Number 316 - September 2009

UPDATE
Beginners    In What is Cyber Security the author discusses the online risks that threaten all of us who surf on the Internet. He also discusses what we can do about it and describes the principal types of threats. TOG members know about these threats and have been offered software that seeks them out and either gets rid of them or quarantines them so that they can do no harm. If you aren't presently using these protective programs you should talk to TOGLibrarian Tom Stepanek for the latest protective software.    In Reduce the Risk of Data Loss the author gives some basic advice on what to consider when backing up files. Backups usually are aimed at the products of productivity software rather than the programs themselves--but you probably should have the original disks of those or a good copy stored away somewhere.    In Ten Net Commandments you will find a list of common sense rules to keep you out of trouble.    In Clean Up Your Desktop - Part 1 Ron Hirsch discusses Desktop Icons and may tell you a thing or two you didn't know. Communications    In How to Spot a Phishing EMail is an article taken from the Front Range PC Users Group newsletter. The article lists the chracteristics of fraudulent sites with comentaries. They were taken	from the PayPal website and combined with those from a few other sources. Operating System    In Is It Time To Switch To 64 Bit Windows? Brian Lewis asks the question. To help you make a decision for yourself he traces the development of the computer from 8-bit processors through 16 bit and 32 bit processors to the 64 bit processor of today. He gives lots of information to help you decide whether or not you want to make the leap to 64 bit processing or not. Appartently Windows 7 will be available as 32 or 64 bit versions so you don't have to make the leap yet if you are not yet ready. He also warns that your peripherals may not be compatible with the 64 bit version so be careful to check this out before making the move.    In Where Is That File? the author suggests another utility, Void Tools which is easier to use than the resident Windows search engine.    In Windows Task Scheduler the author Vinnie LaBash discusses a tool in Windows which was updated in Windows Vista. It allows you to schedule items or tasks that need to be done on a regular basis.    In Speed Demons the author discusses those things that tend to slow down a computer's operating speed over time. Hardware    In CD-Rs Harder To Read Than Standard Discs the author discusses the images produced on commercially produced discs and those written to by your computer differ.
Number 316 - September 2009