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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, October 4, 2009
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Spot a Work at Home Scam
Featured Computer Term: Windows Vista Flip
This Week's Topic: Top 24 People Search Sites and Email Address Directories
Question: Navigate the Start Menu with the Keyboard
Websites of Interest: Eggless Cooking; Motor Mouths; SkinDeep; Repayment Calculator
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Special Feature: Spot a Work at Home Scam
The following aricle is by Laureen Miles Brunelli of About.com
http://workathomemoms.about.com/bio/Laureen-Miles-Brunelli-48181.htm
The first rule in spotting work-at-home scams is keeping in mind that old adage: If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
When you find an opportunity for working at home through an email, a website, print publication, TV, postal mail or even a friend, check it out. Do research before you send money. These websites can help.
* Better Business Bureau
* USPS Fraud Inspection Service
* Federal Trade Commission
And then use just good old common sense while keeping in mind some of these tricks that Internet con artists commonly use. Typically, anything that advertises as being a "legitimate" work at home job is anything but.
What to Look For
Be wary of Internet business start up opportunities or anything that requires you to pay money, which also includes some websites that claim to put you in touch with employers who hire for work-at-home jobs.
* Unusable Contact Information
Scroll right to the bottom of a site. Most legitimate companies have links to real contact information and sometimes their address and phone number at the bottom. Scams, on the other hand, only try to look as if they are reachable. Often, the only contact information is email form where you type in your information and it supposedly relays it to the company. There is no way of knowing who, if anyone, receives these emails, but now they have your address, but you don't have theirs.
If there is an email address, what kind is it? If it is gmail, yahoo, hotmail or other free email accounts, be wary. Legitimate companies usually have their own domain. Though, having a domain is certainly no guarantee of legitimacy.
* Sponsored Links or Google Ads
Paid advertising links promoting work-at-home jobs or businesses are rarely legitimate. These links can be found in the top shaded boxes or right columns labeled "Sponsored Links" or "Sponsored Results" in search engine results from Google, Yahoo, Ask.com, Dogpile and others.
Also look out for Google Ads on otherwise legitimate websites, like this one. These ads are placed on pages based on keywords found in the text. Because I am writing about "work-at-home jobs," ads targeting those keyword are likely to be placed on the page in the section labeled "Sponsored Links."
Legitimate employers looking for potential workers usually take a more targeted approach than paying for an ad that reaches thousands of people who simply did an Internet search. But scams must cast a wide net to find prey.
* Don't Be Fooled by .org Domains
Anyone can get a .org domain; there is no requirement to prove non-profit status. Don't assume a website with a .org domain is a non-profit. Some of these .org websites purport to do consumer reviews of work-at-home sites. If an organization is a non-profit, then it will likely state that somewhere on its site. If it does not, then you must assume it is a for-profit site.
* No Details
If the main point of the website or ad is that you can telecommute or work from home, but it's light on details of what exactly you would be doing, be suspicious. Legitimate telecommuting job ads usually will first advertise the line of work and then mention that telecommuting is possible.
* The "Don't-Be-Scammed" Scam
Often websites that use the .org domain (as well as others with different domains) will claim to show you the few legitimate work-at-home jobs out there. Either they are trying to sell you a book or DVD, which is likely to be of questionable value if it arrives at all, or their sole purpose is to point you toward their own scams. They say they've reviewed dozens of work-at-home opportunities and only found two that they recommend. Of course, there are links to these two, but if you evaluate these websites carefully, you'll see that all signs point toward scam.
* The Devil's in the Details
Read everything carefully. If it seems unclear exactly what you will receive or would be expected to do, that's probably no accident. Look for asterisks and disclaimers, though often these are added to make a web page look legitimate. Envelope-stuffing schemes are known for deeming work submitted as unacceptable quality and refusing to pay. The clause about how unacceptable work will be rejected is in the informational materials, but the definition of what is unacceptable is not.
* Emotional Sales Pitches
This is really where you need to use your own common sense. When websites use an emotional sales pitch (often with a voiceover on the webpage), saying "You deserve this" or showing the fabulous cars and homes of its success stories, be very suspicious.
Really, if their product or opportunity is that great, why must they try to convince you with such an off-topic plea? What you want to hear are details about the opportunity they are presenting … not a rags-to-riches fairy tale.
* High Pressure Tactics: "The Next 23 People to Click…"
Or "Free Today Only!" What's the hurry? They are counting on you to make a quick decision to fork over your money. A measured look at their site might reveal suspicious information.
* As Seen On…
Some sites will tout mentions in well-known publications, like the USA Today or The New York Times, but then do not provide links. You've got to wonder why they decline to offer proof. If no link is provided, then I assume they are either lying or the coverage was unfavorable. Sometimes they will say well-known companies like Coca-Cola use their services. Their hope is that by simply associating themselves with a trusted brand they will appear more trustworthy.
* "Christian" Business Opportunities
Simply because a business says it is "Christian" is no reason to believe it is. Con artists are not above using religion to sell their snake oil. As with the "As Seen On…" scam, they are just trying to associate themselves with something trustworthy. Along these same lines are sites that pepper their web pages with Bible quotes.
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Featured Computer Term: Windows Vista Flip
In previous versions of Windows, holding down the Alt key on the keyboard and then pressing and releasing the Tab key would open a window that listed each currently open program. You could click on the program you wanted, bringing it to the front of all the other open windows.
In Windows Vista, the same keystrokes will display thumbnails (small pictures) of the currently open windows and the Desktop. To select the program you want, either click on the thumbnail with the mouse, or hold down the Alt key and keep pressing the Tab key until the program you want is highlighted. Select the Desktop and all windows will be minimized.
Windows Flip 3D is a similar feature and possibly more useful, since it displays a much larger picture of each open window. To use it, hold down the Windows Logo key (this has the Windows flag on it; usually located on the bottom left of the keyboard between the Ctrl and Alt keys). Press and release the Tab key. This displays all the open windows in a 3-dimensional stack. To select the program you want, either click on the window with the mouse, or, with the Windows Logo key held down, press the Tab key until the window you want is at the front of the stack.
Windows Flip and Flip 3D are very helpful features of Windows Vista, useful for anyone who works with many open windows, or even just to quickly view the Desktop.
Is there a computer term or phrase that you'd like to see an explanation of? Email it to info@computerkindergarten.com and we'll put the term and its definition in an upcoming newsletter.
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Today's Topic: Top 24 People Search Sites and Email Address Directories
Question: I have been trying to locate some old friends with whom I have lost touch over the years. Can you tell me how to use the Internet for this?
Answer:
Here is a great article with lots of resources to help you in your search:
The following article is by Heinz Tschabitscher of About.com
http://email.about.com/bio/Heinz-Tschabitscher-1215.htm
Searching for people online? Looking for an email address? Look closer and find friends old and new as well as business contacts with these email address directories and people search engines.
Here are your 24 best bets.
* All email address directories
* How to find anybody's email address
1. Pipl People Search - Free People Search Site
In real time, Pipl scours databases and directories such as ICQ, Amazon profiles, flickr or SEC records to find information and people web search engines do not see.
http://www.pipl.com/
2. Wink People Search - Free People Search Site
Wink aggregates from both social networking sites and the web to find people's web presences — including ways to send them an email.
http://wink.com/people-search
3. Intelius People Search - People Search Site
Accessing various public records, Intelius provides comprehensive email address search for the U.S. and can reveal the person behind an email address, too.
https://www.intelius.com/email-search-name.html
4. LinkedIn People Search - Free People Search Site
LinkedIn worldwide network of professionals can be searched by name, industry, company, region and more. Of course, LinkedIn offers means to get in touch.
http://www.linkedin.com/
5. Spock - Free People Search Site
Spock finds people not only by name and location but also by tags and, well, just about anything related to them.
http://www.spock.com/
6. LexisNexis Public Records - People Search Service
For serious research: LexisNexis's public records and private database search covers hundreds of millions of people and businesses.
http://law.lexisnexis.com/public-records
7. my.email.address.is - Free People Search Site
My.email.address.is is a meta search engine for email addresses (and not just for mine). It scans the most popular email address directories including Yahoo! and AOL.
http://my.email.address.is/
8. yasni - Free People Search Site
yasni scours social networks, the web, blogs, Amazon wishlists and its own records for whomever you seek. If your search is fruitless, you can swiftly create a missing person ad.
http://www.yasni.com/
9. FreshAddress.com - Free People Search Site
FreshAddress.com links old and new email addresses, but its always up to date database can also be searched for other criteria.
http://www.freshaddress.com/find/
10. 123people.com - Free People Search Site
With most comprehensive coverage in German-speaking Europe but working worldwide, 123people.com scours the web, phone books, people directories and social networking sites for people and their addresses.
http://www.123people.com/
11. MyLife - Free People Search Site
Hand MyLife a name and approximate age, and it will often find the person you seek. After registering, you can see their details, too.
http://www.mylife.com/
12. MySpace.com Find a Friend - Free People Search Site
The space to meet friends on the web is heavily populated. The chances are good you will find and be able to contact lost friends through MySpace.com.
http://www.myspace.com/
13. Facebook Friend Finder - Free People Search Site
You can find everybody on Facebook by college, company, school or name.
http://www.facebook.com/find-friends/
14. Plaxo Pulse Search - Free People Search Site
After becoming a Plaxo member yourself, you can search — and contact — others in their directory.
https://www.plaxo.com
15. Email Finder Reverse Email Lookup - People Search Site
Email Finder finds more than email addresses. It looks up the person behind an email address, in fact, with a detailed profile — for members only.
http://www.emailfinder.com/
16. Reunion.com People Search - Free People Search Site
After registering yourself (which puts you in the directory), Reunion.com turns up comprehensive results that get you back in touch with people you knew. You can also search by school, for example, and find out who's looking for you.
http://www.reunion.com/people-search
17. Yahoo! People Search - Free People Search Site
Find people in Yahoo's large directory of email addresses based on name, location, old email address (!) or organization name...
http://people.yahoo.com/
18. XING - Free People Search Site
Popular in Europe, XING helps you find and connect to businesses and their people.
http://www.xing.com/
19. ICQ White Pages - Free People Search Site
Search the directory of ICQ users with numerous criteria to find old and new friends, and their email addresses.
http://www.icq.com/people/?advanced=1
20. MyFreeEmailSearch - Free People Search Site
MyFreeEmailSearch aggregates results from other people search engines as well as the web and public databases to find whomever you seek.
http://www.myfreeemailsearch.com/
21. PeekYou People Search - Free People Search Site
You can search PeekYou's profiles for people (and a way to contact them) by name, company or school.
http://www.peekyou.com/
22. ZoomInfo.com People Search - Free People Search Site
Finding names on the web and connecting the dots with artificial intelligence and natural language interpretation, ZoomInfo.com has assembled a great profile for just about anybody on the net. It does not have email addresses or ways to contact for everybody, though.
http://www.zoominfo.com/
23. yoName - Free People Search Site
yoName will scour social networking sites and blogs for the name, user name or email address you seek — and return somewhat random but potentially useful results.
http://www.yoname.com/
24. Search the Usenet Addresses Database - Free People Search Site
If you know the person you are looking for has been online for some time, you can try searching this database of people who posted to Usenet from 1991 to 1996.
http://usenet-addresses.mit.edu/
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Question: Navigate the Start Menu with the Keyboard
I have arthritis and sometimes have much trouble using the mouse. I use some keyboard shortcuts that I have found in this newsletter which are very helpful. Do you have any shortcuts for using the menu? I would like to be able to open programs in the menu without using the mouse.
Answer:
You can use the keyboard to maneuver through the Start menu and open programs. Here are the steps:
Press the Windows Logo key on the keyboard. This key is usually found on the bottom row, two or three keys to the left of the spacebar. It has the same design on it as the Start button.
Press the up arrow key once to highlight All Programs.
Press the right arrow key to open All Programs.
Use the up and down arrow keys to navigate through the programs list.
To open a submenu, press the right arrow key. Press the left arrow key to close a submenu.
Highlight the program you want to open and press the Enter key on the keyboard.
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Websites of Interest:
Eggless Cooking
If you are watching your cholesterol, take a look at the egg free baking recipes on this website.
http://www.egglesscooking.com/
Motor Mouths
Which new cars get the best reviews.
http://motormouths.com/
SkinDeep
This site lists safety information for over 40,000 cosmetics and personal care products.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Repayment Calculator
From the United States Federal Reserve, here is a tool to help you calculate how long it will take to pay off your credit card.
http://www.federalreserve.gov/creditcardcalculator/Default.aspx