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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, March 6, 2005
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Knowing What Info Interests Identity Thieves
Special Feature: Prevent Identity Theft
Tips & Tricks: Quick Minimize
Featured Computer Term: Computer Terms Dictionary
This Week's Topic: Fancy Mouse Pointers
Question: Forwarding Email Without All Those Addresses
Question: Remove Background Color from Icon Label
Question: The Right Mouse Button
Websites of Interest: Author Recommendations; Insects; What's For Dinner; Pirates
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Using Links
A Link is a reference to a website. In this newsletter you will see links to
many worthwhile, informative and fun websites. Here are the instructions on
how to use links:
A link will be used one of two ways, depending on your email program.
If you see the link in blue, underlined text, all you have to do is click on
it and a window with the Website in it will automatically appear on your
screen.
If you see the link in plain text, you can copy and paste it into the address
bar on your browser. Highlight the link with your mouse, click Edit up on
the menu bar, and then click Copy from the menu that you just opened up. Open
your browser (click the Start Button, point to Programs, click on Internet
Explorer); click on the address bar. Click Edit up on the menu bar, and then
click Paste from the menu that you just opened up. Press the Enter key on the
keyboard and this will take you to the Website.
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ATTENTION AMERICA ONLINE USERS
Don’t forget to check your SPAM folder each time you check your email. In their attempt to block junk email, AOL will frequently divert good email to your SPAM folder. Don’t miss an important email from someone you know!
To check your SPAM folder, sign on to AOL and click the mail icon (You’ve Got Mail). At the bottom of the window, you will see Spam Folder with a number next to it in parenthesis. If there is a number other than 0 in there, click on Spam Folder to review the emails that are in there. If you find an email that is not spam, click the This is Not Spam button. Click the Delete All to remove all the spam emails.
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Special Feature: Knowing What Info Interests Identity Thieves
The following article was adapted from Preventing Identity Theft For Dummies. Available online at:
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-2581.html
We live in a numbers society: phone numbers, personal identification numbers (PIN), driver's license numbers, credit card numbers, date of birth (DOB), Social Security numbers, bank account and 401K numbers . . . you get the idea. As the lyrics of the song "Secret Agent Man" tell us, "They have given you a number and taken away your name." Also, employee and medical record numbers and other tidbits of information are used to identify us as persons today, and that fact gives meaning to the term personal identification information, because all these numbers are like keys to your identity on the phone, online, or in writing.
Here's a look at the kinds of personal information that identity thieves find delightful — and critical to their schemes to impersonate you:
Social Security number (SSN): This is, of course, the nine-digit personal identification number (compliments of the federal government) that everyone needs to get a job, pay taxes, and apply for credit. The SSN is like the key to the kingdom — your financial kingdom, that is. The identity thief uses your SSN to apply for credit, file false tax returns, get a job, open bank accounts, and so on.
Date of birth (DOB): A DOB is a piece of the personal information puzzle, but if an identity thief has this piece by itself, it's not a problem. When the thief uses your DOB in conjunction with your SSN, he or she can become you.
Mother's maiden name: This name is used to verify your identity when accessing financial information. Identity thieves use your mother's maiden name to verify their identity as being yours in order to access your financial records and open new accounts in your name.
Personal identification numbers (PINs): Usually a five or more digit number used to access your bank accounts when using your ATM card.
Passwords: Your passwords are the keys to any information stored electronically. When the identity thief has your password, he or she has access to the information you are trying to protect and uses the passwords to access the information, such as bank accounts, online bill paying services, and so on.
Driver's license number: The number used to identify you is printed on your license. When the identity thief has your driver's license number, he or she can have a phony license made that shows your name and driver's license number with the thief's picture.
By using your personal information, identity thieves can party hardy on your nickel and good credit reputation. They spend like there's no tomorrow because they know that someone else (you) is picking up the tab. Identity thieves can use your personal information to open accounts, such as a cellular phone account, in your name. Of course, they don't pay the bills and continue to use the phone until you discover the theft and the heat is on; then they drop that account and move on to another unsuspecting victim.
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Special Feature: Prevent Identity Theft
The following article was adapted from the Federal Trade Commission Report: Protecting Against Identity Theft - How Can I Prevent Identity Theft From Happening To Me? Available at
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/protect_againstidt.html#5
As with any crime, you can't guarantee that you will never be a victim, but you can minimize your risk. By managing your personal information widely, cautiously and with an awareness of the issue, you can help guard against identity theft.
Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you've initiated the contact or are sure you know who you're dealing with. Identity thieves may pose as representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs) and even government agencies to get you to reveal your SSN, mother's maiden name, account numbers, and other identifying information.
Don't carry your SSN card; leave it in a secure place.
Secure personal information in your home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help or are having service work done in your home.
Guard your mail and trash from theft. Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection boxes or at your local post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox.
To thwart an identity thief who may pick through your trash or recycling bins to capture your personal information, tear or shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.
Carry only the identification information and the number of credit and debit cards that you'll actually need.
Place passwords on your credit card, bank and phone accounts.
Ask about information security procedures in your workplace or at businesses, doctor's offices or other institutions that collect personally identifying information from you.
Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers when possible.
Pay attention to your billing cycles. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time.
Be wary of promotional scams. Identity thieves may use phony offers to get you to give them your personal information.
Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work.
Cancel all unused credit accounts.
When ordering new checks, pick them up at the bank, rather than having them sent to your home mailbox.
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Tips & Tricks: Quick Minimize
To minimize a window quickly, hold down the Alt key and then press the space bar. Let go of those and then press the n key. The window will be minimized.
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Featured Computer Term: Computer Terms Dictionary
If you see a computer term that you would like a definition of, you can get one at our Computer Dictionary on our website.
http://www.stsico.com/html/dictionary.html
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: Fancy Mouse Pointers
My grandchildren have mouse pointers that are little dinosaurs, musical instruments—all sorts of things. How do you do that?
Answer:
Windows XP offers a large choice of different mouse pointer schemes. Many of them are just for fun – dinosaurs, cartoons, etc., but there are some very useful ones, especially for people with visual impairments or who just have difficulty seeing the screen. You can make your pointers larger or change the color or outline.
Click Start and open Control Panel.
Click Appearance and Themes under Pick a Category. If you are using Classic View, click Mouse.
Click Mouse Pointers.
In the Mouse Properties window, Click the Pointers tab. You will see options under Scheme — click on the drop-down arrow to look at the different ones available. When you click on a Scheme, you can see a preview of what the pointer will look like in the Customize area of the window.
Once you decide on a Scheme, click OK.
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Question: Forwarding Email Without All Those Addresses
How can I forward an email and remove all of the addresses that the email was previously forwarded to?
Answer:
Visit our website for instructions:
http://stsico.com/html/forwardemail.html
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Question: Remove Background Color from Icon Label
The icons on my desktop have a solid color behind the names which block the nice picture I use for my wallpaper. Is there a way to remove this?
Answer:
Yes, there is.
Right-click in the My Computer icon. From the resulting menu, left click on Properties. You will now see the Systems Properties window.
Click the Advanced tab. In the Performance section, click the Settings button. You will now see the Performance Options window.
In the Visual tab, click the circle next to Custom. Below that you will see a list of check boxes. Click to remove the check mark next to the one that says Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop.
Click the OK button.
The icon labels should now be clear.
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Question: The Right Mouse Button
What purpose does the right button on the mouse serve?
Answer:
Visit our website for information on the right mouse button:
http://stsico.com/html/rightmouse.html
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Websites of Interest:
Author Recommendations
Have you read everything by your favorite author? Type in three names of authors you enjoy, click Continue and this website will give you the name of an author that it thinks you may enjoy. Click Related Writers for more suggestions.
http://www.gnooks.com/trip.php
Insects
Take a look at this website for amazing graphics and information on insects and the roles they play in our lives.
http://www.insects.org/
What's For Dinner
At this website, you will find a recipe for a different meal every day, and you get the shopping list for what you need to make it.
http://www.whatsfordinner.net
Pirates
Visit this website and click History to learn all about the origin of Pirates, notable ones and much more.
http://www.piratesoul.com/ |
