Internet Tips

Gmail Address Picker – Video Tip

Google very quietly added a new funcion to Gmail yesterday. Many emailers who convert to Gmail wondered why this function wasn’t there from the beginning, but now it is…an address picker.

I can’t remember an email program not having an address picker before, but I quickly adapted to the way Gmail did addresses when I switched three or so years ago. Currently, if you type in just 2-3 characters of a recipients first or last name, Gmail instantly displays folks in your address book that you can then click to add to your message.

Starting yesterday, Gmailers can now click the word To, CC, or BCC (depending on where you want the address to end up) to bring up a traditional address book picker where you can click and choose your recipients from the list.

This short video demonstrates how it works. Enjoy and pass on the news!

Internet Tips / Links / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 5 Comments
19
Aug 09

16 Educational Web Sites to Bookmark Now!

photo credit: ciro@tokyo

This month’s radio show focused on education and the web. Education related sites for students of all ages and sites for adults who just have inquisitive minds! If you have a great education related web site you want to share, please leave a comment with a link to the site. Enjoy.

Global Scholar – Tutoring for all ages
Spark Notes – Study guides, test prep, and more!
Edu 2.0 – Online teaching and learning management. Incredible resourse for Continue reading →

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
18
Aug 09

Beware of fake security software

photo credit: elmada

I write a similar article every few weeks not because I’m not creative, but because too many people aren’t listening yet. These past few weeks have been awful for folks getting fake security software on their computers. It often times gets on a computer as a result of other things you are trying to download or access including, but not limited to:

Free screensavers
Free wallpaper
Free games
Free security software (there are great products available, but make sure you know what you are getting and where you are getting it from).
Online credit checks
Online gambling
Online porn
Free music downloads
Free movie downloads

What happens is the bad guys have figured out how to take advantage of what is popular at any given time. As you install the programs listed above or access the services listed, you agree to put the junk on your system and it then stealthy slips by any existing security software you do have. If you follow a few simple rules, Continue reading →

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick / Tech News — 2 Comments
14
Aug 09

Bresnan cable has nearly 18 hour outage

photo credit: Chad The Great

Our local cable Internet profider, Bresnan, had a complete system failure that affected Internet and VoIP service that started around 7:00pm yesterday, and continued through much of the day today. In fact, it affected customers in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and here in Colorado.

I received so many phone calls about Internet outage, that I changed my voicemail to include special instructions for Bresnan users. As of early this morning when I left for work (more than 12 hours after the outage ocurred), nothing was posted on the Bresnan web site about the outage.

This type of problem presents a great opportunity for me to remind you about my Troubleshooting Your High Speed Internet Connection article. Please review it, print it, and pass it on to all your Internet buddies who use any broadband (high speed) Internet service no matter where they live.

My friend and colleague, Adam Cochran, wrote and article and produced a video on his site, TalkingDigital, that demonstrates how to fully reset a cable modem and router. Check it out by clicking here.

Most folks should be online by now, but these two articles are invaluable to high speed users who run into Internet issues…keep them handy.

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 9 Comments
7
Aug 09

Use the address bar

It always amazes me (even after more than ten years) how unintuitive computers can be for many users. One call I fielded today was from a computer user who has been using computers for many years, but had a befuddling question. She was trying to browse to her bank’s web site, but couldn’t get there. After talking with her for a few moments, it became apparent that she was Continue reading →

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 3 Comments
6
Aug 09

AOL users: Save your money!

I just left a client’s home who pays for both a DSL connection AND AOL. They were paying $30+ per month for AOL and not using a dial-up connection or their support. In fact, take a look at the image at the bottom of this tip and note that although they were signed up for the AARP discount account of $23.01, they were actually being billed $30.01!

If you use AOL and have a high speed connection, there is no need to pay Continue reading →

Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 12 Comments
24
Jul 09

Facebook security tip

One of Beth’s friends alerted us to this:

Facebook has agreed to let third party advertisers use your posted pictures by default to your friends in their ads. .To changeNGS up at the top where you see the log out link. Select PRIVACY. Then select NEWS FEEDS AND WALL. Next select the tab that reads FACE BOOK ADS. There is a drop down box, select NO ONE. Then SAVE your changes. (REPOST to let your friends know!)

One of my wife’s friends alerted her to a security change regarding Facebook’s advertisements. Facebook has agreed to let third party advertisers use your posted pictures by default to your friends in their ads.

To change this default setting, follow these steps:

Sign in to your Facebook account
Click Settings at the top right of the page
Click Privacy Settings
Click News Feed and Wall
Click Facebook Ads tab
In the drop down box, select No one.
Click Save Changes

In the same area you can also make other changes to your Facebook privacty settings

Computer User Group / Internet Tips — 7 Comments
7
Jul 09

The Castellini Approach to Internet Security

photo credit: The Joy Of The Mundane

This past week I saw way too many people who are not taking advantage of the free information we give out on the show and the web site. Their computers were suffocating from a preventable disease…viruses and spyware. Yes, preventable, almost 100%. And fighting the war on our home computer security front does not have to be costly or time consuming.

We talk about this subject quite a bit on the program and the web site because of its rapid growth worldwide. In today’s tip, I am providing you with links to information that we have on this site that have been up for months to years that contain the essential information about protecting your computer.

Continue reading →

Email Tips / Internet Tips / Riding Shotgun with Rick — 1 Comment
7
Jul 09

Beware of this type of spam

Below is an example of an email spam (unwanted email) that is increasing in frequency. Overall, the email looks to be legit and normal. However, there are two parts of the email that you need to pay particular attention to:

Who is it from? In the example below, I have no idea who Allison is. Red flag number 1. If you don’t recognize the name or the email address, be suspicious.
Link in the email uses an URL (web address) shortener service. If I don’t know who it is from, I’m darn sure not going to click the unidentified link. Red flag number 2.

I started using TinyURL.com years ago in my email and on the radio to be able to quickly and clearly send someone to a long web site address with little hassle. However, with the rising popularity of Twitter and other quick messaging and blog services, more and more URL shortener services have emerged. Most of which have no problems. The problem is Continue reading →

Email Tips / Internet Tips — 2 Comments
2
Jul 09

Gmail adds MORE functionality to Labels – Video Tip

Yesterday, Google added drag and drop functionality to the already stupendous Labels feature. Adding drag and drop label organization further enhances the lead Gmail already holds on all other email systems…desktop or web based. Make sure to watch my other Gmail videos if you are just beginning with Gmail, but this short video will give you a look at the further power being developed into Continue reading →