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Find the best security software for you.

This year has given us plenty of reasons to question the efficacy of our Internet security: Heartbleed vulnerabilities, Target and Home Depot customer data leaks, celebrity iCloud photo hacks, attacks on Sony. While companies batten down their Web servers, you can protect your computer and phone with a security app -- but with so many options, how do you choose? We've reviewed all of this year's major antivirus and security updates, and now here are our recommendations for the apps that will work best for you, whether you're running an old version of Windows or need remote control of all your devices.

The good: With unrivaled test results from independent security labs, Bitdefender Antivirus offers the best protection on the market. The app also includes a variety of optimization tools, such as a Registry cleaner and a disk defragmenter. Bitdefender Safepay provides extra security for online shoppers to store sensitive payment information.

The bad: First-time setup can be a drag, as the initial scan takes some time to complete. Bitdefender Safepay isn't as functionally flawless as the antivirus app and won't be able to autofill your information on some sites.

The good: The new Avast Smart Scan provides a comprehensive check for malware, viruses, program updates, and network integrity: This convenient scan can shore up many vulnerabilities in one go. The My Avast console means you don't have to dig around for license keys for installations, and Secure HTTPS Scan plus VPN provides additional protection when you're working on public networks.

The bad: Many of Avast's more powerful features are locked behind a paywall -- some scans alert you to issues but prompt you to upgrade for a fix. Avast's antivirus protection scores have fallen a bit behind in recent years. Avast may be better than the standard protection, but there are even more thorough alternatives.

The good: F-Secure offers one-click installation and runs a pre-scan first, which is helpful if your system has already been infected. Added browsing protection prevents family members from accessing dangerous sites. With a top real-world protection rating from security testing labs, F-Secure is an effective antivirus with few frills, requiring minimal interaction from you.

The bad: F-Secure's bland user interface is functional but boring. Its browser protection works only with popular browsers and can at times be unreliable.

The good: AVG offers a winning combination of functionality and accessibility: reliable protection, an intuitive layout, and a remote-control option for another PC or an Android device.

The bad: At first glance, AVG's menu may look crowded with tools, but the app is actually quite limited unless you upgrade to a premium suite. The company's up-sell strategy is more aggressive than its peers' and can be a turnoff.

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Best security options

By Sascha Segan

The Sprint Phone Connect 3 ($149.99, or free with contract) is more trouble than it's worth. Like a voice-over-IP adapter, it's a low-cost replacement home phone solution that's much less expensivethan what you might be paying your monopoly copper phone line provider. But it's a false savings. SprintPhone Connect has poorer voice quality and fewer features than a standard landline, and other VoIPsolutions are cheaper and generally offer better voice quality.

Physical Design and Setup The SprintPhone Connect 3 is a silver box, designed by Huawei, that measures 5.4 by 5.4 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and weighs 14.1 ounces with all of its parts on. It has a 1.8-inch LCD on the front with some slightly confusing navigation buttons below; the interface lets you do things like turn on the device's Bluetooth (more on that below), update the software, and check the phone number. There's a USB port, but it's for diagnostics only.

Setup is easy. Screw on the large antenna, pop in the battery, plug it in, and you're ready to go. There are two standard RJ-11 phone jacks in the back (although the Connect only supports one number). I plugged a VTech cordless phone in and had a dial tone within seconds.

One of the more exotic features here is that the Connect can turn your home phone into a handset for up to two cell phones via Bluetooth 3.0. I paired the Connect with a Google Nexus 5 quickly, and when I dialed the cell number, the home phone rang and answered. Call quality was about what you'd expect from a Bluetooth headset; I'll touch on this more in the next section.

If you just want to use a home phone system over a cellular line, though, there are a bunch of less expensive solutions, like the Cobra PhoneLynx and VTech Connect-To-Cell. They have no additional subscription fee, and piggyback off an existing cell phone.

Performance and Features Why do you want a landline? I can think of a few reasons. Reliable 911, for one. A line that works during power outages. Something with a consistent location that you can't lose. Better voice quality than cellular. A line for faxing, medical devices, point-of-sale, or home security systems.

The Phone Connect 3 succeeds on a few of those points. You'll always know where it is, it has a 911 address attached to it, and the 36-hour backup battery will help in short power outages (although not if Sprint's network goes down).

But call quality was consistently disappointing in my tests, with background hiss and scratchiness. Cellular voice quality is generally lower than landline quality except when making HD Voice calls, which right now can only be done between cell phones on the same carrier. Cell phones compensate for this with aggressive noise cancellation and, in some cases, audio boosting. But landline phones don't do that, so calls sound worse.

You have to make sure to put the device somewhere with very strong Sprint signal, which isn't usually the center of your house, because Sprint's voice network is on a less building-penetrating frequency than AT&T's or Verizon's. Call quality will deteriorate with weaker signal.

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Sprint Phone Connect 3

Craig Warga | Bloomberg | Getty Images

An Apple employee rings up a sale at Apple's flagship 5th Avenue store for the launch of two new iPhones, the iPhone 5s, and the iPhone 5c, in New York.

Your old iPhone just got more useful.

A free app called Manything can turn your old smartphone into a motion-sensing security camera.

Read More Sure smart home tech is cool. But how much does it save you?

And unlike other smart home security systems like Dropcam, which costs about $200, this system is currently completely free.

Just install the app on both your old and new iOS device, place the old iPhone in the area you want to monitor and the app will stream the video via the app to the iPhone you currently use.

Read More A voice-activated assistant that controls smart-home devices

Manything will automatically begin recording when it senses motion and can even be set to notify you when it starts filming.

The app also works with old iPads and iPods to be used as security cameras.

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Turn your old iPhone into a home security system

Manassas, VA (PRWEB) December 23, 2014

New Horizon Security Services, Inc., a privately-owned security services firm headquartered in Manassas, VA, specializing in armed and unarmed security officers in the Mid-Atlantic region, participated in Northern Virginia Family Services Home for the Holidays program, which aims to re-house 50 homeless families in 100 days this holiday season. New Horizon Security stocked and donated 24 baskets with various household necessities to help rehoused families make a smooth transition and enjoy the holidays in their new homes.

We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure these families have a comfortable and happy holiday. As a family-operated business, we have strong roots in Virginia and care deeply for the families we protect every day, said New Horizon Security President and CEO John JJ Frazer. Frazer accompanied a group of security officers to the shelter to donate the Welcome Home baskets.

New Horizon Security challenged each of their five divisions to contribute a basket to the companys donation, and Frazer generously pledged to match their efforts threefold. The amount of baskets collected exceeded expectations and New Horizon Security proudly did their part to lessen the burden of struggling families in Northern Virginia.

Contributing to the well-being of our community is an integral part of our business as a security provider, added Frazer. When I heard about the Home for the Holidays program, I knew we had to help out.

The 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates Virginia alone has 4,234 homeless individuals, 2,786 of which are members of homeless families. Northern Virginia Family Services SERVE campus in Manassas aids these families, providing family shelters, rehousing services, financial assistance, and many other valuable community services. Deputy Director of Shelter and Rapid Rehousing Programs, Gwendolyn E. McQueeney, spearheads the effort to keep families comfortable and secure in the region. There remains a lot of work to be done and many families in need in Northern Virginia. We are very grateful for New Horizon Securitys significant contribution towards our rehousing efforts, said McQueeney. As a non-profit that offers a variety of assistance programs, we rely on individuals and organizations such as Mr. Frazer and New Horizon Security to help us meet the numerous challenges families face everyday in our area.

For more information about Northern Virginia Family Services SERVE campus in Manassas and how to contribute, visit http://www.nvfs.org/serve.

About New Horizon Security Services, Inc. New Horizon Security specializes in providing high-quality armed and unarmed security officers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region in support of local and state government agencies, private businesses, commercial and retail properties, construction sites, residential communities, education facilities, and public service buildings. New Horizon Security also operates a certified training academy to train unarmed and armed security officers for the field. This training academy is open to the public as well. New Horizon Security is headquartered in Manassas, VA with satellite branches in Richmond, Tidewater, Newport News, Roanoke, and Danville, VA.

Learn more about New Horizon Security at http://www.newhorizonsecurity.com.

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New Horizon Security Contributes to Northern Virginia Family Services SERVE Family Shelter to Support Families in ...

Home Guards for Secretariat security

SHILLONG: The State Government has approved the appointment of 50 Home Guards personnel to man the State Secretariat.

Informing this here on Wednesday, official sources said, This is for first time the state government approved the appointment of Home Guards personnel after imposing a ban on recruitment 12 years ago.

According to official sources, the State Government has now expressed its keenness to lift the 12-year-old ban on recruitment of Home Guards, which is presently hit by huge manpower constraints.

Earlier, Director General of Home Guards and Civil Defence department Kulbir Krishan had informed that the state government in principle agreed to lift the ban but on condition that there is availability of funds.

He further informed that the issue was also taken up with the Finance department which however asked that the matter should be kept in abeyance due to the present situation arising out of the NGT ban on coal mining in the state.

On the manpower scenario, the top official said there is a shortfall of 200 personnel in the department.

According to him, the actual sanctioned strength for the border Home Guards is around 800, but the current strength is only 588.

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Govt may lift ban on recruitment

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) December 25, 2014

Maintenance Unlimited Heating and Cooling is a Premium Residential and Commercial Heating and Air Conditioning Company located in Atlanta, GA. Maintenance Unlimited has been in business for over 14 years, providing quality service to the Greater Atlanta Area.

Maintenance Unlimited utilized Revamp Strategies earlier in the year to become more visible online. Maintenance Unlimited Heating and Cooling can now be found in the Google Map Listings for highly coveted keywords here in the Atlanta Area.

Now Maintenance Unlimited has again contracted with Revamp Strategies to begin the next phase of online marketing, Video Marketing.

Revamp Strategies has already created several custom videos for Atlanta HVAC Repair and has begun to position these videos in front of potential clients.

Charles E. Anderson, Chief Operations Officer of Revamp Strategies states, "Providing Online Marketing services In the Heating and Air Conditioning niche is a difficult process in itself, but add in the fact that it's Atlanta and we have ourselves quite a tough arena to play ball in." Charles continues, "When planning and online marketing campaign for any company, you must first look at the niche and competition. Since they don't call Atlanta, Hot-lanta, for nothing, one can assume that the competition for an HVAC contractor in the Atlanta area would be fierce."

Maintenance Unlimited services the entire Atlanta Metro Area providing HVAC Services in Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Decatur, Clarkston and Druid Hills.

When it comes to your home's HVAC System, regular planned maintenance is the best way to keep your system running for years to come. However, If your Furnace or Heat Pump is not working properly, just contact Sean at (404) 238-7444 and Maintenance Unlimited will get your system up and running fast.

Providing quality HVAC Repair, Replacement and Maintenance service for over 14 years, Maintenance Unlimited is your first choice in Atlanta.

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Maintenance Unlimited Heating and Cooling, Atlanta's Premier HVAC Company, Has Just Released Two New Videos

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) December 24, 2014

Parker & Sons, Inc. a forward-looking and reliable heating, cooling and plumbing contractor in Phoenix Arizona reports record demand in 2014 for reverse osmosis installations in Arizona. Parker and Sons has quickly grown over the decades to become one of the most trusted and respected names in a wide range of contractor home services. The company is listed with the Better Business Bureau and has an impeccable trust rating throughout the community. With a growing demand for reverse osmosis drinking water systems throughout the Valley, Parker and Sons has always been standing by and ready to assist clients who appreciate fresh clean drinking water at its best.

Reverse osmosis is a powerful and unique technology that can greatly enhance the overall quality of drinking water. Taking straight water directly from the tap in the Phoenix area, homeowners can enjoy incredibly crystal clear drinking water that has been processed through a high quality reverse osmosis system. Most importantly, by installing a reverse osmosis system, customers can save considerably on the cost of bottled water. From coffee to tea and juice as well as a host of other beverages, high quality crystal clear water can make virtually any beverage more flavorful. From improving the preparation of food to enjoying a better shower and bathing experience, reverse osmosis is an excellent way to make the most of a quality water purification system.

The technology is powerful and highly effective at removing particulates and undesirable components typically found in today's water. Reverse osmosis works extremely well for everything from low-sodium diets to soups and sauces as well as being used in humidifiers, steam irons and auto batteries. Other important uses of reverse osmosis treated water include ice cubes, baby formulas and aquariums as well as watering plants and a host of other applications. Parker and Sons incorporates the use of only the most sophisticated filtration technology available today. This helps to ensure that customers enjoy the very best in reverse osmosis.

Reverse osmosis works by simply allowing water to enter the system and flow through three highly effective stages of treatment in order to reduce solids, contaminants and a wide range of other impurities. The end result is clean, clear and delicious drinking water that can be used around the home in virtually any type of application imaginable. Parker and Sons offers the best in reverse osmosis installation services and is a leader in heating, cooling and plumbing contractor services throughout the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. This recent announcement with regard to record demand in 2014 for reverse osmosis installations in Arizona is further evidence that Parker and Sons is clearly an industry leader.

Parker & Sons, Inc. is an innovative and forward-looking Air Conditioning Repair & Plumbing Service in Phoenix Arizona. Having served the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area since 1974, Parker & Sons, Inc. has earned its reputation one customer at a time. Delivering quality for both residential and commercial customers, the company enjoys a long record of national recognition and has received numerous awards and accolades over the years. Parker & Sons, Inc. is known for its impressive attention to detail and old-fashioned quality work. The company has been voted #1 in Ranking Arizona for the last five years and maintains a goal of 100% customer satisfaction. Parker & Sons works on heating systems, cooling systems, ducting, air filtration and offers a variety of plumbing related services. Parker & Sons, Inc. is an established name in reliable service calls throughout Phoenix Arizona.

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Parker & Sons Reports Record Demand In 2014 For Reverse Osmosis Installations In Arizona

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) December 25, 2014

Parker & Sons, Inc. an industry leader when it comes to outstanding customer service and affordable quality regarding heating, cooling and plumbing services in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area announces recognition in 2014 by the Queen of Clean for impressive contractor services in Arizona. Parker and Sons has earned an impressive reputation over the years for providing outstanding quality customer service and affordable pricing on a wide range of contractor services for both homeowners and businesses. Linda Cobb, known as the Queen of Clean has extended her seal of approval for the quality service that is routinely offered by Parker and Sons. Linda has also gone as far as to make-note on her website that Parker and Sons is a recommended company and has her endorsement.

Linda has stated that the company has worked on her home and as such she has been able to provide this personal recommendation. Linda also points out that she is always impressed with the timely service and outstanding attention to detail that the company offers when it comes to experienced as well as skilled contractor services for homeowners. Linda has also been impressed with the large amount of reviews, ratings and word-of-mouth business that the company enjoys throughout the region. Linda Cobb is known for doing a generous amount of research on companies and as such her recommendation carries a tremendous amount of weight throughout the community.

Representatives of the company have stated on more than one occasion that they are extremely proud of the fact that the Queen of Clean has recommended their work. Parker and Sons enjoys a tremendous amount of word-of-mouth business, repeat business and referral business. This is further indication that the company is focused and dedicated to affordable quality when it comes to contractor services and only the best in customer service and customer satisfaction. With years of experience in the industry, Parker and Sons has earned the respect of the community, its peers and critics at large for many years.

From drain cleaning to plumbing and heating as well as cooling related services Parker and Sons has an impressive rating with the Better Business Bureau and also contributes to the Arizona Special Olympics. As an added note, Linda Cobb, the Queen of Clean is a New York Times best-selling author with multiple books that focus on the service and residential cleaning industry. Linda is a trusted and respected expert and a go-to source for everything related to cleaning, home and lifestyle related issues. She has even appeared on Live with Regis & Kelly. This recent announcement with regard to recognition in 2014 by the Queen of Clean for impressive contractor services in Arizona is more proof that Parker and Sons is dedicated to outstanding quality when it comes to heating, cooling and plumbing contractor services in Arizona.

Parker & Sons, Inc. is an innovative and forward-looking Air Conditioning Repair & Plumbing Service in Phoenix Arizona. Having served the greater Phoenix Metropolitan area since 1974, Parker & Sons, Inc. has earned its reputation one customer at a time. Delivering quality for both residential and commercial customers, the company enjoys a long record of national recognition and has received numerous awards and accolades over the years. Parker & Sons, Inc. is known for its impressive attention to detail and old-fashioned quality work. The company has been voted #1 in Ranking Arizona for the last five years and maintains a goal of 100% customer satisfaction. Parker & Sons works on heating systems, cooling systems, ducting, air filtration and offers a variety of plumbing related services. Parker & Sons, Inc. is an established name in reliable service calls throughout Phoenix Arizona.

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Parker & Sons Announces Recognition In 2014 By The Queen Of Clean For Impressive Contractor Services In Arizona

Gutter and Downspout Clean Out
Chatham Property Maintenance, Savannah #39;s leading professional pressure washing company demonstrates gutter cleaning at a commercial property located in Garden City Georgia. We cleaned over...

By: Chatham Property Maintenance 912-988-3832

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Gutter and Downspout Clean Out - Video

23.12.2014 - (idw) Potsdam-Institut fr Klimafolgenforschung

Around the globe, forests are found to be undergoing strong changes due to human influence already today. Degradation of woods due to man-made climate change cannot be ruled out for the future, a Special Feature in the Journal of Ecology, led by a team of scientists of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), now shows. To understand and improve the resilience of forests, a combination of approaches from small-scale field experiments to large-scale computer simulations can help, according to the studies. Taking a risk perspective, the scientists caution that global warming puts additional pressure on some of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. "Forests are probably more at risk than previously thought, says Christopher Reyer of PIK, coordinator of the Special Feature and lead-author of an overview article. The observed changes affect forests as important as the Amazon, but also forests on all continents, possibly pushing some of them towards tipping points.

Up to now, no example could be found where forests tipped into a state where no regrowth is possible due to man-made climate change. Yet the overview article identifies substantial research gaps. This is hardly good news, Reyer says. It is in fact scary how little we still know about the resilience of forests, despite all the scientific progress we present in this special issue. From a risk perspective, climate change puts additional pressure on an exceptionally valuable ecosystem whose stability up to now cannot be properly assessed.

**Forests preserve biodiversity, provide timber, store CO2**

Besides being home to a large part of the worlds plants and animals, hence preserving biodiversity, forests are also of great economic relevance. They provide timber in many countries, as well as game and fruit. Some tropical forests, such as the Amazon, are also key for regional water cycles, says Milena Holmgren of the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands. "How dense these forests are, affects the amount of rainfall that is recycled and also the amount of water that is retained. When forests become less dense, a smaller amount of water is recycled as rain and also less water is retained in the soil. Less dense forests facilitate also the growth of grass which burns easily in dry seasons. Fire can change the rules of the game drastically because grass burns easily and recovers fast whereas trees are very sensitive and need more time. So once a forest has been opened and starts burning, the end result can be a system that resembles a savanna with much grass and fewer trees. This changes the habitat for plants, animals and people.

The fate of forests is important also because they store huge amounts of the greenhouse gas CO2, adds Holmgren. Loosing forests and releasing carbon to the atmosphere contributes to climate warming and to the impacts we start to see in many regions of the world.

**"Alleviating the negative effects of climate change on reforestation efforts" **

To assess the resilience of forests, long time scales are important. Over 2000 years, tropical peat swamp forests from Malaysian Borneo showed to be resilient even under disturbances such as fire or climate variability related to the El Nio weather phenomenon. Recent burning and agricultural expansion however clearly changed the landscape by replacing tropical peat swamp forests with open or even no forest. Still, things are not straightforward. Drought, on the other hand, is found to have variable effects on different tree species in different regions, and seasons, one of the new studies shows. In the end, it is a complex combination of stress factors that is likely to impact forests resilience.

Article: Reyer, C., Brouwers, N., Rammig, A., Brook, B., Epila, J., Grant, R.F., Holmgren, M., Langerwisch, F., Leuzinger, S., Lucht, W., Medlyn, B., Pfeiffer, M., Steinkamp, J., Vanderwel, M., Verbeeck, H., Villela, D. (2014): Forest resilience and tipping points at different spatio-temporal scales: approaches and challenges. Journal of Ecology (online) [DOI:10.1111/1365-2745.12337]

Article: Reyer, C., Rammig, A., Brouwers, N., Langerwisch, F. (2014): Forest resilience, tipping points and global change processes. Journal of Ecology (online) [DOI:10.1111/1365-2745.12342]

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Forests around the world affected by climate change