GREATER BOSTON SENIOR COMPUTER GROUP NEWSLETTER
Issue No.58, September 8, 2004
CHAIRPERSON:: Arline Ekman, AVE@alumni.unh.edu
EDITOR: Harriet Mandell, harrietd@rcn.com
WEB PAGE: Garry Ziffer, http://users.rcn.com/gbscg
LIAISON: Eve Welts, ewelts@rcn.com
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PRACTICE SAFE INTERNET… Adjust your Web browser's security settings to determine how much—or how little—information you are willing to accept from a Web site. The higher the security level, the lower the risk. Using the highest security levels may make Web sites less usable. When you first install Internet Explorer, it classifies all Web sites into a single zone (the Internet zone) and assigns everything medium level security. When you are using this level of security, Internet Explorer should ask you to confirm that you want to download a file, unless you have previously indicated that the Web site or publisher is trusted. If you change the security level to "low," Web sites will be able to download software to your computer without telling you. If you need to change the security level to low for some reason, change it back to medium or higher asap. When using the internet take time to protect your personal information. Be careful and deal with known resources and reject things that appear to be free from strangers. Statistics show that many people get deceptive software on their system from popular "free" music and movie file-sharing programs. When you install any program make sure you read the message on each window before you click "Agree" or "OK." Carefully read any license agreements or privacy statements associated with the software. If the window will not let you click "No" or "I do not accept", close the window by clicking on the "X" in the corner. Do not click "Yes" or "I accept" to get rid of the window.
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Having Said That…here are suggestions for freeware from Charlie Moir cmoir@rcn.com Antivirus AVG6 A frequently updated antivirus program which is free for home (noncommercial) use. It can be found at: www.grisoft.com Spyware: Adaware Find at www.lavasoftusa.com and try Spybot Search and Destroy: Find at www.safer-networking.org/en/download as well as Spyblaster: Find at www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html Video Player including MP4 Find at www.download.com/ and search for VLC Media Player 0.7.2 Alternative to RealPlayer called JetAudio. Find at: www.jetaudio.com
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Windows XP Service Pack 2 Or Not To… after reading reviews, the concensus of the BOD of the Group is not to update but to wait and see. Reports claim that some of your existing software may not work after the installation. Whenever there is an update of this type there is no rush, however, when there is an update from a virus protection program get it.
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Inventor Of The Internet To Speak… ,member, Matthew W. Slate wishes to make us aware of The Life Members Section Meeting of IEEE which will be addressed by Tim Berners-Lee who will tell all about the internet on Monday, September 27 at 4 p.m. at Lincoln Labs Auditorium, Hansom Field.The meeting is open to the public for details contact m.w.slate@ieee.org. Spyware vs. Cookies…Legitimate Web sites don't infect computers with spyware, but they do sometimes add tiny files to your computer called cookies. Cookies will remember information about you so that when you return to a Web site you won't have to enter everything again. However, The website that created the cookie is responsible for disclosing to you what is in the cookie and what the cookie is for. This is usually done in a privacy statement posted on the website. Read it!! Be suspicious of sites that do not disclose this information.
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Senior Moments with Word 2000, Volume 1 is a great beginner's guide that helps with Windows and Word offers Eve Welts. Written for Seniors, by Sharon J, Locke. It sells for $15. and can be downloaded in PDF format . It is an electronic book and can be found at http://www.realfastanswers.com/sm2000v1
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Help Available while using Microsoft Office try Office Users group for How To’s http://www.microsoft.com/office/community/en-us/default.mspx and Garry Ziffer suggests http://www.anniston.lib.al.us/computerinternettutorial.htm Computer / Internet Tutorials as well as http://www.refdesk.com/factbeg.html
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Another Safeguard from Eve Welts ewelts@rcn.com Internet Explorer has a nasty habit of allowing so-called Browser Helper Objects (or BHOs) to install themselves into IE. Some BHOs are helpful, like the Google Toolbar, but others (especially those planted by viruses or spyware) can be malicious and harmful. BHODemon gives you a quick look at the BHOs installed on your PC, tells you whether a specific BHO is known to be safe or harmful, and gives you the ability to enable or disable individual BHOs with a single mouse click. Find BHO demon at www.pcworld.com/downloads Operating System(s):Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows 9.x. Download by Internet Explorer 5 or later.
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Label And Dress Cables. Before you hook them up, consider tagging your cables by using either a label maker that prints on plastic tape or a set of cable ties with built-in labels. With long cables, label both ends to ease future changes and troubleshooting. Then use inexpensive cable ties and short runs of spiral wrap or split tubing to dress the cables behind your components
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New Sound System …the Boston Senior Computer Group contributed to a memorial fund established by the family and friends of Earle Barcus. A new sound system was donated to the Newton Senior Centre by the fund. We are all honored by this contribution and will benefit from its use at our meetings. The Computer Learning Center now bears his name.
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WANTED: URL's of web sites; Helpful hints for Mac users, Win 95/98/ME/XP. Software reviews, desired topics for future meetings. Send these items via email to the editor. Please sign your email with your name. We will publish your email address, but not your name, phone number or address without your permission