamentals of Engineering Exam helps an engineer to know the value of Computer Systems.

Storm Water and its Management

Usually water falls on the earth in the form of rain, snow, or ice. This type of storm water flows over surfaces such as roads, driveways, and parking lots. If the ground is either frozen, saturated, or has paved surfaces, and if the water flows, it is called storm water runoff. Storm water usually flows to storm drains. Storm water may contain many types of impurities and pollutants. The polluted water if untreated, will in turn make streams and lakes impure for use. An Engineer-in-Training (EIT) understand the effects of storm water on human life.

Sediment is created by soil erosion and from decomposition of plants and animals. Sediments will make streams and lakes cloudy. Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A) estimates that 200 million gallons of oil are improperly disposed each year. One quart of oil can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water.

E.P.A estimates that 25% of homes use septic systems. Over four billion gallons of waste water per day are dispersed below ground through septic systems. Septic system has to be pumped regularly. You have to fix any faulty septic system. You have to fix faulty toilets to save water going through this system. Laundry can be done over several days, so that water is not sent all of a sudden on a single day. An engineer taking the FE Exam must make sure to be aware of the rules and regulations of E.P.A.

Storm water Systems are used to collect storm water from the roof and trying to dispose the water far off from the building foundation. Or storm water can be collected from the site and disposed at an approved point. Storm water can be discharged at various points. The municipal storm sewer systems are discharged in the streets. The final discharge point is in a stream, river, lake, or ocean. An engineer taking the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam will know how to design a storm water system for effective collection and recycling of the collected water.

Roof drainage systems allow you to collect water that fall on the rooftops of a structure. There are different types of roof drain systems. The pitched roofs needs gutters and leaders for channeling collection. The flat roofs need roof drains and overflow drains to regulate the flow water through these systems for it to be useful.

There are different parameters to consider while designing storm water systems. For commercial roof drain systems, you need to consider the area of the roof, rainfall rate, number of roof drains and slope of piping. For residential gutter systems, you need to consider the area of the roof, rainfall rate, number of gutters, and slope of the gutter. Overflow drain systems prevent the structure from overloading. You can also use scupper to drain to prevent overflow. Storm water can be put to a lot of usage. It can be used to flush water closets, water home gardens, used in urinals and in any water requirement activity that can use recycled water resources. An engineer with FE Exam Certification will consider various factors while designing storm water systems.

There are several methods for storm water runoff management. For proper storm water collection you must perform the following:

• Regularly sweep your driveway
• Dispose oil and automotive fluids properly and legally.
• Maintain a proper septic systems.
• Prevent over fertilizing your yard
• Clear up your pet waste.
• Use a commercial car wash.
• Pick up litter and trash
• Don’t blow yard clippings and leaves into the street.

An engineer who has completed the FE Exam Test will perform good storm water runoff management, while keeping in mind the importance of proper usage of various components for collections.

How to Convert Alternating Current (AC) to Direct Current(DC)

Conversion of AC to DC is very important for electrical purposes. The conversion involves a lot of steps such as determining Ac input voltage, deducing voltage and current needed, and converting the high-voltage Ac to Low-Voltage AC. Then pass the low voltage AC through a rectifier, smooth out the voltage using a large electrolytic capacitor, and pass the output of the smoother through a regulator. The PE Exam Prep Course helps in learning the conversion process. 

Direct Current has a variety of applications and advantages in the electrical field. So, it is important to convert alternating current to direct current for a variety of purposes.

Determine AC Input Voltage:

In Central, South, and North America the AC voltage coming out of the sockets is 110 Volts to 120 Volts and the frequency of operation is 60 Hertz. In Asia, Australia, Middle East, Europe, and Africa, the voltage range is 230 volts to 240 volts and the frequency of operation is 50 Hertz. The standards may vary in other regions. While preparing for the PE Exam you will know how to determine the AC input voltage.

Deduce the Voltage and Current Needed:

Verify the manufacturer’s manual for current and voltage settings. If the voltage or current is too high it will destroy the components. If the voltage or current is too low, then the device will not work properly. There is a range of voltage and current that is advised for safe working. Make sure you operate somewhere in the middle of the given range.

Convert the High-Voltage AC to Low-Voltage AC:

The High Voltage can be converted to low voltage by passing through a step-down transformer. Electrical current in the primary of the transformer induces a current in the secondary. The secondary has fewer coils and so the voltage is lesser. However, this reduction in voltage is compensated by an increase in current. Hence, the power output remains the same. The PE Exam Prep helps you in learning the use of step-down transformer in AC to DC conversion.

Pass the low-voltage AC through a rectifier:

One type of rectifiers used is a Bridge Rectifier. The Bridge Rectifier consists of four diodes arranged in the shape of a diamond. A diode allows current to flow in only one direction. In the diamond configuration of Bridge rectifier, two diodes will conduct for the positive half and the remaining two diodes will conduct for the negative half. The output of both sets is a current that climbs from 0 volts to the maximum positive voltage.

Smooth out the Voltage:

A capacitor stores an electric charge for a short time and then slowly releases it. The input from the rectifier resembles a string of humps; the output of the "smoothing capacitor" is a steady voltage with ripples.

For devices that only need a low current, you can create a regulator with a resistor and a Zener Diode. This arrangement is designed to break down when a certain voltage is reached, allowing current to pass through it. The resistor limits the current. The PE Exam Prep Course helps in knowing the need for electrolytic capacitor.

Pass the output through a regulator:

This final regulator will smooth the ripples and creates a steady current. This smooth current ensures that your electronic device is not damaged. Regulators are ICs that can have either a fixed or variable output voltage. The regulators come with inbuilt protection against overheating. But a heat sink will protect the regulator from overheating.

The tendency of fluctuation in the current is known and expected phenomena. The proper combination of transformer and rectifiers ensure that AC to DC is achieved smoothly without sacrificing the electronic devices using these currents.

The importance of AC to DC conversion that helps to create DC circuits, which is one of the topics of NCEES Electrical PE Exam. But the main challenge lies creating a DC circuit that will not get overloaded or tripped in the process. You can prepare for this topic with a PE Exam Prep Course.