Firefox opening screen

You can tell Firefox to open with a blank screen, a homepage that you choose or tell it to start with the last internet page that you visited. Sometimes, especially if your computer crashes, these options can change and you will want to reset them.

To reset the options Click on Tools (menu bar at the top of the screen) then Options. Click on Main and you will see a downward pointing arrow beside the words "When firefox starts". Click on this to reset to the option you want. The three options you can choose from are "Show my windows and tabs from last time" - Firefox will open with the pages you last viewed, "Show my home page" - Firefox will open with your chosen home page, or "Show a blank page".

Show icons on desktop

Sometimes, as if by magic, the icons on your desktop can disappear. You turn on the computer and all you see is the blank desktop and the mouse cursor. Don't panic, it's easy to get your icons back.

Just RIGHT click on a blank part of the desktop. Point your mouse at view and look to see if there is a tick beside "Show Desktop Icons". If there isn't, just click on it and your desktop icons will come back!

Warning when changing between secure and non secure pages

If you use Internet Explorer you will often see a warning dialog displayed when you change between secure and non secure parts of a website. You can stop this box from being displayed if you prefer.

Click on Tools on the menu bar at the top of the screen. Choose Internet Options.

Select the Advanced tab and scroll down to "security". Under security, remove the tick beside "warn if changing between secure and non secure mode".

How to place a picture behind text in Word

To make your picture or graphic sit behind the text on a page in Word, you need to change the text wrapping properties of the picture. There is more than one way to do this (isn't there always?). This is how to do it using a right click on your mouse.

Word 2007

Picture - RIGHT click on the picture and select "Text wrapping". Click on "Behind Text"

Shape - RIGHT click on the shape and select "Format autoshape". Click on the Layout tab and choose Behind Text.

Word 2003/XP/2000

Right click on picture, choose format picture, click on layout tab and choose behind text.

How to rotate the picture on your computer screen

A few weeks ago my cat walked across my laptop keyboard. Suddenly the picture on the screen was upside down. Try using the mouse when up is down and down is up - if you see what I mean!! Short of standing on my head something had to be done. I had to work out how to rotate the picture on my screen.

There are 2 solutions to this.

1) hold down the ctrol + alt keys. While holding them down press one of the 4 arrow keys.
Up arrow = picture right way up
Down arrow = picture upside down
Left arrow = picture facing lhs of screen
Rigth arrow = picture facing rhs of screen

2) Right click on the desktop, select graphics options and then rotate (I'm using Windows Vista)

Open all websites in a favourites sub folder

If you have a set of websites saved in a subfolder of your favourites, sometimes it can be helpful to open all the sites for comparison. Imagine you are house-hunting. You might have all your local estate agents in a folder named Estate Agents. If you point your mouse at this folder, you should see an arrow appear beside the folder. Click on this arrow open all of the websites in the folder, each in their own window.

How to Delete a Blogger Gadget

How do you delete a blogger (blogspot) gadget?

I answered this as a question on Yahoo Answers a few weeks ago. The answer must be read frequently as several visitors come to this blog from there. So here is the full answer.

All the entries in the right hand column of this blog are "gadgets". You can add them as you want. But if you don't want one of them any more, how do you delete it?

"Sign in" to your blog at the top right of your screen.

Once you have signed in "customise" will appear immediately next to sign in (which should now say sign out).

Click on "customise".

Make sure the "layout" tab is selected.

Click "Edit" on the gadget you want to delete

The gadget editing box will open.

In the bottom left of this box, click on "Remove"

Document Word Count

Sometimes when you've written a document or an article it is helpful to know how many words it contains.

Here's how to find the word count in your document.

Open Office & Word 2000/XP/2003

For all of these programs, click on File, then Properties and then Statistics.

Word 2007

In Word 2007, the word count is displayed at the bottom left of your screen.

Visited Link Colour

If you click on a link in a website and then return to the original link, you will usually see that the link you clicked on has changed colour. Sometimes this is useful - sometimes it is annoying. It is possible to change the colour of visited links. You might want them to be the same colour as non-visited links so that you can't see which links have been visited.

Click here for detailed instructions on how to change the colour in Internet Explorer or in Firefox

Spybot 2009 - Protect your privacy with spybot

Another nasty piece of spyware. This has NOTHING TO DO with the real spybot which is an effective spyware removal program. Delete the email and DON'T click on any links.

If you're sick of spam/scam you can use Spam Bully to regain control of your inbox. It's a highly effective, intelligent spam filter, with the added benefit of a feature that allows you to get your own back on the spammers!

To prevent viruses and spyware infections attacking your computer Use F-Secure. A highly effective and well respected internet security suite.

The Best Privacy Protection on the NetGet immediate access and protect yourself with Spybot 2009.Detect, remove and block spyware from your PC.Download Spybot 2009 HereAward winning software for the past 5 years.Steven PatricksSpybot Protection

When I pointed my mouse at one of the links in the email this is the link that was displayed at the bottom left of my screen. This is is the link that was displayed:



This is NOT the download link for the real spybot. To download the real Spybot, visit this link http://www.spybot.com/en/download/
If you think your computer has been infected with spyware, make sure you scan your computer with updated antivirus software and antispyware.

Changing the size of desktop icons in Windows Vista

If you are using Windows Vista and you find it hard to see the icons on the desktop, it is easy to change the size of the icons.

Point your mouse to a blank bit of the desktop and click the RIGHT mouse button. A menu will appear. Click on View in that menu. You should see three different options for the size of the icons, classic, medium and large. To make the icons larger, just click on medium or large.

AVG Security 2009

If you receive an email with the subject "antivirus support" telling you to download AVG Security 2009, DON'T click on the link. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AVG 2009 (sorry for shouting). This is a NASTY piece of spyware that will keep popping up messages on your computer.

If your computer does get infected messages will keep popping up telling you how many infections have been found etc. You will need to run genuine antivirus and/or antispyware software to rid yourself of the infection. The two pieces of antispyware software I recommend are Adaware from Lavasoft (beware of spyware laden imitations - click on the link for the real version of Adaware) or MalwareBytes.

If you are an AVG user, the latest version is AVG8. It has no connection with the fake 2009 spyware.

To prevent your computer from becoming infected with viruses and spyware you should install effective antivirus and antispyware software. One very effective and highly respected internet security suite is F-Secure. This protects you against viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, hackers and spam. It also helps protect children from unwanted internet content.

WordArt

Another Tuesday and another computer class.

This morning the class were grappling with WordArt. Once you've inserted a piece of WordArt into a document you will probably want to move it around. By default you can't usually do that. You need to change the WordArt layout, or text wrapping, properties. How do you do this?

Word 2007
Click on your WordArt so that it's handles (little squares) are displayed. Look on the WordArt ribbon at the top of the screen for a picture of a little dog and the words "text wrapping". Click on this. You will probably find that the layout is set to "in line with text". Change this to "square".

Look at your WordArt and you should see that it's handles have changed. Now you can point your mouse at the WordArt and look for a 4 headed arrow. When you can see this, you can drag and drop your WordArt.

Word 2000/XP/2003
As above, except that you will find the little dog symbol in the WordArt toolbar.

Open Office
You can drag and drop FontWorks without needing to change the text wrapping properties.

These layout/text wrapping properties also apply when you are using clip art.

A much more comprehensive description of WordArt and using ClipArt is included in my beginner's computer courses.

Colin Wong

With my toast and tea this morning I also had an email from Colin Wong. He tells me that I have the same name as a client of his who has died from a heart condition brought on by the death of his entire family in a plane crash in Malaysia. (I'm called Smith, a common name I know, but I doubt if many people in Malaysia are called Smith!)

Anyhow he wants me to help him dispose of $18m.

COLIN WONG & CO.
1ST FLOOR JALAN SUSUR
BATU 21, TAMAN NAM TAK
80000 KUALA LUMPUR
MALAYSIA

Good Day,

I am COLIN WONG, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine,who
hereinafter shall be referred to as my client, died as theresult of a
heart-relatedcondition on the 11 November 2001.His heart condition was
due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air
Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23,2000 -
2:50 p.m. ET as reported
on:http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08..html

I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind
by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the
bank where this deposit valued at EIGHTEEN MILLION TWO HUNDRED
THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS.(US$ 18,200,000.00 USD ).is lodged.

This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the
account will be confiscated.

My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the
next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the
same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to
you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage.

All legal documents to back up your claim as my client's next-of-kin
will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable
us see this transaction through.

This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect
you frommany breach of the law. If this business proposition offends
your moral values,do accept my apology.

I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the
utmostindulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential,
whatever your decision, while Iawait your prompt response. Please
contact me at once to indicate your interest.

Contact email : consultandlaw54@live.co.uk

Warmest Regards,

Barrister Colin Wong
(Attorney At Law)

As ever, Barrister Wong doesn't exist. At least not as a barrister. He's a scammer. He wants you to send him money, not the other way around. If you do reply he will ask for a fee to send you the money. There is no money. Delete the email and don't reply to it.

Microsoft Award/Claims Office

Microsoft® Award /Claims OfficeMicrosoft Award Team23 Craven Park, HarlesdenLondon NW10,United Kingdom**************************Dear lucky winner,This is to inform you that your email has won a consolation prize of theMicrosoft Corporation EMAIL DRAW held On 1st,Nov 08. Your email has wonyou £500,000.00(Five Hundred Thousand Great british Pounds) from MICROSOFTAWARD PROMOTION Batch #:409978E and Reference No:FL/668530092. For claims,contact us with the information below via email immediately within 24hrson receipt of thie email.To file for your claim, please contact our United Kingdom Processing Agentin Charge of your Zone with your details as stated below.Full name:Contact Address:Sex:Age:Tel:Occupation:Nationality:Your Zonal agent contact information is stated below:-Contact:Mr.Ben Oris.Head Winning Claims Dept.Email:mrbenoris24@live.comTell:+44-704-5721-1259

What a cheek. I've only won a consolation prize. Now, I know Mr G of Microsoft is a generous man. And I know he runs a charitable foundation that donates millions for good causes, but I'm not convinced he'd suddenly send me a consolation prize of £500k.

So, delete it. You haven't won anything, neither have I. It's yet another advanced fee fraud.

Peugeot Automobile Lottery

Next.
"Congratulations You Have Won....PEUGEOT AUTOMOBILES LOTTERY WINNING NOTIFICATIONLondon,United Kingdom.PEUGEOT ONLINE CAR /CASH AWARD PRIZE NOTIFICATION.This is to inform you that you have been selected for a cash prize of£300,000.00 (Three Hundred Thousand Great British Pounds) and a brandnewPeugeot 407 Car,From the International online programs held recentlyin London the United Kingdom "

"Sir John Greening,Phone: +447045712612E-mail:johngreening808@live.co.uk."

"With Best RegardsDominic GeraldLottery Manager."

Strange that "Sir John Greening" from peugeot only has a mobile phone number and a live.co.uk email address. You'd think Peugeot could afford to have a proper phone system installed, wouldn't you. Sorry, these emails bring out my facetious streak.

Even stranger, this email seems to have come from Hungary. Delete it. Don't reply. It's a scam from someone who thinks you will be daft enought to send them money, not the other way around.

Shuenn Jaan Machinery Co., Ltd.

Ah. A change. Someone wants to offer me a job.

"Dear Sir/Ma, Please can I have your attention for a moment? Would you like to work online from home temporarily and get paid weekly? Our Company Shuenn Jaan Machinery Co., Ltd. is a company based in Taiwan and we are into Manufacturer of plastic injection molding machines, Bakelite machines, dual-colors injection molding machines and accessories supplied worldwide since 1975 with numerous customers home and abroad. We produce various industrial machinery (machines) & equipments supply (supplies) you will be glad with our products. We need representatives in the United States,United Kingdon and Canada who will be in charge of all our payments from the United States,United Kingdon and Canada clients/customers. Most of our customers from United States,United Kingdon and Canada pay through their Bank account and Credit Card, which are not negotiable here in Taiwan. This brings our quest to employ a credible and trustworthy fellow as our representative to handle our payments. This would not affect your present job but serve as another stream of income to your good self. Being our representative and assisting us in processing the payments from our clients shall earn you a weekly salary and commission of about 20% of every payment you assist us with. Due to the fact that we can not process the United States,United Kingdon and Canada Bank Wire Transfer here in the Taiwan, we have lost in the past about ($200,000 USD) of net income each month because of money transfer delays. Most of our clients/customers who purchase our products need to pay large amount of money through their Bank Account. Your task is to coordinate payments from customers and help us with the payment process. You are not involved in any sales. If you are interested, email us back with the information below. Name: Address: Age: Sex: Home Phone: Office Phone: Bank Name: Your quick response will be appreciated. Best Regards, Mr Jack Terry SHUENN JAAN MACHINERY CO., LTD No.803, CHUNG SHAN N. RD., YUNG KANG CITY, TAINAN HSIEN TAIWAN R.O.C. http://www.soongiant.com.tw, Email: evaluation.terry9@gmail.com Tel: 886-6-2339590 ~4 Fax : 886-6-2331745 Mr Jack Jean BRANCH OFFICE IN ENGLAND 145 ISLING TON ROAD BANNER STREET Tel: +447031815746 Fax: +447931225788 Email:sheunnjannmac@gmail.com "

These guys don't want to give me money - they want me to assist in moving money. So I expect they want my bank account details!!!

Please don't get taken in my these people. They don't have a job for you. These guys are out to take money from your bank account, not put it into your bank account.

If you are desperate for extra income or in financial difficulties, speak to your local credit union, or financial advisor or check out your local factory, farm or supermarket to see if they have any casual work available.

Red Dot

Next up are "Red Dot". So keen are they to scam me - I mean give me money, that they can't even bothered to make up a story about who they are!

"Red dot award notificationWe are happy to notify you that your e-mail addresswas selected which won you 300,000 Dollars in ouron-going End of the year 2008 award presentation.To file for the claim of this award money you aretherefore advice to reply back with yourName....Address....Occupation....Contact number.......Age.....To view our previous award website link belowhttp://red-dot.deSend Details toEmail:replyreddot001@live.comRegardsDr. paul edwards (Red Dot)."

This singularly unimpressive scam cam from steve@profitonlinesecrets.com. A non existent website, presumably registered just for sending this scam. I feel if "steve" really does want to make a profit online then a more usual form of internet marketing might be a more useful "secret" to implement.

Sweepstakes International Program

First up this morning is the "Sweepstakes International Program". Here are some extracts.

"We happily announce to you the draw (1155) of the U.K NATIONALLOTTERY, online Sweepstakes International program"

Youhave therefore been approved to claim a total sum of £4,000.000.00 (Four MillionPounds Sterling) in cash

All participants for the online versionwer selected randomly from World Wide Web sites through computer draw systemand extracted from over "100,000" unions, associations, and corporate bodiesthat are listed online.

Contact Name: Henry SmithE-mail: agenthenrysmith@gmail.com

It even includes the following, very pertinent, warning about fraudulent lottery emails. Well - they should know.

Warning! Fraudulent emails are circulating that appears to be usingNational Lottery addresses, but are not from The National Lottery. PLEASEREPORT IMMEDIATELY

The sender of this email? ajl3@humboldt.edu A university in California. Clearly the regular curriculum there doesn't keep the little toads busy enough.

Delete this. You haven't won anything. Students Don't have £4m to give away.

Spam and Chips

I am becoming a fervent believer in spam. In the real world I have to work for a living (altogether now - aaahhhhh). In spam land I'm rich beyond my wildest dreams. Well, which would you prefer to believe in? Reality or spam? Answers on a postcard please.

Today I have an embarrassment of riches. So much indeed, that I feel it would be positively immoral to claim them all. So I'll post them all in the five posts above this and let you decide which I should claim and which I should leave for someone else.

Ok - I'm being facetious. They're all scams, as ever. Please don't reply if you receive them. You haven't won anything. Most are what is known as "advanced feed" frauds. Magically you have to pay a fee to receive your award or winnings. If you are taken in an pay the fee, another fee will follow. You'll never receive a penny, because there isn't any money. They are trying to get money from you not give it to you.

UK National Lottery

It's Saturday morning, and I should be doing the vacuuming and washing and tidying and cleaning and ............. But it's much more fun reading my spam email. This morning I have, apparently, won £250k on the UK National Lottery. The email is such utter rubbish that I couldn't resist reproducing it in full, not least because they seem to have invented a word - fudiciary. It probably ought to be a word, it has a certain ring about it, but as far I'm aware it isn't a word - at least not a real one with a meaning.

"Barrister Tim Rampton", who I am supposed to contact, appears to be a student at Humboldt University in California with a Hotmail email address. How very odd!!!!!!

"Subject: COMGRATULATION
BRITISH LOTTERY 6/49202 StraRoad, London,UNITED KINGDOM.***********************************************Ref: XYL/41623970018/08 Batch: 37/00918/TPD*********************************************** YOU HAVE WON £250,000 POUNDS STERLING.Attn: Our Dear Winner,By the Board of the BRITISH LOTTERY 6/49, you have won the sum of £250,000 (Two hundre and fifty Great British Pounds Sterling)from the BRITISH LOTTERY 6/49 on our2008 annual charity bonanza.The winning ticket was selected from a Data Base of Internet Email Users, from which your Address came out as the winning coupon.You are therefore requested to contact immediately out Claims Department belowquoting winning number: WINNING NUMBER: 16-06-42-11-65-14-{75}.PLEASE WE ADVISE YOU TO GET BACK TO THE FUDICIARY CLAIMS AGENT RESPONSIBLE FORYOUR CLAIMS WITH YOUR COMPLETE VERIFICATION FORM VIA EMAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLEFOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON YOUR WINNINGS.VERIFICATION AND CLEARANCE FORM TO BE FILLED:(1) FULL NAMES:(2) ADDRESS:(3) SEX:(4) AGE:(5) MARITAL STATUS:(6) OCCUPATION:(7) E-MAIL ADDRESS:(8) TELEPHONE NUMBER:(9) BATCH NUMBER:(10) REF NUMBER:(11) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY/INDIVIDUAL:(12) AMOUNT WON:(13) COUNTRY:FUDICIARY AGENT CONTACT:Barrister Tim RamptonRampton & Sons Consultants Lawfirm & Schmidtz Associates(Solicitors Advocates & Arbitrators)Official Email: barr_timrampton@hotmail.comPhone number+447035933124Fiduciary Agent/Payment Officer.Do complete the verification and clearance form above and remember to quote your winning number for confirmation. Congratulations once again.Yours faithfully,MR. JAMES SMITHOnline Co-ordinator for BRITItford SH LOTTERY 6/49."

In case you're in doubt, it's a scam. You haven't won anything. They want to take money from you, not give it to you. Just delete it. Although I think I might get my imaginary friend Annie Cheater to reply.