Sometimes things aren’t what they seem. Sometimes when a computer application isn’t doing what you want- or expect- it to do, it may be a problem with the application. It may be user error or lack of training. Or it may be spyware or viruses affecting the computer which are in turn affecting the application. You should already be participating in training sessions and using the online learning resources at http://eit.tamu.edu/resources.html. But are you also doing what you can to keep your computer clean of spyware, viruses and other maladies? Taking a little time on a recurring basis can save you a lot of time and heartache down the road. Think of it like flossing your teeth - spend a few minutes flossing every day now or endure an hour or more of scraping in the dentist chair later.
Here are some things you should do on a regular basis - monthly if not more frequently- to keep your computer as clean as possible:
Check for spyware. The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to download it in the first place, so don’t install anything unless it’s got a legitimate business purpose. There are a few well-known tools that can help you detect and remove unwanted software, like Lavasoft Ad Aware, which is freely available for personal use only at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware . Another useful tool, Spybot Search & Destroy (S&D) is freely available for business or personal use. It was included on the Fall 2004 County Support CD, and it is available for download at http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd. Microsoft has a new tool called Windows AntiSpyware which is currently available in a beta version. It is available for free download at http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software. Use tools like these to scan and remove identified files.
Review your security settings to make sure they’re turned on and functioning the way you want them to. In Windows XP open the Security Center from Control Panel, and make sure Automatic Updates are set to Automatically download and install daily, at a time when the computer will be turned on, not the middle of the night. Make sure that the Firewall is turned on as well.
Check your antivirus protection. Antivirus software is a must today. Perform a weekly scan of your complete system, and check for updated definitions of your antivirus software. Enable Automatic Updates if it’s an option, with virus definitions updated daily at a time when the computer will be turned on. If you need antivirus protection for your home computer, you might consider the Free version or the Professional version of AVG AntiVirus from http://www.grisoft.com.
Back up your files. Save a copy of your most important files on a CD or another medium that you can use in case the originals are lost or damaged. Retain the backup in another room or location.
Delete old files to free up memory and make room for new files. If you really think you may need files from 2000 some day, save them to a CD and keep it in a safe place. Run Disk Cleanup, available in Accessories, System Tools in Windows XP, on all drives to remove downloaded program files left after a program is installed, empty the Recycle Bin, and delete temporary Internet files.
Schedule time to keep your computer clean! It, like flossing, is time well spent.
FCS: Families and Work Institute http://www.familiesandwork.org/
4H: 4H USA http://www.4h-usa.org/
AG and Natural Resource: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center http://www.wildflower.org/
Did you know that you can use HTML in TECO? One of the places HTML coding is useful is in the main text box. As shown in figure 1, the use of the link tag adds a link that, in this case, opens in a new window. The page would then have a link.
Some useful HTML tags include:
<BR> to insert a hard return, or break
<P> to insert a hard return and a blank line, or paragraph break
<i> and <b> to apply italic and to apply bold formatting– Remember to close these tags with </i> and </b> !
http://www.tamu.edu” target=“_blank”>TAMU to insert a link. In this example, TAMU would be clickable, target=_blank instructs the link to open in a new browser window, and closes the tag.
These are just a few of the tags you can use in TECO. To learn more about HTML and/or TECO, take a look at the TECO Student Guide, available at http://eit.tamu.edu/WORKSHOP/TECO/StudentGuide.pdf.
Websites use cookies to generate unique ID numbers for each visitor, and store the number on each user's machine in a cookie file. Cookies, by design, are meant to be accessible only by the site that sets them. Third party cookies are set not by the website being viewed, though, but by another site. They are generated by companies that get paid to obtain as much information as possible about your viewing habits, preferences, computer settings, etc. This information is then used by marketing companies to send pop-up ads and unsolicited e-mail.
It is easy to disallow cookies from servers not located on the site that you currently are viewing.
To block or disable third party cookies:
Netscape
Go to Edit > Preferences. In the left hand window, click on Privacy & Security; then click on Cookies just below it. Click on the button to Allow cookies for the originating web site only,
Internet Explorer
Go to Tools > Internet Options. Click the privacy tab and click the "Advanced" button. Check "Override automatic cookie handling" and "Block" under Third party cookies. Internet Explorer 5 and lower do not have the ability to block third party cookies.
Most browsers offer configurations that prompt you about each cookie as it appears, allowing you to decide if each cookie should be admitted. Although this may sound good in theory, in practice it quickly becomes an intolerable annoyance. It is better to block third party cookies all together.
There is a lot of useful information in GroupWise Distribution Lists, and, if you know how, it’s easy to find and decipher the information contained in them.
When you open the Address Books, you'll see the books that you can access listed on the left. This should include the Novell Address Book, an LDAP address book, a book with your name on it and Frequent Contacts. It may include other address books that you created or ones that others have shared with you. The first time you open the address book, the top book will be highlighted, with groups and individuals in that book appearing on the right side of the window. If you return to the Address Books later in your GroupWise session, the last address book you looked at should still be highlighted. Each book has a small plus (+) to the left of its name, which, when clicked, will expand the book to show the distribution lists created within itThe plus will then change to a minus (-), which, when clicked, will compress the lists once again. If there are no distribution lists in a book, the plus will disappear. .
With the distribution list displayed, you see members of that list, which may be individuals, groups or resources. You can also see if a message addressed to the list will go Figure 5: Expanded Novell GroupWise Address book to each individual as a recipient (To:) or as a copy (CC:, BC:). You can find additional information by right-clicking on a list, as shown in figure 6. The right click will display the options Details and Delete, although, in the Novell Address Book, Delete is not available. Clicking on Details will display the members of this group, and also allow you to see additional information.
The Comment field, for most of the public groups, gives a better description of what this group should contain so that you don’t have to figure it out from the name of the group. As shown in figure 7, the comment field for D02CeaFcs indicates that the group contains District 02 County Extension Agents - Family and Consumer Sciences. The Members field summarizes how many Contacts (individuals), Groups and Resources are in the group. There is also a Summary tab at the top of the screen. From the Summary screen you can print a listing of all the members of the group and print the information from the Comment field. In addition, from this screen, you can send email to one or more members of the group by simply clicking on their names.
There’s a lot of information in the GroupWise Distribution Lists, so take advantage of it.