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Welcome to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, March 29, 2009
In this Issue:
Special Feature: Email Spoofing
Tips & Tricks: Twenty Five Most Important Rules of Email Etiquette: 14. Use Acronyms Sparingly
Featured Computer Term: Customize, or Turn Off, the Windows Sidebar
This Week's Topic: Outlook Express Error Message
Question: Rename a File
Websites of Interest: Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online 1. Find Cheap Gas Using the Web; April Fool’s Day; Cat Care; Japanese Gardens
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Special Feature: Email Spoofing
The following article is from about.com
Email spoofing is about email fraud and deception. The word “spoof” means “falsified”. A spoofed email is when the sender purposely alters parts of the email to fraudulently appear as though someone else sent it. Commonly, the sender’s name/address and the body of the message are formatted to appear from a legitimate source, as though the email came from a bank or a newspaper or legitimate company on the Web. Sometimes, the spoofer will make the email appear to come from a private citizen somewhere.
The email spoofer is trying to “phish” your passwords and login names. Phishing is where the dishonest sender hopes to lure you into trusting the email. A false (spoofed) website will be waiting off to side, cleverly disguised to appear like a legitimate online bank website or paid Web service, like eBay. Far too often, victims will unwittingly believe the spoofed email and click to the false website. Trusting the spoofed website, the victim will enter his password and login identity, only to receive a false error message that “web site is unavailable”. During all of this, the dishonest spoofer will capture the victim’s confidential info, and proceed to withdraw the victim’s funds or perform dishonest transactions for monetary gain.
Dishonest users will alter different sections of an email so as to disguise the sender as being someone else. Examples of properties that are spoofed:
1. FROM name/address
2. REPLY-TO name/address
3. RETURN-PATH address
4. SOURCE IP address or “X-ORIGIN” address
These first three properties can be easily altered by using settings in your Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Hotmail, or other email software. The fourth property above, IP address, can also be altered, but usually requires more sophisticated user knowledge to make a false IP address convincing.
Like with any con game in life, your best defense is skepticism. If you don’t believe that the email is truthful, or that the sender is legitimate, then simply don’t click on the link or type your email address. If there is a file attachment, simply don’t open it, lest it contain a virus payload. If the email seems too good to be true, then it probably is, and your skepticism will save you from divulging your banking information.
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Tips & Tricks: Twenty Five Most Important Rules of Email Etiquette: 14. Use Acronyms Sparingly
This article is part of our ongoing series on Email Etiquette. With the help of Heinz Tschabitscher from about.com, we are taking an in depth look at email etiquette. To read previous editions of this series, please visit our newsletter archives:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/etiquette.html
The rules of email etiquette are not rules as much as they are guidelines that help avoid mistakes (like offending someone when you don't mean to) and misunderstandings (like being offended when you're not meant to).
These core rules of email etiquette help us communicate better via email.
Use Acronyms Sparingly
Acronyms are great! They are funny. They save time. They allow us to type less. And, best of all, they make us belong to those email users in the know.
This can be extremely annoying for those not belonging to this elitist group, however. Even for the members of the group it can be annoying.
To read previous editions of this series, please visit our newsletter archives:
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/etiquette.html
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Featured Computer Term: Customize, or Turn Off, the Windows Sidebar
If the Sidebar is not displayed:
* Click the Start Orb
* Click All Programs
* Click Accessories
* Click Windows Sidebar
You will now see the sidebar on the side of the desktop.
If the Sidebar is displayed and you would like to close it, right click a blank area on the Sidebar and choose Close Sidebar.
Follow these steps to customize the sidebar:
You can set up the sidebar to always be displayed on your screen, even in front of other programs.
* Right click on a blank spot on the sidebar and left click on Properties.
* Select the Sidebar Is Always on Top of Other Windows.
* Click OK.
If you decide you do not like the sidebar on top, follow the above steps and check Sidebar Is Always on Top of Other Windows to unselect it.
You can also move the sidebar to the other side of your screen. Access the Properties window, as described above, and select Right or Left. Click the OK button.
Visit our Newsletter Archives to read previous articles in this series:
The Windows Sidebar in Windows Vista
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/030809.html
Add Gadgets to the Sidebar in Windows Vista
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/031509.html
How to Use the Notes Gadget in Windows Vista
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/032209.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: Outlook Express Error Message
Question: I use Outlook Express for my email and recently I see a message every time I close the program. It says: To free up disk space, Outlook Express can compact your messages. This may take up to a few minutes. What does this mean?
Answer:
When you delete emails from the Inbox, and then delete them from Deleted items, they are not completely gone. They are still on your computer taking up space, stored in a folder that you do not see in your Outlook Express program.
When you allow Outlook Express to compact your messages, the deleted emails that are stored in that folder are removed. This opens up extra storage space. You should also see Outlook Express running faster when you open and close it.
While the computer is doing the compacting, things may slow down. You may want to do it when you are not going to be using your computer for a while.
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Question: Rename a File
How do I change the name of a file?
Answer:
Open Documents (or whatever folder where you saved the file). Right click on the file. A menu will open; left click Rename.
This will highlight the file name. Type the new name. The previous name will disappear and the new name will display. Press the Enter key when you are done typing.
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Websites of Interest:
Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online 1. Find Cheap Gas Using the Web
From Wendy Boswell of about.com
No matter what your financial situation may be, it is always a good idea to learn new ways to save money. Find out how you can utilize the power of the Web to save money, find good deals, and improve your financial status.
1. Find Cheap Gas Using the Web
With gas prices getting as high as they are, it's a good idea to do a bit of Web research first in order to find lower gas prices in your area. A couple of sites that can help with this:
* Gas Prices from MSN Auto: Simply type in your zip code and this nifty widget will come back with updated gas prices, along with gas stations and locations, around your area. This is updated every night.
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=97224&src=QL
* Gas Buddy: Click on your state, then click on your metro area, and you'll get a very long list (submitted by readers) of various gas stations and gas prices in your area.
http://www.gasbuddy.com/
* AAA Fuel Gauge Report: Includes both national and state averages and you can also calculate your fuel needed for a trip. Not so much a gas station finder as it is a fuel information site. Updated every day.
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
Tip: Some websites may require you to register to use their features. When you register at websites, you may be signing up for spam (junk mail) if the recipient sells email addresses to spammers. There is a way to avoid this and still be able to take advantage of the great things that site has to offer. Read our article, Minimizing Spam – Registering Online, at our newsletter archives, to learn how use websites without getting junk mail.
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/111608.html
Next Edition: Looking for a cheaper cell phone plan?
April Fools Day
Wednesday is April Fools Day. What is April Fools Day and how did it begin? See what this website has to say:
http://www.web-holidays.com/aprilfools/articles/a1.htm
Cat Care
Improve the health and lifestyle of your feline companion
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/
Japanese Gardens
At this site you can learn all about Japanese gardens.
http://learn.bowdoin.edu/japanesegardens/
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