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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, November 28, 2004
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Finding Downloaded Files
Tips & Tricks: Context Sensitive Help
Featured Webpage: The Holidays
This Week's Topic: Browser Hijackers
Question: Change Desktop Fonts
Question: Save Emails
Question: Disk Size and Capacity
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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: Finding Downloaded Files
Question: my granddaughter sent me pictures. I downloaded them but can not find them. Please tell me how to find these because I will be so embarrased if she finds out that I could not look at the pictures. Thank you so much for all your help.
Answer:
When you receive an email with a file attached, you will see the name of the file somewhere in the email; usually at the top although it varies depending on which email program you are using.
Download the file as you usually do but note the filename before closing the email; you may even want to jot it down on a piece of paper.
After closing your email program, click the Start button and then click Search (or Find, depending on your version of Windows). Select Files and Folders. Type in the filename that you copied in the email. click the Search button.
You should see the file appear on the right. Double click on it. That will open the file and, if it is a picture, you should be able to view it.
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Tips & Tricks: Context Sensitive Help
F1 gives context sensitive help. That means that your computer will try to help you with whatever you are currently working on. press the F1 key (note, that is the key on the top row of the keyboard – not the f key and then the 1 key) Try it next time you are stuck.
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Featured Webpage: The Holidays
Take a look at our website for a countdown to Christmas and for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa links to fun and useful sites.
Christmas: http://computerkindergarten.com/html/christmas.html
Hanukkah: http://computerkindergarten.com/html/hanukkah.html
Kwanzaa: http://computerkindergarten.com/html/kwanzaa.html
If you have any sites you think we should add, please send us an email with the website address and a short description of the site.
info@computerkindergarten.com
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Today's Topic: Browser Hijackers
In past editions of this newsletter, we have done articles on Phishing, viruses, and spyware. Yet another Internet danger is browser hijacking. Browser hijackers take over your browser, change the home page and attempt to funnel you into their own sites whenever you use the Internet.
While the term browser hijacker covers a wide array of malicious software and activity, the generally accepted description is a program that that changes your Internet Explorer settings.
Usually your home page will be changed and new favorites will be added that point to sites you would never visit on your own. The program makes changes to your system, causing the home page to revert back to the unwanted one even if you change it manually.
A browser Hijacker may also refuse access to certain web pages, for example sites where you can download anti-spyware programs. These programs have also been known to disable pop-up blockers, antivirus and anti-spyware software.
In the worst case scenario, a browser hijacker can make the Internet almost impossible to use, popping up a countless number of advertising windows and directing you helplessly to sites of its choosing.
You can reduce the risk of your browser being taken over by a hijacker by taking a few simple precautions.
Make sure your computer is updated with Windows patches. This means that you should stop ignoring that little message that comes up at the bottom of the screen notifying you of updates. Microsoft is constantly patching and updating program vulnerabilities which allow things like browser hijacking. You can check for updates at this website: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.
Most browser hijacking programs will actually request your permission before installing themselves. If anything requests permission to install on your system while you are just browsing, click NO unless you asked to download something and are absolutely sure you know what it is and what it does.
Use and update an anti-spyware program regularly. Learn more about spyware and how to download a good anti-spyware program in the June 27, 2004 edition of this newsletter:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/062704.html
Many browser hijackers are also identified and stopped by anti-virus software packages. Many AV programs come with a program that constantly scans information entering and leaving your computer. Make sure your virus protection program has its auto scan feature enabled.
Change your Internet Explorer security settings to deflect browser hijackers. Open Internet Explorer, click Tools on the menu and then click Internet options. Click the Security tab on the top. If you want the highest degree of protection against browser hijackers and other malicious online code, set your Internet zone to the 'high' security setting. This will ensure that IE does not run activeX instructions, the means by which most browser hijackers get access to your computer. Note that this may also cause problems and missing content in some legitimate web pages.
If your browser gets hijacked, here are the steps you can take to recover.
First, try changing your homepage back. This may not work, but it will help you gauge the severity of the problem. To do this, open Internet Explorer and maneuver to the site you use for your home page. Click Tools on the menu and then Internet Options. In the home page area, click Use Current. Click OK.
Delete any new entries that were added to your Favorites. To do so, right click on the entry. From the resulting menu, left click on Delete.
Run your spyware program. Make sure you update the program first. Do a full system scan and remove every item found by the program. Empty the Recycle bin. Restart the computer and run the spyware system scan again.
Open your virus protection program and run a full system scan.
After all scans are complete, open Internet Explorer. Your browser should now return to your original home page.
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Question: Change Desktop Fonts
I just bought a new laptop, which I love already. However, the names of the icons are very small. Can I make the text bigger so that it is easier for me to read?
Answer:
Yes you can. Here’s how:
Right click on a blank area on the desktop. From the resulting menu, left click on Properties.
In the Display Properties dialog box that you now see, click the Appearance tab at the top.
Towards the bottom of the dialog box, right below Font size, you will probably see the word Normal. To the right of that is a small down arrow. Click on that arrow, and then click on Extra large.
Click OK and you’ll see the text on your icons will be much larger and easier to read.
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Question: Save Emails
My email program seems to remove my read emails after a few days. How can I keep the ones that I don’t want removed?
Answer:
Save them like you would save any file. Click File on the menu, then Save. You can maneuver to your My Documents folder, if you’d like to save the emails in there. Or maneuver to whatever folder you would like to use for your emails.
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Question: Disk Size and Capacity
How much data or information can the 1.44MB floppy disk hold in practical terms, such as a number of pages in a book? How about a CD-ROM disk and a DVD-ROM disk?
Answer:
3.5-inch floppy disks hold 1.44 megabytes of information, which is about 1.5 million text characters, or 700 pages of straight text. A CD-ROM stores 650 megabytes, which is equal to approximately 450 floppy diskettes. A DVD-ROM holds
4.7 gigabytes of information, equal to approximately 7 CD-ROMs or 3,157 floppy disks. |
