If you've been getting a flurry of email greeting cards lately, beware. The latest round of spam that tricks users into opening a virus is disguised as "You've received a greeting, " or "You have an e-card from a family member."

This new spam invasion, called "Storm" is quieter than cicadas but much more damaging. It spreads rapidly, blasting spam messages by the millions, (hence the storm), inviting you to click a link for an e-card from a friend or family member.

What happens if you click on the e-card link? Your computer becomes part of a sprawling network of subservient robot machines. The hacker then uses the controlled computer to relay more spam, offering great deals on cheap investments.

This hacker is actually the owner of a company and is ultimately trying to drive up its stock value!! See blogs.usatoday.com for more. The stock offers are for Prime Time Group, and sadly, the stock is rising as people fall for the hacker's tricks. USA Today reminds us of P.T. Barnum's maxim: "A fool and his money are soon parted."

Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date, or use a full protection suite that also blocks spyware and other internet intrusions. Over 200 million incidents of this Storm have been blocked by good anti-virus software. And as always, don't click a link in an email if you're unsure of its origin.

As mentioned in the previous issue, I'm still not encouraging clients to move from Windows XP to Vista, for many reasons. The primary reason? A shiny new operating system doesn't change how you work - just how the screens look.

Now, having completed an evaluation of Office 2007, I have to make the same statement. Keep what you've got. If you are using Office 2000 or 2003, with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Publisher, you're set for life.

As with Vista, in Office 2007, the screens are different - the icons, toolbars and menus we've come to know are gone, and in their place, it uses the top third of each screen to send you on a treasure hunt for the features you want.

Worse, though, is the fact that Office 2007 documents are not backward-compatible with older versions!

What to do if you get an Office document you can't open? If you get a Word file ending in .docx instead of .doc, you'll know you're in trouble. If you haven't had this problem yet, it's only a matter of time, so save this link info. You may need it some day.

First Microsoft creates a problem, then they find a solution, leaving customers to jump through hoops to fix it. The solution is to download the Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats at the link below. It changes your MS Office 2000 or 2003 programs so you can open and save files in the 2007 format. If you're still using Office 97, you'll probably have to move up to at least Office 2000 to stay compatible.

1. Visit Theyshoulddothat.com for an exploration of ideas and examples of missed opportunities in technology.

2. Read some good news. August is either a no-news month, or all heat-wave and hot-air of the political kind. Refresh yourself with a spritz of news focused on constructive and positive journalism. http://www.positivepress.com.

3. Learn to search more effectively with Google's guide: http://www.googleguide.com/advanced_operators_reference.html

4. Remember for back to school shopping, you can use the web and still shop locally. Do your research online and then use local merchants for your purchases, either in-store or through their web sites. Patronize the businesses that pay taxes in your town and contribute to your local schools.

In fact, Harper's Magazine (07/07) reports: 68 percent of every dollar spent at a locally-owned Chicago store is retained or recirculated in the city. Only 43 percent of every dollar spent at a chain store is retained in Chicago.

5. Go to iii.org, for free home inventory software, from the Insurance Information Institute.

Yes, the rumors are true. My new book will be out next month. "Release Your Writing: Book Publishing, Your Way" helps writers navigate the route to successful publishing and marketing for their books. Learn more at www.releaseyourwriting.com.

Helen Gallagher Phone: 847-998-6240, www.cclarity.com

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