Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, March 28, 2010
We will not be publishing this newsletter next week so that we can celebrate the holidays with our families and friends. We wish all of our readers a Happy Passover and Happy Easter.
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Identity Theft Update: Kids, Students and Medical Services Are Key Targets for 2010
Tips & Tricks: Backing Up to a USB Drive
Tips & Tricks: The Top 10 eBay Mistakes
This Week's Topic: Speed Up a Slow Computer – Detect and Repair Disk Errors
Question: Uninstall Messenger in Windows 7
Websites of Interest: Palm Sunday; Passover; April Fools Day; Easter
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Special Feature: Identity Theft Update: Kids, Students and Medical Services Are Key Targets for 2010
The following article is from scambusters.org
Identity theft, America's number one crime, which claims more than 9 million victims every year, looks set to plumb new depths in 2010, targeting some of the nation's most vulnerable groups -- children, students, and the medical sector. What's more, according to the San Diego-based non-profit Identity Theft Resource Center, which produces an annual Top 10 list of identity theft fraud targets, economic hardship will prompt previously "clean" people to turn to crime, with identity theft their main weapon.
"Once desperate people max out their credit limits and wreck their own credit histories, they will start to use Social Security numbers that they can easily access," says ITRC chief Jay Foley. Stolen credit card numbers are also high on the hit list. These new identity theft crooks will use the relatively simple methods of stealing credit card numbers, dumpster diving, phone calls and online phishing to get the information they need.
The same desperation will lead to more child identity theft and family "inside jobs" as well as fraudulent use of numbers belonging to close friends, roommates and fellow workers, ITRC warns in its 2010 outlook.
Child Identity Theft
Identity theft reports involving children now account for 10% of all cases. We highlighted it in an earlier issue of Scambusters, Startling Facts About Identity Theft, noting that since many children don't use their SSN until they turn 18, to get a job, an identity thief can use it for years without getting caught.
The SSN might be used to help the impostor get a job, to raise credit, or to obtain a driver's license. Sometimes, child identities are used by crooks when they get caught, so they show up as having no prior convictions.
Amazingly, although the most common source of child identity theft is, as we reported in our earlier issue, undocumented workers, there are increasing instances of the offense being committed by a member of a family, even a parent (often when there has been a family split) who has seriously damaged his or her own credit or driving record.
Certainly, it is usually left to parents to try to clear up the mess of child identity theft that may trail back over 10 or 15 years; the problems can even haunt the child into adulthood.
Action: When you show your child's birth certificate, you can order a credit report for your child from the three credit reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your request will probably have to be in writing.
If you find anything wrong, or if you are already aware that your child has become a victim of identity theft, contact the police and get the credit agencies to flag up the offense. If the offender is a relative, you may also need an attorney.
But the messy and time-consuming task of straightening out the records will be down to you and is largely the same as for an adult, though you have one additional weapon -- the ability to point out to credit issuers that your child is too young to have entered into a contract and that it is therefore not legally binding.
Students
A recent case in which a university police officer and his wife pleaded guilty to stealing the college's enrollment list, which included hundreds of students' Social Security numbers and dates of birth, underlines the vulnerability of these young people to identity theft.
Apart from outright theft of enrollment lists, students are also at risk of identity theft fraud because of shared accommodation which often is not secured, carelessness with use of passwords, failing to log-off after using PCs, and the increased likelihood of hackers on campus.
In addition, the tendency for young people generally to be more trusting and their widespread use of social networking sites have contributed to a massive increase of identity theft through these channels.
Action: Ironically, education is the best weapon to fight identity theft among students -- making them more aware of the risks they face and ensuring they check and reconcile their credit card statements.
As above, you should also monitor their records with the credit reporting agencies and consider identity theft protection.
More directly, perhaps think about installing a small safe in the student's accommodation (if feasible and permissible) or even a locked steel box, plus a shredder.
Medical identity theft
Medical identity theft, while not a new crime, will reflect the distress of those who have become unemployed, the ITRC predicts. High premiums and the inability of individuals to afford insurance or medical care will likely cause a spike in this area of identity theft this year.
As confirmation, the Social Security Administration has noted an increase in uninsured people using the coverage of a friend, relative or even a stranger to get care.
That is just one side of medical identity theft though. Hospitals, clinics, medical centers and even doctors' offices are targeted in the theft of individual's personal information for use in the outside world.
In another variation, seniors and veterans have recently been targeted by identity theft scammers requesting credit card information supposedly to arrange refunds and rebates for medical services or for sending out prescriptions.
Action: Regularly checking your credit record and online credit card statements and closely monitoring health insurance statements are your first line of defense against someone assuming your identity.
It is worth knowing too that your health records are supposed to be protected against identity theft under The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. Check your insurer's policy statement about compliance.
And, as always, never give your Social Security number or financial information to anyone without first thoroughly checking they are who they say they are.
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Tips & Tricks: Backing Up to a USB Drive
First, make sure you have a drive that is large enough to store all the files that you want to back up. Visit our newsletter archives for our article Backing Up Your Files:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/100508.html
Backing Up
Insert the flash drive into a USB port on your computer. If this is the first time you have put the drive in your computer, it will take a moment or two for the computer to find it and get ready to use it. Once it is ready, a window should appear asking you what you want to do with the drive. Click on Open Folder to View Files. A window will open for this drive. (On some computers, a window will automatically open)
Move the flash drive window over to the side of the screen.
Open the folder that contains the files you want to backup. Move that folder to the other side of the screen so that the two folders are next to each other. The easiest way to do this is to right click on a blank spot on the taskbar (the bar at the bottom of the screen) and from the menu that you now see, click on Tile Windows Vertically or Show Windows Side by Side (depending on your version of Windows).
Click on any file in the My Documents window. It will now be selected. To select all the files, click Edit on the menu and then click Select All. You will see that every file is now highlighted. Point to any file, press and hold down the left mouse button, and drag the file into the flash drive window. You will see that all the files come along. A window will appear showing a progress bar. Once it completes, all the files will now be copied on your flash drive.
Flash drives must be stopped before they can be removed from the computer. In the system tray (bottom right, but the clock), there will be a small green icon with a checkmark. Click on it and then follow the prompts to stop the drive. Windows will display a message when it is safe to remove the drive.
To learn more about Flash Drives, take a look at our article USB Flash Drives:
http://www.computerkindergarten.com/html/092307.html
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Tips & Tricks: The Top 10 eBay Mistakes
The following article is by Paul Gil, About.com Guide
http://netforbeginners.about.com/bio/Paul-Gil-7508.htm
We can't describe this information as "common sense", because sadly, thousands of people commit these mistakes every day. But all is not lost: if you're new the eBay universe, heed these important warnings, and you can save yourself a lot of money, time, and grief. Below: the Top 10 Mistakes Made by eBay Beginners...
1. Engaging in bidding wars
Many new eBay buyers are unaware that, more often than not, they can find multiple listings of the desired item being sold by either the same seller, or offered by different sellers. Often, the same item carries different price and/or shipping costs. Multiple listings of identical items can be listed by one seller, or by many.
2. Bidding "over your head"
This rather common mistake can sometimes cost you more than you think. If you are bidding on that hard to find "hot" item, it is best to set your price limit and stick to it. Example: If the item's starting bid is low, you can be sure it will attract more bidders in the process. Many experienced sellers use this technique to appeal to a large number of interested buyers - "start them low and see what happens". This can, and often does, start a bidding war so set your spending limit and, if it goes over, walk away. Remember: If you decide to bid, be sure to know what the item is worth (listing price vs. retail price, shipping and handling costs, etc.) and bid only what you can spend on it.
3. Failing to read and fully understand auction details
Always read the "fine print". You don't sing a contract before getting a chance to read, and understand, all of the details. Why should eBay auction be any different? There are many fine and honest sellers who offer good deals and create win-win auctions. Sadly, there are some that, given the opportunity, will take you for a nasty ride.
4. Failing to check shipping/handling cost
Sometimes the shipping cost of the item might not be listed for your country, or listed at all for that matter. See if it is listed anywhere in the auction description. If not, ask the seller how much such cost will be. You don't want any nasty surprises such as winning a 99-cent tiny little item, and paying 19 dollars to have it shipped to you in a plain envelope with 1-dollar worth of actual postage.
5. Failing to check the seller's feedback before bidding
Most of the sellers on eBay are fine and honest folk, and you will not experience any issues with your transactions. But, once in a while, you might run into a bad apple, or two. Unless you have dealt with this seller before, and were happy with results, it is always a good idea to read through several pages of seller's feedback (especially, if less than 100 percent positive). You will find out how happy (or unhappy) other buyers were with this seller's performance.
6. Using poor search skills
The more detailed your search criteria are, the higher the possibility of finding precisely what you are looking for. Think of it like this: if you went to a shoe store and asked for "red shoes", what are the chances the salesperson would bring you exactly what you need? But if you asked for "red heels Manolo Blahnik size 9", the salesperson would have a pretty good idea what you want. The same works in eBay search - the more details you give, the better chances you find it.
7. "Know thy item" before you bid
Many times, new buyers will head straight to eBay to look for something they could purchase at their local department store, or even online but at a lower cost. Yes, eBay has (almost) everything but do your homework - go online and google the item you're looking to buy. Can you find it elsewhere (not eBay), cheaper? How much is the retail price? Can you get it in your country (no custom fees)? Is it available for pickup (no shipping delays)? Ask yourself as many of those "logical" questions and see if the answers will still point you to eBay. If yes, what is the quality of the item you're about to bid on; is it authentic/genuine/certified, or "like" something? Carefully read the "fine print" of the auction.
8. Leaving bad feedback before contacting the seller
This one is a major faux pas. Sadly, not only new eBay buyers make this mistake; some high-feedback veterans do this once in a while, especially while upset. Remember: Nobody wins if you get hasty and nasty. Always contact the seller first and give them the opportunity to fix it. Never leave a neutral or negative feedback before all the options are exhausted and there is no resolution. Even if the situation is bad, but the seller helps you resolve it, acknowledge seller's efforts in your feedback. Think of it as "good eBay karma".
9. Attempting to "save" on your item by resorting to shady deals
You found a hard to find item and there are no bids on it. The auction is a 7-day one, and there are still 3 days left. Since there are no bids, you might think that you could avoid possible bidding war (if more new, inexperienced buyers find this item) if you contact the seller and ask them to end the auction early and sell you the item off eBay. Bad idea! Chances are, the seller will just say no but he/she could report your innocent question to eBay, and your eBay privileges and account will be canceled. Making any offers to deal off-eBay is considered illegal.
10. Falling for fraud and phishing attacks
There are many people out there that would just love to take your money and leave you with nothing. Fake "second chance" offers, sellers with no feedback selling stolen, broken or outright non-existent items, bad guys hijacking legitimate eBay IDs and using them to "sell" things they don't have in their possession, just to name a few. There is also "phishing" - email attempts to make you reveal your eBay credentials (--- good place to link to What is phishing? ---). Just like anywhere else, bad things could happen if you're not careful. But eBay can, and is, a lot of fun, too! I have been an eBay buyer and seller since 2003, and I still love it!
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Today's Topic: Speed Up a Slow Computer – Detect and Repair Disk Errors
As your Windows computer ages, its speed can decrease. You will notice an increase in response time when you give commands to open programs, files or folders, use the Internet and other tasks. There are several things you can do to speed up your computer.
In our ongoing series, Speed Up a Slow Computer, we will present articles discussing some of the steps you can take to speed up your slow computer.
Important: Before making any changes to your system, always create a Restore Point. If anything goes wrong with the changes you make, this will allow you to revert back to a point when the computer was operating correctly. Please visit our Newsletter Archives to read our article, All About Restore Points:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/040509.html
Detect and Repair Disk Errors
As a computer gets older, parts of the hard drive can begin to develop errors. Disk usage and improper shutdowns can cause what are called bad sectors. This kind of error takes up disk space and can lead to slow performance.
Windows includes a tool called CheckDisk or Disk Checker (depending on your version of Windows). It searches the disk for errors and bad sectors and attempts to fix them. To use CheckDisk, follow these steps:
Open My Computer or Computer. My Computer is found in Windows XP and Computer is found in Vista and 7. Look for the icon on the desktop or in the item in the Start menu.
Right click on the C: drive. Click Properties in the resulting menu.
Click the Tools tab at the top.
Click the Check Now button.
Click to select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box and click Start.
This will check the hard disk and, if possible, repair any errors it finds.
In our next edition, Speed Up a Slow Computer – CCleaner
To review the previous articles, please visit our Newsletter Archives:
Speed Up a Slow Computer - Clean the Desktop
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/040509.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer - Uninstall Unused Programs
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/041909.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Turn Off Auto Start Programs
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/042609.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Turn Off Auto Start Programs - MSCONFIG
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/050309.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Disable Unnecessary Windows Services
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/051009.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Defrag
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/051709.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Disable Indexing Services
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/053109.html
Speed Up a Slow Computer – Optimize Display Settings
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/060709.html
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Question: Uninstall Messenger in Windows 7
I just got a new computer with Windows 7 on it. The Windows Live Messenger application keeps popping up on me. Can I get rid of it?
Answer:
Yes, you can. You can uninstall it. Here are the steps:
Click the Start Orb (that is the circle in the bottom left corner with the Windows logo). Click Control Panel.
Under Programs, click Uninstall a program.
Scroll down through the list of applications. Look for and then click Windows Live Essentials.
On the bar at the top of the list, click Uninstall/Change.
When the new window appears, select the Uninstall radio button and click Continue.
Check the Messenger checkbox and click Continue.
The application will be uninstalled.
When completed, click the Close button on the confirmation page.
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Websites of Interest:
Palm Sunday
Today is Palm Sunday, the sixth and last Sunday of Lent and the beginning of Holy Week. To learn more, take a look at this website:
http://www.holidayorigins.com/html/palm_sunday.html
The Catholic Encyclopedia gives the definition of Palm Sunday
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11432b.htm
Passover
Visit our website for links to Passover sites that will explain all about the holiday and celebration.
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/passover.html
April Fools Day
April 1 is April Fools Day. What is April Fools Day and how did it begin? See what this website has to say:
http://www.web-holidays.com/aprilfools/
Want to play an April Fools practical joke on someone but cannot think of a good one? This site may help with the Web's biggest collection of April Fools Day freebies including practical jokes, pranks, free gag software and more.
http://www.thefreesite.com/Seasonal_Freebies/April_Fools/
Send an April Fools e-card to your friends and family, free at:
http://freewebcards.com/cards/aprilfools/
Easter
Take a look at our website for many interesting and informative Easter links and fun graphics.
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/easter.html