Some Computer Tips and Tricks

Tip #1: You can use copy and paste to copy things you want to save. You can use "Edit-Copy, Edit-Paste" or you can also use "Command-C, and Command-V" to copy and paste too. A clue for newbies: you know when you have successfully selected something when the background turns dark.

Tip #2: Back up your computer files using a backup system or a backup system online. Then if your computer goes down, you will have copies of your photos and important files just in case. You can get a free account at several places online, including My Other Drive at http://www.myotherdrive.com.

Tip #3: Home computers should always have a Firewall and Virus Program installed on them to protect from hackers, viruses, scams, and malware. You can check out home anti-virus programs and firewalls for free at these sites:

AVG Anti-Virus site, McAfee 30-day free trial, Norton/Symantec Free Trials, Kaspersky Free Trials, ZoneAlarm trial, MacWorld reviews Mac Firewalls, Noob-Proof for Mac (free).

Here are two more suggestions from the June 08 newsletter: http://www.clamwin.com and Comodo: http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Tip #4: Do not give out personal information online. Hackers try to get you to do that by sending "phishing" emails or links that actually look real.

Often, these emails (like "your account number has been hacked", or "your credit card has been stopped") are totally fake. Just say "no" to clicking on links - - - especially these.

Tip #5: You can report scam links for free at the SpamCop site: http://www.spamcop.net. You can also forward spammy or phishing emails to the "real" places using a spam@whatever.com or spoof@whatever.com address, or another one the real site recommends. (Putting the real website name where the word "whatever" is.)

Tip #5: Not sure whether an email is a true one? You can check out the latest scams and fake emails online by going to the Snopes Online site at http://www.snopes.com/.

More personal hints from Betsy

Keeping Organized

I like to put things away on my desktop into separate folders. I have some neat folder designs I found online that were free, which makes it kind of fun to use them. You can find things easier if they are filed this way. And having them on the desktop means you can see them and they don't get lost.

Every so often, I put all my files into a large online folder, which makes it easy to backup and a lot easier to find things. I have folder titles like photographs, BGAMUG, blogs and sites, business files, etc.

A portable laptop computer tip

I try not to fold and refold my computer up all the time. One of my computers got a bend in a wire by doing this, so I like to stay on the safe side. Of course, sometimes I HAVE to fold it up to transport it, but I just leave it open most of the time.

Send your tips in! Send your tips to WebMaster@bgamug.com.