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Protect Your PC
How To Get Free
Microsoft Security Updates For Your Computer
Protecting your computer
from viruses, worms, and other hacker attacks is an unfortunate part
of life on the Internet. Because Microsoft Corp. products have
proven vulnerable to such threats, the company helps its customers
fight back with its security updates system.
A list of
Microsoft security updates, available at http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins, is updated, when
needed, on the second Tuesday of each month. If you use Microsoft
products (such as Windows, Internet Explorer, Office, and MSN
Messenger, among others), we strongly recommend you visit this web
page monthly to download the critical software fixes (called
"patches") listed there. At this web page, you can sign up to
receive e-mail, instant messaging, or RSS alerts each time a major
security update is released.
The Microsoft Windows Update
Web site ( http://update.microsoft.com ) provides another easy
way to quickly install software fixes for Microsoft products. When
you visit this web page, your PC is automatically scanned for
missing critical software updates, providing you a list of updates
that you can choose to install.
It's important to remember
that Microsoft will NEVER e-mail you software updates or patches as
e-mail attachments. Malicious hackers have been known to send spoof
e-mail messages that appear to come from Microsoft, urging you to
download the accompanying attachment to prevent infection by a virus
or worm. These attachments are actually worms or viruses themselves.
If you are not currently set up to automatically receive software
updates from Microsoft, ALWAYS be sure to go to Microsoft web pages
to download Microsoft-related patches and service packs rather than
doing so via links e-mailed to you.
Of course, it is vitally
important to use and regularly update your computer's anti-virus
software. Always scan file attachments of all incoming e-mail
messages, even messages from people you trust. Many viruses and
worms are spread over networks, through attachments, and by sharing
storage media such as diskettes, Zip disks, and CDs. You have the
ultimate responsibility for protecting your computer against these
threats.
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High-Speed Internet Is Now Available
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More information
about our High-Speed Everywhere service is available online at
www.gtcbroadband.com or call us toll free,
877-GET-GTC-1.
Certain restrictions apply. Not available in all
areas.
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Ask The Help Desk
Is There A Shortcut
When Using Online Drop-Down Boxes?
Question:
Sometimes when I'm using a drop-down box while making a purchase
online, it takes forever to scroll down to the item I'm looking for.
Is there a better way?
Answer: Yes,
there is a better way. We'll illustrate how with an example.
Let's say you're filling out an online shopping cart form
that asks you to select the item you intend to purchase from a
drop-down box. The site's drop-down box includes dozens of products
(listed alphabetically) for you to choose from. If you are
purchasing an apron, you're all set since your product starts with
the letter "a" and will be listed towards the top. But what if you
are buying an umbrella? You'd have to scroll down through lots of
products to get to "umbrellas."
Here's a quicker way. When
you get to a drop-down box, type in the first letter of the item
you're hunting for. You'll find that items beginning with that
letter start popping up in the box. So, for the example above,
simply type in the letter "u" and products starting with "u" (there
can't be many) will come up. No more scrolling!
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Great Sites To Check Out This
Month
Photos Of Cats With
Stuff On Them
http://stuffonmycat.com - It's exactly what
it sounds like ˜ lots of pictures of cats with stuff on them ...
styrofoam packing peanuts, shower caps, post-it notes, empty pizza
boxes, celery sticks, headphones, jig saw puzzle pieces, loose
change, etc. There are some pretty funny pictures. Go check them
out!
Do-It-Yourself Appliance Repair
http://Appliance411.com - This site offers free
repair help for do-it-yourselfers when it comes to fixing broken
washing machines, dryers, microwaves, garbage disposals,
humidifiers, dishwashers, stoves, trash compactors, water filters,
refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and more. Looking for an
owner's manual for your make and model? Appliance411.com can help.
Looking for the model number on your appliance but can't locate it?
You've come to the right place!
See Our Nation's Fall
Foliage By Rail
http://amtrak.com - Autumn is a great time
of the year to travel the states to see the many colors of nature.
Why not leave the driving to someone else this fall and travel by
train? AMTRAK operates the U.S.'s national passenger rail service
and offers a variety of scenic tours throughout our beautiful
country. AMTRAK's Web site provides information on schedules, fares
and reservations, station locations, and on their "Small Groups Save
Big" travel savings program.
Learning Science Can Be
Fun
http://ars.usda.gov/is/kids - This site is an
interesting learning resource targeted toward kids ages 8-13.
(Adults can learn a lot here too!) The Web site is sponsored by the
United States Department of Agriculture and was developed by the
Agricultural Research Service information staff in Beltsville,
Maryland. Topics reviewed include "Tastes Like Chicken" (edible
bugs), "Vinegar: More Than Just A Salad Dressing," "Powerful Plants
Meet Tough Tanks," and "What's Good About Sewer Bacteria."
The World's Largest Balloonfest
http://balloonfiesta.com - The end of this month
marks the beginning of the largest hot air balloon festival in the
world. Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosts this annual event which this
year runs from September 30th through October 9th. Over 700
balloonists participate in simultaneous liftoffs and a variety of
flying accuracy competitions. Balloons with special shapes (i.e.
piggy bank, stagecoach, cow) are also a part of the event agenda.
Check out the site for a huge picture gallery and more event
details.
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Short Tutorial
Opening And Saving
Received vCard Information
Last month we provided
tutorials on how to create and send vCards via e-mail. Remember,
vCards are digital business cards that can be attached to outgoing
e-mail messages. The vCards usually contain text-based information
(such as address, phone, and fax numbers) and appear as attachments
that have a ".vcf" file extension name.
The tutorials below
show you how to open and then save information contained within
received vCards to then be placed into your address book.
Opening/Saving a vCard in Outlook Express When Using
Windows XP:
1) When receiving a vCard attachment
from a friend or a business associate, first save the vCard
attachment to your desktop.
2) Open your address book by
clicking your cursor arrow on its icon in the Outlook Express tool
bar or by going to the Outlook Express "Tools" menu and clicking on
"Address Book" from the drop-down menu.
3) When the Address
Book Window opens, click on the "File" menu and drop down to
"Import." Click on "Business Card (vCard)" from the resulting
submenu.
4) When the "Import Business Card (vCard)" window
opens, navigate to the saved vCard on your desktop and click on it
to select it.
5) Click on the "Open" button.
6) The
vCard properties window will open. Click "Okay" to save and close.
The vCard information will now be saved onto your Outlook Express
address book.
Opening/Saving a vCard in Entourage
When Using Macintosh OS X:
1) Double click your
cursor arrow on the vCard attachment.
2) The vCard will open
in its own window.
3) Click on the "Save" button on the
vCard's button bar. The vCard information will be saved to your
Entourage address book.
Opening/Saving a vCard in
Mail.app When Using Macintosh OS X:
Double click
your cursor arrow on the vCard that you were sent. Your address book
will open automatically and display the information that was in the
vCard.
Opening/Saving a vCard When Using
Mozilla-based E-mail Programs:
While the Mozilla
based e-mail software programs (i.e. Netscape 7.2 and Thunderbird
1.0) can send vCard attachments, they don't allow you to import the
contact information directly into your address book. However, the
information shows up in the preview window so you can simply copy
and paste the information into a new address book entry.
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