Carefree Computer Group Meeting
February 18, 2007
More Computer Hints and Tips
Introduction
This document covers in a
little more detail the topics introduced at the Carefree Computer Club meeting
held on 18 Feb 2008. The principal
subjects included:
Just how secure is your
computer data when you connect to the Internet using a wireless signal? Can someone sharing your wireless signal hack
into your computer? Are you putting
yourself at risk by using an open (unencrypted) wireless router? You should know the answers to these
questions whenever you connect your computer to a wireless network.
Whether you stay at a hotel,
visit an Internet café, or just wander about your own home with your laptop, a
wireless signal is the way you will access the Internet. More than one computer using the same signal
is called a network. All users on that
network have the potential to view the data on your computer. It may take some time to do this, but some
hackers can do this very quickly. Your
next-door neighbor could try for days and successfully hack into your data if
the signal is open and always available.
The security measures you
can utilize on your computer and your wireless router have improved greatly in
recent years. You may see or hear the
terms ‘WEP’ (Wired Equivalent Privacy), ‘WPA’ (Wi-fi Protected Access), ‘MAC’
(Message Authentication Code) and ‘MIC’ (Message Integrity Code). These are all different security systems
designed to keep hackers out of your computer when you use a wireless signal.
Here is some general
information that you should consider when using wi-fi Internet signals:
1.
A firewall
cannot prevent people from using your open wi-fi signal. It will, however, go a long way to preventing
them from accessing data on your computer.
2.
Most users have
a monthly limit on the amount of downloading and uploading that they can do on
the Internet. If those amounts are
exceeded, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will charge you extra. If you share your signal with several others,
they could cause your limits to be exceeded.
3.
If someone
sharing your signal downloads something nasty, like child porn, this could also
compromise you. The police could seize
your computer for a lengthy period and your name could be blackened even though
you are completely innocent. The
downloader could remain unprosecuted!
The defense of having an open network may not help, as the law considers
you the provider of the access to the Internet.
4.
If you want to
share your wireless signal with your neighbors and friends, consider giving
them your e-mail address and ask them to request the use of your signal. That way you have a record of sharers.
5.
Encrypt your
router’s signal and only give your encryption key to those who request it by
e-mail. Another way to do this would be
to re-name your SSID (router name) from the default name (such as Linksys) to
your own name and phone number, e.g. FredSmith8639763214. You could also use a name like
‘4AccessCall8636739836’. People wishing
to use your signal then have the opportunity to call you and ask for your
encryption key….and you have the opportunity to deny them!
6.
Lastly, a note
to long-term sharers. Your host may be
paying around $20 to his ISP each month.
Consider offering a small amount towards the monthly bill. It would be appreciated and your neighbor may
not take a dime!
Remember, an encrypted
wireless signal is safer than an open one.
If you want to do this and you need any help, don’t hesitate to call
Dave Clark (875-2801) or Bill Roach (324-7787).
And don’t forget to always keep your firewall turned on, whether it’s
the Windows firewall (good for
All e-mail software programs
allow users to attach a file to an outgoing e-mail message. These files may be documents, photos, video
recordings, software programs, or anything that can be stored on the
computer. The file must be accessible on
the hard drive of the computer, or on an external drive, such as a CD-ROM or
flash drive. As long as you know the
location of the file it is a simple process to send it by e-mail.
Your e-mail program may have a
limit on the size of the file you can attach to a message. The recipient of the message may also have a
limit on the size of the attachment he or she can receive. For large attachments, like a group of
photos, you will have to know these limits.
It might be best to ‘compress’ the photos with the aid of WinZip or
similar software. This has the effect of
making several files into one file, reduced in size from the original separate
files. Again, you will have to consider
whether the recipient has the ability to ‘extract’ the individual files from a
compressed file.
Attaching a file usually
requires the message composer to click on a link (like a paper-clip icon, or
‘Attach a file’). This opens a
navigation box from where you steer your way to the file location. There is a good chance that it will reside in
the ‘My Documents’ directory, and from there you may want to go to ‘My Music’
or ‘My Pictures’. Once you find the file
you want, double click on the file name and it will begin to copy itself into
your e-mail message. Be patient if it is
a large file, the e-mail cannot be sent until the complete file is copied. Once it is ‘attached’, the e-mail message and
the file can be sent to the recipient.
There will normally be some visual indication that the file is attached
and that you may now send the e-mail. (You can also attach a second and third
file to the same message, but be careful not to exceed the total limit.)
Using Skype for world wide
video communications from your computer.
Skype has designed a free software that will enable you to talk
and see your contact. This will work to
any computer in the world that is equipped with a web camera and a microphone.
Just about every laptop you buy today at a price of $550. will have these
features.
In order to use this free
service you must have internet high speed access. The price for this type of
access runs around $20. per month in the
You can also call from your
computer to any telephone in the world for a cost of 2.1 cents per minute in
The quality of the service is
excellent. We have found the Skype
service more reliable than MSN or Yahoo and Google Talk.
If you qualify just connect to
www.skype.com download the software, install the software
and test your system with the Skype operator all free. Go to “Find a Friend” on
Skype who may have the service. This is
just like looking up a telephone number in the telephone directory.
Drop us a note at the web site
if you need assistance.