Why is having an Antivirus important for your computer?
Antivirus software plays an integral part in ensuring your computer is safe from malware and viruses. Malware causes adverse effects such as deleting your files without your knowledge, corrupting installed programs and in some cases can even expose your personal data.
So what is AVG Antivirus?
AVG is a free Antivirus that protects your system from malware attacks whether you are offline or online. AVG runs smoothly in the background of your machine and you can control the consumption of computer memory and other resources by controlling the automatic scans. It is generally ranked as the best free antivirus currently on the market.
What does AVG Antivirus do?
AVG performs several essential roles all of which are aimed at protecting your computer.
1. It stops malware and viruses from affecting your computer. This is from either the internet or any storage device that is connected to your PC.
2. Blocks unsafe downloads, links and emails which might harm your computer.
3. The antivirus also gets regular updates to ensure it is up to date with possible threats. It is advisable to ensure that automatic updates are enabled at all times.
4. It has scheduled scans on your computer to ensure any threat is neutralised.
Where to download AVG Antivirus
There are several places where you can download AVG Antivirus. We recommended the parent site avg.com. If for whatever reason that doesn’t work you can also get it on CNET or Softonic.
How to install AVG Antivirus
1. First, uninstall any other antivirus you may have installed before installing it. You can do this by going to control panel >programs >Uninstall a program and from the list remove the antivirus.
2. Go to the download folder and run the AVG install file.
3. In order to install, you have to accept the agreement.
4. Select the free license and the antivirus will start to install.
5. After that, restart the computer for the installation to complete and you’re done.
In conclusion, it essential you have an antivirus installed on your computer and AVG is all you need.
In our second video blog we’re going to be looking at 7 Ways To relieve Stress. The video is a brief summary of our full 7 Ways To Relieve Stress Article. We suggest watching the video and then if you want to learn more, read the full blog post.
If you wish to book a DSA Needs Assessment with us then click here
Stressful situations are a part of life and everyone can find themselves stressed on occasion. There can be numerous reasons fo
r stress, whether it’s a result of the pressure at work, an approaching deadline to submit some coursework or the realisation your exams are upon you and you don’t feel prepared. In such situations, It is common to be unsettled and uneasy with the mind running in overdrive. These instances are bound to occur from time to time and since you cannot live stress-free for the rest of your life, the best option is to know how to counter stress and bring back balance and calm to your life. The following seven ways can help you do just that:
1. Exercising
Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. Yes, it may seem like you are physically stressing your body through jogging or working out but it works wonders in reducing mental stress. If you are stressed after an eventful day, have a run or hit the gym and you will certainly notice the difference in your mood and stress levels. There are also the numerous other health benefits.
2. Take deep breaths
This is of the probably the simplest and fastest way to relieve stress, especially if you are in a place where physically engaging activities cannot be done, for instance, a lecture. Deep breathing helps focus your mind on the breathing away from the stressful situation thereby lowering your blood pressure and heart rate. You have probably heard the saying “take a deep breath” well the latest studies show that you actually need to take at least 4 deep breaths to change your physiology. After doing this you should feel more relaxed and composed.
3. Be Organised
If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to get through, list everything in a simple checklist can significantly reduce the pressure felt. You can also allocate a time scale to complete the tasks listed. This can be referred back to at anytime and help you feel in control. While making your list, you can also note the things that you have successfully completed. Reason being, if you have a look at what you have done, it can help relieve stress by reminding you that you have completed similar tasks in the past.
4. Avoiding Procrastination
Try not to put things off or let them carry over into the next day If you let tasks outrun their course, stress can continue to rise. It is important to make a point of handling your tasks for the day, that very day in order to begin the next one on a clean slate. A to-do list can help with this.
5. Talk to Someone
If you’re feeling stressed about something, talk to a friend or family member. A problem shared is a problem halved. Just getting everything off your chest and sharing it with someone can really make a huge difference.
6. Listen to Relaxing Music
Music has been shown in studies to effect physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure and decreasing the levels of stress hormones. Most studies tended to be on the effects of classical music. However, from personal experience I find anything quite chilled or upbeat helps.
7. Chewing gum
This may seem like an odd suggestion but it actually works. When you chew gum, it increases the blood flow to the brain while also giving you a sense of well-being. It has also been noted that chewing gum can induce brain waves which are similar to those experienced in a relaxed state. A study by Swinburne University in Melbourne showed that chewing gum reduced the stress hormone cortisol in participants.
Adding one or several of the above methods into your day to day activities should help reduce stress and anxiety.
In today’s world, most of us have a tech gadget like a smartphone, computer, tablet or an iPad. We have become accustomed to using these gadgets on a daily basis and thereby exposing ourselves to any possible side effects using them might have. One of the side effects is that the screens of these devices emit blue light. When used late at night the blue light has been shown to mess up your circadian rhythm and effect the quality of your sleep. In order to counter this, the F.lux software has been developed. The science behind this software shows that reducing the blue light, by adapting the computer screen to the lighting of your room can reduce these side effects. The f.lux software is equipped with a “f.luxometer” which measures and removes excess amount of blue light.
Effects of using your computer at night
In order to fully understand the importance of the software, it is important to understand how harmful computer screens can be to our sleep. When you use your computer at night, the levels of melatonin are substantially reduced. Melatonin is the hormone responsible for the regulation of our sleep patterns. Simply put, the light produced by the computer “fools” our brains that it’s not yet time for sleep hence the reduced melatonin production. Research shows that the level of this hormone can be reduced by up to 50 percent in some cases. This can have a big impact on the quality of your sleep.
Also when using your computer at night to respond to email or text, there is the possibility of increased tension which can lead to stress. This can be more pronounced if you are responding to serious messages that requires focus. Such as work or study related emails. Due to the stress experienced, your body produces cortisol which is a stress hormone than when spiked can also effect your sleep.
How to install F.lux software Click here to visit the F.lux homepage. There you will find a the download. There are no redirections and the download is immediate. After downloading, you just need to go to your download folder and select it to commence the installation process.
The first step is to accept the license agreement by clicking on the accept button at the bottom of the dialogue box. The software will then extract the installation files and the system will ask you to allow the program to make changes in which case you will click ‘yes’. At this point, the software will ask you to enter your location in order to effectively match the settings of daytime and night automatically without having to input anything else.
We hope you have enjoyed another instalment of the Blog.
In our first video blog we’re going to be looking into Mindfulness. The video is a brief summary of our full “What is Mindfulness” article (posted below). We suggest watching the video and then if you want to learn more, continue reading on.
Full article…
What is Mindfulness?
Have you ever been glued to the TV and failed to notice when someone steps into the living room? Or when driving, arrived at your destination only to not really remember the last 5-10 minutes of your journey? Well, in such cases, you were lacking in mindfulness and were simply not aware of the present. Your mind was occupied and you failed to comprehend or notice what was going on around you.
With this being said, you can define mindfulness as being able to maintain constant awareness of your surroundings, feelings, thoughts and what is taking place in the present moment. Simply put, it can be defined as paying attention to the present and controlling your mind to stay focused. As a child, this is quite easily done but as we get older, it’s hampered by our many thoughts of the past and future expectations.
How mindfulness helps with mental health.
Mindfulness has been shown to help reduce stress. It is completely normal to suffer from stressful situations. Such instances certainly take a toll on most people if not everyone. By engaging in mindfulness meditation, it has been shown that there is a notable reduction in stress and anxiety.
Another important benefit of this is boosting one’s focus. Loss of focus is a major issue for most people. This makes it difficult to undertake tasks faster and comprehensively. In order to enable one’s mind to focus and avoid distractions, mindfulness meditation has been one reliable remedy. It enables your mind to develop the ability to maintain focus, which resultantly increases performance and productivity.
How does one start becoming more mindful?
If you want to become more mindful, there are certain things you can try out;
One of the ideal ways is by training your mind. It may sound somewhat difficult and complicated but it’s actually easy and straightforward. This entails beginning to take note of your daily routine, for instance, brushing your teeth. Have you ever taken time to have a look at the toothpaste you use, how the name is written, the type or whether you press it from the bottom or the middle? Such simple things enable your mind to develop a habit of taking note of details and also getting engaged.
Another ideal way is by being brief with your activities. It is always easy for the mind to wander, especially if you are undertaking lengthy activities. Try breaking down the activities you undertake. Doing the activities in small bits ensures that focus is not diverted due to things such as boredom.
Different Mindfulness practices
When it comes to these practices, there are many ways through which you can practice mindfulness and the best thing is that they involve your daily life.There is one which is very basic but amazingly effective and this is taking deep breathes. It may sound all too common but when you breathe in and out, you settle your mind and body thereby being able to control your train of thought. The phrase “take a deep breath” is often used, however the latest science shows that it is actually 5 deep breaths you should be taking if you actually want to alter your physiology.
Another practice can be taking time to make certain actions. It is our human nature to respond abruptly without taking time to think through our actions. To counter this, try taking time to respond to the phone when it rings. This does not mean ignoring the phone call but taking time to think of the caller; what might be the problem, how does the person currently look like among other things will help in composing your mind.
You can also try reading a book while understanding the context and not just rushing it. Get immersed in the book and let go of any distractions. Such reading develops the mind and enables you to control your mind and thought.
Still, how about writing your to-do list by hand? We are used to making notes on the phone while getting distracted by the incoming texts and calls or alternatively having the list in mind. However, by writing it down, you actually think through each activity and your mind works in the moment.
In conclusion, as much as mindfulness may seem ambiguous in its application to the daily life, it’s actually very important and transformative to many of the people who practice it. Give it a try it might work for you.
Welcome to another value filled post from the A2B Blog. Today we are going to be giving away our DSA Application Guide. This is an informative PDF document which will guide you through the DSA process.
This guide will only be useful for students who haven’t yet applied for their Disabled Student Allowance.
Now is the perfect time to apply for the 18/19 academic year and this guide will help you do that.
It also answers plenty of common questions students have about the disabled student allowance.
To open the PDF click the link below or click on the screenshot. If you wish to save/download the file then click ‘File’ on the top toolbar and “Save Page As”.
Welcome to another instalment of the A2B Software Showcase.
The Free Software Showcase is one of our regular features in which we take a look at some of the best free accessibility software available.
TODAY WE WILL BE LOOKING AT THE FREE GOOGLE CHROME PLUGIN BEELINE READER
As well as the traditional installable computer software there is now the incorporation of plugins to web browsers. Plugins are small additions to web browsers that allow additional functions when browsing the web . One of the most popular web browsers, Google Chrome, has a huge array of plugins which cover a wide range of needs. Today we are going to look at the plugin BeeLine Reader (also available on the Firefox web browser).
The plugin’s main function is to assist in the easy reading of content. Reading a lengthy post can be a difficult task and it is easy to get lost if your concentration slips or you get distracted. This often leads to people starting over on the paragraph, which wastes time. BeeLine Reader helps to solve this issue by giving you the text in different colour gradients throughout. It is argued that these different colours make it easy to track your lines while reading as opposed the one colour text, where your only option would be to follow through with your finger if you were experiencing difficulty with line by line reading.
The BeeLine reader notably increases your productivity, especially for students who need to read a lot of information from different lengthy sources. With the BeeLine Reader, errors in reading and skipping lines by mistake are greatly reduced thereby making the research more efficient. Your reading speed is also greatly improved since you are able to easily follow through. Additionally, this plug-in is useful for the employed population or anyone who just wants to read content online more efficiently.
BeeLine Reader has also shown beneficial results for people with specific learning difficulties. People with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), which is characterised by difficulty in maintaining focus for prolonged periods of time, find it easier to concentrate on reading using BeeLine Reader. It is also helpful for people who have dyslexia among other reading issues. The plugin’s success led to its awarding of first place in an entrepreneurship competition at the University of Stanford.
Plugin installation is however, different from the installation of normal software. The process is easier and shorter. If you opt to get it from the parent site, just click on the the links above and you will get an ‘install plugin’ button for BeeLine reader. Click on it and you will be taken to another window of where to install it, either in chrome or Firefox. Click on the chrome option and there will be a pop-up dialogue box. From that box just click add and the plugin will be added to your chrome browser. You can now access it from the top right of your browser. When it comes to the usage part, just open whatever content you want to read online then click on the BeeLine Reader and it will provide the text in colour.
If you experience any difficulties with reading, then give BeeLine Reader a try.
