Online Notebook      

July 2007 interview for Chicago Writer's Association here

While this notebook is updated, please also check our Blog at www.cclarity.blogspot.com for fresh news, essays, and opinion.

Did you ever wish for a Computer Genie — Someone to sit by your side and help when the computer lets you down? We can’t be everywhere so we created the Computer Clarity Online Notebook to help you. Look for answers to frequent problems, find reliable sources, and ask questions—no problem is too great or too small to be shared. And, check back soon — things are always changing here.

And subscribe to our free  e-newsletter for our new feature: 

Ten things you can do in ten minutes!! -- Reduced to five things you can do in five minutes for 2006.
or request an article topic here: Our Interactive forum for your questions. Access the forum here

Spyware protection
By the way, I know it looks like we've been neglecting this Online Notebook page, but it is slowly being superseded by two things:
The first is our blog, with frequent updates, and the second reason is a nagging notion to put all this computer wisdom into the one thing clients ask for most: A Book. I'm trying...

While writing the chapter on Spyware, I am eager to remind clients of the dangers of not having adequate protection against the programs that can invade your computer, and urge you to read this updated from the Federal Trade Commission.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/spywarealrt.htm .

Love my shortcuts?

So many clients and friends say "How do you just do that?" when I reach for the keyboard and accomplish something rapidly, avoiding the need to wrestle with the mouse, and align eye, hand and brain to accomplish a single click. So I'm posting a link to a resource that will keep you up all night with keyboard shortcuts for every purpose. http://www.computerhope.com/shortcut.htm.

I love LISTS. Here's my list of favorite free resources.  Helen's List

Clutter on your hard disk? You're not alone. 
Apple CEO Steve Jobs said recently "It's easier to find something from among a billion Web pages with Google than it is to find something on your hard disk." According to a CNN report today, Jobs believes intelligent searching for information, rather than struggling to sort it, is the best way to manage data. "The hierarchy of files and folders is a dreary, outdated metaphor inspired by office filing. In today's communications era, categorized by the daily barrage of new e-mails, websites, pictures and movies, who wants to file when you can simply search? What does it matter where a file is stored, as long as you can find it?" he says.
Read the full article at http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,64069,00.html

Many of us use Enfish to search and retrieve files on our hard disk based on any word or phrase. Microsoft is planning a system wide search tool in the next release of Windows. In my opinion, they already have one in Windows Explorer but most people underutilitze this tool. By its nature, it is considerably slower than Enfish because Enfish is constantly indexing, where Windows Explorer only goes out to do the search when requested. Jobs refers to another program called Spotlight which might be worth a look for Mac users.

Anything for Chocolate !!

ZDNet (UK) - April 20, 2004, 6:38 AM PT

A survey of office workers in London found that almost three quarters would reveal their network-access password in exchange for a bar of chocolate. The survey was conducted by the organizers of Infosecurity Europe 2004, a security exhibition to be held in London next week. They offered 172 commuters at Liverpool Street Station a bar of chocolate if they would reveal their corporate password.

Surprisingly, 37 percent immediately agreed, while another 34 percent were persuaded to give up their secret access codes when the interviewer commented that it was most likely to be the name of their pet or their child.

Claire Sellick, event director for Infosecurity Europe 2004, said the results prove that employers are not educating their users about the importance of information security: "This comes down to poor training and procedures. Employers should make sure that their employees are aware of information security policies and that they are kept up-to-date," she said in a statement.

According to the survey, most participants were unhappy remembering so many different passwords and would prefer to use either biometric authentication--such as fingerprint recognition--or smartcards. "Clearly, workers are fed up with having to remember multiple passwords and would be happy to replace them with alternative identification technology," said Sellick.

At the RSA Security conference in San Francisco last month, Microsoft's chairman Bill Gates said traditional passwords are dying out because they cannot be relied on to keep critical information secure. During his keynote, Gates said: "There is no doubt that over time, people are going to rely less and less on passwords. People use the same password on different systems, they write them down and they just don't meet the challenge for anything you really want to secure."

Our advice: Keep your passwords private--- not on a Post-it note stuck to your monitor... (Oh, and so many clients are guilty of that!)

And change passwords frequently, log out when finished using a secure site or intranet connection, don't use the same password for everything,

don't use your dog's name, license number, or all alpha characters.

WinZip Security Warning

There is a security hole in older versions of Winzip that could allow a hacker to gain control of your PC if the malicious WinZip file is opened. The latest version of WinZip 9.0 is not vulnerable to this attack. It is highly suggested that you upgrade to the latest version of WinZip to prevent damage to your PC. Additional information can be found on the WinZip website: http://www.winzip.com/fmwz90.htm .  If you use Windows XP, you really don't need WinZip any more --- just right click on a file and choose Compress.

Netscape 7.2 - free download  ---- NEW - - Netscape 8 has been released but there are security conflicts between it and Internet Explorer.  Read more at www.netscape.com.

Netscape Version 7.2 is now available and is THE BEST web browser and integrated mail program you'll ever find. Download a free copy now or order a CD from Netscape. 

In addition to tabbed browsing, saving a group of sites as one bookmark, and color-coded labels to sort important e-mail, it now includes JUNK MAIL blockers and POP-UP AD controls .  I'm telling you - this is the best program for all your Internet needs. 84% of Computer Clarity's clients use Netscape. Now you know why!

Wireless Internet Access -- if you have a wireless modem, and a laptop, you can connect to the internet any time you're near a wireless access point. Take a look at the list of "hot spots" in our area. You might be surprised at what you find here.... Wi-Fi Hot Spots http://www.80211hotspots.com/.

There's lots more to learn abut wireless - I could write a book about it and still not teach you enough. If you're ready to work untethered, be sure you learn about security and vulnerability of your data before roaming around with your laptop.

This is a typical network configuration. With the addition of a wi-fi adapter and a wi-fi access point or wi-fi enabled computer, you can share the broadband connection, enabling you to work anywhere in your home or office, unplugged.

Favorite Photo

Ever feel like you're working in a fish tank? (Sorry, photographer's identity is unknown.)

Scanners

Act!

Act has been sold to Best Software, and the new version, 2005, is  v-e-r-y  s-l-o-w !. Details are at www.act.com .

Do You FTP?

updated 12/28/06