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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, September 7, 2008
Today is National Grandparents Day. To all the Grandmas and Grandpas, we wish you a very happy day!
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Worst Email Scams
Tips & Tricks: Change Your Home Page
This Week's Topic: Time for a New Computer?
Question: Changing Font Size in Word
Websites of Interest: National Grandparents Day; Sports Illustrated; TimesMachine; Clip Art
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Special Feature: Worst Email Scams
The following is from switched.com:
Scam #6: US Bombs Iran
The Come-On:
You get an e-mail announcing that the United States has invaded Iran, or some other sensational news headline, with a link to the news story.
The Scam:
The Web site is designed to look like a real news page with a video player and a banner, but they're fakes. Once you click them to get the story, you're in danger of downloading malware known as the 'Storm Worm,' a backdoor Trojan. Beware of anything named "iran_occupation.exe."
What You Can Do:
Don't rely on anonymous e-mails to get your news. If you see a headline and you absolutely must find out if it's true, then go to a trusted news site rather than click on the link. If you do fall for it, make sure your antivirus and malware protections are up-to-date.
Be sure to read our next newsletter to learn all about the Make Money From Home! scam.
Please visit our newsletter archives for information on the scams we have highlighted in previous editions of this newsletter:
Investment Pump & Dump scam:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/072008.html
Cancel This Order! scam:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/072708.html
You Win! scam:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/080308.html
Nigerian Letter scam:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/081008.html
Gone Phishing scam:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/081708.html
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Tips & Tricks: Change Your Home Page
Question: I just got my computer back from being fixed. Before, when I opened Internet Explorer, it went right to Yahoo, now it goes to Dell. How can I change it to open to Yahoo?
Answer:
The website that Internet Explorer opens to is called your home page.
To change your home page to the website you want, go to that website. Click Tools on the menu and then Internet Options. In the Internet Options window that you now see, make sure the General tab is selected. In the Home Page section, click the Use Current button. Click OK and you are done.
The page you are looking at will be your new home page. If you want to change it in the future, just follow the steps above.
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Today's Topic: Time for a New Computer?
Question: My grandkids tell me I need a new computer. It seems to be working fine to me, but they say it is too slow and that I can do more with a new one. how do I know whether I should get a new one or not?
The following article is from worldstart.com:
Technology is changing every day. There's always something new coming out and there's always something different to try. It's not always pertinent that you go along with those changes, but here are some reasons why you may want to. You need a new computer if:
1.) Your processor speed is less than 1.0 GHz (gigahertz). (On another note, if your computer is still running on megahertz, you'll definitely want to make an upgrade soon!) See, most programs and other applications that you may put on your computer require a lot more power than 1 GHz can give them. If you don't have a fast enough processing speed, your computer will run very slow and you won't be able to browse the Internet, play games, etc. with the ease you should have. You can check your processor speed by going to Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, System.
2.) Your computer has less than 256 MB of memory. (Again, go to Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, System to check on that information). If you don't have at least 512 MB or 1 GB of RAM memory, your computer will not run smoothly or to the best of its ability.
3.) You're using a Windows version that starts with a 3 or a 9 (for example, Windows 3.1, 95 and 98). Those older operating systems lack a lot of the features every computer should have these days, including security features and other updates that are required to keep your computer running properly and protected. The same thing applies if you're using a Mac version that is older than OS X.
4.) Your monitor is a 14 inch or smaller. If you don't have at least a 17 inch monitor, you're not going to be able to see full Web sites, which really is a shame!
5.) You're always getting an error message of "Operating system not supported" when you try to install new programs onto your PC. Or, when you're trying to upgrade to a new operating system and you get an error message of "Hardware not supported."
6.) Your computer has no USB ports. Nowadays, most external devices (such as keyboards, mice, printers, etc.) run via USB. Therefore, if you don't have any ports, you're going to have trouble keeping up with the newer computer devices.
7.) Your PC has a 5.25 inch disk drive or even a 3.5 inch floppy drive. Floppy drives are still around, but they're being phased out as well. Software has just outgrown those two drives and they won't be of much use in the near future. Flash and thumb drives are definitely taking over.
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Question: Changing Font Size in Word
In my Microsoft Word program, the font size is set to 10. Since I prefer it larger, 12, I change it, but it goes back to 10 when I start a new document. Can I change it permanently?
Answer:
Yes, you can. The Font used determines the appearance and size of the letters, numbers, punctuation marks, spaces and blank lines. Font size, the size of the letters and numbers both on the screen and on the printed copy, is measured in points (pts); seventy-two points equal approximately one inch.
By default, the Word program uses a 10-pt font size, which is small. You can change it to 12 points, a better size for viewing on the screen and for printing out. To make sure your change is permanent; you must change the default font.
To do so, follow these steps:
Open a new Word document.
Click Format on the menu and then Font. Word displays the Font dialog box.
Select the font settings you want to use.
Click the Default button. Word will ask you if you are sure you want to change the default font. Click the Yes button.
You have now changed the default font. The changes will take effect in the current document and every new document you create.
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Websites of Interest:
National Grandparents Day
Visit this website for history, kids activities, videos and more.
http://www.grandparents-day.com/
Sports Illustrated
Take a look at SI Vault for 54 years of Sports Illustrated magazines now posted online for free.
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/
TimesMachine
Here is a great website from the New York Times: all issues from 1850 to the 1920s, free and searchable.
http://timesmachine.nytimes.com/browser
Clip Art
Visit this useful site for thousands of clip art, free.
http://www.clip-art.com/
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