*CyberCoyote - March 1, 2007*

NEWS, NOTES and NOTICES

*Backup Workshop*
An open workshop on the practical aspects of backing up your computer and files will begin on Wednesday, March 14. There will be two or three sessions, and they will run from 9:00-11:00 in the Computer Lab on Wednesdays. We'll cover organizing your files, backup strategies, backup programs, drive images and whatever else comes up. Bring your computer if you like, and $2.00. (The last download workshop will be next week.)

*Identity Theft Prevention*
Did you know that credit bureaus are the primary reason that identity theft is so rampant? They don't work for you. Credit bureaus are in cahoots -- not too strong a word -- with politicians and financial institutions. They make most of their money by *selling* your personal information. They don't give a damn about you.

Mike Prusinski of LifeLock was here today to tell us how their identity theft protection can help. It comes with a $1,000,000 guarantee. I won't try to describe it -- you can find out about it at their website. I'll just try to explain it in my own words.

You can put a "fraud alert" on your information at the four major credit bureaus. It only lasts for 90 days, so you must keep putting it on every 90 days. There are some other things you should do too, but that's the main protection. It's a lot of work, and you're bound to let something slip.

That's where LifeLock comes in. They place and keep placing the fraud alerts, and take other steps to prevent someone else from using your information. They don't protect your information. They couldn't. It's floating around out there anyway. What they can do is prevent anyone else from using it.

How does it work? The law requires that anyone who checks your credit must verify that's it's really you before granting a loan, issuing a new credit card, or opening any other line of credit. The issurer does that by asking questions that only you know the answers to.

If someone else tries to use your identity, it stops right there. The people who are checking your credit won't get the right answers since it's not you. The fraudster can only make excuses and leave.

One of our membership benefits is special deals. By using the Promotion Code -- AZACC -- you can sign up at 50% of LifeLock's standard rate. [Don't forget to click the "Apply" button after you enter the code.] This is a lifetime deal, meaning it's good as long as you stay signed up. I already did. :-)
http://www.lifelock.com/ -- sign up online
1 877 543 3562 -- call LifeLock
1 480 544 2222 -- ask Mike questions
Note: "Kids" or minors applies to 15 and under.

*Second Thursday of the Month*
REM: Meetings that fall on the second Thursdays of the month -- e.g., next week -- start at 3:00 PM. Go to the Board Meeting, grab some ice cream, and swing on over to NC-2. :-)
http://cybercoyote.org/links/calendar.html -- HTCC Calendar

*Happy Trails Computer Club Yahoo! Group*
How's that for an identifier? If you've joined this group, you've been getting a variety of emails from time to time. You may be missing something though. If you go online to the home page for the group you'll find more.

First, it's easier to read the messages, particularly the multi-part ones. You'll find files and photos that have been uploaded too. Right now you'll see the smiling faces in Computer Kindergarten, and a HT cactus in exuberant bloom.
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/HappyTrailsComputerClub/

TIPS, TOPICS and TWEAKS

*Real-time Traffic Data*
Google Maps now shows real-time information about traffic for many US cities.
http://cybercoyote.org/links/048.html

*Alternatives to MS Office*
Most of us don't need he horsepower of Microsoft Office. Even if you do there is a good alternative, and it is free. Open Office was developed and sold by Sun, but they released it as a free office suite. Open Office is what I use when I need something more than MS Works, which is usually when I get something from somebody who could have used MS Works, but used MS Office instead. Sort of like killing flies with a hammer. If you have occasional need for an "office suite", consider Open Office.
http://www.familyfirst.com/open_office.html
http://www.sun.com/software/star/openoffice/index.xml

*How to make programs open in a maximized window*
There are some programs that I usually want to use in the "maximized" state. Most of them open in a "normal" window. Then I need to click the "maximize" button to make them full size. Here's how to skip that click.

  1. Right click the shortcut (icon) that you use to open the program.
  2. Choose "Properties".
  3. Click the Shortcut tab.
  4. Change the value in the Run command to "Maximized."
  5. Click OK.
Now the program will open maximized when you click the shortcut.

*Mr. Modem!*
The latest "Mr. Modem!" column is now online.
http://cybercoyote.org/articles/modem.shtml

CONSIDER THIS

*Commitment*
http://cybercoyote.org/links/049.html

*Test your reaction time*
Ever wondered how good you'd have been at the OK Corral? Check you your reaction time at Brain Dots:
http://cognitivelabs.com/braindots_test.htm

*360 degree panorama from Mt. Everest*
(You may need to click on the image after you get it downloaded to expand it.)
http://faculty.rmwc.edu/tmichalik/images/MtEverest.jpg

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