A lot of information has already been spread around the Internet about the importance of surfing the Internet anonymously. Showing our real IP address to cyber space will only create problems for us, problems that may we may not be able to fix once it happens. The best solution to this kind of problem is usually prevention, and to change IP is to do just that.

Who benefits if we change and hide our IP address? We do. We’ll get anonymity in the Web and have privacy as we browse online. We will be able to stay away from the trackers and hackers with evil intentions. We will also be able to avoid unwanted traffic and spam.

Now who benefits if we don’t change our IP address? Well, obviously, hackers and cyber criminals are one of those who will take advantage of us not protecting ourselves from them. Identity theft is especially very damaging for us but very advantageous for them. There are also a lot of criminal groups using the Internet for fraud activities.

Businessmen and companies who also conduct online operations will also benefit from knowing our IP addresses. Our information will be recorded in their database and we will become potential customers for them. As a result we get all these spam emails and annoying unwanted traffic.

Of course, there are those who will not be able to reach out to us and help when we change and hide our IP. For example, site that specialize in antivirus and antispyware software will not be able to give us news on the recent threats and how we can avoid them. Unless we keep up with them ourselves by subscribing to their newsletters or giving them our email, we will not know about the new virus or spyware out there. The same goes out to specialists on operating systems, who can give us updates on the latest versions of the operating system we are using.

But comparing the dangers of having our IP exposed and having it hidden certainly creates a clear line on which option is better. Because of the great influence of the Internet on the whole world, it is better to protect ourselves by hiding our IP. Revealing our address just because we think that getting an anonymous proxy server is a hassle is not a responsible thing to do. If we want to protect ourselves, then we do so by preventing ourselves from becoming the next victims. Despite the disadvantage of the solution, it is still better to change IP.

For example, if you want to run a project by your boss, rather than emailing him the file and waiting for him to email you back with requested revisions, you can work together in real time through an online conference. Online video conferencing software lets the two of you work on a document together and both of you will see the updates instantly on your monitors even if you are a world apart.

This online collaboration can take place between two computers, or many. When two people simultaneously work on a document it is called point-to-point document sharing and if more than two share a document, it is called multi-point collaboration. When shopping for online video conferencing software, make sure it has multi-point capability if you have several employees and may need to share files with multiple people.

File transfer is another feature of online video conferencing software. This allows files to be sent from one computer to all other members of the conference. This is useful for distributing digital handouts for a meeting, or sending a group collaboration file to all participants when the document is complete.

Whiteboard is another useful tool that the best online video conferencing software packages include. It is a digital version of the wall whiteboard and lets you make diagrams and notes during your presentation that are transmitted to everyone on the conference. The whiteboard can also take snapshots and save them as graphics files for later reference.

These features of online video conferencing are what make it such a valuable tool for businesses, much more so that just plain video chat would be. However, video chatting does play an important role in distance communication, and all good software packages include the ability for video chat too.

The option can be set for all conference members to see only the speaker, or the screen can be split among several participants at once. Be sure your online video conferencing software has multi-user video if you need the split screen features for multi-participant video chat.

There are many online video conferencing software packages to choose from due to the high demand. The prices vary so it pays to shop around and compare features offered against the price.

You may be able to save money and time by using online video conferencing software through a web-based provider. When you do this, you do not need to install any software at all since it is remotely hosted. Using web-based software has its advantages. You can call into your conference using any computer that is available, even from a cell phone that has internet capabilities.

As long as you have access to a browser, you can participate in online video conferencing. Of course, if you want to communicate by video, you will need access to a webcam as well. Many web-based software providers offer a free trial of their services so you can get a taste of online conferencing and decide which software features are for you. Once you know what you need, you can purchase a package tailored for you so you don’t pay for features you won’t use.

The drawback to using web-based online video conferencing software is that you must pay a monthly fee that can surpass the cost of buying the software after a few months of use. Whether you choose to install your own software or utilize a web-based service is a matter of convenience versus cost since the features offered remain the same.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol
) is just such an opportunity. For business users, the advent of this new technology opens up new possibilities and new ways to save a considerable amount of money at the same time. Unlike most new technology, VoIP doesn’t require any additional equipment to install. All you need is a PC and a broadband connection. Unlike traditional phone systems, VoIP uses the Internet to connect between PCs on the same system, allowing you to make and receive calls on your computer. If you use a VoIP provider, that range is expanded to allow you to make VoIP calls using a traditional hand-held phone, thus improving the quality of the calls. It also means that your recipient doesn’t have to have VoIP at their end, which is a step up from the early PC-to-PC only VoIP systems.

VoIP works in a unique way. It breaks down the voice into transmitted digital data packets and then sends it through your broadband connection in the same way as it sends all other data. The result? Cheap instant calls that save your business money. VoIP can be used in any size organisation, making it applicable for both small and medium business users. If you are looking to break into a foreign marketplace and this involves a high volume of calls with potential clients or suppliers, business VoIP may be the best way of maximising your international business contact potential without increasing your expenditure. Because VoIP uses the Internet to send calls, the location of your original call is irrelevant, as the proximity to the destination cannot be determined, thus avoiding the long distance charges that would normally be incurred on a traditional landline.

Business VoIP has one big advantage if your location is part of a network of outlets that are all part of the same company. By using business VoIP, you can call anyone within that network regardless of their location by simply dialling the appropriate extension number. Business VoIP also offers customers standard features such as voicemail, call forwarding and caller ID as well as additional features such as softphone support and outlook integration.

You do have to consider a few external factors before rushing to install VoIP as part of your business communications package, however. VoIP runs through your Internet broadband connection so you must ensure you have sufficient bandwidth, although VoIP providers do not require substantial amounts of bandwidth, some even allow you to dictate how much bandwidth you would like to dedicate to your VoIP calls. Power outages can also interfere with the operation of the system, so it may be worthwhile thinking about a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) system if one hasn’t already been installed.

VoIP is quickly establishing itself as a fast, efficient and cheap way of making phone calls. It makes sense that businesses, still struggling in the grips of a worldwide recession, should take every opportunity to make their business as efficient as possible. Talking to a VoIP provider and discussing your business needs is the first step in a small investment that could garner big savings as your business grows. It also means that you’ll be able to make international calls without worrying about the cost. And it could be that one international call that propels your company onto the global stage.