The link above is for an article on the Gmail Blog describing how you can now more quickly open a second window so if you want to copy from one message and paste in another it can be done more easily and quickly now. I know a number of us in the EPCUG are online Gmail users and I thought you might like to know about this.

One of the things Windows PCs need is to be defragmented regularly as the fragmented files will begin to slow the computer’s ability to read large files quickly. I keep watch on Gizmo’s Freeware page and noticed this software just moved to the top of their recommendations for defragging. Consider keeping this in your Tools/Utilities of your XP and up Windows boxes.

A suggestion from Larry Cotton. 

The geeks among us might take exception at how freely we use the Internet at our cafe. It is true the Internet we use at most “free” spots is insecure, meaning the text we send or receive could be picked up and read.

So the question becomes, should we worry and what can we do?

I worry about sending usernames and passwords through these connections. For most things it may not matter, and if the site shows an address starting with https:// (note the ’s’) and a lock icon appears in the lower right of our web browser then the information we send is encrypted and is likely to be safe. (Banks and email sites SHOULD be doing this) But simpler sites like Facebook, Youtube and the like, logging into these in a cafe DOES send the open text we use through the network and that could be comprimised.

I just bought a new router for my home network and suddenly some things I have done on the network quit working. It turned out this new router does not ‘loopback’ basically meaning I cannot type an address for my computers here and see them as I would on the net. So to see if my addresses were working I would have to go to someone elses computer away from my own network to see them.

OR I could use the same services I would use to protect myself in a cafe or to see blocked sites at work like Youtube, I’d use a Proxy, and the one I have linked above is http://www.hidemyass.com

If you visit this site you will notice an address bar in the page. If you put the site address you want to see in this second address bar you will see your desired page, but the address your computer (and network) will see will belong to hidemyass.com thus seeming to come from another server. There are hundreds of these sites, maybe thousands all doing a similar service. Just Google for ‘anonymous proxy servers free’ and you’ll find them. The one I have presented here encrypts the link so that it doesn’t give away what site it has presented to you, not all do that.

So… should we worry? We should be cautious. If you are not on a secure site and you are sending information you would not want stolen, use a Proxy site and go ahead and enjoy yourself.

My two cents. Do you have any comments? Just use the comment form here on our website at http://epcug.net

It can never be said enough. Backup your files. But how many of us are really protected this minute? There are now three good services for online backup for Windows and two of them work on other platforms as well and can sync files as well. We’ll look at Dropbox.com, Mozy.com, SpiderOak.com and ZumoDrive.com and what we can do with them to protect ourselves. Join us at the Monday January 11, 2010, 5:30pm meeting at Aqilla & Pricilla’s Cafe at Poineer Pkwy and Q St.

ZDNet reports a malicious email is out and about suggesting you download software for Swine Flu protection. I am impressed by the quality of much of today’s attacks on our mail and our web browsing.

So take this as another simple call to be vigilant, don’t just refuse to open email attachments easily but beware of all links in email as well.

Be safe out there!    

If there seems to be interest we will setup a conference call for the folks not at the cafe. Call or write us ahead of time if you are interested in this tomorrow.

-=Larry Cotton=- webmaster@epcug.net

I happened to use Google Translate recently and realized they have changed its face since my last visit. If you don’t know about this service visit the link. When you visit a website in a language you can’t read just visit this site and put the link in the form.

If you have Google Toolbar installed it can have a button or right click link to automatically open the translated page.

I don’t use it often, but each time I am reminded how limited I am knowing only one language well. I am grateful for my family’s effort to have tried to teach me French as a child and for my father’s teaching me to understand etimology listings in Webster’s Dictionary for each definition. We red necks don’t consider how much of our American ‘English’ is based on other languages.

This link above leads to an excellent article on a topic I discuss periodically. I am not paranoid, folks are really out to get us! 

Aside from the time we waste on Facebook there can be a real security problem. If you write things you shouldn’t have co-workers or bosses see then you may just be foolish. But many of the more innocent things we post would pass muster if they were just not brought to the attention of these folks.

The default starting point in Facebook is for all your friends to be treated equally. Maybe this is dangerous, but its what it is. So what the linked article describes is how to create Friends Lists, and then make posts viewable just by the right lists and further how to hide information from searches.

It’s a good read. Could save some trouble down the road and still let you enjoy the benefits of using Facebook.

Enjoy!
-=Lare=-