Friday, June 29, 2007

Popular Resume Writing Service: Resume Edge

Resume Edge makes resume writing as simple as possible for their customers. We began our order by choosing between a resume sample or resume and cover letter. We were prompted to complete a job questionnaire, which highlights what job we were looking for and what types of jobs we previously held.

The next step allows you to speak one-on-one with a resume writer and discuss your goals and career plans. We had a very pleasant conversation with them, and speaking with them really added to the quality of our resume. Voila...our resume was ready within two days! 6StarReviews was very satisfied with the results. However, if you are not, Resume Edge will work on your project until you are, no questions asked.
  • New resume in just 48hours
  • Work one-on-one with a professional resume writer
  • Satisfaction Guaranteed
  • Resume Rabbit is a resume distribution service that posts your resume on some of the best job sites online. With a 100% guarantee, $199.95 is well worth it for a quality resume.

Resume Edge proved to be thorough and quick, offering us nothing but the best in customer support and a quality resume. They deserve the Top Rated position with 6.0 Stars!

Career Perfect: Write the Perfect Resume

As 6Star Reviews navigated the Career Perfect site, we found that you can not only find advice on resume-writing techniques, but you will also find cover letters, e-resumes, and applications! We immediately found a resume that matched the job we were searching for, but it was completely to our liking so we thought we'd look into their personalized service.

Before doing so, we took their career test, which provides you with results that match your interests, abilities and personality traits to pair you with a perfect job. Ironically enough, marketing was our forte.After completing their SkillNet™ Questionnaire, we were given our own personal writer that provided us with a draft within a few days. We had a few changes to make and it was a breeze to go back and forth until our resume was perfected. This resume writing service was very easy to use.
  • Interview Advice
  • Resume Posting Services

6Star Reviews was pleased with Career Perfect. We weren't thrilled with their site layout, but who cares what the site design looks like if they get the job done. This site would be more effective if they offered more features that some of their competitors do, as well as speeding up the customer support response time.

At almost $100 more than most, at a price of $299.00, 6Star Reviews can only give Career Perfect 4.5 Stars.

Get Resume Writing Help on E-Resume

6Star Reviews surveyed E-Resume and believe they offer the easiest sign-up process. Upon starting, you are brought to a simple page that lists the types of services they conduct, their prices, and the area to attach your current resume.

E-Resume takes on the rest after this point. We found it to be one of those "submit and forget" websites. What could be easier?We could tell that e-Resume was very meticulous when they provided us with a specific contact person that took some time to get know us and asked questions about our personal job history and future goals. We felt this aided them in providing us with a quality resume. We were very pleased with their resume writing services.

  • Personal Customer Service Agents
  • Resume Circulation Features

e-Resume proved to be highly effective and user-friendly. Their staff is very helpful and they provide quality results. e-Resume's prices are very competitive, almost $100 less than other services at a price of $155. Their customer support is at the top of their game, providing responses almost immediately. 6StarReviews awards them the Most Popular position with 5.5 Stars!

Resume Writers: Online Resume Writing

Resume Writers offers an area for new customers to view sample resumes and style their own accordingly. By searching through samples, you can find targeted resumes for various career choices. We located many formats and styles to choose from. These samples are great if you need a jump start to writing your resume.

If you feel you need help from a pro, you can purchase one of their resume writing services. They offer services for students, professionals, executives and IT. After making your selection, you will be personally assigned a professional writer to walk you through the process. Resume Writers will send the first draft of your resume within 72hours, which we found to be a bit lengthy for those needing immediate placements. Overall, the process was relatively easy, and we were pleased with their results.
  • Strong Satisfaction Guarantee - they promise to re-write your resume for free if you don’t receive an interview within 30 days upon completion!
  • 24 hour Rush Service

We were disappointed to see that they did not offer a support number on their site. Are they only willing to help paying customers and not potential? Very frustrating. In addition, they are one of the most expensive services that we have reviewed - costing us $249.95. Even with their guarantee, that is pricy. We give Resume Writers 4.5 Stars.

Resume Builder Resume Service

The Resume Builder provides resourceful articles to assist people in their resume writing endeavors. These articles give you advice on how not to write a resume as well as tips and techniques to make sure your resume gets noticed!

These articles are always changing and being updated to ensure that you are always receiving the newest information possible. The Resume Builder makes creating your resume simple. All you have to do is fill in your personal details, work history, education, skills, achievements and you are done!

  • The Resume Builder offers their members free resume hosting.
  • Professional Resume Templates
  • Resume Builder Wizard

The price may seem right at $14.95, but our experience was rather bland with Resume Builder. We were appalled that they did not offer phone support or a one-on-one writer. 6StarReviews supposes you get what you pay for. Our resume was fine, but paled in comparison to their competitors' work. 6Star Reviews only gives them 3.5 Stars!

Internet Security Software

Viruses, spyware, adware, keyloggers, hackers and hijacked browsers. All threaten your computer’s security status and new threats are emerging everyday. But before you lose faith in your prized Dimension desktop, remember the importance of Internet security software and how these tools can assist you in regards to forgoing future computer security breaches.

Say you have computer anti-virus and maybe a firewall installed on your PC. Although these can resist nasty strains of online viruses, they aren’t enough to protect you from spyware, phishing and other online threats. Industry experts report the growing trend in computer hackers wedging their way around typical anti-virus software as Internet security software combats their attacks. Many have resorted to transferring Trojan-horses to businesses and through communications devices like email and IM’s.

6StarReviews.com reports that your odds of getting a virus or spyware attack can be highly diminished by installing comprehensive internet security tools. One software program they took a look at is Security Shield, which boasts features such as rootkit protection to find even the most discrete worm. This software program also provides free technical support (we know the last thing on your mind is paying $50 an hour when your PC goes haywire.)

As long as we rely on computers for every aspect of life itself, there will be unseen threats and perils lurking around cyberspace, waiting for a chance to target your files. Although installing security tools is wise, they must be updated, so choose a software provider that automatically renews your security software definitions. There are always holes in any form of security, but internet security software reduces the chances of nearly any threat.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Share Digital Photos on Fotki

Signing up for Fotki was fast and easy, taking less than two minutes. Once we were registered, we could upload our photos to the site and the upload process was intuitive and straightforward. Navigating the control panel was a breeze.

Once we had uploaded our photos, we were able to create tags, post comments and manage our albums without any glitches at all. We have to admit, we were a little disappointed with the site design. The left hand column goes on for miles with hyper-linked blue text, but other than that, the site was very functional.

6Star Reviews thought the Fotki community was also quite impressive. Members seem to be active in the forums and many of the journals (Fotki's version of blogs) proved to be quite interesting. This site definitely has a loyal following. The photo contests and the ability to critique other members' photos were also entertaining and gave more of a "community" feel to the Fotki website. This photo sharing site is incredibly entertaining.

  • CNET selected Fotki as the finalist of Webware 100 and named them among the best services on the Internet.

Fotki was a fun site to play with. It is incredible easy to use, and there is never a dull moment on this photo sharing service! We were very impressed by the prompt and courteous customer support, and 6StarReviews had an all around great experience on this photo sharing service.

The only downside is having to pay a year in advance at a cost of $50, which we found to be pretty reasonable. Fotki gets our Top Rated position with 6.0 Stars!

Share Memories on My Photo Album


The entire sign up process took 6Star Reviews less than three minutes. After uploading photos, we were able to personalize them and create albums. All of these can have different layouts, titles and descriptions for each photo, album, and sub-album. In addition, we were also able to personalize the covers of each album and create customized frames as well. Wow, we are impressed!

Navigating the MyPhotoAlbum website and features was very intuitive. Creating and sending ecards and slide shows proved to be easy and even technologically-unsavvy users should be able to do it without any trouble at all. The RSS feeds were a bit more technical than novice users might like, but if you know how to do RSS feeds in the first place, it should pose no problem. What a unique attribute.

  • 20 free prints when you become a member.

MyPhotoAlbum was not only easy to use, but so much fun! We could have continued playing with our photos for hours. With features galore and your creative mind, this site becomes highly effective and a leader in the photo sharing industry, also the most affordable at $15.

So where could they improve? Well, we thought customer support should offer phone service and email replies should be faster. Other than that, we gladly award MyPhotoAlbum the Most Popular position with 5.5 Stars!

Flickr-More than Photo Sharing


Signing up for Flickr was really easy. In fact, we didn't really have to sign up at all. We just used our Yahoo! ID to log in and our account was there waiting for us. Once we were logged in, uploading photos and using the Flickr features was fast and efficient.

While there were really no "frills" involved with using the Flickr account, it is a great site for the basic upload and sharing of photos.We found out that Flickr is one of the largest photo sharing services on the Web. The Flickr website is designed to be more like a community site than a commercial photo service – think MySpace meets photo sharing. This site is great for you social networkers, but may not be the best photo sharing service for families.

  • Upload photos from your cell phone.
  • Interactive maps let you show the location of where your photos were taken and browse for other photos taken near yours.

6Star Reviews thought Flickr was very easy to use, but somewhat plain when compared to other photo sharing services. Customer support leaves room to be streamlined. We did receive an email response almost immediately, but we were left searching for non-existent phone support. At a price of $24.95, Flickr had some of the best photo sharing service prices. Overall, a good service receiving 5.0 stars!

Put Digital Prints in Photo Bucket


After signing up, navigating the features of our Photo Bucket account was a breeze, where we were able to link images right to an eBay auction and MySpace account with relative ease. This definitely was a top Photo Bucket feature that truly stood out.Uploading photos through the interface was effortless and took little to no time at all.

We had three separate images up and added to our album in less than a minute. We then created a slide show, which was simple and enjoyable. Overall, the features of Photo Bucket were very user-friendly and effortless to use. Even if someone did run into trouble navigating their Photo Bucket account, the vast tutorial section can walk you through almost anything you'd need to do on the site. However, we were disappointed to find out that alternative support methods are only available to Pro accounts.

  • Users can print photo books, posters and postcards through the site.
  • Make slide shows and remixes.

Photo Bucket costs $25 for a one year membership. We thought this photo sharing service's pricing was okay. We would be more likely to use this site at that price if they packed more features into the membership plan. After our poor customer support experience, we award Photo Bucket 4.5 Stars.

Webshots: Share Photos Online!

Webshots' site was fairly easy to navigate, although novice Internet users may find it a bit cumbersome at first. Once we had our Webshots account and began to upload photos, we were able to send invitations to our friends to view entire albums or just single photos, whichever we preferred.

We were also able to embed our albums and photos onto websites with ease. Although we decided not to, we did have the option of making our album public so other Webshots members could view our photos.

In addition to managing our own photos, our membership allowed us to view and download the Pro photos available on the Webshots website. Although you can't use Pro Shots downloads commercially, you can use them as screen savers or desktop wallpaper or order custom gifts such as t-shirts and mugs with Pro Shots on them.
  • Watch videos on the Webshots website!
  • Upload photos from your phone to your Webshots photo album.

We enjoyed using Webshots, but there is a limit to personalization and use of its photo sharing service features. It appeared as a site more attuned to social networking than photo sharing. At a cost of $29.88, we found this site relatively affordable for the features provided.

For the few questions we did have, we were not able to contact customer support unless we were a paying customer. Very unsatisfactory! 6StarReviews awards Webshots 5.0 Stars.

SmugMug for Photo Sharing

Signing up for SmugMug was quick and trouble-free. The drag and drop functionality made it a breeze to upload online photos to the site and the fact that we could see the upload progress of each individual file was a definite plus.

We found the control panel to be rather busy and convoluted and although the site offers you the ability to "customize" your "theme," all it really came down to was changing the colors of our interface, which wasn't too impressive.

We did like the fact that we could organize our photos into different galleries and send invitations to our friends and family so they could view our images easily.

  • 14-day free trial now available.
  • SmugMug offers password protection functionality - prevent unauthorized eyes.

When actually using this photo sharing site, we feel it isn't as user-friendly as some of its competitors. We have a strong feeling it isn't designed with the novice user in mind. Smug Mug is among many photo sharing sites that does not offer phone support, but we did receive an immediate response from email support.

Their price of $39.95 puts their pricing at the higher end. 6StarReviews feels that Smug Mug has room to improve and we give them 4.5 Stars.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Resume Writing Services

Many job-seekers have been to college; have years of experience and enough drive to take any new career head-on. The problem is; many hopefuls haven’t a clue when it comes to resume writing, a skill that needs to be mastered in order to show off your decorated work history while attracting prospective employers.

The notorious cover letter and resume are the first criteria your future boss examines when they open your email titled, “Perfect for this Position” for the umpteenth time. Sure, anyone can say they’re right for a job, but your resume is the golden ticket in securing an interview and potentially, the job.

Resume writing services are an advantageous way to jump-start your dream career, while maintaining your personality. Not only do they offer resume writing assistance for those with writer’s block, many resume writing services give you templates or write for you! In their resume writing service reviews, 6Star Reviews makes note of several sites including Career Perfect. They offer professional and functional features such as expert job-advice and relevant resume samples to your field of interest.

Whether you wish to relocate and start anew or simply want to brush up on your resume writing skills, there are plenty of options available. Remember, your skills are only as good as the manner in which your resume presents them.
Apartment Rental Services

Apartment rentals are a colloquial trend in the United States, as more Americans put off paying mortgage down payments, frequently move for work or simply enjoy the non-hassles of rental life. It can, however, be a daunting task for most anyone to find the right apartment in their desired city at a reasonable price.

Fortunately, the Internet simplified apartment-hunters cries for help and some of the best apartment rental services literally do the work for you. Simply by entering information such as desired rent rate, city of choice and number of bedrooms, you can effortlessly find lists of various rentals. Don’t like what pops up? Many online apartment rental sites allow you to choose specific neighborhoods akin to your taste.

There are millions of rentals available and are often snatched up in mere hours by other apartment-hunters. 6Star Reviews makes notice of one apartment rental service, Apartments.com, that gives future renters the lowdown on information such as which pets are allowed in which complexes, detailed floor plans and local maps. That way, you’ll know how far you’ll have to drive to get to the nearest shopping mall or football stadium.

It’s imperative to keep in mind the various lease agreements you’ll stumble upon when finding your next rental, so we recommend discussing this with your future lease manager. Some apartment rentals offer annual leases, while others cut it short at 6-7 months. It’s necessary to stay up-to-date with the newest rental news, as these hot properties go quickly!
Photo Sharing Services

You’ve probably heard of or have taken part in the raging trend of digital photos and online photo printing. But, did you know how photo sharing services can impact the way you exhibit priceless memories? Photo sharing services give budding photographers fun and flexible options for their images among other special features.

Many photo sharing services allow users to upload their digital photographs straight into their online galleries. Users can also add tags, headers, and even arrange prints in funky slideshows. Like MySpace, several photo sharing sites let you invite friends and loved ones to “join” your group and view new photos whenever you update your gallery.

6Star Reviews notes that one photo sharing service, DropShots gives their customers a desktop application that makes drag-and-drop photo features a cinch. Many photo sharing services make the transfer-stage simple for those who aren’t experts in the technology department.

Another great photo sharing site is Fotki, which allows members’ friends and family to leave comments on their digital photo galleries. There is a world of opportunity in sharing digital memories and some of the best photo sharing services are recognizing the practical needs and entertainment-wants of avid photo fans.
Online Bookstores

Whether you frequent your local Barnes and Noble bookstore every weekend or simply check out the New York Times best-sellers list once in a blue moon, books are and always have been one of America’s favorite pastimes. Not only do they give you the opportunity to learn and expand your knowledge bank, they’re entertaining!

Online bookstores are increasing in popularity as the Internet simplifies shopping for, well…everything. So maybe The DaVinci Code wasn’t exactly your cup of tea despite the rest of society’s inability to put it down. Some of the best online bookstores offer varieties of titles from obscure authors, genres and cult followings.

What to look for when searching for the best online bookstores? Many readers want extensive book lists, hard-to-find novels, similar purchase matches and affordable pricing. Gone are the days when one megastore dominated the book-buying arena, forcing readers to purchase from them.

6Star Reviews makes mention of several noteworthy bookstores in their online bookstore reviews, a popular option being AbeBooks, which gives readers fun perks like ordering signed novels by their favorite authors. Their vast selection also offers foreign titles for the more adventurous bookworm.

Even if you don’t enjoy reading, some of the best online bookstores offer things like DVD’s and textbooks you just might need for Biology 101. Navigating online bookstores can also be a great way to find relatives birthday presents without going over budget. Your kids probably love Harry Potter, (that you hate to admit you enjoy as well) which would make a wonderful present. Point being, there's something for everyone on bookstore sites and it doesn't hurt to look.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Movie Download Services

For all of you film fanatics, movie download services are a noteworthy alternative to the customary video rental store. Even if you love the rush you get from watching an Al Pacino-esque picture on the silver screen, most everyone enjoys a movie on the couch at home at times.

Some of the best movie download services give viewers the opportunity to forage for their favorite flicks right on their desktops (or laptops if you enjoy portability).

Even if you are one that prefers less-technologically-driven forms of entertainment, it’s difficult to resist the immense database of titles offered through legal Internet movie downloads.

6Star Reviews notes that Total Vid is one option for all movie buffs, as they researched its best features in their movie download reviews. Total Vid boasts a selection of over 50 movie genres and even offers a free one-week trial for you skeptics out there. Purchasing movie downloads on the Net also decrease your chances of paying late fees since your movie is yours to keep!

For anyone that worries their paid-for movie files can be deleted, many movie downloads can be backed up with proper storage and burned to DVD to enjoy on your LCD. So, what are you waiting for, get downloading!
eCards: More than Online Greeting Cards

As the World Wide Web changes how our culture acts and interacts, online greeting cards have undergone rapid transition as well. eCards are the new way to show someone you care without breaking bank or looking overly sappy to that special someone you’ve dated for a grand total of two months. Plus, who doesn’t like getting email?

Some of the best eCards online offer amazing perks like personalized voice messages played in the eCard, gifts to match a recipient’s personality and even free selections. Yes, free. Although many online greeting card services’ free card collections are limited, if you want to send an eCard right on the spot without whipping out your credit card, there are options for you.

OK, so even if the Fourth of July and Labor Day don’t ignite the same sentiment in you that Christmas or Hanukah do, everyone likes finding a fun, customized eCard in their long list of junk emails. American Greetings, one popular eCard service, reported nearly 3 million subscribers holding annual, unlimited accounts last year, a staggering, yet unsurprising number.

6Star Reviews cites American Greetings as a top competitor in eCard services in their online card reviews. American Greetings has a track record of offering a pervasive selection of online greeting cards, as well as helpful functions like personalized calendars. Sending a friend or loved one an eCard is the Internet-age’s way of demonstrating gratitude and thoughtfulness.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Try eCampus for the Best College Textbooks

Education is an investment, and while you shouldn't cut corners, that's not to say that you shouldn't make your budget stretch where it can. With textbooks costing up to $1,000 a year, many college students are looking for ways to save money on them. Fortunately, there are cheap textbooks to be had if you know where to look.

6Star Reviews decided to compare the best college textbooks online and create comprehensive textbook reviews to help our readers find the online textbook resources that best meet their needs. eCampus was one of the textbook websites we researched who currently offer cheap textbooks. Our findings are outlined in the review below.

What's New?
  • Free shipping on orders of $49 or more.
  • New eVIP program to help you save even more money.
  • Virtual bookstore program helps colleges run their own online bookstore.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

eCampus is really in a league of its own. It truly is a full-service online bookstore offering access to more than just textbooks. You can find best sellers, medical supplies, DVDs, college apparel and more at the eCampus website.

Best Online TextBooks

Anyone who has ever set foot in a college bookstore knows that a good education doesn't come cheap. In fact, some estimates show that college students spend almost $1,000 annually on textbooks alone. Fortunately, there are ways to circumvent the budget hardships of pricey college texts. Thanks to online textbook superstores, students can cut their textbook costs by up to fifty percent.

Finding the best textbooks online doesn't have to be time consuming or confusing. 6StarReviews decided to compare cheap textbooks and create comprehensive textbook reviews to help determine where to find the best deals and which online textbook stores have the most to offer. TextBooks was one of the websites we researched. The findings of our experience are detailed in the review below.

What's New?
  • Free shipping via UPS.
  • Customer loyalty program with premium buyback prices.
  • 30-day return policy.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

The fact that TextBooks offers free UPS shipping really grabbed our attention, considering the fact that shipping costs can really add up when buying multiple textbooks.

Compare Cheap Textbooks on Bookbyte

Anyone who has ever found themselves in need of college textbooks knows just how big of a bite they can take out of your wallet. Fortunately, finding inexpensive college textbooks doesn't have to be as hard as it once was. Locating the best college textbooks online is just a matter of taking the time to compare cheap textbooks and the online bookstores that sell them. Sound time consuming? You'll be pleased to know we've done the legwork for you.

6Star Reviews decided to compare the best college textbooks online and create comprehensive textbook reviews that will point you in the direction of the best websites offering the hottest deals. Bookbyte was one of the textbook websites we researched. Our findings are outlined in the review below.

What's New?
  • K-12 books are now available.
  • Students can now buy and sell textbooks directly with other Bookbyte users.
  • 14-day money-back guarantee.

6Star Reviews Favorite Feature:

We really liked the Bookbyte "Connect" section of the website where students can get information on contests and offers, campus teams, community involvement and more.

College Textbooks on TextBookx

If there's one thing every college student needs, it's the opportunity to save money. There's nothing cheap about higher education and college textbooks can really add to the costs. Fortunately, there are ways to help lessen the blow that textbooks lay to your wallet.

6StarReviews researched the various textbook websites in order compare cheap textbooks and create comprehensive textbook reviews. TextBookx was one of the websites we researched. The results of our experience are outlined in the review below.

What's New?
  • Almost one million titles in stock.
  • Average savings of up to 50 percent off new book prices.
  • Ability to sell used textbooks in the TextBookx Marketplace.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

Almost every college student is on a tight budget. The fact that TextBookx saves students money and also offers them the opportunity to earn extra cash by referring friends is a definite plus.

Spyware Protection

Spyware, adware, pop-up’s: they’re all one in the same. Simply using one’s PC to surf the Internet can result in countless unwanted file invasions. A great way to combat spyware attacks is to invest in some good, old-fashioned spyware protection software. It isn’t uncommon for anti-spyware software to catch, clean and hunt down future spyware outbreaks on your computer.

What exactly is this dreaded thing we call spyware? A useful start to battling it is to understand what it truly is and what effects it can harbor on our desktops. Spyware typically comes in email attachments; file downloads or even other software programs. Usually it is designed to track your activity or even log your keystrokes.

Although some spyware may be targeted for marketing purposes (known as Adware) a lot of spyware can compromise your personal identity. When downloading files or programs, it’s recommended to view checklists of which files will be transferred onto your computer. Don’t accept anything suspicious!

Another wise way to clear spyware headaches out of your life is to install comprehensive spyware protection, purposely designed to clean out these pests. 6StarReviews.com notes anti-spyware protection software from STOPzilla offers various degrees of scanning capabilities, as well as prevention of sticky situations like browser hijacks. Taking a look at 6StarReviews.com’s anti-spyware software reviews can give you the lowdown on which program would fit your PC needs.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Spam Statistics

We all hate spam and no, we don’t mean the kind in the can popular in Hawaii. Spam dominates most everyone’s email inboxes and even meanders its way into your Internet experience. Even the best spam blocker may need to work overtime to clear your files and simplify your life. However, using spam protection is vital to ward off potential viruses lurking in all those “get rich quick” ads you love.

What’s the word on spam?

· The average PC user receives over 2,000 and counting spammed emails per year.

· The average computer user receives about 10 spams per day.

· Spam is expected to increase by about 63% in 2007.

· About 28% of people answer spam emails—we don’t encourage this!

· 15-20% of corporate email is spam…and it’s ever-growing.

· 25% of spam is product-related.

· About 90 billion spam emails are sent per day.

· Nearly 80% of spam emails are sent from zombie networks or botnets.

· China has the highest rate of “spamvertized” websites—i.e. Links back to websites.

· 63% of “take my email off your list” aren’t fulfilled.

· 86% of emails posted on websites end up receiving spam.

While these aren’t encouraging numbers, it’s nearly unavoidable to take your email address off of the Internet. It’s also hard to read spammed emails sometimes, as the smartest spammers know how to reel you in through a friendly subject title.

What’s the average Joe PC- user to do but compare spam filters and hunt down the best spam protection possible on the Web? One site, 6StarReviews.com, makes mention of some choices for you, such as SpamShield. SpamShield allows users to accept or reject email senders, blocks most spam and even offers a free trial.

This spam blocker also acts in a manner similar to leading antivirus protection services, updating their spam knowledgebase’s to include the latest threats. We recommend protecting that PC so you don’t have to fall prey to email scams, annoying spam and viruses. It’s your right.
Government Takes Anti-Virus Action

If you thought you were the only one worried about getting a computer virus, don’t. It turns out the United States government feels the same way and the FBI is warning PC owners of the dangers of botnet viruses. Even some of the best anti-virus software cannot fully protect your computer, but they can reduce your risk of a serious attack.

What exactly is a botnet attack? According to the FBI themselves, it’s a collection of computers all under the control of a “botherder.” The botherder is usually a zombie computer that has been programmed to send viruses out, compromise security and wipe out hard drives internationally.

Botnet programs not only spread viruses, they can phish, infect your PC with spyware and adware, as well as spread spam. For this reason, the government is taking necessary action to prevent major economic and security glitches as a result of these nasty identity-compromisers.

OPERATION BOT ROAST is our government’s newest anti-virus initiative, designed to combat the toughest botnet programs out there. They are working with software companies to identify IP addresses that were victimized by unwanted network applications and to notify the PC owners. Thus far, over 1 million addresses were classified with botnet intrusion.

Although widespread efforts to negate viruses may have a positive impact for most people, many citizens’ PC’s have been destructed, important files have been lost and identities stolen. Installing a firewall and anti-virus software may alert you of possible botnet symptoms before the problem gets out of hand.

6StarReviews.com is a site that compares virus protection, citing The Shield Deluxe as one popular program to fight virus activity. The Shield Deluxe offers free technical support (almost unheard of this day and age) and comprehensive anti-virus scanning capabilities with ongoing updates. While new virus outbreaks emerge each minute, building a wall between your personal files and the outside world is a necessity.
Fine Stationery: Popular Stationery Service

Fine Stationery is easily one of the top stationery services, offering a large selection of stationery items. We were impressed by all the options available here. Fine Stationery offers stationery from 87 different paper brand names, including Kate Spade paper, Vera Wang fine papers and Crane & Co.

This top stationery service has a great feature that tells you how quickly you can get an item. No more guess work, just click on the icon to find how long it will take.

What’s New at Fine Stationery?
  • A "What's New This Week" slideshow with the week's newest cards.
  • Free with purchase: When buying a KT Original, customers receive a free pack of colorful notes and envelopes while supplies last.
  • Free with purchase: When buying Polka Dot Pear Design items, select printed return addresses are free.

6Star Reviews’ Favorite Feature:

Fine Stationery has an awesome feature that saves your work in case you get interrupted. Should that happen, simply go to the homepage and click on the icon next to the login area to gain access to the piece you were working on.

Product Selection:

  • Fine Stationery had one of the best stationery selections that 6StarReviews has seen.
  • Business Stationery
  • Personal Stationery
  • Children’s Stationery
  • Letterhead
  • Note Cards
  • Flat cards
  • Thank You Notes
  • Calling Cards
  • Notepads
  • Visitors can search for what they are looking for by category, paperweight, price, what is on sale and best selling items. With so many ways to search, it is easy to find what you are looking for.
Tiny Prints: All Things Babies, Stationery, & More!

Tiny Prints’ stationery service specializes in baby shower invitations, announcements, and more. As part of 6StarReviews’ efforts to compare stationery services to determine who provides the best stationery and services, we took a look at Tiny Prints. The details of how Tiny Pints fared in our stationery service reviews are outlined for you below.

What’s New?
  • Pre-ship envelope service so parents-to-be can begin preparing their announcements even before the baby arrives.
  • Card designs created by modern artists.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

One of the great features of the stationery service is its celebrity connections. What proud parent wouldn’t want to order the same birth announcements as Brooke Shields, Jaime Pressly, and Gwen Stefani? Plus, Tiny Prints’ stationery was featured in the gift bags for celebrities at the Golden Globes and the Oscars.

Selection:

Tiny Prints has a good assortment of categories to choose from, including birth announcements for twins and photo announcements featuring pictures of your newest family addition. Although there are numerous categories to pick from, the selection of styles for any particular category is not as impressive. For example, the Bar Mitzvah invitation choices consisted of the same style but in different colors.

Party Cat--Way More Than Stationery

As part of 6StarReviews’ efforts to compare stationery services and identify the best stationery providers on the Internet, we investigated the selection and service available at Party Cat. Like all of our stationery service reviews, 6StarReviews put Party Cat to the test, outlining its features and customer support below.

What’s New?
  • The option to have your envelopes addressed by calligraphers before you receive them.
  • A low price guarantee which reduces your cost by the difference in price plus 10%.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

The best part of Party Cat’s stationery service is their unique party invitations. For example, a bachelorette invitation is shaped like a bottle of beer and comes with a paper lime which sticks to the invitation with adhesive.

Selection:

Party Cat does have a unique selection of invitations, but their selection is limited compared to other stationery service providers. For wedding invitations, Party Cat offers less than 80 choices.

That may be more than what you’ll find at a brick and mortar vendor but is less than what you typically will find online. Besides invitations and wedding stationery, you can also purchase place mats, cups, notepads, and enclosure cards.

One of the Best Stationery Services: Stationery Studio

6StarReviews went on a journey to compare stationery services to determine the top stationery vendors with the best selection and service. As part of our stationery service reviews, we evaluated The Stationery Studio. Detailed below is our review.

What’s New?
  • An option to search only stationery and gift items priced under $30.
  • The “Stick Figure” cartoon customizable family who adorn a line of stationery products available through the site

6StarReviews Favorite Feature

The enormous selection of cards, gifts, napkins, and other items available through this stationery service gives this site an advantage over the competition. Invitations for nearly any event you can think of are available at the site.

Selection:

As mentioned earlier, The Stationery Studio’s selection is impressive. Under the “Moving Cards” category alone, you’ll find 148 different styles to pick from. That doesn’t even include the huge lists of categories you can browse through.

For invitations, you can work through more than 60 categories, including retirement parties, Super Bowl gatherings, and sleepovers. In addition, the site offers personalized napkins, stampers, soaps, notepads, candy, and more. We will say that their selection wasn't as cute or appealing as some of the other sites.

Stationery Style: Great Stationery Service

Which stationery service is worth your time and hard-earned money? That’s what 6StarReviews wanted to find out, so we’re going to compare stationery services and decide which provides the best stationery selection and service for you. One of our stationery service reviews is of Stationery Style. You’ll find the results below.

What’s New?
  • Free shipping on all orders (limited time promotion)
  • Style Studio – you can customize your stationery and accessories then preview the results before you order

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

As you type in the text you want, you can see the changes made on the virtual stationery in real-time so you get a good idea of how the finished product is going to look. You can also adjust the alignment and spacing of the text to fit your needs.

Selection:

Stationery Style’s selection was impressive. More than 130 styles are available just for wedding invitations, plus party invitations are available for almost 20 different events, including bachelorette parties, lingerie showers, and wedding brunches. You can also purchase gifts through the site, including personalized boxes of writing paper and craft kits for children.

American Stationery: Great for Gifts

Since 1919, American Stationery has been delivering stationery directly to your door. From this stationery service's website, anyone can find the stationery products they need.

6StarReviews had some trouble navigating the website. American Stationery uses very broad categories and then narrows down into smaller ones. It took several clicks just to see some of the product line.

What’s New at American Stationery?
  • American Stationery offers a catalog which users can peruse at their convenience. Once they know what they want they can use the catalog codes to do a quick order online.

6StarReviews’ Favorite Feature:

American Stationery is the only site that accommodates names that contain accents. Use their accent screen to place accented letters on your stationery. Their selection was not the best stationery selection out there, but there were quite a few choices for personal pieces. If you need business pieces, 6StarReviews thinks you may want to investigate other options first.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Land That Job!

Many eager job-seekers are resorting to online job search sites in hopes of landing that position they’ve wanted since childhood. Dreams of becoming a lawyer, veterinarian or even a graphic designer can be accomplished with just a click of a mouse.

Going door-to-door begging employers for a job may illustrate your current employment status, but it’s not ideal. Using a job search engine is a useful solution, as many employers check email several times a day and hopefully they’ll find your resume sitting in their inbox!

Job Search Advice:

· Check job search sites everyday if you can—they’re often updated several times a day.

· Don’t only apply to jobs under your designated career category—more often than not, many career categories hold positions you’d be compatible with.

· Check to see if a prospective employer wants your resume sent via email or in an attached Word document—this will make or break your chances at getting the job.

· If the job listing says, “No phone calls,” they mean it.

· Don’t assume that a long wait means an employer is disinterested—they may have applicant pools in the thousands.

· If you receive an automated, “We were impressed by your resume, but you don’t fit what we’re looking for,” don’t be afraid to follow-up and ask why! This could aid you in future applications.

· When typing in career keywords, make your list as versatile as possible.

· Try out several job search services—not every employer posts to the same job bank.

· Sign up to receive automatic career matches by email—some services offer this free-of-charge, saving you the hassle of weeding through jobs that aren’t of interest to you.

Of course, with every life-changing decision such as beginning a new occupation, it’s best to compare job search engines. 6Star Reviews is a site that looks favorably on Monster, a prominent career-everything oasis. Monster allows eager applicants to Network Now and fill out their profiles based on job desired, compensation requirements, location and education history.

Another leading job search engine is The Ladders, whose target demographic is executives and $100k plus positions. Although you may not fall into this employment bracket, SnagAJob offers more diverse positions and part-time opportunities. The Web has changed our way of being and surely searching for jobs online is no exception.
Popular Credit Choice: No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Credit cards with outrageous fees and mile-high interest rates are slowly declining in popularity, as more people realize the benefits behind no annual fee credit cards. Why pay to spend with a card when the card issuer already wins from your weekend splurge at Nordstrom’s?

This isn’t to say that all credit cards charging yearly rates are a waste of time—plenty offer special perks and bonuses to their cardholders. However, there’s a lot of useful information you may wish to know about cards without annual fees.

No-Annual-Fee Must Know’s:

· Find a no-annual-fee card but don’t like the listed APR percentage? Many credit companies can review your credit history and if they like what they see, you can potentially snag a lower rate.

· Many cards allow customers to go over their credit limit or make a late payment without penalty. However, it’s necessary to check the small print, because repeat offenses may hurt you.

· Make sure you read the fine print—your no-fee card may roll over and charge you a fee after extended periods of time.

· Many card issuers charge high penalty rates on late payments, making up for an annual fee that isn’t charged.

· Sometimes no-annual-fee credit cards don’t offer all the special perks like travel miles or insurance that other types of cards do, so it’s best to compare credit cards.


6Star Reviews reports that one card in particular, Discover More, offers some great perks in their no annual fee credit card reviews. Discover More offers cardholders a great APR rate, travel accident insurance and versatile cash back bonuses.

There are positive signs in the credit marketplace, which is a great sign that individuals are recognizing the need to spend in moderation. About 40% of all credit card holders have a balance of less than $1,000. Also, about 70% of consumers haven’t had an account or drawn out loan that was older than 90 days. For those of you who can foresee yourself falling into financial traps, it’s necessary to take precaution.
Discover More on No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards

In today's world of finance, credit cards can be a person's best friend or worst enemy. The determining factor between the two polar opposites usually lies within the terms and conditions of the credit card that's being used. Unfortunately, most people don't realize that their credit card is pushing unfavorable terms until it's too late.

6StarReviews decided to compare no annual fee credit cards to determine which cards really are the best no annual fee credit cards on the market. By creating informative no annual fee credit card reviews, we're making it easier for our readers to find a credit card that offers great terms with no hassle.

About the Discover More Card:

If you have good credit and you're looking for a cash-back rewards card, the Discover More Card may fit the bill perfectly. Depending on your purchasing habits, you can earn from 0.25 percent to 5 percent cash back on your purchases and if you choose to cash in your reward for gift certificates at select partners rather than cash, you can double it.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

The fact that this no annual fee credit card offers up to 5 percent cash back in some categories is a huge plus. You'll be hard pressed to find that elsewhere.
Blue from Amex: No Annual Fees

With more and more credit cards available in the market, sometimes it can be hard to determine which ones are really the best. Terms and conditions can be confusing and to make matters worse, they frequently change. Fortunately, finding the best credit cards doesn't have to be like navigating a treacherous jungle.

6StarReviews decided to compare various no annual fee credit cards and create comprehensive no annual fee credit card reviews. Blue from American Express is one of the credit cards we took a look at. The findings of our experience are detailed in the review below.

About Blue from American Express

Blue from American Express is geared towards consumers with excellent credit ratings who are looking for a credit card that offers numerous travel perks and access to a fee-free rewards program. By offering a low interest rate and points that can be redeemed for travel, merchandise and other valuable rewards, Blue from American Express has strategically positioned itself to be one of the most favorable rewards cards on the market.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

The fact that Blue offers points that can be redeemed for travel and merchandise makes this one of the most flexible rewards credit cards on the market.
Amex Blue Cash--Great No Annual Fee Credit Card

Nowadays finding the best credit cards can be like searching for a few needles in a huge haystack. There are dozens of credit cards on the market, all with varying terms and conditions. So how do you find the one that's right for you? Luckily, 6StarReviews is now making it easy to find the best credit cards out there.

6StarReviews decided to do the legwork for our readers and compare various no annual fee credit cards. Then we created comprehensive no annual fee credit card reviews to make finding the right credit card as easy as 1-2-3. Blue Cash from American Express is one of the credit cards we researched. The findings of our experience are detailed in the review below.

About Blue Cash from American Express:

Blue Cash from American Express was named as the best cash rebate credit card by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. It's not hard to see why, considering the card offers unlimited cash back rebates on qualifying purchases, numerous cardholder perks and a somewhat-decent interest rate. Add that to the fact there's no annual fee and it's apparent that Blue Cash from American Express is a real winner.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

The fact that there is no limit set as to the cash-back rewards you can earn is a huge plus.
Discover Open Road: No Annual Fee Charged

Anyone who has had any experience with credit cards knows that not all credit cards are created equal. The question is, which credit cards are worth having and which should be left by the wayside? 6StarReviews has the answers.

6StarReviews decided to compare no annual fee credit cards to determine which ones were the best. By creating informative no annual fee credit card reviews, we've enabled our readers to find the best credit cards available without the hassle of a trial-and-error approach. Discover Open Road Card is one of the no annual fee credit cards we researched. Our findings are outlined in the review below.

About the Discover Open Road Card:

The Discover Open Road Card is a great way to help cut back on rising gas costs. By offering a 5% cash rebate on gas purchases, Discover is helping take the bite out of soaring prices at the gas pump. Cardholders also get 0.25 to 1 percent cash back on all other purchases as well.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

With gas prices going up (and up, and up) a five-percent rebate from this credit card can really help ease the pain at the gas pump.
Miles by Discover Card--Great No Annual Fee Credit Card

Goodbye to the days when consumers only had two or three different credit card products to choose from and welcome to a time when there's a credit card to fit almost everyone's needs. The question is, how do you find the best credit cards and separate them from the worst? By reading on to see what 6StarReviews found, that's how!

6StarReviews decided to compare no annual fee credit cards so our readers could know exactly where the best offers are. Miles by Discover Card was one of the no fee annual credit cards we researched. The findings of our experience are outlined in the review below.

About Miles by Discover Card:

Miles by Discover Card is the frequent traveler's dream come true. By offering cardholders double miles on up to $3,000 of travel purchases and one mile for every dollar spent on general purchases. Discover is making it easy to accrue the miles needed for that trip you've been wanting to take. During the first year, cardholders will also receive 1,000 bonus miles for each month that they use their card.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

For customers who like to travel, the fact that miles can be redeemed with almost any major U.S. airline and without blackout dates makes this credit card very appealing.
Chase Flexible Rewards: No Annual Fee

Lately it seems as though everyone is looking for the perfect credit card. The problem is, one person's perfect credit card is another person's nightmare. How do you know which credit card is the right one for you?

6StarReviews decided to take the guesswork out of finding the best credit cards by creating comprehensive no annual fee credit card reviews. We took the time to compare no annual fee credit cards so you wouldn't have to. Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa is one of the credit cards we researched. Our findings are detailed in the review below.

About Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa:

The Chase Flexible Rewards Platinum Visa is geared towards people with very good credit who are interested in a flexible rewards program. Rather than earning miles or cash back for purchases made, cardholders earn a point for every dollar spent. These points can then be redeemed for airline tickets, hotel stays, merchandise, gift certificates and more.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

The fact that cardholders can redeem points for a number of different products and services is really a big plus.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Managing Your Money

With an effervescent consumer culture marked by excessive credit card use, it is necessary to weed out the truths in managing your money. Your financial assets may not be in hot water at this time, but many Americans are finding themselves strapped for cash, downright broke or in serious debt.

There are many steps to take in navigating most everyone’s goal of perfect credit. Low interest rate credit cards, for example, are a wonderful way to erase embarrassing credit histories marked by those student loans you forgot to pay 10 years ago. However, micro-managing your finances may not be your best skill, so check out some helpful hints.

What You Should Keep in Mind:

· Learn how to budget your money! Use an Excel spreadsheet if need be.

· Keep track of all credit purchases and which card you paid with—many credit problems stem from prior planning and disorganization.

· If you choose a low interest rate credit card, try to find one that doesn’t charge an annual fee. They’re out there!

· Sign up for a credit card that offers online banking—it will save you much hassle when you can’t remember how much you threw down in Atlantic City last week.

· See if a card you’re interested in charges minimum and maximum balance transfer fees and choose accordingly.

· Take late fees into consideration—even if you’re the most organized person on the face of the Earth. Everyone slips once in awhile.

· See if your low-interest rate credit card’s fees can be raised so you won’t run into surprises.


If you are used to making default payments, it’s a habit to consider dropping as quickly as possible. 6Star Reviews reports that many companies have considered the needs of those who aren’t in best standing with Equifax. One of the top credit cards they researched in their low interest rate credit card reviews is Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card.

Not only does a card of this caliber offer those on the borderline of debt six percent cash rebates, customers receive amazingly low interest rates and no annual fee. There are many other credit cards available for those seeking low APR’s, which could greatly increase your shots at financial stability.

However, keeping on top of your expenses can be challenging and we sympathize with those who aren’t mathematicians. But, last-minute borrowing from your personal portfolio isn’t something to resort to every time you forget to pay a bill.
Popular Low-Interest Credit Card

Finding the best credit cards isn't always easy, especially if you're looking to compare low interest credit cards for your business. With so many business credit cards out there, finding the best one for your business isn't always easy.

6StarReviews decided to take the guesswork out of finding the best low interest credit cards by creating comprehensive low interest credit card reviews. Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card, a low-interest business credit card, is one of the cards we researched. Our findings are detailed in the credit card review below.

About Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card

The Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card is a great credit card for business owners who are interested in consolidating all of their business purchases onto one low-interest card. Offering one of the only flexible rewards programs in the business credit card market, Advanta Life of Balance Platinum Card allows business owners to choose which category they will receive 6 percent cash rebates in, with purchases in other categories earning up to 2 percent cash back.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

It is going to be almost impossible to beat the balance transfer offer on this card – 2.99 percent interest for the life of the credit card on balance transfers completed within the first 3 months.
Pulaski Bank Gold Visa: Perfect for Low Interest Rates

Finding low interest credit cards isn't always easy, especially when you consider just how different one credit card company's definition of "low interest" can be from another. How do you know you really have a low interest credit card? How do you find the best credit cards available? 6StarReviews is making it easy.

6StarReviews decided to compare low interest credit cards for the purpose of creating low interest credit card reviews. Pulsaski Bank Gold Visa is one of the credit cards we studied. Our findings are outlined in the review below.

About Pulaski Bank Gold Visa:

If you have excellent credit, the Pulaski Bank Gold Visa may be exactly what you're looking for. With no annual fee and a fixed interest rate of less than 10 percent, the terms of this credit card are pretty hard to beat. Pulaski Bank Gold Visa also provides cardholders with easy account access, free auto rental insurance and travel and emergency services, making the deal even sweeter.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

A fixed interest rate of less than 10 percent isn't something to take lightly.
Great Low-Interest Credit Card: Pulaski

Finding the best credit cards isn't always an easy endeavor, especially if you're looking for the best low interest credit cards. After all, it's hard to know what "low interest" really is with some credit card companies claiming their 15 percent interest rate is a low interest offer. So how do you find the "true" low interest credit cards? 6Star Reviews decided to compare low interest credit cards and create low interest credit card reviews.

This will take the guesswork out of finding the best low interest credit cards. Pulaski Bank Visa/MasterCard is one of the credit card offers we looked into. Our findings are outlined in the review below.

About Pulaski Bank Visa/MasterCard:

Pulaski Bank offers consumers a credit card with a fixed interest rate of just 7.99 percent. In fact, Pulaski Bank's default rate of 18.99 percent is lower than the interest rate offered by some of the competitors.

While there really aren't any perks or "thrills" attached to the card, it is a great opportunity for those who want to pay off a high balance at a low interest rate.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

This credit card really impressed us with the 7.99 percent interest rate. It doesn't really get much lower than that.
Get Low Interest with Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard

Not very long ago, gold credit cards, with their generous perks and low interest rates, were reserved for the members of an affluent society with perfect credit scores. Nowadays, the best credit cards aren't just for the rich and famous. Thankfully, gold credit cards are now being made available to those with less than perfect credit ratings.

6StarReviews decided to compare low interest credit cards and create helpful and informative low interest credit card reviews. Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard was one of the low interest credit cards we researched. Our findings are outlined in the review below.

About Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard

Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard is a gold credit card for those with less than stellar credit. Offering a low interest rate, a low annual fee and perks like purchase protection and online account access, Orchard Bank Gold MasterCard is becoming a favorite among those who are trying to re-establish their creditworthiness.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

This card offers a low annual fee, online account access and low interest rates to those with imperfect credit, which is a huge plus since, as a rule, these consumers have traditionally been treated with less respect by the credit card companies.
Orchard Bank MasterCard--Secured Credit


With an increasing number of consumers carrying a significant balance on their credit cards, it's no wonder that low interest credit cards are becoming more and more popular. The problem is, not all low interest cards are created equal. How do you know which are the best low interest credit cards? We have the answers.

6StarReviews decided to compare low interest credit cards for our readers. The resulting low interest credit card reviews will help our readers determine which are the best credit cards and which should be avoided. Orchard Bank MasterCard Secured is one of the low interest credit cards we researched. Our findings are detailed in the review below.

About Orchard Bank MasterCard Secured

Orchard Bank MasterCard Secured is a great credit card for those who are interested in a low interest credit card, but who don't have the credit rating required to qualify for an unsecured card. This secured credit card offers those with blemished credit the opportunity to hold a low interest card and improve their credit rating at the same time.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:
Many low interest secured cards have high annual fees, but Orchard Bank MasterCard Secured has an annual fee of just $35 making it a great choice for those with less-than-perfect credit.
Need a Low Interest Credit Card? Try Orchard Bank MasterCard

It used to be that the best credit cards were reserved for those with perfect credit and consumers with less than perfect credit were stuck paying an interest rate of 20 percent or more. Nowadays, thanks to the increasingly-competitive credit card market, low interest credit cards are being made available to those who don't necessarily have spotless credit histories.

6StarReviews decided to compare low interest credit cards for the purpose of creating comprehensive low interest credit card reviews. Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard, a low interest card for those without a perfect credit score, was one of the credit cards we looked into. The findings of our experience are outlined in the review below.

About Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard

Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard is the perfect solution for consumers who have suffered from bruises to their credit reports. By offering low interest and a low annual fee to those with less than perfect credit, Orchard Bank Platinum MasterCard is leveling the credit card playing field.

6StarReviews' Favorite Feature:

The fact that you don't need perfect credit to get a low interest rate makes this credit card one of our favorites.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Security Shield 2007 for your Internet Security Needs

6StarReviews researched and tested a number of Internet security tools and created Internet security software reviews for each and every product tested. Security Shield 2007 was one of the products we investigated. The findings of our experience are detailed in the review below.

What's New with Security Shield?
  • 6Star Double Guarantee - See Chart for details on this amazing guarantee.
  • Improved anti-virus functions.
  • Enhanced parental control.
  • Advanced installation and setup wizard.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature: Blacklight Protection

It is possible for spyware or viruses to hide on your pc fooling traditional antivirus products. Security Shield has a rootkit that can detect these hidden intrusions and allow you to eliminate them. This is an additional feature that many security suites do not offer.

Security Shield 2007 Features:

  • Anti-virus protection.
  • Spyware and adware protection.
  • Protection from hackers.
  • Parental control features.
  • Free technical support.
  • Spam protection.
  • Rootkit protection.
  • Automatic updates.
  • Real time protection.
  • Available in multiple languages.
Check out CA Security Suite

6StarReviews decided to compare Internet security tools for the purpose of creating informative Internet security software reviews. CA Internet Security Suite was one of the tools we tested. The findings of our research are outlined in the review below.

What's New?
  • Real-time spyware and malware removal.
  • New anti-phishing features.
  • New 2-way firewall.

6StarReviews’ Favorite Feature:

The real-time spyware and malware detection and removal was a lifesaver, allowing us to stop a malware threat dead in its tracks. Some of the other programs would have allowed the malware through and then we would have had to remove it when it was detected in a later system scan.

We also liked the fact that the product guarantees that it will work if installed and used properly -- insuring you for up to $6,500 should a threat do harm to your computer or result in identity theft.

CA Internet Security Suite Features:

  • $1,500 of protection due to damage from viruses.
  • $5,000 of protection for identity theft.
  • Protect up to three computers with one license.
  • Critical program monitors.
  • Parental control features.
  • Anti-virus features.
  • Anti-phishing features.
  • Daily automatic updates.
  • Scheduled system scans.
  • Spam blockers.
  • Email protection.
BitDefender Internet Security Review

6StarReviews decided to compare Internet security tools in order to create helpful and informative Internet security software reviews. BitDefender was one of the Internet security tools we tested. The findings of our experience with BitDefender are outlined in the review below.

What's New?
  • New, updated interface that is more intuitive and easy to use.
  • New anti-phishing toolbar.
  • Single-user and multi-user licenses now available.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

While many Internet security tools update daily (or sometimes less) the default update schedule for BitDefender is hourly, ensuring that you really are protected from the latest threats.

BitDefender Features:

  • Comprehensive anti-virus protection.
  • Firewall protection.
  • Anti-spam and anti-phishing filters.
  • Protection from spyware.
  • Parental control features.
  • Hourly updates.
  • 24/7 online support.
Compare Trend Micro to other Internet Security Softwares

6StarReviews compared Internet security tools to find out which ones did what they promised and which left something to be desired. While conducting our Internet security software reviews, Trend Micro was one of the first products we researched and tested. The findings of our experience our outlined in the Internet security review below.

What's New?
  • Free access to Trend Secure security tools for all Trend Micro customers.
  • Three licenses included with each purchase.
  • Free trial download available.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

The fact that this program doesn't just provide Internet security tools, but is also able to act as a parental control saves a lot of system resources. Instead of running an Internet security tool and a separate parental control product on your system, parents can now free up space by letting Trend Micro serve both functions.

Trend Micro Features:

  • Free Trial
  • Detects and removes viruses.
  • Safeguards files.
  • Blocks and removes spyware.
  • Intercepts hackers and viruses.
  • Protects from phishing scams.
  • Protects your wireless network.
  • Offers parental control features.
  • Free Trend Secure tools.
  • Includes 3 licenses.
Kaspersky 6.0--Internet Security Choices

There are a number of Internet security tools on the market and separating the good, the bad and the downright worthless can be rather time consuming. 6StarReviews decided to research and compare Internet security tools for our readers, creating in-depth Internet security software reviews. Kasperksy Internet Security was one of the products we tested. Our findings are outlined in the review below.

What's New?
  • Automatic hourly updates.
  • On-demand and scheduled scanning.
  • Integrated phishing protection.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:

The fact that Kaspersky can block sites with potential dangerous content (such as spyware and adware downloads) in real time is very useful.While other products will let you access the site and then remove the harmful content later, Kaspersky prevents you from downloading it in the first place.

Kaspersky Internet Security Features:

  • Real-time protection from adware, spyware and viruses.
  • Automatic hourly updates.
  • Your choice of on-demand scanning or scheduled scanning.
  • System restore features.
  • Anti-phishing properties.
  • Integrated firewall.
  • Anti-spam filter.
Panda Internet Security Tools

6StarReviews researched and tested a number of Internet security tools in order to create comprehensive Internet security software reviews for our readers. Panda Internet Security was one of the products we tested. The findings of our experience are detailed in the review below.

What's New?
  • Improved anti-spyware functions.
  • Wi-Fi intrusion defense.
  • Revamped easy-to-use control panel.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:
The Wi-Fi intrusion detection is priceless, allowing us to see when someone tried to get in without our permission.

Panda Internet Security Features:

  • Anti-virus features.
  • Anti-spyware features.
  • Privacy control.
  • Fraud protection.
  • Parental control features.
  • Wi-Fi intrusion detection.
  • Personal firewall.
  • Daily automatic updates.
What About Norton?

Norton Internet Security was a pleasant surprise during the download and installation process. The 40mg file downloaded smoothly and the installation process was about the easiest I have seen. Symantec has integrated the keycode into the Internet security product so there was no need to install keycodes as they were "preinstalled".

After the installation process we went straight into the live updates and then to the system scan. This took a good hour but really, that is what you should expect for the process. This was installed and is running on a Dell Latitude, XP Pro with 512mb RAM.

Once installed Norton Internet Security is a little less friendly. Remember, I look at everything from the average user’s perspective and what they will and will not likely use. Some of the on/off functions from the components are buried in advanced settings and I would have like to have seen that easier to access. Norton seems to be attempting to become easier for the average user but I am not sure they are hitting the mark exactly. Overall the presets were nice and clean and I was comfortable with them.

Norton Internet Security comes with antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall and rootkit but lacks a parental control or spam protection. For the $69.99 price you do get coverage up to 3 computers which is a plus for home users.
McAfee Suite--Best Internet Security?

Sometimes the search for the best Internet security can be like walking through a minefield and trying to guess which route is the safest. With so many threats out there on the Web, an Internet security program that works the way it is supposed to is critical. Due to the increased need for comprehensive Internet security, 6StarReviews decided to compare Internet security tools and conduct a number of Internet security software reviews. McAfee (one of the big players in the anti-virus field) was one of the many products we tested. The findings of our experience are outlined in the report below.

What's New?
  • New, updated interface that is more intuitive and easy to use.
  • New anti-phishing toolbar.
  • Single-user and multi-user licenses now available.

6StarReviews Favorite Feature:
We were very pleased with the fact that McAfee enables you to burn a backup CD in case you find the need to restore your system.

McAfee Features:

  • Protects your computer from viruses, spyware and hackers.
  • Provides protection from phishers and spammers.
  • Provides back-up and restore capabilities.
  • Blocks prohibited websites and offensive material.
  • Provides warnings when visiting sites that send spam or install adware.
  • Improves system performance.
  • Automatically monitors outgoing and incoming activity.
  • Guards files.
  • Automatically updates daily.
Bullguard 6.0 for Internet Security

Bullguard is a relatively new product to the market but a very impressive product. All included in this package is antivirus, firewall, spam protection and backup capabilities, which all ran smoothly. 6StarReviews was very pleased with this product, the service and the ease of use.

The antivirus and firewall are really the main focus of this review section and they performed very well. Notifications and updates were very clear, the system was appropriately setup ahead of time for the average user and there were NO complicated options to confuse the average user.

The antivirus application screens your emails, and scans your hard drives for viruses and malware. As a matter of fact, Bullguard checks for viruses every time you try to access a file!
The spam product on this was probably the least effective and least friendly out of all products.

Bullguard protects a good spam of email applications such as: Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Eudora, The Bat and all other e-mail clients that use the POP3 or IMAP protocol for fetching mails.

Compared to other spam blockers, this is a good selection. As with all spam products, they are never plug and play, you always need to personalize them. Bullguard's version was good but not as simple of a product as the antivirus and firewall. It was a good solid product with all the standard spam product bells and whistles but it was a little disconcerting when it was accessing my address book.

The final component was a backup product for data storage. While 6StarReviews has yet to review backup products, this was a simple to use product as well. You had your choice for the amount of data that you were to back up from 1000mb to 3000mb. I uploaded and downloaded data without reading any instructions or manual and was pleased with the ease of use of this product. This internet security software service definitley holds its own.

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Blue Screen: PC Crash or Registry Error?

Pretend one day you’re logging into your brand-new Windows laptop and come across the dreaded blue screen of death. You know--the one that indicates your software is having serious problems. What many PC owners don’t realize is the blue screen can be indicative of registry errors that can be easily fixed by registry repair software.

What is a registry cleaner per say? It’s a software program specializing in erasing those nasty error messages telling you all your .exe files are non-functioning. But, what are the symptoms warning you it’s time for a PC tune-up?

Registry Error Symptoms:

· Blue screens on computer boot-up. These aren’t normal and should be taken care of immediately or you could lose a lot of important files.

· Extremely slow processing applications and download times.

· Your Internet service goes awry and leaves you wondering if you have a virus.

· You see constant error messages, such as “So&So.exe could not be opened.”

· You may see some programs or files in your add/remove program’s list that you really can’t identify.

· If you try removing a program or file from your PC and it won’t delete.


All of the above may be the result of registry errors that need fixing. Windows registry is simply another fancy word for the “web” of files and applications making up your prized PC. If there are any changes or updates made, that trail in your computer web may get tangled or shifted around.

Another point to consider is some viruses and spyware are programmed to mess with your registry. So, even if all seems normal and your computer is operating at a reasonable pace, you can still fall prey to hidden attacks that may give you that blue screen you fear and loathe.
Fortunately, 6StarReviews.com makes mention of several leading registry cleaners that may assist you in their registry repair software reviews.

They chose PC Tools’ Registry Mechanic as one of the top software programs to clean up those error messages and blue screens. Registry Mechanic is Vista compatible for you technologically-on-top-of-everything bunch. It offers computer owners functions such as automatic live updates, registry pruning and repairs rather than deletion, which could lead to greater problems. The next time you receive an error message, take it as your PC’s request for a bath.