Viruses and Hoaxes

Do you ever get an email that scares you?  One that tells you that your computer is doomed if you open a particular email or that there is a new and even nastier virus, or a scam in the supermarket, a way to relocate call centres to the Uk, a way to unlock your car without a key- that kind of thing...
Be skeptical! Never believe all that you read!
If you want to check, go to this excellent website www.hoaxslayer.com, and find out!
Let all your friends know it is a hoax- especially if they have emailed you to warn you about it!

Mrs PC's annual holiday

Mrs PC is taking a break from teaching and having a bit of a rest from computers over the next month!

I will have a laptop with me and am happy to help with minor queries, and Adam is on hand to cover for me and to help with technical disasters.

Thought you might like to see the attached photo, which made me chuckle!

Have a good summer, fingers crossed for a bit more sunshine!

Stop spam and learn email etiquette!

The Correct Way to Forward Email!

Every time you forward an e-mail there is information left over from the people who got the message before you, namely their e-mail addresses & names. As the messages get forwarded along, the list of addresses builds, and builds, and builds, and all it takes is for some poor sap to get a virus, and his or her computer can send that virus to every E-mail address that has come across his computer. Or, someone can take all of those addresses and sell them or send junk mail to them in the hopes that you will go to the site and he will make five cents for each hit. How do you stop it? Well, there are two easy steps:

(1) When you forward an e-mail, DELETE all of the other addresses that appear in the body of the message. That’s right, DELETE them . It only takes a second. You MUST click the “Forward” button first and then you will have full editing capabilities against the body and headers of the message.

(2) Whenever you send an e-mail to more than one person, do NOT use the To: or Cc: columns for adding e-mail address.

Always use the BCC: (blind carbon copy) column for listing the e-mail addresses. This is the way that people you send to only see their own e-mail address. If you don’t see your BCC: option click on where it says To: and your address list will appear. Highlight the address and choose BCC: and that’s it, it’s that easy. When you send to BCC: your message will automatically say “Undisclosed Recipients” in the “TO:” field of the people who receive it.

Have you ever gotten an email that is a petition? It states a position and asks you to add your name and address and to forward it to 10 or 15 people or your entire address book. The email can be forwarded on and on and can collect thousands of names and email addresses. A FACT: The completed petition is actually worth a couple of bucks to a professional spammer because of the wealth of valid names and email addresses contained therein. If you want to support the petition, send it as your own personal letter to the intended recipient. Your position may carry more weight as a personal letter than a laundry listname and email address on a petition.

So please, in the future, let’s stop the junk mail and the viruses.

Finally, here’s an idea!!! Let’s send this to everyone we know (but strip my address off first). This is something that SHOULD be forwarded.

Hope you find the above info useful and helpful and let’s stamp out spam!!

Help with websites and paperwork

I had a phone call recently from a lady wishing to set up her own website.  I do not build websites but am able to advise on them, and have a lot of expertise in getting websites seen by Google, and increasing their efficiency.
 I  have a wonderful website designer who works alongside me.  His name is Bob Jones and I recommend him highly.
Bob and this lady built a website together using Google's new free hosting and design service, and you may well be interested in her services, and take a look at her website

HELP FOR OLDER PEOPLE WITH PAPERWORK!
http://www.catherine-nile.co.uk/

Microsoft Scammers

Warning!  Several of my students have had calls from people claiming to be from Microsoft saying that there are 200 threats on their computer and hoping/trying to get hold of their bank account to rectify the problem.  Don't be taken in- it is a huge scam.
We had a call yesterday - but couldn't trace the caller.  I have contacted the local Neighbourhood watch co ordinator and asked her to pass on the information to all areas.
One student has been badly affected and can't believe in retrospect how she allowed herself to be taken in.  She has had to change her bank account and get new cards issued etc

NEW! Mrs PC news

Mrs PC now does gift vouchers! Do get in touch if you would like one for one lesson or a block of lessons. Fathers day is next weekend- it is the perfect present.

Save on the expense of a new computer!

Ten free ways to make an older computer run faster...

1. Defragment your files every few months or so

Go to Start>Programmes>Accessories>System tools>Disk defragmenter

and run it.

2. Delete unused programmes.

Start>Control Panel>Add or remove programmes-

it will tell you how often you have used them in the past to help you choose. Don’t delete any microsoft ones!

3. Download and run C cleaner- this will clear temporary files like internet files and other rubbish you accumulate- it is the best cleaner out there

get it by clicking on http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Alternatively go onto the internet and choose Tools on the top menu and depending on your browser there will be a selection to clear recent history- but this only cleans some of the rubbish out.

4. Empty your recycle bin.

Double click to open it and choose Empty the Recycle bin

5. Make sure you don’t have too many programmes opening up on start up

go to Start>Run> type in msconfig and hit enter. Uncheck any you don’t want to have on start up- they will still be available to you later on- then press ok

6. When browsing the internet - make sure you are using one version of your browser and use tabs to open other pages. Try not to have too many programmes open at once, or try not to make your computer do too many things at once to help your computer have enough space to operate.

7. Delete your email deleted items, sometimes called Trash.

8. Go through your documents and delete those you no longer need. Delete any photos that don’t make the grade when you upload them. Don’t just keep every photo. Be ruthless and get rid of any that are blurred or dark or don’t please you- you will free up space. Keep 15% free space on your hard drive so there is room for it to think.

10. Keep Windows up to date by installing the updates when prompted.

You should notice the difference! Don’t forget that it is possible to install more memory to help your computer a) store more information b) think faster.