Prime Insight Consulting Blog

Making the Most of your Keyboard

Pete Miller — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:34:25 GMT

The mouse is a great tool for navigating your computer. However, sometimes it is faster to use the keyboard. The integrated touchpads on laptops can also slow you down sometimes. Here are some great tips to help you make the most of your keyboard.

The Basics:

Most of the keyboard shortcuts below are used by hitting a combination of keys. The first key listed is pressed and held and then the second key is pressed so that BOTH are being held at once. Then both can be released at the same time.

Everyone should know Cut/Copy/Paste and Undo. These are the bread and butter of every day keyboarding.

Ctrl-C = Copy

Ctrl-X = Cut

Ctrl-V = Paste

Ctrl-Z = Undo

You can easily highlight a block of text in a web browser, Word document, even a .PDF file and hold the Control (Ctrl) key on the keyboard then also press the ‘C’ key to copy all of the text into the clipboard so you can paste it into an eMail, Spreadsheet, Word document or Microsoft OneNote (for example) by simply opening the desired application, putting the cursor where you want it to end up and pressing Ctrl-V to paste.

This works with whole files and folders too. So if you want to move (cut) files or copy them to a different folder, you can select the files, press Ctrl-X, navigate to the target folder and use Ctrl-V to paste. (Be VERY careful moving files around, it is MUCH safer to copy to a new location, verify that the file is where you want it to be, and then delete it from the original location.)

The Undo command is very useful for a variety of tasks. It can undo a move or a copy of a file. It can sometimes undelete a file you have accidently deleted. It can put things back when you have accidently renamed a file. It can step you back through changes you have made in a Word document (even undoing typing that you have entered.) Whenever you make a mistake, try Ctrl-Z, you might be surprised at its effectiveness.

Windows Navigation:

Windows Navigation will rely heavily on the "Windows Key." Here is a photo to show what we are referring to:

You can quickly open the start menu by pressing the Windows key or by pressing Ctrl-Esc. (Once open, the arrow keys can move you around the menu, and enter is used to launch a program.)

Alt-Tab is the fast task switcher. It allows you to switch between running applications. In Windows Vista and Windows 7 you can use the Windows Key-Tab to get a more visual interface for task swapping. Although, Alt-Tab still works.

A few quick shortcuts, all used with the Windows key:

Windows Key – D will display the Desktop

Windows Key – M will minimize all open windows (Which is pretty similar to the previous one.)

Windows Key – E to open “My Computer”

Windows Key – F to search the computer (or “find” something.)

Windows Key – R to open the “Run” dialog to quickly launch something

Within most applications

The cut/copy/paste/undo commands from above will work in most applications.

But let’s add in Ctrl-A to Select All. It can save you the trouble when you want to copy everything to another location.

Here are a few more to add to your bag of tricks:

F1 is for Help

Ctrl-F is for Find. It will search the current page.
Ctrl-P is to Print
Ctrl-S is to quickly Save
Ctrl-B is to make text Bold

Ctrl-I is to make text Italic

Ctrl-U is to make text Underlined

(If you highlight text that is already Bold, Italic, and/or Underlined, pressing the appropriate command again will remove that attribute.)

There are many, many more keyboard shortcuts. This list is not meant to be comprehensive. I just wanted to get you started with the best, most useful keyboard shortcuts.

Password Security a Falicy!?

Pete Miller — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 01:32:00 GMT

I just read this article from the Boston Globe, and I am very disappointed! It claims that it costs more money to change passwords (and manage them when people forget) than is saves in fraud. This is ludicrous!

The article professes that changing passwords regularly is like changing the locks after your house has been broken into. First off, isn't that what you DO after your house has been broken into? In case they stole a key?
Either way, it's a horrible analogy. If someone has managed to figure out your password, they might be using it without your knowledge. Changing it regularly is the only way to protect yourself from this.

There is a section about how your time is better spent doing other things than managing your password. Your time IS valuable, and the article wants to make sure that the 1 minute a month you might spend changing your passwords on every possible site you know is worth it. They "calculated" a value of $16billion dollars spent for each minute of security prevention. The problem is, if your identity is stolen, you will lose FAR more than 1 minute resolving the issue. It will take you hours on the phone with your lenders and the credit bureaus to sort it all out. A comparison to the bank's costs for fraud is shown, but no mention of the time you would waste sorting it out. Identity theft can also ruin your credit. That could cost you thousands, and thousands of dollars in higher interest loans.

The cumulative costs of fraud may be low enough for the banks to absorb the costs, but what about the costs to the individual who is affected? That's YOU! Isn't it plausible to believe that the cost of fraud is relatively low due to the fact that the majority of people do follow good security practices, and that we are being effective in preventing fraud already? Weakening our defenses will increase fraud, and the author of that article cannot estimate by how much.

The article does not give great examples of things you should do to protect yourself. Fortunately, Prime Insight is here to offer the best suggestions.

First, a strong password is a MUST! This article from LifeHacker.com goes into depth about how and why a strong password is required, and even talks about what IS a strong password.

Second, patches, patches, patches. It is much easier these days to remain up to date with patches. Leave your computer configured to automatically install patches.

Third, a good anti-virus and anti-spyware package. Prime Insight has covered that already here.

Finally, the article mentions phishing scams. If you are not familiar with that term it refers to an email sent to you appearing to be from your bank or another financial provider. However, if you follow the link in the email, you are taken to a malicious site that mimics the bank's site. When you enter your user ID and password, they are stolen by the scammer.
The article talks about checking the URL and certificates, and that's the hard way. Here is the simple way: NEVER CLICK A LINK IN AN EMAIL FROM A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. It's just that simple. If I get an email from my bank, I close the email, open a browser and go to the bank's site by typing it in. That way, I can verify that I am at the correct site. It's an easy habit to get into, and a practice we strongly recommend.

Spyware, Adware, Viruses and Malware in 2010

Pete Miller — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:21:00 GMT

People talk about spyware and computer viruses all the time. What are they? Do I care? How do I stop them? This week Prime Insight is going to take a look at these for you, and offer some tips on how to keep your computer running in top form.

Malware Defined

When all is said and done, you can safely lump all kinds of things into the category of "malware." Malware simply refers to software written with some form of malicious intent. It isn't important to understand every aspect of various types of malware, or what each does. I'll offer a brief overview of some forms here, but feel free to skip to the next section if you just want to find out how to make it stop.

Virus -- A virus is written to exploit a security hole on your computer and replicate itself to other computers. Often times these do malicious things like corrupt your data. For an individual, viruses are one of the biggest threats.

Spyware -- Spyware, as the name implies, is designed to spy on you. It can be as simple as tracking your spending habits so companies can send better targeted ads at you, or it could be as bad as an ex-boyfriend trying to get access to your email. Spyware is often used for identity theft.

Adware -- Adware is a sub-category of spyware. It is specifically aimed at giving you advertisements tailored to your tastes and spending habits. Some people think of this as benign and, by definition, you had to agree to run it. However, less than scrupulous developers can easily turn adware into more aggressive spyware.

Worms -- Worms are similar to viruses. The distinction is irrelevant for the majority of people.

How do I GET infected with malware?

There are basically two common ways to get infected with malware. The first way is email. When you receive an email from an unknown sender, or even a friend who has been infected you need to be cautious. Any attachments, no matter how benign they may look, could be used to infect your computer.  The second most common way to become infected is browsing websites with malicious code on them. Or downloading software from sites with malware embedded in them. There is a third method, which is being randomly attacked by simply being connected to the Internet. This is not as common as most fear, but it is possible.

There is a general assumption that only pornographic websites spread malware. While these types of sites can, and often do, spread malware they are not the only ones. Be aware of any site, even if you visit it regularly. The biggest source of trouble are the advertisements on the sites. Often the ads are not 100% controlled by the site owner, and malware could be slipped in.

How do I prevent an infection?

This is where knowing about some of the various types of malware come into play. Since, different types of malware infect computers in different ways. However, I'll simplify it for you as much as possible.

1. Antivirus software. Some experts don't believe in antivirus software on their own computer since they can avoid viruses by controlling what they open. This is a fallacy and is hubris. I run antivirus software on ALL of my computers.

Prime Insight recommends the following antivirus software:
    Microsoft Security Essentials or
    Free AVG

2. Antispyware software. This works in a very similar way to antivirus software, but it is usually a separate piece of software. Microsoft has made Windows Defender available as a free download for XP. It was built into Windows Vista and is also available for Windows 7. However, antispyware is also bundled into Microsoft Security Essentials referenced above.

3. Firewall -- A firewall is a fancy term for something that blocks unwanted communication. Usually the hardware used for your Internet connection will have a built-in firewall. That is good, but is not sufficient. In 2010, it is important to run a firewall software on every single computer on your network also. This will help protect you from being infected if another computer in your office or home is ever infected. Windows XP Service Pack 3 and up have all included a built in firewall. It is enabled by default, and should be left that way.

4. Patches -- Over time exploits are discovered in every operating system. Security patches are written to fix the exploit and prevent attacks. Windows Update is configured, by default, to check for updates and apply them as needed. I recommend you leave Windows Update on and let it automatically apply the latest critical security patches. When updates like service packs or a new version of Internet Explorer are released, those should be applied with caution, and after testing their effect. However, critical security updates should be applied as soon as possible.

5. Careful Browsing -- Do not trust pop-up ads. If you are browsing a site, and a pop-up reports that it has detected a problem or a vulnerability with your computer do NOT click it. Do not click anywhere inside it, find the red X to the FAR most upper right corner and close it. Scare tactics are used to attack you. Replicating very familiar looking dialog boxes are meant to fool you. When you see a pop-up, even if it seems like a waste of time, read it. Then think about it: Is this your antivirus software giving you a warning? Or a cleverly disguised pop-up? If it's a cleverly disguised pop-up, it is almost guaranteed to be malicious. Don't open unsolicited email from people you don't know. Just delete it.

Optional: Run a different web browser -- There is a concern that Internet Explorer is not secure. It is the most commonly used browser, so most exploits are written to attack it, since the user base is extensive. Despite this, it is a very secure browser, and there is no need to switch from it. However, if you do use a different browser, here are a few tips:
    Firefox -- This is often thought of as the best alternative to IE for security reasons. The truth is that Firefox is the most vulnerable browser available. However, one way that Firefox can benefit you from a security standpoint is to block ads and pop-ups with available plug-ins for Firefox. Since this is the root of a majority of malware, it can help fight it that way.
    Opera, Safari, Chrome -- The install base of these browsers is small, and so most malware is not written to exploit their vulnerabilities.

If one is good, more must be better

This is not always true, and when it comes to antimalware, this is the case. Do not install more than one antivirus, antispyware and firewall. (one of EACH, only.)

Windows comes with a built-in firewall and Microsoft Security Essentials is free antivirus and antispyware. Add in regular updates of critical security patches and careful browsing and email use, and this is the combination I recommend to keep yourself safe in 2010.

What's new with the Windows 7 taskbar?

Pete Miller — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:21:00 GMT

The Windows 7 taskbar is one of the most noticeable changes from previous versions of Windows. This week Prime Insight is going to take you through the new functionality so you can get the most out of it.

Pinning Applications to the Taskbar

In previous versions of Windows there was a “Quick Launch” area of the taskbar. By default it was just to the right of the Start button, and housed icons you could use to quickly launch your favorite applications. This is gone from Windows 7. Where did it go?

To answer that, I’d like to point out an issue people had with the previous taskbar. When you launched an application it would put an icon on the taskbar that represented that running application. When you launch a second application, it would put a second icon next to the first, and so on. The first application you launched would be all the way to the left. For many people, this was their email client. Then maybe Internet Explorer, and then perhaps a Word document. Everyday, you launch these three applications, in the same order. However, one day you have to open the Word document first. Then Internet Explorer then Outlook for your email. This rearranges your icons and is a little disconcerting for the day.

What Microsoft has done with Windows 7 is to allow you to “pin’ your most common applications to the taskbar, where you want them to be. Then when you launch them (no matter what order your launch them in, they are accessible in the same place they always are. If you forgot to launch Internet Explorer this morning, the same action you would take to switch to it (click on it’s icon on the taskbar) launches it. This is very intuitive and easy to get used to. It replaces the Quick Launch area, and solves the problem with “shuffled” icons.

To pin an application, simply right click on a running application and choose to “Pin this app to the taskbar.” Then even when you close the application, the icon stays.

Notice that the icon does subtly change to indicate that it is running. There is a very faint shading around the icon. When there are multiple windows open for the same application, there is a line down the side of the icon to indicate that there are “stacked” windows present.

Jumplists

Jumplists are a new feature implemented with Windows 7. The idea is to try to give you the most useful tools, within any application, right at your fingertips.

Jumplists are accessed by right-clicking on any icon in your task bar. When you do that the context sensitive jumplist opens giving you access to recently opened documents or websites. More and more integration with jumplists are planned with Office 2010 for example the ability to compose a new email, or to print a Word document.

You can pin your favorite websites to your Internet Explorer icon for easy access to them:

You can pin your most frequently used documents or templates to the jumplist.

You do this by opening the document or website, then access the jumplist for that application by right clicking on the icon. When you move your mouse over the name of the open document you will see a push pin appear. Clicking on it once will pin that document to the jumplist.

This also works with Windows Explorer. By pinning your most frequently used folders to the Windows Explorer jumplist it gives you easy access to where you store your data.

You can even pin a Library to a jumplist. (If you’ve forgotten about Libraries, check out our coverage here)

You can even pin icons to the Start Menu. So explore the taskbar in Windows 7. If you have a tip for using the taskbar, please tell us about it in the comment area.

2009 Computer Shopping Guide

Pete Miller — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:03:00 GMT

With the holiday season in full-swing, it’s a good time to think about new computers. Are you confused about what you might need or want? Let Prime Insight help you decide what’s best for your needs.

The best place to start when shopping for a new computer is budget. Deciding your budget first, will help you figure out what you need. While there are many features you may want, if they don’t fit into your budget identifying them now can help you decide later.

Next you need to decide on the form factor of the computer you want. Do you need portability? If so, then a laptop is in your future. If not, you can get a MUCH more powerful computer, with expandability and upgradeability for less money in the form of a desktop.

You may also be wondering about Mac vs. PC. This particular topic is beyond the scope of this article. Some of the information contained below applies to both Mac and PC, but is written assuming you are shopping for a PC.

Ok, so now you have decided on a PC in either a laptop or desktop configuration and you have a budget in mind. Let’s start looking through the LONG list of specs and options. I know it’s daunting, but if we take them one at a time, it’s very easy to decide what you need.

Processor

One of the first items you will look at will be the processor. This is the brain of the computer, and it does most of the processing. It’s a complex topic all on its own, and that’s why it’s a great place to start. There are two main brands of processor. AMD and Intel. Both are very good, and will serve your needs well. The difference between them is a highly technical issue. Each has different “families” of processor. The families are broken out by features and power. Let’s focus on Intel’s brands:

Atom: This is a low-power processor. This is designed for phones and netbooks (netbooks are very low-end laptops, typically with a very small form factor. They are suitable for web browsing and light PC use like word processing and email.)

Celeron: This is an inexpensive processor for the budget minded.

Core 2: This comes as either Core 2 duo or Core 2 quad. With the quad being more powerful than the duo. These are some of the most power processors ever made and are a great choice for all computing needs.

Core i5/i7: This is the newest technology available from Intel. The Core i5 is replacing the Celeron line, and the Core i7 is replacing the Core 2 line of processors. Availability of computers based on these processors is still limited, but should become very common soon. These processors are FAST and powerful. If you want the best possible performance, you want a Core i7.

Architecture

Currently there is a transition between 32bit and 64bit operating systems. Windows Vista and Windows 7 are both available in 32bit and 64bit versions. Without getting too technical, 64bit allows for using more memory than 32bit. With 32bit, you are limited to 4GB of RAM, of that really only about 3.3GB would be used. With 64bit, the memory is expandable to over 1,000GB of RAM. Not something you’ll reach anytime soon. There might still be some compatibility issues with older software and hardware on 64bit operating systems though. However, updating the software and hardware should resolve the issues.

Memory

Generally speaking, more memory is better. It is used for running more applications at once. Not having enough memory can cause poor performance, but having excessive memory doesn’t provide any benefit. So plan accordingly. I recommend a bare minimum of 2GB of RAM. 4GB is suitable for most every application you would run regularly. More RAM would only be needed for virtualization, or very high end video rendering.

Network

With a desktop computer, this is easy. A wired connection is the fastest, most reliable way to connect to a network. With a laptop, or a desktop without a wired connection available, you need to focus on wireless technologies. We’ve covered the various options here and here already. The bottom line is that if you are buying a new machine now, 802.11n wireless is the way to go right now.

Monitor

Many computers are sold bundled with a monitor. If you do not yet have a widescreen LCD monitor, this is a good time to adopt the technology. It gives you more space to display information and applications than with a non-widescreen monitor. It also gives you an opportunity to watch movies on the computer. When shopping for a monitor, look for response time, 5ms or less is desired.

Video

This is a different category than the monitor. It refers to the actual card or chipset that drives the monitor. With more economical computers, the graphics are integrated into the motherboard. This is inexpensive, low-power and effective for most tasks, even watching videos. A separate (or discreet) video card is needed for high-end gaming. Also the processor built into a discreet video card (Graphics Processor Unit or GPU) can be used to help power some intensive processing applications, like video rendering as part of a video editing project.

Hard Drive

Generally more hard drive space is desirable. However, it is easy to overspend here. Music, photos, and videos will take up the most space. If you are using the machine strictly for business, you will not need a large hard drive. 160GB is more than enough for most situations. Storing lots of videos can easily push the requirement up beyond the 1TB (1,000G range. Don’t forget to backup all that data somehow.

Optical

Floppy drives have been gone for a long time. CDs DVDs and Blu-Ray disks (BD) have replaced them. Being able to write to a DVD or a CD is now critical. Being able to read BD will become critical soon. Software will start shipping on BD in the next year or two. Being able to watch HD movies on the computer is another use for BD. Writing to BD is still fairly expensive. The costs are set to start coming down over the next 6mos to a year though. So you may avoid spending the money for BD writing drives now, but plan for upgrading down the road.

If you have other suggestions for our readers, please include them in the comments section below.

How to get to Windows 7

Pete Miller — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Whether you get a new computer, or upgrade an existing one, getting your data and settings just the way you like them is time consuming and difficult. Windows 7 has some tools to help you with the transition.

With Windows XP, Microsoft introduced a wizard to help migrate your settings and data from an older computer to Windows XP. That tool was greatly enhanced before being included with Windows Vista. The current version has been enhanced one more time, and is compatible with Windows 7.

The tool is called the Windows Easy Transfer wizard, and I am going to help you use it effectively and easily.

There are two basic scenarios where this tool is used. One is when you buy a new computer that has come preloaded with Windows 7 and you want the look and feel to be as close to your old computer as possible. Of course, you need your data on the new computer too. The other scenario is when you plan to upgrade your existing computer to Windows 7. The Windows Easy Transfer wizard can help with all of these issues.

Let's look at a new computer first.

You install the Windows Easy Transfer transfer wizard on your old computer and run it.
You are prompted to tell the software how you plan to transfer data between the two computers. You can connect them with a special Easy Transfer USB cable, or over a network. However, often the easiest way is to use an external hard drive. You connect a USB hard drive and point the wizard to use that drive and it will copy all of your data, settings, email configuration, desktop background, Internet favorites and many other settings to the drive.
Move the USB drive to the new computer. You then run the Windows Easy Transfer wizard from the control panel on the new computer. The tool is already loaded for you on Windows 7. Then the data will be copied from the USB drive to the new computer. It's just that, well, easy.

You can choose which user profiles you wish to transfer, (or not transfer) to the new computer. You can choose specific files to include, or choose to exclude certain folders.

When the transfer is complete, you aren't quite done yet. The Windows Easy Transfer wizard won't copy over your applications. Those will need to be reinstalled. This is a good time to look for an updated version of your favorite applications.

Be aware that if your old computer was infected with a virus or spyware, those things may be transferred to the new computer too. So make sure to run scans before you run the migration on the old computer, and after you run the migration to the new computer.

In Place Upgrade

Let's take a moment to talk about upgrading an existing computer, commonly called an "in place" upgrade. An in place upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 is possible with some editions and version, but not all. And in place upgrades from XP to Windows 7 are not supported. If you can do an in place upgrade, all of your files and setting will remain in place. Most of your applications will even still work.

If an in place upgrade is not an option for you, follow the information above as though you are migrating from one computer to another. Be extra careful when backing up your data.

For more information about the Windows Easy Transfer wizard, check out this information from the Microsoft website: Click here

Working Without Wires II

Pete Miller — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:22:00 GMT

This is the second part of our two part look at working without wires. This article will be all about WiFi.

To see the first part of this article, Click Here to learn about 3G wireless.

WiFi encompasses many different standards. We are going to lump them all together because from a functional standpoint, they all work basically the same way.

If 3G wireless is like having a cell phone, than WiFi is like having a cordless phone. A wireless network is comprised of a wireless access point (or WAP) that is connected to a network (which could include access to the Internet.) To extend the analogy, the WAP is like the base station that is connected to your house wiring, which is connected to the public phone system. This allows you to connect to the wireless network and get to the internet. You can move around and remain connected, but just like a cordless phone, if you get too far from the base station you lose connectivity and drop your call.

Where the analogy breaks down is your ability to connect to different WiFi networks in different locations, called "hotspots." WiFi hotspots can be found at libraries, coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, and many other locations. There can be fees associated with using the WiFi hotspot, or it may be free. Either way, great care should be used when connecting to a WiFi hotspot as it is VERY easy to steal information from people when you control their network connection. If I were to offer a free WiFi hotspot I could record every piece of information sent or received by people using my hotspot. Even if the data is encrypted, I can still record it for later decryption. Whenever you access a WiFi hotspot, you should consider ANYTHING you do to be unsecured. Avoid logging into your bank account, or purchasing anything from an online vendor. Please review our article on email security.

Why do some wireless networks show up with a lock, and some without? Does the lock mean they are safe to use?

When you want to connect to a wireless network using your laptop, you may find that there are several networks available in your immediate area. Some might not be "secured" but most will be. All this means is that there is security protecting the hotspot from unauthorized access. It does NOT mean that the data being transmitted is secure. When you try to connect to a secured network you will need to enter a password, called a "key." Your computer will store the key for future use, but it is checked every time you connect.

So do I choose WiFi or 3G?

Both actually. There are no monthly fees for WiFi, and it is a faster connection than 3G. When choosing a wireless technology for your home or office, WiFi is the clear choice. The problem with WiFi is that it isn't available everywhere you go. And where it IS available, unless you KNOW who set it up, it's untrustworthy. For those situations, 3G is a much better option.

Working Without Wires

Pete Miller — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:12:00 GMT

Bill Kurtis seems to have recently found the Internet. Even if you KNOW where the Internet is, it can sometimes be hard to understand how you found it where you are, and if you should trust it or not.

This is a two-part article that will focus on connecting to a network (including the Internet) wirelessly.

There are two primary methods of wireless networking, and we are going to cover both in this series. This article will focus on connecting with Mobile Broadband, sometimes referred to as 3G, HSDPA, and EVDO, among other things. There are some specific things that make these terms unique, but for the purposes of this article, we will assume they are interchangeable. We can do this because while the technology may be different, the way you use the technology is basically the same.

Mobile broadband allows you to connect to the Internet from just about anywhere that you can receive a cellular signal. So if you can make a phone call, the chances are very good that you could connect to the Internet. This includes, public transportation, parks, client/customer locations, restaurants and many more locations. What this gives you is freedom, flexibility and security. Your connection is more secure than a random WiFi connection (more on this in the next article.) You don't have to worry about if you will be able to get access where you are going. And you will be able to get access in more places.

It's very easy to use. Once the hardware is installed (more on the hardware below) you install software that comes with the modem. Running the software connects you to the Internet. It's just that easy. Let's dig into some details on the hardware, and the service itself.

To make use of mobile broadband you need a modem. This can come in many different forms. It could be a USB device you plug into the computer, or a PC Card that fits into the side of a laptop. Some laptops (including some netbooks) have wireless broadband modems installed completely inside them so you can't see any sign that the computer is equipped with the wireless modem. It may even be possible to use your cell phone as a broadband modem.

In general, the broadband modems are relatively inexpensive. The ones that are built into a laptop being the most expensive at about $150. The USB modems usually being the least expensive, sometimes being sold as "free." Of course, the real expense is in the monthly fee. The wireless modem connects to the Internet over the same network used by cellular phones. Because of this, it is the cellular phone carriers that bill you for your service. The carrier will refer to this as a "data plan." Carriers have different plans available for purchase based on the amount of data you will transfer per month. This is a VERY hard thing to calculate. The size of the plans available currently range between about 200mb per month and 5gb per month. Here are some guidelines that might help you chose which plan is best for you:

200mb:

7-8 hrs of light web browsing a month
Send/receive email with small or no attachments
Light downloads, like the occasional song

5gb:

Frequent web browsing throughout the month
Send/receive email with large attachments
Download or Upload pictures frequently
Download music regularly

Keep in mind, even 5gb can be exceeded fairly easily, so it's important to ensure that you do not exceed your plan or else you end up paying overage fees.

Plans range from $35 to about $60 a month.

So, is 3G wireless for you?
If you travel frequently, or commute by public transportation then 3G might just be for you. If you visit clients or customers on-site regularly then you may be interested in looking deeper into this option.

Why You Should Care About the Security of Your E-mail

Pete Miller — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:10:00 GMT

Security, it's a hassle at the airport, it's talked about too much on the news, people sell junk with the promise of enhanced security. At some point, you just can't worry about it all anymore, right? At some point you just want to say "Enough is enough." And for many people that line is drawn WAY before they get to their email.

But you can't afford to be relaxed in your email security, and this is why.

Content

For many people, this may not be a concern. However, for many businesses it is critical. The content of your mailbox may have customer information, or product information that your company does not want to be public knowledge. For this reason, many large companies restrict how and where people can access their email. This is the reason that your Blackberry has a password on it now. But is this the biggest reason to protect your email?

NO!

For many people, the content in their email is very boring to someone that might try to gain access to that mailbox. A hacker doesn't care about the really cute thing your cat just did, or that you are going to have coffee with Mary three weeks ago. They aren't interested in that super funny joke, and they really aren't interested in the hundreds of not-so funny jokes either.

So what DO they want?

Access

When you forget the password to your online banking site, or your credit card account, or even your favorite shopping site you can visit that site and request that they send you the password again. Most times they will send you an email with a link you can use to reset your password, but sometimes they do actually send you the password itself. Even if your forget your login ID, the site will send you that if you can tell them what your email address is. If a hacker is able to get access to your mailbox, they might be able to identify who you bank with, and then go request a password reset. Because they have access to your email, they can now intercept that link and change your password. By the time you realize your password is wrong, your bank account is already empty. If you store your credit card information with an online vendor the hacker can gain access to that account and even if they can't get your credit card number, they can place orders for things with that retailer and get away with the merchandise.

This does not take any special training, or tools, or fancy software. It is not a difficult or complicated hack. So it's important to protect your email.

How can I protect my email?

What a great question. The first thing to do is make sure you have a strong password protecting your email. A strong password is one that does not include any dictionary words, has mixed UPPER and lower case letters and also includes numbers. For example: mailbox is a very weak password, but 2m@!Lb0x4 is a much stronger password. Substituting numbers or special characters for letters, is an easy way to include these elements, but still make your password easy to remember.

The second thing to do is to be aware of how you are accessing your email, and where. If you are using a home PC, you are relatively safe. If you are using a web browser on a shared computer at a library, or a cafe, or a copy store you are at a high risk of your password being intercepted. If you use a laptop, be aware of how you are connected to the Internet. If you are on free WiFi hotspot, be VERY cautious about accessing your email. If you ever do access your email from a less than secure location, be sure to change the password as soon as possible when you are back to a "safe" location. Like your home, or your office.

Windows 7 Libraries and You

Pete Miller — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:39:00 GMT

One of the many new features in Windows 7 is Libraries. Is this some new feature that you'll never use? I don't think so. I think this is one of THE killer features of Microsoft's new operating system.

When you download pictures from your camera do you always put the pictures into the "My Pictures" folder? Or do you, like most people, place the pictures into various folders based on what makes the most sense at the time? What about your music, or videos, or even documents?

What if you run out of space on your local hard drive and want to move some pictures or videos to an external drive?

What if you want to search for vacation photos on someone else's computer in your house?

If you are intrigued by any of these questions, then you are going to like Libraries. Windows 7 has 4 default Libraries configured. They are Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos.

They are shown on the left side of Windows Explorer windows:

You can quickly and easily add folders from any location into the library. This is done easily by right clicking on a folder and selecting the option to "Include in Library," and then selecting the Library you want to add the folder to. It can also be done using the "Include in Library" button along the top of Windows Explorer.

When you add a folder to the library, it is indexed so you can search the contents of the folder. The contents of the My Documents folder are automatically indexed, but now you can have Windows index any folder you want. The folders you add can be on a different drive, or even on a different computer as long as you can reach it through a network.

Once you add a folder to a Library, you select that Library to see its contents. The resulting view shows that folder right next to every other folder in the library. Notice in the picture above that the Skydiving Trip folder, Vacation 2008 folder and Pictures folder are on the E: When I add them to the Pictures Library, they will appear alongside the folders that are in the Pictures folder under My Documents.

You can now see how the Pictures Library includes folders on the C: D: and E: drives. They are shown collapsed, but when you do this with folders that actually have pictures in them you'll see thumbnail views of the contents.

Windows 7 Released

Pete Miller — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:18:00 GMT

Windows 7 has been released. The official release date is October 22nd 2009