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Rick

Beware of Fraudulent Email

This week I had the unfortunate job of helping a client of mine change email addresses and passwords. Not that the change itself was unfortunate, it was the reason for the change. Earlier in the week, she fell prey to an Internet scam known as ‘phishing’.

Phishing starts in our email box. The email looks and almost sounds completely official and usually claims to represent a large company like AOL, Earthlink, Citibank, eBay, etc. Even the company’s logo and maybe an address or telephone number will appear in the email as well. The email states that either the company has had a catastrophic computer melt down and needs to rebuild their customer information database OR it says that for your security you need to react.

Attach files to email

Follow these simple guidelines for attaching files to email.

1. First and foremost, pay attention to the size of the files you are sending. As a rule of thumb, try not to send files larger than 750 kilobytes per email. If your files are larger than this, use a compression program like WinZip to make them smaller.

2. Be cognizant of what types of files you are sending. Sending files that are 'generic' in format will ensure readability for your recipient.

Adding a Mail notification sound to your email

OK, I?m going to pick on AOL a little this week. Who believes that ?You?ve got mail!? is not only horrible grammar, but also pretty corny!

If you are an AOL user and want to change that sound or are an independent Internet user who uses Netscape, or Outlook Express, Eudora, etc for their mail, this tip will help you add your own customized sound to your email.

The first thing you need is a sound file. You can get this one of three ways:

1. Use the stock sounds that come with Windows
2. Download a sound from the Internet (see Links of Interest below)
3. Or my favorite, record your own sound (or record your children, grandchildren, friend, dog, etc )

When Should You Use the RIGHT Mouse Button?

Many people ask me when is the appropriate time to click the RIGHT mouse button. My short answer is to try it everywhere. The RIGHT mouse button (or secondary mouse button) provides quick access to many common functions via a pop up menu. And those functions change depending on what program you are using and where you are in that program.

For example, in almost any application, if you click the RIGHT mouse button, you will have access to cut, copy, and paste. If you are in email, or the Internet or a word processing program any you need to copy some text to another area, first highlight it then RIGHT click on it to quickly get to the Copy function.

Utilize ALL of Your Screen Real Estate

DISCLOSURE: If you don’t feel comfortable making adjustments to your system, please don’t proceed with this tip.

Take a look at your monitor right now… Do you see a black border surrounding the screen? If so, you can quickly and permanently regain that extra viewing area by following this week’s tip.

Because there are many different types of monitors and manufacturers, I can’t be specific to your machine, but follow the guidelines laid out here to make your adjustments.

At the bottom of your monitor, you will notice either a series of buttons or maybe a dial.

If you can find your monitor manual, then it will explain what the buttons mean and how to use them to make adjustments. If not, look for the following visual hints on the buttons or possibly on the screen itself after you press the buttons:

Use Your Digital Camera to Take Inventory

Planning for a disaster seems almost pessimistic to some, but in the long run, planning for the worst can save you. I talk about backup of your important digital data all the time, and this week’s tip takes the term backup a little closer to home.

One great, practical use of your digital camera is to take inventory of your personal belongings. Use your camera to photograph your heir loom china, your classic car, your stereo and TV equipment, your video collection, appliances, and furniture. Because you don’t have to worry about film, take pictures of anything and everything of value to you in and around your home.

Unique Digital Photo Holiday Gifts

You’ve take a bazillion digital photos so far this year or have a shoe box of great old photos. This holiday season, put those photos to fun use by creating unique gifts with them.

Using tools you already have, you can create photo t-shirts, aprons, and carry bags. All you need is the perfect photo, an ink jet printer, an iron, and special iron-on paper. Ink jet iron on paper can be found at any office supply or large retail store. All the major ink jet printer makers make their own brand of iron paper, and I suggest matching the paper with your printer.

Use any photo editing or publishing program to come up with a fun design, then print it directly on the iron-on paper. You do have to remember to print the ‘mirror or reverse’ image of the design so that it transfers properly to your project. To find the mirror or reverse option, click to the properties or settings section of your printer before you hit the print button.

Turn your camera flash on in the daytime and off at night

All digital cameras have an auto mode that handles everything. The user doesn’t even need to think about shutter speeds, aperture, or any other settings on the camera and that is the way the photographer often wants it.

This can also lead to problems though as certain light conditions can cause the camera to misread the lighting conditions.

Two examples of this are your local Christmas parade of lights and anytime you are taking someone’s picture in front of a sunlit window.

In the parade of lights, your camera will assume that you want to use the flash because it is so darn dark and with backlit subjects your camera will read plenty of light to shoot without a flash.

Tame that mouse!

The default settings for the mouse, are not necessarily the best settings for all users. You can control how fast the mouse moves and more importantly learn how to control the double-click speed so that it works for you every time.

1. Click on Start
2. Click on Settings
3. Click on Control Panel
4. Double-Click on Mouse

Depending on your mouse, you will see different screens and options in here, but you want to look for two things: pointer speed and double-click speed.

Adjust double-click behavior by sliding the double-click speed option all the way to the left (or double-click very slowly on the icon provided with some software).

Summer Waning, but Heat Still a Danger

Heat and computers can be a lethal combination. Even though the hot summer days continue to slide by, protect your system from heat related problems.

Keep your computer well ventilated. Because most new systems today are towers, many computer users place their systems on the floor. Normally this will not cause any problems, but make sure that you are minimizing disaster with these hints:

* Keep the system off of shag or long carpet.

If your floor meets the above description, put a piece of masonite or tile under the system (many computers have small vents at the bottom that need to be able to breathe)

All Rights Reserved © 2024 Rick Castellini
All Rights Reserved © 2024 Rick Castellini