How Do Car Engines Work?

Despite their relatively easy operation, cars are actually very complex machines.  Cars need fuel to operate, but what does the engine actually do with it?

In general, a standard internal combustion engine — what the majority of fuel-powered vehicles have today — uses air combined with gasoline to produce power.[1] Of course, it gets more complicated.

Components of an engine

Before diving into how a car engine functions, it will help to learn its basic anatomy (also critical if you need to perform any car maintenance). Take a look at the car engine diagram below, then review the list of the engine’s main components and their function:

 

  • Engine block: Typically made of iron or aluminum, the engine block houses the majority of the parts that make the engine run, including the cylinders, pistons, crankshaft and camshaft.[2] (If you’re popping open the hood, the engine block will
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Password security & password managers

In the spirit of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), let’s talk about a security basic that many people overlook: passwords. These are one of the most fundamental aspects of website security, yet we too often see webmasters taking a lax approach to secure passwords.

In fact, the online security provider TeamPassword found that last year the most commonly leaked password was 123456. That edges out some real gems including qwerty and the always-popular password.

Thing is, everyone has their own password policy. It’s very personal and usually based on a set of assumptions about online security. Many users choose policies of efficiency over security. Even the paranoid among us have to confront the truth.

Like any defensive measure, best practices in password management can only minimize the level of risk.

Password management is a choice — and a habit. By taking a deeper look, users can make … Read more

How to Pay Insurance Premiums

No matter what type insurance policy and coverage you have, paying your insurance premium is easy. There are several ways to keep your account up-to-date, whether you choose to pay in full or in installments.

1. Through online bill pay. Visit your insurance provider’s website. On their website you can create an account or log in. This will give you access to pay your bill, set-up automatic bill pay, manage your policies, and learn about products and services available to you. Nationwide provides online payment for personal insurance and business insurance policyholders.

2. By mail. Send your payment slip and check to the address on your most recent bill.

3. By Phone. Call the number on your bill to pay your account by phone. Be sure to have your debit card or checking account information available when you call.

4. In person. If you prefer to hand your check … Read more

Securing your online store for the holidays

Shopping season is here, and so is the opportunity for ecommerce site owners to grow their business and generate profit.

With the shifting global ecommerce climate produced by the recent pandemic, comes the ever growing importance of securing your website to protect your users — and your website’s revenue.

The most important thing to keep in mind during the holidays is that your online customers depend on you to protect their data.

As an ecommerce website owner, you’re required to follow the PCI-DSS compliance requirements. These requirements are governed by major credit card companies to securely handle cardholder information — and you’re obligated to follow them, even if you don’t process any payments yourself.

While we’ve outlined some PCI requirements for your reference, it’s important to keep in mind that PCI compliance violations aren’t the only negative impact you can expect in the event of compromise.

Impacts of a hack … Read more