Enable your menus and toolbars in Internet Explore...

This tip applies to Windows Vista and Windows 7 users only. Since Microsoft opted to not include XP users in the upgrade path to Internet Explorer 9, you XP users can file this tip until you upgrade to your next computer (if you stay with Windows). If you chose or were automatically updated to Internet Explorer 9, you may be like many of my clients who are not happy with the minimalist layout (similar to that of Google...

Must read article for ALL computer illiterate user...

I detest the phrase computer illiterate, but unfortunately hear it almost daily in my work. I think the better way for a computer user who feels inadequate around the technology and the terminology is to refer to themselves as time challenged. Since illiteracy can be thwarted with a healthy dose of education, that leaves making the time to obtain that education the stumbling block. However, I used that too often uttered...

1-click access to your favorite websites – V...

Please DO NOT use the address bar as a repository to return to sites you use all the time…eventually they will get lost. The address bar history maintains a small amount of your recently visited site and can easily be wiped out via an update or disk cleaning and maintenance tools. Instead, use the Favorites (Internet Explorer) or Bookmarks (Firefox and every other browser). Favorites/Bookmarks are designed to save and...

Create Your OWN Personalized Newspaper Online R...

In this month’s group, we talked about and demonstrated how to set up a web page that can be personalized. I like to use a customized web page (portal) as my home page (first page that shows up when I start my browser). We looked at the Yahoo portal (My Yahoo) and the newer Google customized home page. Both services require that you register and setup a user name and password. Once you register, you can customize your...

More on Fake Security Ads and Scareware

Trying to explain why and how fake security infiltrates my client’s computer is difficult. Instead of trying to explain it each and every time, which can be daunting, I am going to suggest this article as a reading assignment. If you use Microsoft Windows, and you want to minimize the possibility of becoming infected by this almost unstoppable force, you MUST read, digest and then put into practice the information found...

Major browser updates from Microsoft & Mozill...

In the past month, Microsoft released Internet Explorer 9 (Vista and Windows 7 only) and Mozilla released Firefox 4. Both browsers ratcheted up the speed and rendering of web pages, but both still contain some bugs that you don’t want to deal with yet. As with all major upgrades to any program, I always recommend sitting out on the hoopla for a couple of months or so. This seems to be very applicable to these two...

A beginner’s guide to Craig’s List ...

Craigslist.org is one of the most popular person-to-person commerce sites on the Internet. Started by Craig Newmark in 1995 as an email list, it has expanded ever since then to almost every corner of the United States and now operates in more than 50 countries. Larger cities tend to be much more active users of Craigslist and rural areas tend to get lumped together (like Western Slope Colorado). First, you need to be ever...

Fake Security Alerts & other Internet Bad Guy...

Over the past year or so, the majority of my professional time has been digging computer users (Windows users only) out of jams where they were infiltrated by fake security software or spyware. Two things to know about this type of infection: No matter what type of security software you use and how much you paid for it, IT CANNOT PROTECT YOU IF YOU INVITE THE BAD GUY INTO YOUR COMPUTER. It is preventable. Over the years,...

A beginners’ guide to Facebook

Although I am not a fan of Facebook and don’t use it much myself, I realize that many of you either do use it, want to use it, or asked to use it.  There are some great resources that give good step-by-step instructions on how to get started with and use Facebook. Since I am not an expert and didn’t want to create a fictitious account (against the rules, yeah right), I am listing the best resources I could find...

Learn how to use the Printer Friendly option ̵...

Last year, I wrote an article and made a how-to video focusing on how to print your web based email in an easier to read and fit format that also saves, time and money. At the end of that video, I briefly talked about the printer friendly format available from many sites on the web that will reformat what you are reading into a more paper and ink friendly format. In today’s tip, I focus on the printer friendly aspect of...

Make your web based email the Windows Default emai...

More and more computer users choose to use web based email systems like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL web based mail, and HotMail. I recently found this tool that will force Windows to recognize that you are a 21st century email user and thus recognize email links on web pages and send them to your web based email instead of a system installed on your computer that you do not use. The download is quick and free, and the installation...

How to use Malwarebytes – Video Tip

I am installing Malwarebytes more and more often these days to take care of spyware and adware problems. It isn’t 100% effective and you really should practice preventative measures (see article links at the end of this tip), but it is certainly worthwhile to add it to your security tool belt if you use any version of Microsoft Windows. Click here to download Malwarebytes Click the green button to start download Wait...

Practice smarter browsing to avoid malware –...

It seems that spyware, adware and other malware that doesn’t quite fall in the category of a virus grows by the day. Unfortunately, even the best protected computers and computer users can get hit by these sneaky destruction machines by tricking us (social engineering) to thinking we are either using, viewing or downloading something other than it is. In order to fight back, we need to be smarter Internet citizens in...

Stay safe when using public WiFi – Video Ti...

When traveling during the holidays or any time, it is extremely important to stay safe when using public wifi (Internet) at airports, coffee shops, hotels, etc. I recently came across a tool called Hotspot Shield that allows you to create a secure and private connection for all your browsing and email. It’s the same type of security that companies use for their employees when out of the office. It’s called VPN...

How good are your passwords?

And you have more than one password right? If you don’t, you should…seriously…good security starts with good passwords that you change regularly. Today, I came across a site that will demonstrate how weak or strong your password based on the average time it would take to crack your password. It will either scare the heck out of you or it will make you feel good about your choice of passwords. The site is:...