Safe online shopping: Tips to avoid getting burned

You need to buy some gifts, and you need to buy them quickly. You can shop online with a nice glass of wine by your side!

Here are some easy ways to lock down your Web security this season, and still get all your shopping done in time.

Keep your browser updated

Start at the beginning. Whether you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer, updating your browser will help to ensure that you’re getting the most up-to-date security protection.

Install malware-protection software

Another thing to check before you shop is your security software. The market has no shortage of utilities dedicated to protecting your computer from malicious attacks.

You can even find plenty of free applications for protecting your computer from malware and Internet attacks that could result from an unfortunate online shopping session. The bottom line: Anti-malware programs can't protect you from all attacks, But in this day and age, it's silly not to use some sort of baseline protection. I am a fan of MaywareBytes which can be downloaded for free from www.download.com

Buy from reputable online stores and sellers

Look for this logo when checking a site's legitimacy.

If you’ve never heard of the site you’re considering a purchase from, you have a number of ways to make sure it is legitimate.

Third-party organizations such as the Better Business Bureau Online and Truste give seals of approval to sites that meet their security and privacy standards.

Also, comparing products on sites like Bizrate can give you confidence that you're getting a fair price.

Look for the address-bar padlock symbol

A webpage should always be Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)-encrypted if you plan to use your credit card information to shop. SSL encryption ensures privacy by restricting the computers that can access the data being transferred, limiting access to you and the online retailer exclusively.

Most browsers indicate that the encryption is active with a padlock icon near the address bar, and the URL is preceded with https:// instead of http://, as shown below.

The padlock icon and 'https://' in Chrome.

Give out as little information as possible

Beware of nosy questions seeking personal information. For instance, a reputable online retailer will never need your Social Security number.

Generally it’s a good practice to give out the least amount of information the seller requires, so look over the required fields on forms and fill them out accordingly. Use the minimum number of fields that will allow your purchase to proceed.

Never give out your credit card number over email

It’s simple: Legitimate retailers will never ask for your credit card information or other sensitive personal details over email.

As mentioned above, the only time you should give out your credit card number and other personal info online is when you are on an SSL-encrypted webpage operated by a trusted retailer.

Know your rights

In the United States, online purchases you make with a credit card are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, which limits your responsibility for fraudulent or erroneous charges to $50.

Consumers are required to write a physical letter within 60 days detailing any complaint to the retailer, with a return receipt acting as proof that the creditor received the letter.

The Federal Trade Commission provides an example letter, so all you need to do is fill in the blanks with your information.

Use common sense

If a deal online seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If anything seems suspicious—for instance, if a retailer refuses to provide details on a product or avoids answering billing questions, or if you cannot find a phone number or address of the store—the best practice is to avoid it and shop with a tried-and-true online retailer instead.

Additionally, you should never feel pressured to give out information. If a retailer is requesting something from you that makes you uncomfortable, it's probably time to take your business elsewhere
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BLOGGING

A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.

Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules.

The activity of updating a blog is “blogging” and someone who keeps a blog is a “blogger.” Blogs are typically updated regularly using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.

In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or link to it or email you. Note the comment link at the bottom of this blog.

Cut, Copy and Paste on an iPad

A mobile device has changed the ways you interact with the computer. It neither needs a mouse nor a giant physical keyboard any more.

How to Cut, Copy and Paste

This looks simple but can be tricky sometimes when you use different apps. In general, these steps can be used in Mail or some other apps:

1. Double-tap to select a word, or tap once with two figures to select a paragraph. (Note)
2. Drag the handles to adjust the area if needed, then select Cut or Copy.
3. Tap an insert point then tap the cursor, or more directly, touch and hold an insert point.
4. Select Paste.

Note: Step 1 doesn't work in a browser like Safari since "double-tap" has been used to enlarge a webpage. Instead, use "touch and hold" to copy text or an image. If "touch and hold" shows a block on a certain webpage, try "tap and touch-and-hold".

Here is a Useful and not so well known

Google Chrome tip.

Did you know Chrome (a browser developed by Google) is a free download that can be used on Smart Phones, Macs, iPads and PC's.  I like it because I think it works pretty fast.

 

Here is one of the fun features it can do -

   Have you ever wanted the definition of a word quickly?  Just open Google Chrome and type in the word,  in the address bar line,whose definition you are looking for, press Enter.  

You will get the results of dictionaries and similar sites. Try typing in blogging and check it out!

What are 'Groupon' and 'LivingSocial' deals?

                               

The internet strives to keep us all connected in a variety of ways. From social networking to like-minded discussion boards to other forms of groups, people want to be around other like-minded people; even if "around" is relative and simply means that you share a collective experience online, still, around is preferred. 

So it is with some interest that you might come across an unsolicited offer (Hmmmm, I'm always suspicious of unsolicited offers.....)  from LivingSocial.com  and Groupon.com.

These are both  deal-of-the-day websites that feature discounted gift certificates usable at local or national companies  They are free to subscribe to and are a good deal, but only  if it is something you would have bought anyway.


How Does Groupon Work for the Customer?

Groupon itself is a free service for you and me to join. Each day, Groupon will send an email announcement to its subscribers, describing the deal-of-the-day in that metro area. Commonly, the deals are 50% discounts at a particular restaurant, or 50% discounts at a particular store.

If you like the deal-of-the-day, then you purchase an electronic coupon directly from Groupon using your credit card or PayPal account. You print that coupon, take it to the restaurant or store, and redeem it for commonly double the value you paid. 

 A word of caution is you will see many deals that are so good you are tempted to buy them... they are a good deal but, ONLY , if it is indeed something you would have bought anyway.

Living Social also offers a new deal each day to its members who subscribe via email. Once a deal has been purchased, members are e-mailed their redemption vouchers the following business day. Members must either print out their vouchers or download the LivingSocial app on their smart phones.

Below is a of living social offers you might see;

• 

  Daily Deals

  daily offers encouraging local discovery by connecting consumers to handpicked merchants at significant savings
• 

  Escapes

  distinctive travel experiences crafted to inspire easy exploration of destinations across the street and around the world
• 

  Families

  valuable kid-and-parent-approved offers that help families get out and play together
• 

  Adventures

  uniquely packaged activities encouraging members to meet new people and try something different
• 

  Takeout & Delivery

  the easiest way to find, order, and enjoy great food from local restaurants
• 

  Gourmet

  high-end culinary experiences available exclusively to select members

Email Signatures

Instructions for Adding a Gmail Signature

1. Log on to your Gmail Account. 
2. Select "Settings" in the upper right corner of the page.
3. Enter your preferred signature text in the box next to the "Signature" option (typing text into that box will automatically turn on the signature option).
4. Select "Save Changes" to confirm your signature.

Adding a Signature to your MAC Mail

You can add one or more signatures for each email account. The Signature pop-up menu in the header of a new message lets you choose the signature for a message.

1. Choose Mail; Preferences and click Signatures.
             If you have more than one email account, select the account you want to create a signature for. 

2. Click the Add (+) button and enter a description for the signature.
    Mail creates a default signature for you.

3. Select any part of the default signature that you don’t want to use and enter your own text.
    Select “Always match my default message font” or use the Format menu to change the font, color, style, and        alignment of your signature text.
  

4. When you add formatting, your signature becomes rich text. You can also drag a picture or a vCard file to your signature.

5. Use the Choose Signature pop-up menu to choose the default signature for the account.

•     Choose None if you don’t want a signature to appear automatically.
•     To have Mail randomly select a signature, choose In Random Order. 
•     To have Mail insert each of your signatures in order, choose In Sequential Order.
•     To change the order, drag the signatures in the list.

6. If you want your signatures to appear above the quoted text in a reply, select "Place signature above quoted text."

To Create a Signature in Windows Live Mail 

1. Click the Blue Button in the top left
2. Select Options
3. Click Mail

4. Click the Signatures tab 

5. Configure your signature and enable it for all outgoing messages

6. When you are done click Apply and then click OK, Click Save.

Protect Yourself On Line

Be Aware of Phishing Scams

Familiarized yourself with phishing scams and techniques, which are used to trick you into divulging your account information, such as passwords and account numbers. 

Online banking sites, Paypal, EBay, Amazon, and other popular sites that require logins are popular targets.

Use a Safe Password

Websites that store confidential data, such as an online bank site need to use strong passwords. Also, it is highly recommended that you use a different password for each website that requires a login. If you need help remembering your passwords consider using a password manager.

Strong passwords should not be whole words. 

Try using symbols and numbers mixed in with letters.  EX: T@he&f~At(c#at  (the fat cat)

Use Caution when Accepting or Agreeing to Prompts

When prompted to install any program or add-on make sure to read and understand the agreement before clicking on the Ok button. 

If you do not understand the agreement or feel it is not necessary to install the program cancel or close the window.

Additionally, when installing any program watch for any check box that asks if it's ok to install a third-party program, toolbar, etc. These are never required and often cause more issues than good. Leave these boxes unchecked.

Pro's and Con's of Facebook

There are a large number of people that have a Facebook page as it is a great way to get in touch with your family and  old friends and to share information about your life with your friends all over the world.

While facebook reigns as the most popular social media site out there, it does caution it’s users to limit the information they post online as it is accessible by anyone and this can lead to identity theft and many other concerns.
If you are investigating facebook and trying to figure out if you should start up your own profile, here are some pros and cons to facebook that will aid in making your decision a little easier.

Pros of Facebook

• Facebook is a great way to connect with your old high school and college classmates.

• Do you have loved ones that live far away? Facebook helps you to stay connected, it also allows you to share and view pictures with them of recent of vacations and new grandchildren. Facebook provides a great outlet where you can see grandchildren and nieces and nephews grow up, and share your life.

• Companies and individuals use Facebook to promote their companies and services. If you have a charity event, Facebook is the way to get people to connect with you and hopefully support it.

Cons of Facebook

• The “friend” game. Remember the old high school bully who has now changed his or her ways? Well what do you do if they want to be your Facebook friend? . The good thing is you really don’t have to add everyone.


• The Facebook newsfeed. This is where all the new information is posted or the profiles that have status updates with a lot of comments. The newsfeed can be nice but it can also become really annoying. The newsfeed is where a lot of information is shared and you may be thinking to yourself “who cares that your neighbor’s dog barks?” There are a lot of people that just want to talk and they use Facebook as that outlet.

EBooks for Kindles are Free from your PublicLibrary

If you own a Kindle or other eBook then you know the convenience of having multiple books with you while carrying only that one little device.

Of course you also know the cost of putting those books on your device… leaving us with a love-hate relationship.

eBooks have been available from your public library for quite a while and recently eBooks for Kindle have become available in more than 11,000 library systems.

Go online and check your library website, or call the library and ask to be sure.

While the specifics of each library system will differ, overall I found the process quite easy and it starts where borrowing a library book always starts… with a library card. If you don’t have one, get one.

You don’t have to actually go to the library to check out Kindle books, but if you don’t already own a library card then you’re going to need to stop by and get one. After that, you can get Kindle library books online any time day or night.