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Surfin’ the World Wide Web

There’s just no way around it! The internet is essential in our lives these days, so why try to avoid it. There are so many great things that can be learned and accomplished online, you just need to learn where to start and how to avoid the pitfalls of the web.

First off, just know that not every website is safe to view. There are viruses galore on the internet, so don’t get out of control with your clicking. It doesn’t hurt to get a good firewall or an anti-virus program to help safeguard your computer. This is especially important when you have children online. Which leads to the next tip: teach your children about internet safety.

It’s a scary world online for children. Between predators and sites with questionable content, you really don’t want to let your child surf the web alone! You can buy software that will block out bad sites, but the main thing you need to do is just teach your children about the dangers of the internet.

Now, the internet can be just as bad for adults as well. There are millions of time wasters out there, and it’s really easy to just get sucked in. From social network sites like Twitter and Facebook to video sites like YouTube, there’s so much time thrown away online. So, be smart about it! Set yourself a time limit and stick to it. That way, you will avoid just wasting time online. However, setting aside some time from work-related tasks can be extremely beneficial. Take some time to visit sites like 888 ladies where you can play a variety of games and relieve some stress.

Lastly, let’s look at online shopping. It really is a wonderful thing, especially when you want to avoid the crowds around the holidays. You can get all your shopping done in one afternoon, without even getting out of your pajamas. You still need to be careful though. Not all sites are safe to use your credit card on. So, if you really want to be safe, use Paypal or a prepaid credit card to do your shopping.

Happy surfing!

Filed Under: Computers, Internet Tagged With: Facebook, World Wide Web, YouTube

Online Scams are Getting Harder to Detect

The online world is not only growing, but it’s getting more dangerous. There are scams and fake viruses and all kinds of things that can do damage to someone’s system or website. Why do people do this? Nobody knows except that they like messing with people. They like saying, “I did it.” Keep the following advice in mind when using the Internet.

Fake links from financial institutions: If an email came in that asks you to check or resubmit any information concerning bank accounts, personal information like an SSN, or any information do NOT click the link provided in the email. Go directly to the site of the financial institution using a different window. A recent study shows that criminals make over 57,000 fake Internet sites PER WEEK. It’s not a bad idea to pick up the phone and call the institution to personally speak with a representative.

Don’t Say You’re Leaving Town on Twitter

Facebook and Twitter are major sources of malware. A fake will usually post a link to a video that says something like, “Is this really you?” It will say something that warrants a reaction, like, “I’m in Mexico and I need money to get home!” When clicked on, it won’t do anything suspicious and the user is unaware they’ve been hacked. Use a different way to ask the friend if they posted it. Clicking on it will open the phone or computer to a virus that tracks all the keystrokes the user makes. Keystrokes = password.

Use a firewall so most hackers are unable to get into the computer. Bank accounts, email, PayPal and other systems claim they’re safe, but the user has to do their part. Use passwords that are long sequences of numbers, letters (in upper and lower case) and symbols. Change these every six months or so.

Use more than common sense, use caution!

Filed Under: Hardware, Internet Tagged With: Facebook, JavaScript, Personally identifiable information, Twitter

Staying Connected

People can be connected in so many ways these days. Whether You like to text message, email, or use chat online, it’s really easy to keep in touch with those you love. Here are a few great tools you can use, just in case you need any more options.

1. Email Chatting
One of the easiest ways to keep in touch with someone is by using the chat function through your email. First, you need to make sure that you are using the same email program that the other person is. Whether it’s Yahoo mail, Gmail, or any other email program, you have access to the chat function. Once you log into your email, check your contacts to see if anyone you know is online. If they are, just send them a quick chat and you are on your way. It’s a really simple and quick way to talk to someone. Social network sites like Facebook also have similar chat functions. Once you log in, you can see which of your friends are online, then it’s as simple as sending a message to strike up your conversation.

3. Chatting With a Cell Phone
One of the great features that the Android phones have on them is the ability to use your email chat. By utilizing this function, you can send unlimited chats to someone logged into their email account, and you won’t be charged for texts. It’s a great way to keep in touch with those who might not have an unlimited texting cell phone plan.

4. Face to Face…or Rather Screen to Screen
There are loads of programs out there that allow you to video chat. All you need is an account with the provider and a webcam. With services like Skype, you have the option to use their free service, or you can pay a couple of cents per minute for their other plans. It’s a great way to keep in touch.

Filed Under: Internet Tagged With: Facebook, Skype

Great Internet Explorer Addons

If you are using the basic version of Internet Explorer, you’re probably happy with what you have. But, there are so many different addons that will make Internet Explorer even better. Here’s a list of a few you should really check out.

1. ShareThis
This is a really great addon that lets you share webpages through email, Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc. Now, many websites already have a similar function on them, but you will always run into those that don’t. And, as luck would have it, those are probably the websites you want to share.

2. ieSpell
Now, if you aren’t the best speller in the world, than this is the addon for you! This allows you to spell check your entries on any website that you want to enter text on. It’s a great way to prevent a spelling blunder and the subsequent embarrassment.

3. Videoronk
If you are one of the many people that love searching for videos online, this will be a great addition to your browser. Videoronk allows you to search eight of the top video sharing websites at the same time. It will save you time and frustration trying to find that laughing baby video you love so much.

4. IE7Pro
This is the be all, end all of Internet Explorer addons. This addon allows you to do a variety of different things that will make your browsing so much easier. It also contains a few of the features mentioned in the previous addons in our list. First, a powerful AD blocker. This is great if you just can’t stand all the pop-ups that seem to filter through other pop-up blocking programs. Another great feature is Grab&Drag. Here, you are able to navigate through the webpage by simply holding the left click button, and dragging the webpage around. It’s a great way to avoid the overused click-wheel.