Being Computer Savvy/Streetwise
Computer Savvy …. (Slang) Meaning??? …. Try typing define: savvy into a Google Search.
It means having some common sense OR having your head screwed on!
Another good word is: Paranoia (Extra points if you can spell it!)
It means you THINK that someone/people are out to get you! If you have
a computer, I can confirm that they are!!!! …. BUT all you can do is to be
aware, take the best precautions you can and have a Plan “B” of what to do
if they GET YOU! …. i.e. Phone John or Sandra at PC Senior ASAP
(But don’t let them spoil your fun!)
Being Streetwise (General)
As well as “Computer Savvy” you need to be generally “Streetwise”. You’d think at our age we would
be wouldn’t you, BUT these people are clever and, in our defence, they usually catch us unaware like
in “Candid Camera”
Working in Computer Support for many years, I’ve seen:
Cars or their contents pinched at filling stations (Key left in or doors left unlocked!); Laptops stolen in
supermarket car parks – even when in the boot (It’s so easy to break a windows and pull down the
back seats).
And there’s worse …. A lady takes her key into the garage but leaves the car unlocked - someone gets
in back and lies down - she’s kidnapped!!!; What do you do IF you are kidnapped & locked in the
boot??? (Kick out tail light & wave like crazy!);
There’s a BIG sticker on your rear window – you get out with the car running to move it - goodbye
car!
Computer “Cold Call” Scam No1
“Hello, it’s Jeremy form Computer Support – lots of problems in your area – phoning on behalf of
Microsoft (or your ISP)” – He gets you to switch on, go into his Web Site and he can run a test to
show you what he means - oh dear lots of things – put your Credit Card in and he can fix them for
you!!!! …. Just say “thank you I have someone looks after my Computer and I will let him know” OR
if you want a bit of fun say you are busy and will phone him back – ask/insist on him giving you his
Name, Company & Telephone Number? (He will probably hang up on you)
Computer “Cold Call” Scam No2
This is very clever – someone rings and says they are from BT and you haven’t paid the last bill so
they are going to cut you off unless you pay immediately! “But my telephones are with Virgin not BT”
you say – yes, but they rent the lines from us - you don’t believe he is from BT??? - He says he will
prove it by cutting off your line now. He tells you to hang up and then try to ring someone – he’s right,
you can’t! - He rings you back and hopes you are convinced enough to pay him now! (In actual fact,
he just didn’t put his phone down which stops you ringing out) …. This gets worse because what he is
actually after is your Bank Account details!!!
eMail Scam No1
We got an eMail last week to say that our friend Ray was in hospital abroad etc
OR Lost Passports etc and not allowed to leave until bill is paid – please send money to …!!!
(If it doesn’t sound like them, then it’s not! E.g. Words like “Cell Phone” used or bad Grammar etc)
We spotted this one easily because our friend Ray always signs off “God Bless” and he didn’t!
What’s The Difference?
Anti-Virus Program; Firewall; Spyware??? …. Not currently/easily available for iPADs!!!
Then there’s Adware; Trojan Horses; Worms; Malware; False Virus Reports (Nasty but funny???)
And “Rootkits” (Which may be found but are not Removed by the Free AVG Anti-Virus program???)
You can Keep the cost down by using Freeware Anti-Virus …. Microsoft Security Essentials, AVG
or Avast are all good! But must be used with Windows Firewall (Which Comes with your system)
©PC Senior 2008
BUT to be more safe, purchase a combined Anti-Virus/Firewall with better protection, especially if
you are Buying a lot on-line or Banking! (We use Norton Internet Security; McAfee; Kaspersky)
Note: Norton Internet Security is cheaper then Norton 360 (Which you only need if you want to use
its’ Free Backup On-Line Facility – 2GB allowed for Free); Purchasing on-line from Norton/McAfee
etc is convenient but NOT the cheapest way to do it – shop around for a Half-Price deal on a CD
(Uninstall the old version & then Install the new CD); If you buy on-line and set up an Account with
Norton/McAfee DON’T leave a Tick in Auto-Renew – you may be charged TOP PRICE next time!
And if you only have 1 Computer, don’t pay for a 3-User Licence unless it is the same price!
My advice is to keep your anti-virus software up-to-date and use it to give your PC a full
sweep on a weekly/monthly basis …. If you also want a second opinion, you can run a
FREE online, web based virus checker, such as Trend Micro HouseCall. Simply visit the
following site and click on Start Quick Scan: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/uk/
Choose “Run” - Say “Yes” to Security Message - “Accept” - “Scan Now”
(You can Minimise it and leave it running while you do other things)
Note: You will need to select 32bit if you have an older computer – 64bit if you have a newer one!
eMail: Unsubscribe from Regular Newsletters
If you don’t have many friends then you might like to ignore this section! Otherwise, especially if you
shop on-line, you WILL get regular Mail Shots from shops such as: Argos; Lastminute.com; John
Lewis; Pizza Hut; Amazon; eBay; Tesco; Sainsbury’s; Nectar on-line; etc BUT you can
“Unsubscribe” - normally by going right to the bottom of their eMail and Clicking on the option which
they are obliged to include!
Controlling Junk eMail
Most eMail Systems have a Junk eMail Folder with various settings for you to use.
In “Outlook” you can Add someone to Blocked Senders List OR Safe Senders List etc
Have a fiddle with this!!!!
Note: Once in a while, you need to check what’s in your Junk Mail Folder in case it includes
something you want and THEN Right Click on it & “Empty Junk Folder”
Beware of Dodgy eMails
If an eMail looks dodgy then just Delete it without going into it! (Always check who the Sender is!)
Beware especially of Clicking on “Attachments” or “Links” which often contain Malware …. your
Anti-Virus/Firewall can’t stop it if you have Clicked on it and in effect said “Yes please!”
Never respond to a request to verify your Password – even if it looks like it’s from your bank – if you
are not sure then ring them direct or go into your normal Banking on-line options.
Facebook Security
Sign in – Account – Account Settings – Notifications – Remove all Ticks
Watch out for dodgy Ads which are prevalent on Facebook!
General Stuff
Watch out for the “Ticks” in Boxes which YOU need to remove! Otherwise you will be asking for
Additional Toolbars (or worse) to be Installed on your Computer!
:
Set up a second eMail Address to give to “iffy” people who may want your eMail Address for
legitimate? purposes! (or not???)
Congratulations You’ve WON!
Just ALT + F4 to Close it without touching it! Or use the Back Arrow to leave that Page (i.e. DON’T
Click on it – anywhere at all!) …. OR use CTRL+ALT+Delete; Click “Start Task Manager”;
Highlight the Browser you are using; Then Click on “End Task”
Known as the “THREE FINGERED SALUTE!”
©PC Senior 2008
Passwords
Not too short (8 or more) - include Caps/Numbers/@ Symbols etc – don’t use dictionary words???
Adding a punctuation symbol to a 6 character password can massively increase the amount of time it
takes a hacker to crack the password.
Check your Password’s security using http://howsecureismypassword.net/
BUT just in case don’t use your proper password, change it a bit!
DON’T use the same one for everything! (Especially eBay/Paypal)
DON’T write them down in a little book …. Or at least not in full (You only need a memory jogger).
If you DO need them written down as you have so many, you can create a Word Document on your
computer and give it a Password to get into it which you WON’T forget (or you’re sunk!)
Note: When you set up an eMail Account or Register for a Web Site etc always choose to enter a
“Recovery eMail Address” – i.e. Another eMail Address than your normal one, to which an email can
be sent with Instructions/Links to help when you forget your Password
Buying On-Line
Don’t be afraid to Buy On-Line it’s one of the FUN things to do on a Computer! Just take all
precautions you can and be “Streetwise” …. Register with PayPal who have good Buyer Protection
and the seller never sees your Bank Account Details. Buying with a Credit Card also gives you some
protection against fraud! If you are really worried about being ripped off on-line, you could get/use a
particular Credit Card which only has say £100 in that Account.
If you use eBay stick to UK Companies and those with a good Track Record (You can check that out
in your eBay).
“Phishing” Websites
You may have received a phishing email with links to a phishing website. A phishing website
(sometimes called a "spoofed" site) which is not the real Web Site for your Bank for instance. It is a
faked one which tries to trick you into giving your account details etc.
GOOD ADVICE: If in doubt - enter a fake password first! If you not sure if a site is authentic, don't
use your real password to sign in. If you enter a fake password and appear to be signed in, you're likely
on a phishing site. Do not enter any more information; close your browser. BUT Keep in mind,
though, that some phishing sites automatically display an error message regardless of the password
you enter. So, just because your fake password is rejected, don't assume the site is legitimate.
Your Golden Parachute
1. Use Windows System Restore to Roll-Back your Computer to how it was on a
previous date (Doesn’t always work but worth a try) …. Ask PC Senior how?
2. Make sure you Created System restore Disks (2-4 DVDs) when you got your
Computer AND backed up your Files/Photos etc on a regular basis …. Hope you never need this!
3. Keep any Backups/Restore Disks somewhere safe away from the Computer – preferably off-site if
you are a business!
IF YOU GET CAUGHT OUT CONTACT PC SENIOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLEFOR ADVICE
07950869922 ([email protected]) THAT’S what you pay Membership for!
Be aware that there are Scams around other than Computer Scams! Take a look at the Citizens Advice Web
Site for further reading …. Do a Google Search for: citizens advice +scam
©PC Senior 2008