[   SOME PARTS OF THIS PAGE WERE LAST UPDATED DECEMBER 29, 2007   ]
		ABOUT THIS SECTION This "Tips & Technical Information" section was originally written in 2002; parts will be updated as necessary or when time permits. (Some of the items listed below are also accessed from other sections of this web site.) The 19 "Items" listed below (ten in PART 1 and nine in PART 2) are each brought up in a pop-up window. They define some basic computer terms relating to the use of the Internet for "web browsing" (PART 1) and for using email (PART 2). It is suggested you first read these Items in the order listed in each of the PART 1 and PART 2 sub-sections shown below. Note:   This "introductory" information will not take the place of good books on your bookshelf. For deeper explanation than what is provided here, please refer to your books, your browser's online Help, and other print documentation materials. Note:   The "Tips & Technical Info" section will be an on-going work in progress for some time. Please be patient. Other parts of the BHS-1957 web site take priority; in due time, all items on the Contents list below will be completed and this Note omitted. CLICK ONLY ONCE on the links below. A second ("double-click") places the pop-up window behind this main window (you won't see it unless you move the main window to the right). Also, close each pop-up window when you are done reading its information.
		PART 1 - USING THE INTERNET TO BROWSE WEB SITES Overview of the Internet   A graphical overview of the Internet, ISPs, and basic terms. Introduction to the Internet   What is the Internet? What are ISPs? Who can use the Internet? Why might YOU want to use the Internet? What is downloading and uploading? Internet Service Providers   The basic difference in services between ISPs like AOL, MSN, and CompuServe (at one end of the spectrum) and the "plain old vanilla" ISP services offered in your local town. The importance of good technical support, especially for webmasters. Browsers and URLs   What is a browser? Netscape and Internet Explorer (IE) browsers. What is a URL? What is a domain name? Using URLs and bookmarks effectively. Setting your browser's Preferences. Setting your browser's "Home Page" (this means setting the very first page you will view when you go online). Increasing or decreasing font size. Setting your computer monitor's resolution for best viewing of most web sites. Enabling JavaScript   See your browser's Preferences (Tools, Options, Settinge, etc.) for the checkbox option that enables JavaScript to see the "pop-up" pages of this web site -- for example, parts of the Green Door game, many photo enlargements, or even the pop-up pages with more techie info available on THIS page. JavsScript also displays the date and time on the BHS-57 Home Page, and more neat features. (If you can see the date and time on the Home page, your browser is already enabled for JavaScript). Search Engines   List of search engines commonly used to find information on the Internet. BHS-57 grads' ratings of search engines. (Note: Send me your ratings to add to this table.) Web Crawler Programs   Introducing "web crawler" programs (sometimes called "spider bots" or "robots"), and what they do for search engines. (Note: The BHS-57 web site disallows web crawlers to index the Email Contact page.) PDF Files   The basics about PDF files; why and how they are created, and what you need to download, open and read them from any web site or when receiving them as attachments in email. Why you need Adobe's free Acrobat Reader software, and where to get it. (Note: Also, from the BHS-57 Home page, see the separate web site section that organizes all the PDF files provided on this web site.) Computer Viruses and WORMs   How can a computer virus get onto your computer? What is a WORM? Where can you get online info about specific computer viruses? How can you avoid computer viruses? Which viruses are really just "virus hoaxes?" [to write yet - in the meantime, see the related "Emailed Virus Hoaxes" in the PART 2 Contents below.] Computer Cookies   YOU don't set cookies on your computer, but many web sites DO set them on YOUR computer; do you know why? How you can see WHICH web sites set cookies on your computer. How to stop cookies from being set on your computer. Why, when, and where to delete the cookies from your PC or Mac computer. Links to web sites that throughly explain cookies in more detail. (Note: The BHS-57 web site is certified 100% free of cookies; it sets no cookies on your computer.) SPECIAL REPORT:   I have received permission from the publisher, Robert Gwynn of the NACL (National Anti-Cookie League) to reprint a 3-page article titled "Is Your E-mail Watching You?" by Stefanie Olsen. The article was published in the April 2002 "Cookie-Watch," a bi-monthly NACL newsletter, and emailed to subscriber webmasters whose web sites are NACL-certified to be 100% free of cookies (which includes this BHS Class of 1957 web site). If spam is choking your email In Box, please go to the PDF file Downloads section and, from there, download and read this full article about how spam comes not only from web sites you visit, but also may come from email encoded in HTML. The article describes how the "web-page-like" HTML email often has hidden cookies placed there by marketers. These kinds of cookies are a lot harder to locate and are used by marketers to track your online moves. You are usually unaware that you are being "bugged." You should be particularly cautious about subscribing to online email newsletters and e-zines which are normally sent in HTML (web-page-like) code. Inquire about the publisher's privacy policies regarding the use of hidden cookies to be sure none are attached to the emailed newsletter or e-zine by their advertisers (for example, hidden in the HTML code of banner ads). ANOTHER SPECIAL REPORT:   I have received permission from the publisher, Robert Gwynn of the NACL (National Anti-Cookie League) to reprint a two-page article by David Becker and Robert Gwynn which was published in the July 2002 "Cookie-Watch," the bi-monthly NACL newsletter.   This article, related to cookies, describes how Microsoft recently released a patch for a pair of "critical" security holes in its Internet Explorer web browser, but was still investigating a widely publicized vulnerability in its Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating system. If you are a PC user running version 5 through 6 of Internet Explorer to access the Internet, Microsoft urges you to download the new patch that fixes some flaws they have rated as "critical." [I strongly advise you to go to the PDF File Downloads section and, from there, download and read this full article and, if appropriate for your system, to get the patch that Microsoft suggests. Marilyn.]
		PART 2 - USING THE INTERNET TO EXCHANGE EMAIL Introduction to Email   What is email? What is an email address? Various "mail" programs you might like to try. The basic mailboxes (IN, OUT or SENT, Trash). How and when to empty your email Trash and compress (compact) your mailboxes. Spam and Email Etiquette   How/when to open email. Recognizing spam (junk email) without opening it. Setting your line length (and word wrap) for easy printing of email. Using and snipping threads. Forwarding email, and when not to. Attaching files to email. Embedding graphics inside email. Writing business email versus email to friends. Special considerations. Email Emoticons, Text Symbols, Abbreviations, Text Mode   There are four parts to this pop-up info. First, a few of the dozens of emoticons (tiny graphic icons that represent emotions) are provided here; you can copy (screen capture) them from here and later paste (embed) them into email, if you like that kind of "cutesy" thing. Second, for those who still prefer to send/receive email in "Plain" text mode rather than "Enhanced" text mode, there are thousands of text symbols that represent emotions available on the Internet. Some of the more common text symbols (and their meanings) are included here; for example, the text symbols such as :-) and ;-( are listed. Third, the meanings of some common text abbreviations like "lol," "tia," and others are also given in this pop-up. Fourth, the Text Mode differences are briefly described. This is an introduction to using the Enhanced/Stylized/Web-Based text mode versus using the Plain text mode. Email Folders   Using folders to aid in organizing your email. (This is particularly helpful to people -- like me -- who have thousands of email messages in their IN and OUT mailboxes.) Email Filters   How to set up filters and apply an IF-THEN rule to all incoming email so that junk email is either automatically deleted (not put into your IN BOX) or is filed in a special folder. Filtering email from someone (such as people placing orders for your online business) into specific folders you have set up. Filtering junk email (sometimes called "spam") so it's automatically deleted by your ISP. Chain Letters   As a general rule, why you should NEVER send or forward "chain email" letters to others (especially if they are about virus scares and you haven't checked them out yourself). When and how you can break this rule. Email Hoaxes   How you can learn if an emailed message to you about a "computer virus" is truly a virus or just an email "scare" hoax passed on by unsuspecting friends who did not check it out. This information lists well-known web sites where you can check to see if the suspected virus is a known virus or just a hoax. JPEG and GIF Files   The basic differences in these graphics files, and how you can email them (inline in the email message or as attachment files). [to write yet] Email Scams and Identity Theft   On January 14, 2004, Robert Vamosi, Sr. Associate Editor for www.zd-net.com, wrote an article [too long to put in a pop-up window] stating that shortly after the beginning of 2004, Earthlink customers received an email requesting that they update their personal account information. The email contained a link to what LOOKED LIKE an Earthlink Web page. However, the message requested information, such as Social Security Number and mother's maiden name, that an ISP shouldn't need to know. The other suspicious thing was that the email was sent from an MSN.com account. Turns out that the email was a "phishing" (pronounced "fishing") scam for the purpose of identity theft. [Note: To learn more about this scam and how you can protect yourself from email scams like that, I strongly advise you to go to the PDF File Downloads section and, from there, download and read Robert's full article. The article tells you how to recognize a scam email, what to do when you receive one, and gives explicit guidelines on how to report it to the FTC. Marilyn.] Robert's 2-page article ends with this important reminder: "Phishing scams aren't going to go away overnight. And, like it or not, it's up to us to stop them. Just as we've all learned by now not to open e-mail attachments from people we don't know (so as to prevent the spread of viruses), we also need to recognize attempts made by identity thefts to rip us off via e-mail and the Web. Scrutinize every message you get, and don't be quick to give out your personal information. Only when we stop falling for these scams will they finally go away."
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