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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, April 17, 2005
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Detecting Scam Websites
Tips & Tricks: Finding Downloads
Keyboard Shortcut: Open a New Browser Window
Keyboard Shortcut: Switch Between Open Programs
This Week's Topic: Picture Information
Question: Turn Off Website Music and Animations
Question: Print AOL Address Book
Question: Airline X-RAYs – Effects on Digital Cameras
Websites of Interest: Passover; Earth Day; World Mysteries
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Special Feature: Detecting Scam Websites
Phishing is a scam that uses email or pop-up windows to trick you into giving your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information.
A Phisher sends an email or pop-up message that claims to be from a business or organization you deal with – for example, your Internet service provider, bank, a website you purchase from, or even a government agency. The message usually says that you need to update or confirm your account information. The message will direct you to a Web site that looks just like a legitimate organization’s site or ask you to reply to the email with your personal information.
SpoofStick, recommended by PC World Magazine, is a free program that will help you determine whether a site is phony or legitimate. SpoofStick is an add-on to your browser and verifies every URL you visit. For instance, if you go to computerkindergarten.com the SpoofStick window toolbar plug-in will display a message that reads, "You're on computerkindergarten.com," letting you know that you are at a legitimate.
If you are directed to a phony website through a phishing email, SpoofStick will display a message similar to this: You're on 129.68.122.54.
SpoofStick is a helpful tool for you to use to identify Internet scams, but you must remain cautious and be careful of sharing any information. If you get an email or pop-up message that asks for personal or financial information, do not reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. If you are concerned about your account, contact the organization in the email using a telephone number you know to be genuine, or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s correct Web address. In any case, don’t use the link in the message.
SpoofStick can be downloaded at the corestreet website:
http://www.corestreet.com/spoofstick/
or at the PC World website:
http://tinyurl.com/5czdf
Sharper Training Solutions, Inc. is not the developer of this software and cannot offer technical support for this program.
Read more about Phishing in our newsletter archives:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/103104.html
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/110704.html
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Tips & Tricks: Finding Downloads
Have you ever downloaded something and then couldn't find it?
If you can't find a downloaded file, download it again. You’ll see the location in the Save in field in the Download window. Most browsers remember where your most recent download was saved. Click Cancel once you know the location.
Learn more about downloading at our website:
http://stsico.com/html/download.html
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Keyboard Shortcut: Open a New Browser Window
To open a new browser window in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Netscape, hold down the Ctrl key and press N.
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Keyboard Shortcut: Switch Between Open Programs
To quickly switch to another open program, hold down the Alt key and press the Tab key.
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Today's Topic: Picture Information
Question: I take a lot of pictures with my digital camera and already have hundreds of pictures on my computer. Is it possible to put information about a picture right in the picture file? I would like to put in the date taken, location and other comments.
Answer:
Yes, in some pictures, you can put information into the picture’s properties. Here’s how:
Right-click the file. From the resulting menu, click Properties. Some files will just have the General tab in the properties; in this case, you cannot put in any information. Other files will have a Summary tab; click on it.
In some picture files, you will be able to type in this window; you can add Title, Subject, Author, Keywords, and comments.
Click OK when you are done.
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Question: Turn Off Website Music and Animations
Some websites play music and having animated cartoons that can get very annoying. Can this be turned off?
Answer:
Yes, it can. Wait until the website loads (when you see all the text on the screen) and then click the Stop button on the toolbar. You will then be able to read the text without having to listen to the annoying music or watch the dancing cartoons.
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Question: Print AOL Address Book
Can I print my AOL Address book?
Answer:
Yes, you can. Open America Online and sign on.
Open Internet Explorer. To do so, click the Start button, point to Programs and click Internet Explorer.
Go to http://my.aol.com. You will be prompted to sign on to your account; input your screen name and password.
You will now be on the My AOL website. Click Mail at the top. This will display your Mailbox. Click Addresses at the top. You will now see the listing of your addresses. Click File on the menu, and then Print.
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Question: Airline X-RAYs – Effects on Digital Cameras
I'm going on a trip and plan to take my digital camera. Can the X-Ray machine at the airport damage the memory card? I know it can ruin film in a regular camera.
Answer:
According to the experts, the x-ray machine will not ruin a digital camera memory card. This was tested by the Committee for Integrity in Transportation of Imaging Products with the results showing no harm done to the card.
If you would like more information on this study, visit this website:
http://www.i3a.org/pdf/Electronic_Storage_Media_Test_Report_v4.pdf
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Thank you for reading our newsletter. We hope you enjoy it. We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have.
info@computerkindergarten.com
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Websites of Interest:
Passover
We've put many interesting and enjoyable Passover links on our website. For information on religious observations and traditions of the holiday, recipes, graphics, links for children and much more, please take a look:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/passover.html
Earth Day
Friday, the 22nd is Earth Day. Visit the Earth Day website to read more about this observation.
http://www.earthday.org/
World Mysteries
This website provides information on lost civilizations, mystic places, ancient artifacts, sacred writings and much more, in a fascinating and appealing format.
http://www.world-mysteries.com |
