Personal Computer Users Research Articles

Obfuscated Computer Malware Classification Based on Significant Opcode

Computer malware has greatly impacted the computer network securities and even personal computer users. Signature-based detection is incapable to recognize the obfuscated computer malware since it is being covered by the obfuscation techniques. Therefore, machine learning is being explored and equipped in the malware detection to withstand the threaten of malware. In fact, there are many features available, i.e., text string to be implemented for malware classification. Nevertheless, opcode could be one of the features owing to its relative smaller data size compared to the text string. In this research, the significant opcodes of executable malware files which referring to the prevalent content from malware-to-malware generation are extracted as training dataset. Several machine learning classifiers are generated and compared in terms of classification accuracy and speed, as well as the comparison is done with text string-based detection and signature-based detection. From the finding, it is shown that machine learning detection performs more than 2 times better than signature based and machine learning generated based-on significant opcode features is able to detect obfuscated malware over 10 times faster than text string feature and still achieve up to 98% of accuracy.

Adoption of M-Commerce Amongst Pakistani Consumers: By Using TAM with Effect of Social Influence and Mobile Self-Efficacy

M-commerce, or mobile commerce, has gained popularity due to its expanded possibilities over Electronic commerce, which has been growing at a far faster pace because to the Covid-19 outbreak in Pakistan. The utilization of wireless technologies has increased in the M-commerce sector. There are more mobile phone users than personal computer users. In spite of Pakistan's apparent interest in M-commerce as a means of trade, nothing is known about the country's citizens' desire to utilize this new wireless electronic platform. Thus, customers' behavioral intention to use m-commerce has been investigated using an improved technology acceptance model (TAM) that takes into account the consequences of social influence and mobile self-efficacy. The sample size for this study was 220 people from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Multan, which is a statistically significant number. A variety of statistical techniques, including factor and reliability analysis as well as correlation and regression, were used to examine the data by using SPSS version 19. Customers' attitudes toward adopting M-commerce are positively influenced by their perceptions of its utility, ease of use, social influence, and personal efficacy on their mobile devices, according to this study, which also found a link between these factors and their behavioral intent to use M-commerce.

Cyber Security Challanges for Online Trading

bstract: Today Security is a fundamental component in the computing and networking technology. The first and foremost thing of every network designing, planning, building, and operating a network is the importance of a strong security policy. Network security has become more important to personal computer users, organizations, and the military. With the advent of the internet, security became a major concern. The internet structure itself allowed for many security threats to occur. Online trading facilitates as a financial platform form for buying and selling shares, bidding, product sale or purchase using computers. The vital online trading between B2B, B2C and C2C transaction data may be under siege due to spywares, malwares, Hijackers and intruders. Often trading secrets and portfolios are in risk with network attackers who tracks unauthorizedly the personalized data of business clients. Cyber security is the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. It's also known as information technology security or electronic information security. The term applies in a variety of contexts, from business to mobile computing, and can be divided into a few common categories.

Comparative Evaluation of the Defocus Curve of Monofocal IOL, Extended Depth of Focus IOL, and Trifocal IOL

Purpose. Comparative evaluation of the defocus curve (DC) of monofocal IOLs (MIOLs), extended depth of focus IOLs (EDОF) and trifocal IOLs (TIOLs). Patients and methods. We observed 90 patients (average age 57.8 ± 1.8 years) who underwent standard binocular phacoemulsification of cataracts in both eyes with emmetropic “target” refraction and postoperative monocular uncorrected distance visual acuity (UCVA) of at least 1.0 rel. units. All patients were divided into three groups equal in number of patients, age, gender and visual status, corresponding to three options of implantable IOLs: MIOL (“RayOne Aspheric”, model RAO600C); EDOF (RayOne EMV, model RAO200E) and THYOL (RayOne Trifocal). DC was performed binocularly based on a standard BCVA measurement with an optical load for defocusing from +3.0 D to -4.0 D with a “step” of +1.0 D and -0.5 D. Results. Under conditions of optical defocusing with positive lenses (1.0; 2.0; 3.0 D), all three types of IOLs maintained almost the same average BCVA (at +1.0 D, the BCVA range was 0.72–0.76 rel. units; at +2.0 diopters — 0.66–0.72 relative units; at +3.0 diopters — 0.52–0.56 relative units). In relation to the analysis of BCVA in conditions of defocusing with negative lenses, it was found that visual acuity was significantly better with EDOF than with MIOL, with a load from -1.0 to -4.0 diopters, while these differences were statistically significant and ranged from 0.14 to 0.27 relative units (p < 0.01). Along with this, it was determined that UCVA was significantly better in the group with TIOL than in the group with EDOF, with a load from -2.5 to -4.0 D. Moreover, these differences were statistically significant and ranged from 0.09 to 0.14 rel. units (p < 0.01). Conclusion. The design features of IOLs make it possible to consider implantation of EDOF as an option for an individual approach to the selection of IOLs, especially taking into account the possibility of use in patients whose professional activities involve long-term visual work at intermediate distances (for example, users of personal computers).

Comparative evaluation of the clinical performance of conventional and extended depth of focus monofocal intraocular lenses (systematic review)

A systematic review was performed in PubMed using the following keywords monofocal IOLs, monofocal IOLs with extended depth of focus (sharpness), EDOF, cataract phacoemulsification, visual acuity, and quality of life. Studies were selected in accordance with the criteria for prospective or retrospective studies. In a comparative analysis of clinical efficacy, the results of binocular IOL implantation and lens material from the same manufacturer were analyzed as the main sources. In total, 234 studies were analyzed using systematic review filters and authors knowledge of the topic. The duration of the retrospective analysis was 8 years (20172023). A total of 234 papers were analyzed over the last 8 years (20172023), further using systematic review filters and the authors knowledge of the topic.
 Data obtained indicated that traditional monofocal IOLs acted like bifocal lenses because they formed two main focal points for far and near vision, which did not provide the required level of visual acuity at an intermediate distance. The basic optical principle of EDOF (extended depth of focus) was to create a focal point for distance vision and an elongated focal point to increase the depth of field near and at intermediate distances. The results of the literature analysis indicated that the use of EDOF (compared with monofocal IOL) was associated with a higher level of visual acuity at intermediate and near distances and comparable distance visual acuity and increased depth of field, which generally provides a more natural range of vision and less use of glasses. Light phenomena, spectacle independence, and patient satisfaction were comparable among EDOF types.
 Given the above advantages, EDOF implantation can be considered a variant of an individual approach to the selection of IOLs, taking into account the possibility of using it in patients whose professional activity is associated with long-term visual work at intermediate distances (e.g., users of personal computers). In the context of the role and place of EDOF in the general system of aphakia correction following cataract phacoemulsification, further accumulation of clinical material is necessary, taking into account the IOL model and patients professional visual activity level.

Prospects for the Use of Monofocal IOLs with Extended Depth of Focus (EDOF) Instead of Traditional Multifocal (Trifocal) IOLs in Cataract Surgery

Purpose — a literature review of comparative studies of the clinical efficacy of IOLs based on extended depth of focus technology (EDOF) and trifocal IOLs (TFIOLs). Methods. Literature analysis was performed in the international database “PubMed”.The search keywords were “IOL with extended depth of focus (EDOF)”, “Trifocal IOL”, “Contrast sensitivity”, “Aberrometry”, “Defocus curve”. The choice of sources for the review was carried out in accordance with the criteria for prospective or retrospective studies. A total of 158 sources were analyzed, further using systematic review filters and the authors’ knowledge of the topic. The duration of the retrospective analysis was 8 years (2015–2022), some of the considered works were dated 2023. Results. The values of visual acuity for distance, near and at an intermediate distance in both studied groups did not differ significantly. When analyzing the defocusing curve, the preservation of visual acuity under load conditions from +1.0 to +3.0 diopters was determined for both types of IOL, respectively. At the same time, visual acuity was significantly better in the TPIOL group than in the EDOF group in the optical load range from -2.5 to -4.0 diopters. Most studies did not report significant difference between EDOF and TFIOL in terms of contrast sensitivity, the likelihood of postoperative “halo” effects, and “independence” of spectacle correction. The stated provisions are fully consistent with the results of the medical and technical evaluation of EDOF presented in the literature. Conclusion. The development of a new type of EDOF IOL seems to be a promising direction in cataract surgery, especially taking into account the possibility of using patients whose professional activities are associated with long-term visual work at intermediate distances (for example, users of personal computers). Further accumulation of clinical material is required in the context of the role and place of EDOF in the general system of aphakia correction, taking into account the IOL model and the conditions of the patient’s professional visual activity.

Digital exposure to unhealthy food reduces subsequent consumption of unhealthy food

Digital marketing tools (e.g., social media and touchscreens) allow consumers to freely interact with food cues and offer multiple ways for marketers to reach consumers. Across a series of six studies, we investigate how, why, and when digital exposure to unhealthy food (vs. nonfood) on social media or touchscreens affects the subsequent consumption of unhealthy food. The results show that digital exposure to unhealthy food (vs. nonfood) induces a dieting goal (Study 1) and results in lower consumption volumes (Study 2). The reduced consumption is driven by the activation of a dieting goal (Studies 3a & 3b). We also find that the reduced effect does not extend to digital exposure to healthy food (Study 4). Marketers can highlight the different benefits (tasty vs. functional) of unhealthy food. We further demonstrate that the effect of food benefits (tasty vs. functional) on reduced consumption is more likely to occur among smartphone (vs. personal computer) users (Study 5). This research adds to the existing literature on digital marketing and food exposure and offers implications for consumers and marketers to reduce unhealthy consumption.

Calculating Couples: Computing Intimacy and 1980s Romance Software

Abstract In the 1980s, as the market for computing in the home was still emerging, a category of software arose that promised computer-mediated experiences of romance and sex. These programs, which this essay is calling “romance software,” drew on popular psychological and therapeutic discourses to offer couples advice for more satisfying relationships while also managing their interactions with the computer as an intimate or romantic activity. This essay argues that romance software employed the then novel home computer as a tool that could help mediate relational and communication ideals and bolster the heterosexual couple in the context of changing expectations for relationships in the 1980s. Romance software attempted to instantiate computing intimacy — referring not only to the application of computational methods to the management of relationships but also to the romantic or erotic experience of a couple using computers together. Although they amounted to a minor subset of the software introduced during the decade, these programs envisioned computing in the home as a technology to mediate companionate relationships. Romance software demonstrates that some software companies in the 1980s conceived of personal computer users not only as abstracted masculine individuals but rather addressed users within their roles in companionate relationships, in this case as part of a couple. These programs proposed methods through which computing could be used to assist in creating better relationships for couples that had adopted computers into their homes.

Computer Network Security System

Network security has become more important to personal computer users, organizations, and the military. With the advent of the internet, security became a major concern and the history of security allows a better understanding of the emergence of security technology. The internet structure itself allowed for many security threats to occur. The architecture of the internet, when modified can reduce the possible attacks that can be sent across the network. Knowing the attack methods, allows for the appropriate security to emerge. Many businesses secure themselves from the internet by means of firewalls and encryption mechanisms. The businesses create an “intranet” to remain connected to the internet but secured from possible threats. The entire field of network security is vast and in an evolutionary stage. The range of study encompasses a brief history dating back to internet’s beginnings and the current development in network security. In order to understand the research being performed today, background knowledge of the internet, its vulnerabilities, attack methods through the internet, and security technology is important and therefore they are reviewed. Keywords: Mitigation, Cryptography, Network, Security

Learning Management System (LMS) Moodle: Unraveling Its Impact on Accounting Students’ Academic Performance

The outbreak of covid-19 has caused significant changes in education sector, including the demand to conduct lectures with the assistance of technology. One of the worthly used technologies is the Learning Management System (LMS). This study aims to analyze student perception about factors affecting the use of LMS Moodle and how its use then affects their academic performance. This is a quantitative study adopting personal computer usage model and technology to performance chain model. This study involved 156 accounting students of an Islamic Sate University in Makassar, Indonesia. Data were obtained by questionnaire and analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) processed by AMOS. The result shows that of the four variable factors proposed, the task-technology fit factor did not show a positive effect on the use of LMS, while three other variables namely Facilitating Conditions, Social Factors, and Long-Term Consequences show a positive effect on the usage of LMS. Then, Task-Technology Fit and The Use of LMS have a positive effect on Accountant Student’s Academic Performance.Keywords: Accounting students, Academic performance, LMS, Technology

The Relationship of Various Forms of Accommodative Asthenopia with the Characteristics of the Professional Activity in Patients with Visually Intense Work and the Phenomena of Computer Visual Syndrome

Purpose: to study the relationship of various forms of accommodative asthenopia (AA) with the characteristics of the professional activity of patients with visually stressful work (VSW) with the phenomena of computer visual syndrome (CVS).Methods. There were 150 patients with VSW — professional users of personal computers (mean age 28.8 ± 1.4 years) with myopic refraction (mean value of spherical equivalent 2.8 ± 1.1 diopters) under observation. The patients were divided into three groups: “normal” (50 patients); asthenic form of accommodative asthenopia (AFAA, pathology, 50 patients); habitual excessive tension of accommodation (HETA), pathology, 50 patients). All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination for 13 parameters. As a basic diagnostic method, a specially developed questionnaire aimed at assessing professional activity was used. Statistical analysis of the results of the study was performed on the basis of an assessment of the average values of the correlation coefficients (ACC) between the patient’s responses (in points) and the studied indicators of the visual system.Results. High ACC were determined on issues characterizing the amount of daily visual load. However, no differences were found between APAA and HETA. The occurrence of AFAA is more often associated with the input of information, HETA — with reading. Evaluation of issues related to the regularity of the use of optical correction revealed differences in ACC (p < 0.05) between the “normal” group and the “pathology” groups, while in the “normal” group, optical correction was used in most cases “often” or “constantly”, in the “pathology” groups — “sometimes”.Conclusion. The results of the correlation assessment of the relationship between various types of AA in patients with VSW with the characteristics of professional activity and the parameters of the visual analyzer indicate the leading role of the duration and nature (input, reading of information) of daily work at a personal computer. One of the leading risk factors for the development of AA is inadequate optical correction. At the same time, there were no significant differences between AFAA and PINA. The most informative parameters of the accommodative system of the eye are the volume of absolute and relative accommodation (by the subjective method), as well as the coefficients of microfluctuations and stability of accommodogram (by the objective accommodation method).

Modern aspects of diagnosis and treatment of subjective manifestations and accommodation disorders in patients — professional users of personal computers (systematic review)

A systematic review was performed in the RSCI and PubMed databases using the following keywords: Computer vision syndrome, Digital eye strain, Accommodation, Accommodative asthenopia, RTS, and Quality of life. Eligible articles were evaluated in accordance with the criteria for prospective or retrospective studies. A total of 792 sources were analyzed, further using systematic review filters and authors knowledge of the topic. The retrospective analysis spanned 7 years (20162022). Data indicated that accommodative asthenopia (AA), as a functional visual disorder, is a natural state of the accommodative system of the eye caused by long-term exposure to visually intense work on a personal computer. AA is characterized by a wide range of subjective manifestations (complaints) and indicators of the examination of the patients vision, associated primarily with objective accommodation. A differentiated approach to the diagnosis of various forms of AA, such as habitual excessive stress of accommodation and asthenic form of accommodative asthenopia, is important to provide adequate treatment based on methods with direct physical effects on the eye (such as low-energy laser radiation, magnetophoresis, and stimulation of accommodation), opto-reflex treatment, and an outpatient course as part of home training.

Information Technology, Inequality, and Adult Literacy in Developing Countries

The studyassesses linkages between information technology, inequality, and adult literacy in 57 developing countries for the period 2012–2016. Income inequality is measured with the Gini coefficient while six dynamics of information technology are taken on board, namely use of a virtual social network, Internet access in schools, Internet penetration, mobile phone penetration, fixed broadband subscription, and a number of personal computer users. The empirical evidence is based on interactive Tobit regressions. The findings show that only Internet access in schools unconditionally promotes adult literacy. The corresponding inequality threshold that should not be exceeded for Internet access in schools to continue promoting adult literacy is 0.739 of the Gini coefficient. Policy implications are discussed.

The Care and Feeding of the Computer: Imagining Machines’ Preventive Care and Medicine

This article investigates how computing discourses, including user guides, news articles, and advertisements, urged personal computer users in the 1970s and 1980s to preventively care for their devices. Through hygiene recommendations related to eating, drinking, and dusting, these discourses warned that computers’ “health” depended upon humans. Importantly, they interpreted care as individual responsibility by putting the onus on users to behave properly. Within this frame, such texts described repairs as unfortunate medical interventions resulting from neglect. The piece argues that computing discourses have historically defined “care” and “repair” in opposition, as acts of doting prevention and undesirable intervention, respectively.

Spotlight on Digital Eye Strain.

Digital Eye Strain (DES) is a clinical syndrome manifested with visual disturbances and/or ophthalmic dysfunction related to the usage of screen-enabled digital equipment. This term is gradually replacing the older term computer vision syndrome (CVS) that focused on the same symptoms found on personal computer users. DES is encountered more frequently during the past years due to the explosive increase in the usage of digital devices and subsequent increase in time in front of any screens. It presents with a series of atypical symptoms and signs stemming from asthenopia, dry eye syndrome, preexisting untreated vision issues and poor screen ergonomics. This review summarizes research data to date to determine whether the concept of DES has been conclusively defined and demarcated as a separate entity and if sufficient guidance is offered on professionals and the lay public. The maturity of the field, grouping of symptoms, examination techniques, treatment and prevention modalities are summarily presented.

ПРОГРАММНАЯ РЕАЛИЗАЦИЯ ЗАЩИТЫ ОТ НЕСАНКЦИОНИРОВАННОГО ДОСТУПА

Information security tools are an integral part of system users. The concept of information security implies the development and expansion of the scope of innovative technologies in information processing. To keep the information security system up to date, it is necessary to periodically update and supplement the structure of information protection, information security threat model and hardware and software complex. This paper analyzes the existing methods of information protection and proposes the implementation software system modules for personality recognition by photo and video, voice recognition, deep neural network and the creation of configuration for its weights file. Based on the generated data set, a method for synthesizing the parameters of a mathematical model of a convolutional neural network, presented as an array of real numbers, which are unique identifiers of a personal computer user, has been developed and proposed. This study uses the features of simulation modeling of user authorization systems, as well as the error function when compiling a neural network model. The training model of multi-factor biometric authentication is trained using categorical cross-entropy. The training sample is generated by adding distorted images from the database by changing the receptive fields of the convolutional neural network. The objective of this study is the application of new methods and means of protecting information of workstations from information threats. The result of the study is the developed information security system designed to ensure the information security of users of personal computers and workstations of enterprises.

Nomofobi ve Yalnızlığın Evli Çiftlerde Yaşam Doyumuna Etkisi

The development of new technologies and virtual communication has led to substantial increase in usage of personal computers, tablets and smartphones. This has caused significant changes in both daily habits and behaviors of individuals. One of these changes is Nomophobia. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to reveal the effects of nomophobia and loneliness experienced by married individuals in Türkiye on their life satisfaction and analyse the mediating role of loneliness between nomophobia and life satisfaction. Within the scope of the research, married individuals were reached by questionnaire method for collecting data regarding nomophobia, loneliness and life satisfaction. The population of the research consists of individuals from Türkiye, who got married between 2016 and 2020, and use both smart phones and social media. 1028 married individuals living in different provinces of Türkiye, determined using convenience sampling method, represent the sample of the research. According to the obtained results of the research, nomophobia and loneliness of married individuals affect their life satisfaction. Loneliness experienced by married individuals affects life satisfaction. In addition, the findings show that loneliness mediates nomophobia and life satisfaction.

Personal computer usage and teasing among geographic information systems students

This study arose from the observation of teasing among Geographic Information Systems (GIS) students who use personal computers (PCs) during practical sessions. A review of the literature did not provide any informative knowledge on teasing based on PC characteristics. Hence, the study sought to assess the degree of teasing among GIS students, PC characteristics students are frequently teased over, types of teasing, and its positive and negative effects. Students at University of Education in Winneba (UEW), Ghana, provided data on their experiences with analysis employed being multinomial regression, binary logistic regression, the McNemar and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The findings of the study revealed that students had experienced and engaged in various forms of teasing during GIS sessions. Low processing power of PCs and the brand type were the targets of verbal jokes among students. Teasing during lecture periods resulted in both positive and negative utility, with a greater number of students reporting net positive utility. Although the findings verified the researchers' utilitarian viewpoint, teasing needs to be regulated, as some students exhibited feelings of depression and low self-worth.

How is mobile task performance different? The case of information processing without information search

ABSTRACT Studies have repeatedly highlighted the inferior performance of mobile users relative to that of personal computer (PC) users, largely due to lower usability and higher search costs arising from the use of smaller screens. Research, however, has yet to substantively address the situation in which mobile users perform tasks that require information processing without information search, implying an absence of device-related performance differences in such situations. Against this background, we propose that mobile task performance may be inferior in cognitive tasks, even when usability and search costs cannot be used as explanatory mechanisms, due to the predisposition of users to process information differently on different devices. We provide evidence in support of this proposition in two experiments. We find that mobile users perform worse (less accurately) than PC users do when the tasks demand high cognitive load. By contrast, when the tasks demand low cognitive load, performance is comparable across devices. We observe this interaction effect for different types of cognitive load – intrinsic and extraneous – despite their opposite effects on task performance. In so doing, we extend existing explanations of mobile task performance and shed light on the boundary conditions under which mobile use negatively affects task performance.

How mobile users respond to pre-roll skippable advertising differently than personal computer (PC) users: an analysis of individual-level clickstream data

Mobile devices have evolved as a major channel for online video consumption. With the growth of online video platforms, various ad formats have been experimented to increase advertising effectiveness. One such attempt is pre-roll skippable ads that allow users to skip an ad after watching it for a few seconds. Despite pre-roll ads providing better user experience, their high skipping rate is alarming to advertisers and brands. Recent studies revealed what factors influence pre-roll ad acceptance, yet little has been known regarding the role of device type. This study investigates how mobile users respond to pre-roll skippable ads differently than PC users, focusing on individual and contextual factors of video consumption. Using individual-level clickstream data obtained from a major online video platform in South Korea, this study found that mobile users tend to skip pre-roll ads more often than PC users, but the degree differs by individual and contextual factors.