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Internet Tips and Tricks
Archive

Buzz word (tip) Problem Solution
Address Tired of typing the entire website information (http://www.bored.com) in the address bar to get to a site? ADD01
Back Button Ever get stuck in someone's site and your back button doesn't work to get you out? BAK01
Cookies When cookies lose their taste - Good cookies vs. Bad Cookies on your computer. COK01
Favorites
Bookmarks
Tired of typing the website's URL (name) and information for sites you visit often? FAV01
Favorites
Bookmarks
Tired of looking through the long list of your book marked favorites for the sites you visit often? FAV02
Find Having trouble finding what you want -- or a link -- on a very crowded web page? FIN01
Font Size Having trouble reading the tiny text on the internet pages you visit? VUE01
Printing Try to print a page and you can't get the background to print out, or want to eliminate the background images and can't? PRT01
Refresh Button In a site (with frames) and when you hit your refresh button, instead of reloading the page you are on, you are returned to the home page. REF01
Scrolling Tired of using the tiny scroll down arrow or up arrow to move up and down the page?  Here are some handy ways to move around a site. SCR01
SPAM Getting Rid of Porn Spam SP01
SPAM Getting Rid of E-Mail Spam SP02
SPAM Fake Invoices - the new shell game SP03
SPAM Sneaky E-Card installs Porn Worm SP04
Toolbar Toolbars (shortcut buttons like HOME, BACK, FORWARD, STOP) taking up too much of your screen  viewing room? TOL01
Toolbar Buttons Want to give yourself more web viewing room on the screen? TOL02
Toolbar Sneaky Toolbar hijacks Browser TOL03
Virus/Worms Palyth VIR01
Web Sites Plus and Minus of building your own website WEB01

 

SP03

FALSE INVOICES - "The New Shell Game"

This one is quite inventive.  Be on the look out or you will get suckered into paying a small fortune for subscriptions you DID NOT order.

Various groups such as, ICLS.net (Internet Corporation Listing Service) are sending out what looks like a very legitimate invoice to owners of websites that ask for either monthly or yearly payment for MAJOR SEARCH ENGINE submissions.  

If you don't remember ordering it -- you probably didn't, and your webmaster would pay for this service not have them send you a bill if he/she requested it, or would let you know the bill is coming.  

Read the invoice  line for line, very carefully.  Somewhere on the "invoice" it will state:"

"... This is not a bill, invoice or statement of account due.  You are under no obligation to make a payment, unless you accept this offer."

That's your clue that neither you nor your webmaster ordered this service.  If in doubt, call or email your webmaster for clarification of the bill before paying anything you are not sure about.

 

BAK01 Problem: Ever get stuck in someone's site and your back button doesn't work to get you out?
Internet Explorer Tip: To the right of your back button is a small down-pointing arrow.  Click on the down arrow and select the first name in the list, click on that name and it will return you to the previous page you were on.  Or... if you want, you can go farther back by clicking on one of the locations further down in the list, saving all that time going back one page at a time. If you click the last name in the list it will return you several pages back, and you can continue doing this until you reach your desired location through several pages.

Netscape Tip: Click on GO in the Menu Bar to view the list of your previously visited pages.  Select the first name in the list, click on that name and it will return you to the previous page you were on.  Or... if you want, you can go farther back by clicking on one of the locations further down in the list, saving all that time going back one page at a time. If you click the last name in the list it will return you several pages back, and you can continue doing this until you reach your desired location through several pages.


REF01 Problem: In a site (with frames) and when you hit your refresh button, instead of reloading the page you are on, you are returned to the home page.
Internet Explorer Tip: Make sure your mouse pointer is positioned anywhere in the page you want refreshed, right click (use the right mouse button) and trace down to and click on  REFRESH.  That will ensure that the page you are currently viewing is the one refreshed.

Netscape Tip: Make sure your mouse pointer is positioned anywhere in the page you want refreshed, right click (use the right mouse button) and trace down to and click on  RELOAD FRAME.  That will ensure that the page you are currently viewing is the one refreshed.


PRT01 Problem: Try to print a page and you can't get the background to print out, or want to eliminate the background images and can't?
Internet Explorer Tip: To change the background printing options, click on TOOLS in the menu bar, trace down and click on INTERNET OPTIONS, then click on the ADVANCED Tab.  There will be a list of options that you can change.  Scroll down until you find a section for PRINTING (about three screen pages down).  To allow printing of the background colors and images, click a CHECK beside "Print background and colors."  To prevent background images and colors from printing click in the box to remove the check mark.

Netscape Tip: To change the background printing options, click on FILE in the menu bar, trace down and click on PAGE SETUP.  There will be a list of options that you can change.  Scroll down until you find a section that says PRINT BACKGROUND  To allow printing of the background colors and images, click a CHECK beside "Print backgrounds."  To prevent background images and colors from printing click in the box to remove the check mark.


ADD01 Tip: Tired of typing the entire website information (http://www.bored.com) in the address bar to get to a site?
Internet Explorer Tip: Click anywhere in the address bar (that's the white box that displays http://www.arbutusbiz.com).  The address becomes "highlighted," now all you have to do is type a new name such as arbutusbiz then hold down the CTRL key (located to the left or right of the space bar) and press the ENTER key (CTRL+ENTER) and the http://www and .com will be added before and after the word you type and you will be automatically transported to the new location at the same time.  This ONLY works for .com endings though.

Netscape Tip: Click anywhere in the address bar (that's the white box that displays http://www.arbutusbiz.com).  The address becomes "highlighted," now all you have to do is type a new name such as arbutusbiz then hold down the CTRL key (located to the left or right of the space bar) and press the ENTER key (CTRL+ENTER) and the http://www and .com will be added before and after the word you type and you will be automatically transported to the new location at the same time.  This ONLY works for .com endings though.


SCR01 Tip: Tired of using the tiny scroll down arrow or up arrow to move up and down the page?  Here are some handy ways to move around a site.
Internet Explorer Tip: Between the up and down (or left and right) scroll arrows is a scroll button and a large gray (shaded) area between. You can use the scroll button by positioning the mouse pointer over the button, holding down the left click button and dragging up and down (or left and right) to move from place to place.  Another way of moving up and down the page is to left-click in the gray (shaded) area above or below the scroll button.  That moves the page a full screen up or down, which is the same as using the PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN buttons in the booster keypad (the keyboard between the numeric keypad and the standard typing keyboard) on your keyboard.

Netscape Tip: Between the up and down (or left and right) scroll arrows is a scroll button and a large gray area between. You can use the scroll button by positioning the mouse pointer over the button, holding down the left click button and dragging up and down (or left and right) to move from place to place.  Another way of moving up and down the page is to left-click in the gray (shaded) area above or below the scroll button.  That moves the page a full screen up or down, which is the same as using the PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN buttons in the booster keypad (the keyboard between the numeric keypad and the standard typing keyboard) on your keyboard.


VUE01 Tip: Having trouble reading the tiny text on the internet pages you visit?
Internet Explorer Tip: You can increase or decrease the size of the text (font) that you see on a website by clicking on VIEW in the Menu Bar, tracing down to TEXT SIZE, then tracing over and clicking on a new size setting.  NOTE:  This could interfere with the ability to access a complete menu, depending on the coding on a website.

Netscape Tip: You can increase or decrease the size of the text (font) that you see on a website by clicking on VIEW in the Menu Bar, tracing down to INCREASE FONT or DECREASE FONT.  NOTE:  This could interfere with the ability to access a complete menu, depending on the coding on a website.

WebTV:  You can increase or decrease the size of the text (font) that you see on a website by clicking on EDIT  in the Menu Bar, tracing down to and clicking on PREFERENCES.  Then selecting either small, medium or large under the Font Size category.  NOTE:  This could interfere with the ability to access a complete menu, depending on the coding on a website.


FAV01 Tip: Tired of typing the website's URL (name) and information for sites you visit often?
Internet Explorer Tip: You can put sites you visit often in your FAVORITES.  But, be sure to organize your folders so you don't have to search through tons of site addresses.  You can create a folder (category) to store sites in.  For example:  CARDS would be the name of the folder, and it would hold all your favorite FREE Internet card sites. 
  • Create a folder as you add the site to your favorites by clicking on FAVORITES in the menu bar, then click on ADD TO FAVORITES.
  • There are buttons on the right side of the dialog box, trace down and click on NEW FOLDER.  Name your folder and press ENTER or click on the OK button.  The folder is saved and open, now just click on OK to save the location of the site.
  • If you already have a folder for the type of site you are saving, click on the folder to open it, then click the OK button.

Netscape Tip: You can BOOKMARK sites you visit often.  But, be sure to organize your folders so you don't have to search through tons of site addresses.  You can create a folder (category) to store sites in.  For example:  CARDS would be the name of the folder, and it would hold all your favorite FREE Internet card sites. 

  • Click on BOOKMARK, click on ADD TO BOOKMARKS
  •  click on the EDIT BOOKMARKS
  • Click on FILE in the bookmark edit window
  • Click NEW FOLDER, type your folder's name and press enter or click OK.
  • You newly added bookmark will be at the bottom of the list.  You can move it into the new folder by dragging it up to the folder, and dropping it into the folder.  (To drag and drop a bookmark you hold your left mouse button down over the bookmark - without letting go --  and drag upward till you are over the folder then let it go.)

WebTV:  You have two ways to add items to your FAVORITES list. 

  • Click on the OPTIONS button on the controller, then click on SAVE.
  • Or, you can click on TV in the menu bar then trace down and click on SHOW LINK CREATOR WINDOW
  • under the LINK URL: type in the address you see in the location bar (http://www.yourfavorite.com)
  • Select a LINK TYPE
  • Under DISPLAY NAME type the name you want to appear in your favorites list
  • Click the TRIGGER IN BROWSER button

FAV02 Tired of looking through your book marked favorites for the sites you visit often?
Internet Explorer Tip: The LINKS toolbar is a great for storing the places you visit often.  Rather than searching through your FAVORITES, you can save the URL (address) on the LINKS bar.  If the LINKS toolbar doesn't appear at the top of your browser, click on VIEW in the menu bar, trace down to TOOLBARS, then click on LINKS (if it is checked it is already open and you may have to search for the toolbar).  Go to one of your favorite places to visit on the internet, then simply hold your left mouse button down over the little "E" in the address bar (that's the white box that shows the site information your are visiting: http://www.arbutusbiz.com ) and DRAG your mouse anywhere inside the LINKS toolbar and let go of the mouse.  The item is added to your links tool bar.  You can shorten the name of a site by right-clicking (right mouse button) on the button image, trace down and click on RENAME, then retype the name you want.  For example:  ArbutusBiz.com can be changed to ABiz that way you room for more buttons to be visible on your LINKS Tool Bar.  The double right pointing arrow at the right of the tool bar allows you to access the rest of your quick links.

Netscape Tip:  The PERSONAL toolbar is a great for storing the places you visit often.  Rather than searching through your FAVORITES, you can save the URL (address) on your PERSONAL tool bar.  If the PERSONAL toolbar doesn't appear at the top of your browser, click on VIEW in the menu bar, trace then click on VIEW PERSONAL TOOLBAR (if it is says Hide Personal Toolbar, it is already open and you may have to expand it by clicking on the arrow located to the left of the collapsed tool bar.)  You favorite place must be stored in your FAVORITES.  Click on BOOKMARKS, click on EDIT Bookmark.  Find the PERSONAL TOOLBAR FOLDER,  find the favorite link you want to place in the folder, hold your left mouse button down over the link and drag it into the Personal folder.  The item is added to your PERSONAL tool bar.  You can shorten the name of a site by right-clicking (right mouse button) on the item name, trace down and click on BOOKMARK PROPERTIES,  then retype the name you want in the box provided and click OK.  For example:  ArbutusBiz.com can be changed to ABiz that way you room for more buttons to be visible on your LINKS Tool Bar.  The double right pointing arrow at the right of the tool bar allows you to access the rest of your quick links.  You can drag a folder into the Personal Tool Bar as well.


TOL01 Toolbars (shortcut buttons like HOME, BACK, FORWARD, STOP) taking up too much of your screen  viewing room?
Internet Explorer Tip: When the browser is open, RIGHT-CLICK over any button in the tool bar (use the right mouse button).  This opens a drop-down menu.  Trace down and CLICK (one click with the left mouse button) on CUSTOMIZE.  In the lower left corner are two selection boxes.  The first is TEXT OPTIONS which controls the display of the buttons.  Click on the down-arrow to the right of the option box and click on NO TEXT LABELS.  Don't worry, if you don't remember what the button does, hold your mouse arrow over the button and a Tool Tip will display the button's function in a couple seconds.  The second box is ICON OPTIONS which allows you to select LARGE or SMALL icons (button images).  Select SMALL.

Next week: more tips on the toolbars.

Netscape Tip: When the browser is open, CLICK on EDIT in the Menu Bar.  Trace down and click on PREFERENCES.  On the left side is a list.  CLICK on APPEARANCE.  In the center section on the right are three selection options.  CLICK on PICTURES ONLY.  Don't worry, if you don't remember what the button does, hold your mouse arrow over the button and a Tool Tip will display the button's function in a couple seconds.

Next week: more tips on the toolbars.

TOL02 Want to give yourself more web viewing room on the screen?
Internet Explorer Tip: You can compress your toolbars by eliminating the text beneath the tool buttons and use the tool-tips that activate when you hold your mouse pointer over a button for a few seconds. 

Click on VIEW in the menu bar.  Trace down to TOOLBARS.  Trace over and click on CUSTOMIZE.   In the bottom left corner of the dialog box are two options.  Change the TEXT OPTIONS to NO TEXT LABELS by using the drop-down menu.  Change the ICON OPTIONS to SMALL ICONS by using the drop-down menu.

Netscape Tip:  Click on EDIT in the menu bar.  Trace down and click on PREFERENCES.  Click on APPEARANCE.  In the SHOW TOOLBAR AS section click on (select) PICTURES ONLY. 


FIN01 Tip: Having trouble finding what you want -- or a link -- on a very crowded web page?
Internet Explorer and Netscape Tip: The easiest way to find a link or the data you are searching for on a web-page is to use the FIND feature.  Before you use this feature, make sure you are at the top of the page -- hold down the CONTROL KEY and press the HOME (CTRL+HOME).  Click on EDIT in the menu bar, trace down to and click on find on this page (or use CTRL+F).  Fill in the name of the link or text item you are looking for, such as "tip" then click on FIND NEXT..  Continue clicking on FIND NEXT until you locate the item of your search.

WevTV:  The easiest way to find a link or the data you are searching for on a web-page is to use the FIND feature.  Before you use this feature, make sure you are at the top of the page.  Click on OPTIONS on your controller.  Click on FIND and type in the item you are looking for on the page then click on FIND ON PAGE.


SP01 Problem: Getting Rid of Porn Spam
I don't know about the rest of you, but I am sick of being inundated with porn spam.  And, it comes to your  from some of the most unbelievable ways.

The other day, my visiting girls (15 and 19) were downloading some music (.mp3 versions for listening)  from the LimeWire site (some of the newer rock type music) and along with it appeared a folder in my favorites leading to Adult Images. Another site where this can happen  is Morpheus (also a great site to download music for your own listening pleasure). 

My girls  were unaware of this additional information being placed on my computer (you can bet they got the 3rd degree), as they rarely use my favorites to search for anything.  I discovered the new folder because I was looking for font sources.  I opened it and was appalled to find additional folders for men, women, women with women, men with men, women and/or men with beasts, and the list goes on, containing images that I would never have placed on my computer (I viewed one picture in one folder and that was enough to let me know what the rest of the folders contained).  I am a not only a webmaster but graphic artist and have spent years in drawing studios sketching nudes, so I am not shocked by the site of a nude body.  But I do not want pornographic pictures loaded to my computer.  That is a direct invasion of my privacy and as far as I am concerned just another form of stalking on the part of those who send their spam emails with graphic poses.

So, how do you get rid of this type of invasion to your privacy?  There is a new website where you can report pornographic spam.  It is: www.ObscenityCrimes.org

 Is There Porn On Your Computer?

I found more porn that had been placed on my computer by searching for the following words:  adult, erotic, porn, sex, nude, and x or xx or xxx.  I'll tell you in a minute how to search for words and check the list.  But first I want everyone to understand that this happens from a variety of innocent ways.

I searched for graphics to create a logo for a client.  One of the search words I used was "couple".  Well, I got all kinds of results back from the search engine.  Those that specifically stated they were xxx rated I did not even bother to look at.  Others stated they had images of couples in graphic formats and some sites were just what I was looking for (romantic embraces, couples dancing, etc.) others were not worded in such a way to let me know what I would find.  I did expect this, by the way, I know how search results work. 

Every time you open a link from a search engine, all the pictures from the page on that site are immediately placed on your computer.  Your browser does this automatically because it makes the site load faster next time you go back.  Unfortunately, there are many places you don't want to go back to. 

How do you search your computer?

 1.      Click START

 2.      Click SEARCH or FIND FILES OR FOLDERS

 3.      Trace over and click on FILES or FOLDERS

 4.      In the white dialog box next to or under “… search for files or folders named” you want to type: your word.*  Example:  adult.* this is typed with no spaces between the letters and characters).

5.      Check to make sure the drive the computer is going to search is C: -- check in the box next to the words “LOOK IN” – it should say something like: Local Hard Drive(s) C: or something referring to C:  – if it doesn’t type in C: 

6.      Click on FIND or FIND NOW button – The computer will search through all the files on your hard drive (that is the C drive) and create a list. 

If you want to see the size of the files, after the search is finished, you can click on VIEW in the Menu Bar, trace down and click on DETAILS.  You can click on the SIZE column header once and it will sort in ascending order, click SIZE column header again and it will sort in descending order, showing you the largest files on top of the list.

7.      After the computer is finished finding all the files, click on any file in the list to select that one file and press the DELETE key.  If you want to select several files, but they are not in a row together, hold the CTRL key down after you click on the first file and then click the next file.  Continue holding the CTRL key down and click on other files.  (If a whole folder is placed there that you are SURE contains stuff you don't want -- you may have to open a file or fold up to see what's in it) you can also delete that by clicking on it as if it were a single file.

8.      Press the DELETE key on the booster keypad (that’s the key pad between the regular typing keyboard and the numeric key pad).  The files will be put into your RECYCLE BIN

9.      Close the find files or folders window and right-click on the RECYCLE BIN icon on the desktop.  Trace to and click on EMPTY RECYCLE BIN.  Click YES in answer to the question do you want to delete these files.

Now you can report PORN SPAM to Obscenity Crimes at http://www.obscenitycrimes.org  NOTE:  They recommend you unsubscribe to any list you did not subscribe to... DO NOT UNSUBSCRIBE that will only increase the number of PORN emails you receive because they have found a "live" email address.

 

Tired of getting all the SPAM email?  Here's a way to put a STOP to a large number of those annoying emails.  Visit http://spamcop.net/ - register and start reporting those annoying senders.  SpamCop shuts them down, and forces them to get a new server, etc.  It becomes cost-ineffective for them to keep sending spam to you and they find out quickly.

 

COK01 GOOD COOKIES VS. BAD COOKIES

With the increased onslaught of junk mail I have received, I am repeating this article as I am sure I'm not the only one being drenched with SPAM mail.

WARNING; When you receive spam, delete it.  NEVER UNSUBSCRIBE to a list that you did not personally subscribe to.  This is how spam marketeers get a live email address that they in turn sell to thousands of companies who will inundate you with spam mail.  Never let them know they found a "live" email address.  Most of the time they are "fishing" for emails and will stop sending if there is no response after a few trys.

Some Cookies Lose Their Taste

Everyone Loves Cookies!  So, when does a cookie not  taste as sweet anymore?  When aggressive spamsters place them on your computer for future emailings. 

Normally the cookies placed on your computer are harmless, good things that help the sites you visit load up faster the next time your go there.  But, lately, advertisers and scumsters (you know the ones -- asking you if you want to enlarge various body parts, etc.) have been placing cookies on your website that enable them to get your email information so they can send you their spam notices. 

Now you can download an easy to use, FREE, program that removes these cookies and components placed on your computer and help eliminate some of the spam (if only we could eliminate it all!)  Go to http://www.lsfileserv.com/ and download Ad-Ware's latest version. 

Webmasters recommendation:  Use the CNET download option (it's easier).

Quick  Fact Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility that scans your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware and scumware components and lets you remove them safely. It is updated frequently.

If you are new to Ad-aware, we recommend you read the getting started tutorial on their site.

Ad-aware is a small and easy to use program that will scan your system for known advertising systems, and lets you remove them safley from your system.

During the process Ad-aware scans your memory, registry and file system for known modules.
If a related module is found in memory, it means the spyware was active until Ad-aware detected and unloaded the particular module.

Example:   If TSADBOT.EXE is found in your memory, it means that Timesink is not only installed, but also active. Nearly all of your internet related and general system settings are stored in the registry. Ad-aware will scan parts of your registry for modifications or values and references to known spyware.  Finaly your harddrive(s) will be scanned for known spyware files. After the scanning process, you can view a list of all spyware references residing on your system, and select removal.  In short terms: Ad-aware helps you to get rid of spyware.

Please make sure that you always use the latest version, as Ad-aware is updated on a regular basis.

 

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SP02  Problem: SPAM
Spam mail seems to be on the increase.  My email box in flooded daily with so much junk mail it takes 30 minutes to weed through it. 

One thing to help eliminate some of this is to user the BLOCK SENDER option in your email browser.  You do not have to open the email to use this feature. 

  • Simply click one time on the first occurrence of the offending email to highlight it. 
  • Then click MESSAGE in the email browser menu bar and
  • trace down to and click on BLOCK SENDER
  • say YES to the option to remove all messages from this sender

The next time that person sends you an email, it is automatically sent to your delete folder.


I have also found a great program for checking mail and pointing out potential spam called MAIL WASHER.  Its completely free to download and use, and there is an option to pay a nominal fee for the advanced version if you like the program and wish to get all the toots and whistles offered. 

 

I am currently using the trial version and it's very effective.  You use this before you open your regular email (like you email browser).  One nice feature is the BOUNCE option.  If you check BOUNCE  next to a potential or actual spam, it sends a fake email back saying "address not found" giving the spamming group/company the impression they have a bad email address and they eliminate your email from their lists.

You use MAIL WASHER before opening your email.  Once you target offending mail and process the mail, the program launches your email browser and lets you get your regular mail.

 

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SP04  Sneaky e-card installs porn ‘worm’
Click above link or image to read the rest

Card turns PCs into spam generators, but is it a virus?

Users who try to view the e-card are warned they must install new software and told in small print of the End User License Agreement that the program will access the installer’s address book.

Oct. 25 —  It’s part spam, part pop-up porn ad software, part computer virus, part e-greeting card — but a complete nuisance. Internet users are starting to complain to their anti-virus providers about a suspicious e-mail making the rounds that purports to be a harmless electronic greeting card. But trying to pick up the card has severe consequences: a copy of the e-card e-mail is sent to everyone in the recipient’s Outlook e-mail address book, similar to the worm-like behavior of the Melissa virus or the LoveBug. The incident highlights a disturbing trend: spam advertisers taking up tactics used by virus writers.                By Bob Sullivan - MSNBC

The internet is a great place to have fun and learn many things, but there is always that small element that wants to ruin the fun.  They target the innocent, unsuspecting user and children.  Please read the rest of the article above and warn your children about not opening E-Cards or E-Mail from people they don't know, or from those they do know who don't use a "code word" in the SUBJECT portion of the email.

Webmaster@arbutusbiz.com

 

Sneaky Toolbar Hijacks Browsers

It's the most evil thing on the Internet, according to some of its victims. But it's not a virus, a scam or a raunchy porn site.

It's a browser toolbar that some swear is doing "drive-by downloads" -- installing itself without users' permission -- then taking over their systems and making it impossible to uninstall. "When I find the [expletive deleted] who programmed this thing I'd be happy to castrate them with a pair of dull pinking shears," fumed one of Xupiter's many unhappy victims in a newsgroup posting.

Xupiter is an Internet Explorer toolbar program. Once active in a system, it periodically changes users' designated homepages to xupiter.com, redirects all searches to Xupiter's site, and blocks any attempts to restore the original browser settings.

The program attempts to download updates each time an affected computer boots up, and has been blamed for causing system crashes. Several versions of Xupiter also appear to download other programs, such as gambling games, which later appear in pop-up windows.

Some said that Xupiter has taken over their browsers ...read the rest

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Web Use Trends Ever Upward - So Why Not Create Your Own Web Site?

The Web is becoming an increasingly important part of consumers' everyday lives, a recent survey has found.  

Although many say the dot-com economy is gone (and it is for the get-rich-quickies), it hasn't curbed the public's appetite for shopping, banking and generally amusing themselves on the World Wide Web.

Significantly more people are using the Web to send pictures and videos, shop, download music, play games and do their banking, according a study that compares last year's habits with those of 2000. The study was released on Thursday by Ipsos-Reid, a consumer marketing research firm.

Online shopping has increased dramatically, according to the study. Nearly two-thirds of 2,900 Web surfers Ipsos-Reid surveyed said that they had at some point in time bought something online, up from 36 percent of those surveyed in 2000. The biggest markets for online shopping, according to the 12-country study, are in the United States and the United Kingdom, where 77 percent and 68 percent of Web users surveyed, respectively, have made purchases online.

Downloading music files has also increased in popularity, to the chagrin of the music industry. The percentage of Web surfers downloading music files online increased to 44 percent last year, up from 38 percent in 2000. The largest jump in music downloading took place in China, Russia, Mexico and Brazil, the study said.

Not wanting to get left behind , wireless phones with picture- and video- swapping features have jumped onto the band wagon, and there is a growing demand for digital cameras that accompanies the falling prices for personal computers and Web access, and the introduction of new Internet-surfing devices.

The research firm did point to a potential downside to the upswing in Web use.

You don't have to have a computer to have a website.  You may not even care about websites, but the general public does, and those with and effectively programmed site get all the action. 

Anyone can put up a website, and unfortunately it often shows.  Your website says volumes about your business, and offers a  24-7 presence to the general public.  If you have a tooth ache, you go to a dentist for care.  Creating your own web site is like trying to drill your own tooth.  You can do it, but does it get done right?  Do you know about government regulations and compliance issues, how to effectively get your site ranked highly in search engines without having to buy the spot, or how to find the best host for your website so you don't end up tossing out good money because so-and-so uses them, or who not to register your domain name with nay why, or the pitfalls of using one of those $5 a year register your domain name sites?

You are a business professional and you know your business inside-out.  You work hard to create your public image.  So why just slap up a bunch of pages, with a cookie-cutter template supplied by a program that hundreds of thousands use?  That impression tells people, "I'm cheap, I do my own site."  If you want to maintain the same level of professionalism you strive for in your business, get a reliable web master to take care of your web site.  Look into e-commerce for sales online (and be careful there about security), but remember,  just taking inquires by email can boost your sales.

I have been visiting hundreds of sites lately, to get information for various clients, or add links requested by clients, and it's appalling how long it takes to navigate to find what I'm looking for, especially contact information.  It's like some of these people don't want you to know how to reach them.  Big mistake!  Another big mistake is the lack of actual content on the site... they are a series of outlines with vapid information.  Good grief!  Why waste my time?

ArbutusBiz Webmaster is now stepping off soapbox.


Palyh is the second new computer worm to spread within the last week, and is much less of a danger than Fizzer. Palyh (w32.palyh@mm), also known as Mankx, is approximately 50K in size, and spreads via e-mail and shared network files. Palyh affects all Windows users, but users of Mac, Linux, and Unix can still pass on an infected e-mail to a Windows user. Since the worm also spreads by shared network files, users do not need to have Outlook installed to become infected. Palyh also contains its own e-mail engine in order to send copies of itself. This worm does not contain a damaging payload. Therefore, the Palyh worm rates only a 4 on the CNET Virus Meter.

How it works
Palyh arrives via e-mail or shared network file. The e-mail appears to be from support@microsoft.com with an attached file. Immediately one should be suspicious because Microsoft does not send out unsolicited support announcements via e-mail. 

The e-mail’s subject line may include one of the following:

Your details
Approved (Ref: 38446-263)
Re: Approved (Ref: 3394-65467)
Your password
Screensaver
Re: My details
Cool screensaver
Re: Movie
Re: My application

The e-mail’s attachment may have one of the following filenames:

your_details.pif
ref-394755.pif
approved.pif
password.pif
doc_details.pif
screen_temp.pif
screen_doc.pif
movie28.pif
application.pif

The worm will not automatically execute; you must open the attached file to become infected with Palyh. Upon execution, the worm attempts to make the following changes to the system Registry so that the worm will load each time you start up your computer:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\System Tray
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\System Tray

Palyh also spreads via shared network files. It attempts to copy itself to the following directories on remote systems:

Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Windows\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Prevention
In general, do not open attached files in e-mail without first saving them to hard disk and scanning them with updated antivirus software. Contact your antivirus vendor to obtain the most current antivirus signature files that include Palyh.

Removal
A few antivirus-software companies have updated their signature files to include this worm. This will stop the infection on contact and in some cases will remove an active infection from your system. For more information, see Central Command, Computer Associates, F-Secure, McAfee, Norman, Panda, Sophos, Symantec, and Trend Micro.

Microsoft never sends out email... do not open this document and anything that says it came from support@microsoft.com, articles@microsoft.com, screensaver@microsoft.com.  Or any other name from microsoft.com.   

Webmasters note:  I don't know if it was coincidental or not, but after checking my emails with Norton Antivirus 2003, I opened one of the emails to check the properties and source information, then forwarded the email to Microsoft's Legal Department.  After that, when using my Microsoft Word program I kept getting "dangerously low memory" notifications.  It took me two days to clear up the problems on my computer -- not to mention all the frustration.  

Again, I cannot emphasize enough the necessity of having a good virus protection program.  So far I still like Norton Antivirus 2003 because it also checks for worms as well as viruses.  Perhaps if I had not opened the file I would not have had the problems, but I felt it was necessary to inform Microsoft of the emails.

 

Content on this site is virus free.  A random image generator changes the pictures. 
Stop the ActiveX warning from popping up all the time?

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