armor

Online Armor Free is the freeware version of Tall Emu's award-winning Online Armor firewall software. Tall Emu, an Australian company, specializes in technical and security support for small and medium-size businesses. Its free firewall is based on their premium enterprise firewall and is billed as being unusually powerful and effective for freeware. The premium version of Online Armor certainly packs some impressive recommendations, including five cows at Tucows.com and the top recommendation of "Computerworld."

Online Armor has a professional feel that is typical of freeware versions of advanced security tools, with the same basic interface and … Read more

Florida-based lighting company ClearLite is introducing a new CFL bulb with an unbreakable safety shell that prevents mercury from escaping, a feature that addresses some health concerns with CFLs.

The SX-4000 silicone skin remains intact even if the ArmorLite bulb inside shatters, according to ClearLite, which is rolling out its bulb in December and January.

Not everyone is aware of the danger of broken CFLs. Because of the small amount of mercury in them, current EPA guidelines call for evacuating people and pets from the area where a bulb has shattered.

They also call for the room to be aired … Read more

Engineers in England have come up with a product to save a few bob for those who work in semi-dangerous occupations--cement body armor.

The vests combine "super strong" cement with recycled carbon fiber, making the vests tough enough to withstand most bullet calibers, according to researchers at the University of Leeds' School of Civil Engineering.

Currently, top-of-the-line bulletproof vests are made with alumina plates--the raw material used to make aluminum--through a costly process called sintering, which involves heating the material for up to two weeks at 1600 degrees Celsius to harden it.

The cement vest, on the other hand, would offer a cost-effective level of protection for people in semi-risky occupations short of full-on combat.

"By using cement instead of alumina we are confident we can deliver a cost-effective level of protection for many people at risk," said research team leader Philip Purnell. "It should be good enough for people like security guards, reporters, and aid workers who are worried about the odd pot shot being taken at them." … Read more

Editor's Note: This article was updated on 5/8/09 from a previous version published on 3/3/08, and the original, published on 12/15/06.

No matter how you arrive at an unsafe Web site, it's all downhill from there. Phishers will attempt to coerce you into disclosing your address, credit card number, or social security number. Or maybe adware engines will start sprouting pop-ups over your screen like a field of clover. Worse, your computer may become part of a botnet, its processing power used to send spam and infections to others, possibly even in … Read more

It is safe to assume that NFL players and other celebrities are concerned with their personal safety while out and about. According to an article on the Jalopnik website (http://jalopnik.com), in 2008 the NFL had been in touch with the Texas Armoring Corporation about supplying NFL stars with armored vehicles in which to get around in. The video below features an in depth look at Texas Armoring, armored cars, and how they are made.

This video is an excerpt from the program "Modern Marvels" on the History Channel. Beginning around the 1:00 mark, the viewer … Read more

I got my hands on Seagate's BlackArmor 440 NAS server and it seems different from most NAS servers I've reviewed.

The BlackArmor 440 is one of two products in the BlackArmor NAS server family that Seagate introduced last Tuesday. The other is the BlackArmor 420. The only difference between the two is the 420 ships with only two hard drives preinstalled, leaving two bays empty, while the 440 comes fully populated with four drives. Both devices are aimed at business and home office environments.

These are the first NAS servers that are truly from Seagate. The company does sell and support a few others, such as the Central Axis, but under a different brand.

The BlackArmor NAS server has a rugged and compact look for a four-bay NAS server and comes with an easy-to-use, tool-free design. It can take up to four SATA hard drives of up to 2TB of storage.

Unlike other NAS servers I've seen, the BlackArmor has four USB ports and two Gigabit Ethernet ports. The USB port can host other external USB hard drives that can be set to contain the backup of the NAS server's internal storage. According to Seagate, this allows for offsite backup rotation.

… Read more

No matter where you go, there you are. And that's always obvious from your surfing history. This password-protected app provides a private browser that hides your surfing history from other apps and hides your IP address while you're browsing.

ArmorSurf launches an attractive, easy-to-use interface with tabbed navigation. The left pane, called the Library, categorizes items you've saved and some preloaded links, like Software, Gaming, Shopping, and Dating. This free app performed well in our tests. We liked that we could change its desktop shortcut icon and name to disguise it from other users, adding another layer … Read more

I cannot come up with a practical reason why I'd need these reproduction medieval gauntlets. I just want them. Think of all the people I could be! These are the last pieces I need to complete the following outfits: Destro, Sir Galahad, Drs. Klaw and Doom, and Optimus Prime (after a paint job).

I think, though, that I'd just keep them in my bag at all times. I imagine that next time I get into an argument with a drunk dude-bro at a bar I can get him to back down without violence simply by putting them on. … Read more

Texas Custom Armoring issued a promotional video on how it bulletproofs vehicles for customers around the world. TCA does brisk business with more than 30 countries and countless heads of states, routinely armoring vehicles for the world's elite in war-torn countries. The cost for armoring a vehicle ranges from approximately $80k to the-sky's-the-limit, depending on vehicle size and features. Its customizations can include attack deterance (think: electric shock door handles) to offensive equipment, such as hidden ballistic steel bumpers.