Welcome
to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, November 1, 2009
Don’t
forget to change your clocks today.
“Spring springs ahead and Fall falls
back.”
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Phishing
Tips & Tricks: Search a Website
This Week's Topic: Tech Support
Tips
Question: Restore Volume Icon
Websites of Interest: Send a Care
Package to a Soldier; Child Proofing Tips; BBC World Service; Car Rentals; Is
This a Scam
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Special Feature: Phishing
Phishing
is the attempt to trick you into giving confidential information about
yourself, like your Social Security number and passwords.
The
following article is from scambusters.org
it seems that identity thieves are inventing new tricks
almost every week to fool you into giving away that vital information.
Over
the past couple of years, the most common technique for this type of ID theft
has been to send you a message – by phone, by text message, or by email
-- suggesting there's a problem with your bank account.
They
ask you to phone a particular number or visit a certain website where you are
supposed to disclose your account details.
A
new, sneaky variation of this is to spoof the website of major online
retailers, like Amazon, who do legitimately hold your credit card number and
other financial details.
You're
fooled into visiting these phony websites, which collect your sign-on details
for these retailers. The crooks then sign on to your real account and pick up
your bank and card details there.
Avoid
these identity theft tricks by always keying web addresses into your browser
rather than clicking links and by checking in the address bar that the
legitimate address is shown.
With
phone contact, never respond directly to messages that appear to come from your
bank. Get the correct bank number from your statement or the phone book and
contact them directly.
Of
course, the broader point here is that, to prevent ID theft, you should never
trust that a caller is who they say they are, and therefore never give out your
credit card details to anyone who phones you.
This
defense would avoid one of the latest telephone phishing tricks which is plaguing newspaper classified advertisers.
The
scammer calls numbers from the classified columns, claiming to be the publisher
and telling the advertiser there's a problem with their payment. They then
insist the victim pays by credit card immediately.
Action:
Hang up and call the newspaper yourself.
Finally,
one of the fastest-rising and saddest sources of phishing for identity theft
targets unemployed people by asking them to provide Social Security numbers and
other personal information on job application forms.
The
answer is to thoroughly check out any prospective employer before providing any
personal details. Check them online, with the local Chambers of Commerce and
state licensing authorities.
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Tips & Tricks: Search a Website
Are
you looking for something specific on a webpage? Hold down the CTRL key and press the f
key. The Find box will open. Type in what you are looking for and
press the Enter key.
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Today's Topic: Tech Support Tips
The
following article is from JoAnn Sommer
of worldstart.com
Sometimes
the pleasure of owning a computer is overshadowed by the need to ask for
assistance with a computer issue. Calling for technical support does not have
to be an unpleasant experience. Preparing yourself
before you make that call, and knowing what to expect while talking to support
representatives, can help ease the way.
1.
Before you pick up the phone, have as much information at hand as possible. Any
product serial numbers should be within easy reach and be prepared to answer
these questions:
* What version of Windows
are you using?
* What, if any, changes did
you make to your system before the problem occurred? Include both hardware and
software changes, and be honest!
* What is the exact wording
of any error message you receive?
* What steps have you taken
to try to resolve the issue on your own?
2.
Make your call to tech support when you are relatively free from distractions.
Being able to focus on what is discussed will go a long way to aiding both you
and the tech you are talking to. Do not yell, insult or use profanity no matter
how frustrated you are. Most companies advise their techs to hang up on any
caller using abusive language. No matter how frustrated you are at the hold
time before your call is answered, remember that the tech you are talking to
was helping someone else, not ignoring you.
3.
Be prepared to verify your address, phone number and even your e-mail address
before moving on to your issue. The technician is not being nosy by asking, but
rather doing their job. After all, verifying your statistics ensures that your
computer is still in your hands and not those of a thief. Many companies
require techs to log all calls. If you have called for support before, your
statistics may be used to bring up your records and help the technician deal
with your issue. Also, if you are using e-mail support, make sure your e-mail
address is correct and complete. Otherwise, the tech won't be able to get ahold of you.
4.
Be frank about your level of computer expertise.
Support technicians talk to customers with vast differences in their skill
levels, from the beginner to the expert. If the tech is moving too fast, ask
them to slow down. If you don't understand something, ask them to clarify.
Don't be embarrassed to admit you are in unfamiliar territory. Likewise, try
not to second guess where the tech is leading you and jump ahead. Working
together is the surest way to a resolution.
5.
Listen carefully to everything the tech is telling you. Most techs have a
wealth of knowledge they are more than willing to share with attentive callers.
6.
Stick to the subject. Unless you are involved in a long procedure with lots of
down time such as a complete Windows reinstall, avoid chit chat. There are many
other people waiting to have their call answered (just as you were) and while
you may not be working, the tech is.
7.
Make sure you get all the help you need. If you have called for assistance with
installing hardware, the technician should also help you install the drivers
for that hardware. If you have more than one question, jot them down ahead of
time so you don't forget them and have to call back.
8.
Don't ask your support person to do something that is not their job. For instance,
if you have called your computer manufacturer for assistance, don't also ask
them to help you with an AOL problem. If you have called for help with
installing software, remember it is not the technician's job to train you on
that as well.
9.
If your computer issue can not be resolved with one
phone call, ask the technician to take ownership of it. Many techs are willing
to go the extra mile for a friendly customer and will research your problem,
then get back to you when they have the solution.
10.
Say thank you. Support technicians are people too! If your tech has done an
especially good job or kind act, ask if you can send an e-mail to their
supervisor to express your appreciation, and then follow through.
Having
to call for support on today's technology will probably never be a truly pleasant experience, but it doesn't have to be a
painful one either. Don't be intimidated. Being prepared for the call and
knowing what to expect ahead of time will make it easier for you and the
technician on the phone. And you might just learn a tip or two along the way!
**************************************************************
Question: Restore Volume Icon
I
lost the volume icon that is by the clock.
Can I get it back?
Answer:
Yes,
you can. Here are the steps:
Windows
XP
Click
the Start button and open Control Panel.
Open Sounds, Speech and Audio Devices.
Click on Sounds and Audio Devices. The Sounds and Audio Devices Properties
window will open. Click the Volume
tab at the top.
In the Device volume section, click to place a checkmark
in the box to the left of Place volume control icon in the taskbar.
Click
the OK button and close Control Panel.
You
should now see the volume icon by the clock.
Windows
Vista
Right
click on the Start Orb.
Left
click Properties.
Click
the Notification Area tab at the top.
Look
for the System icons area. Under
Select which system icons to always show, click Volume.
Click
the OK button.
You
should now see the volume icon by the clock.
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Websites of Interest:
Send a Care Package to a Soldier
http://www.anysoldier.com/
Child
Proofing Tips
Get
childproofing advice for your home.
http://www.childproofingtips.com/
BBC
World Service
News
from all corners of the world
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/
Car
Rentals
Compare
Car Rental Rates
http://www.carrentals.com/
Is
This a Scam
Next
time you receive a email and are unsure if it is a
legit or not, check it at this site.
http://www.jasonmorrison.net/is-this-a-scam/