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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, October 31, 2004
HAPPY HALLOWEEN !
Don't forget to turn your clocks back. "Fall falls back; Spring springs ahead"
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Shut Down, Leave on or Hibernate?
Special Feature: Read-Only
Tips & Tricks: Show Desktop
Featured Computer Term: Contextual Menu
This Week's Topic: Phishing
Question: Zipped Files
Question: Anti-Virus Updates – Should I Download Them?
Question: Watermark
Websites of Interest: Halloween
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Using Links
A Link is a reference to a website. In this newsletter you will see links to
many worthwhile, informative and fun websites. Here are the instructions on
how to use links:
A link will be used one of two ways, depending on your email program.
If you see the link in blue, underlined text, all you have to do is click on
it and a window with the Website in it will automatically appear on your
screen.
If you see the link in plain text, you can copy and paste it into the address
bar on your browser. Highlight the link with your mouse, click Edit up on
the menu bar, and then click Copy from the menu that you just opened up. Open
your browser (click the Start Button, point to Programs, click on Internet
Explorer); click on the address bar. Click Edit up on the menu bar, and then
click Paste from the menu that you just opened up. Press the Enter key on the
keyboard and this will take you to the Website.
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Special Feature: Shut Down, Leave on or Hibernate?
Question: I turn my computer on and off about 4 times a day. Can you tell me if it is best to keep turning the computer on and off each time I use it, or just leave it on or use Standby?
Answer:
If you expect to use the computer periodically throughout the day, leave it on until after you use it for the last time that day. If you use it early in the morning and do not expect to use it again until the evening, turn it off.
Wear and tear is the main reason for not turning the computer on and off several times a day. When you turn the computer on, it warms up and the circuit boards expand. When you turn it back off, they cool off and contract. The electronics expanding and contracting like that is not good for your computer.
Question: Please help me with this, I’m so confused. Some people I speak to tell me that I should always leave my computer on. Others tell me to turn it off at the end of the day. And still others tell me to put it into hibernation. Which is correct?
Answer:
Always shut down the computer at the end of the day; there are several reasons why this is better.
Some computers do not easily come out of hibernation (also called Stand By on some systems) and the only way to get the computer back up and working is to use the power button to turn the computer off and then back on again. Turning the computer off that way is not good for it.
Second, the computer does not reboot when left on and does not completely reboot when going in and out of hibernation. When you turn off the computer the correct way, it completely reboots and clears out the memory and loads Windows and all programs fresh. This keeps the memory in good condition and helps your computer run better.
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Special Feature: Read-Only
Question: I took many of your classes, which I have enjoyed immensely and learned much. Luckily I followed your advice about backing up important work onto a disk, because my old computer crashed. I have a problem with using the files on my new computer. When I open a file it tells me that it is a read-only file. I can not save it or work on it and add to it. Can you tell me what to do?
Answer:
Move the files from the disk to your new computer. The easiest way to do this is to insert the disk, double click the My Computer icon and then double click on the disk. Size or move the window so that you can see the My Documents icon. Drag the files from the disk window right on top of the My Documents icon; they will then be copied onto the computer in the My Documents folder.
Once the files are on your hard drive, open My Documents. Right click on the file you want to work with. From the resulting menu, left click Properties. This will open the Properties dialog box.
In the properties window, click to remove the check mark from Read only. Click the OK button. You should now be able to edit and save this document.
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Tips & Tricks: Show Desktop
If you want to open another program, rather than bother with minimizing a number of open applications to return quickly to your desktop, just click on the Show Desktop icon on your taskbar.
That icon looks like a small desk blotter and if you don't have it, you can enable it by right clicking on an open spot of the taskbar, select Toolbars, and make sure Quick Launch is checked.
Want to get back to a program already opened? Click its button on the taskbar and it will return to its previous size window.
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Featured Computer Term: Contextual Menu
When using an application or an operating system, the contextual menu is the menu that appears when you click on the right button of a two-button mouse (also called right clicking). This menu is also called a shortcut menu, a right click menu or a context menu.
The contextual menu appears where the pointer was placed when clicked and usually contains alternate ways to use the options in the system's toolbars.
Is there a computer term or phrase that you'd like to see an explanation of?
Email it to info@computerkindergarten.com and we'll put the term and its
definition in an upcoming newsletter.
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Today's Topic: Phishing
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 organizations site or ask you to reply to the email with your personal information.
The purpose of these scams is to trick you into giving your personal information so the thieves can steal your identity and run up bills or commit crimes in your name.
Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission to help you avoid getting hooked by a phishing scam:
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 cut and paste the link in the message.
Don’t email personal or financial information. Email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information. If you initiate a transaction and want to provide your personal or financial information through an organization’s Web site, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some phishers have forged security icons.
Review credit card and bank account statements as soon as you receive them to determine whether there are any unauthorized charges. If your statement is late by more than a couple of days, call your credit card company or bank to confirm your billing address and account balances.
Use anti-virus software and keep it up to date. Some phishing emails contain software that can harm your computer or track your activities on the Internet without your knowledge. Anti-virus software and a firewall can protect you from inadvertently accepting such unwanted files. Anti-virus software scans incoming communications for troublesome files. Look for anti-virus software that recognizes current viruses as well as older ones; that can effectively reverse the damage; and that updates automatically.
A firewall helps make you invisible on the Internet and blocks all communications from unauthorized sources. It’s especially important to run a firewall if you have a broadband connection. Finally, your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software patches to close holes in the system that hackers or phishers could exploit.
Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them.
Report suspicious activity to the FTC. If you get spam that is phishing for information, forward it to: spam@uce.gov
If you believe you’ve been scammed, file your complaint at:
www.ftc.gov
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Question: Zipped Files
When I download a program from the Internet, if usually comes in the form of a zipped file. My question is this: the zip files remain after I have unzipped and installed them. I have so many of them but I am not sure if it is safe to delete them.
Answer:
A zip file is a compressed file that contains one or several files and folders. Zipped files are used to decrease download time. You must uncompress and extract the files before you can use them.
Once you have extracted the files and setup the program, the original zip file is not needed. You can save it on a disk should you ever need to install it again or just delete it.
Delete a zipped file the same way you delete any other file or folder.
Learn more about zip files at our website:
http://www.stsico.com/html/zip.html
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Question: Anti-Virus Updates – Should I Download Them?
I just got a new computer. It has Norton Anti Virus on it. I keep getting a message that asks me to purchase a Virus Definition Update. What is this? Should I download this?
Answer:
Yes, you should. You do need to update your virus software. When you get a new computer with an anti-virus software, or you upgrade the software on your existing computer, you are only partly protected from viruses.
There are people out there who create new viruses all the time. Your anti-virus program must identify those new viruses in order to protect your computer from them. The anti virus program uses virus Definitions to do this. The definitions tell the anti virus program what to look for, and how to get rid of specific viruses.
You can either purchase the updates from Norton, or buy a new Version of the software which will come with a full year of updates.
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Question: Watermark
A coworker told me that I should use a watermark in several documents that I created. What is it and how do I use it?
Answer:
A watermark is text or graphics that appear on the top of or behind document text, usually grey or a light color so that the document text can easily be read. If properly used, it can enhance your document with an image or use text to identify the contents of the document such as a draft or confidential copy.
Take a look at the about.com website for detailed, graphical instructions on creating watermarks in Microsoft Word.
Adding a text watermark:
http://wordprocessing.about.com/library/WordTutorials/blwatermark.htm
Adding an image watermark:
http://wordprocessing.about.com/library/WordTutorials/blwatermark2.htm
Creating custom watermark text:
http://wordprocessing.about.com/od/wordquicktips/qt/customwmtext.htm
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Websites of Interest:
Halloween
We've compiled a long and interesting list of Halloween websites for you. For traditions and history, recipes, costume and decoration ideas, fun graphics, safety for children and more, visit our Halloween website:
http://computerkindergarten.com/halloween |
