What is Spyware? What do you because it can't be GOOD?!

PC Vs Mac Spyware Commercial -


That commercial just tickles me! PC gave you an idea of what spyware is!

From From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia the definition is:

Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent.

While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behavior, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habit, sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, accessing websites blindly that will cause more harmful viruses, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party. Spyware can even change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, different home pages, and loss of Internet or other programs. In an attempt to increase the understanding of spyware, a more formal classification of its included software types is captured under the term privacy-invasive software.

In response to the emergence of spyware, a small industry has sprung up dealing in anti-spyware software. Running anti-spyware software has become a widely recognized element of computer security best practices for Microsoft Windows desktop computers. A number of jurisdictions have passed anti-spyware laws, which usually target any software that is surreptitiously installed to control a user's computer.

Major YUCK right???

Along with Spyware you have other types of infections!



Adware, Malware, Spyware all very hard on computers, and can cause all kinds of issues!

One thing I get asked alot is, "WHAT did we do to get it there in the first place?" The simplest answer is pretty much nothing! Its pretty much IS part of the Internet community, and for PC users (remember the commercial) its part of our reality online!

Another thing you need to remember is these infections are like an onion! You peel off the first layer, and you still have that next layer of skin!

We are going to use what I call the ONION peel method of taking care of these infections! KEY - remember ONION!


When you run your programs to get rid of these infections you may have another layer of spyware ready to crop up! RUN the program until you get NOTHING left! Remove all the layers!

Another part of this is you need to layer your programs! There are alot of really NICE programs out there for these infections, and alot of them are free of charge! Even if you purchased one program, or may even HAVE a program on your computer ready to combat these little buggers you need layered protection! There isn't anything WRONG with these programs. I think its just the nature of the beast!


I realize there are alot of people that have older software systems, and some of these up to date programs will NOT work for you! In my blog roll I have two links for websites that have downloads for some nice programs for older systems.

The first program I use is Ad-Aware. I found a video that will give you good visual! The program has been updated since this video, but when you use it you will see most of the aspects are the same! The only thing he didn't mention was to RE RUN that program until its ALL gone!



The second program I like to use is Ewido. Ewido has an online scan, and it will ask you if you can download an application. I have also been using this for while, and I will tell you it takes a while to run. The older operating systems may not be able to use this program.

I'm sure your friends and family have other programs they like to use. Those are two I like to use. So GO and get that SPYWARE, ADWARE, MALWARE.........and DELETE DELETE DELETE!!

What programs do you use already?

what is spyware and what does it do, what is spyware software, what is a spyware infection, what is spyware used for

How to leave a comment, question on a blog?

Tee HEE! I thought the picture was cute.....I couldn't resist!


Blogger help section has a really good explanation on how to leave comments or questions! Click HERE

My articles have the above image that you click in order to leave a comment or question.
Once you hit the image above?  You come to a comment box that looks like this:

If  you have a google account you can place your information within that.  The same goes for Open ID.  You have a name and URL option, or just plain anonymous.

Feel free to leave feedback, because that is how we both learn!

Keep in mind your comment may not show up right away, because I moderate the comments. I have found you get a lot of spam comments about finances, XXX rated stuff, prescription drugs...lol among other things! We get enough of that in the email we don't need to see their advertising here!

Explanation of 'icons'! YEP there are different types!

The next few lessons will try to break down the 'computer desktop' into sections. We will show you the different parts of the computer desktop, so you will know what they are and how you can use them!

I think the most obvious portion of the desktop is your icons! Those little pictures that are spread all over your desktop with names under them! The basics for this lesson are pretty much the same for all operating systems. You may have less colorful icons in the older ones.


There two different basic types of icons that I can think of!

ONE is the file or folder icon


TWO is the program or application icon

I guess your next question would be what is the difference between a file or folder icon and a program or application icon is that correct?

Application icons are the easiest to remember! It’s the icon you click on to make a program start! It’s like your 'remote' to the Television to turn it on!








These are examples of application or program icons. The composition of the icon makes use of perspective, color, and shading to provide photo-realistic representation of the programs. Applications are tools for the user, so application icons should always show a picture of a tool that indicates the nature of the task the application is designed to accomplish or complete.

The 'W' is for a word processor program you may use now to write letters on! The Mozilla or the IE would be how you get on the Internet! The recycle bin is where you store your garbage before you decided to TAKE OUT THE TRASH! It’s basically where your files go when you delete them.


If your application (ie: word, excel, etc.) creates a file (like a letter or spreadsheet that you save) those files would be called file icons. This helps you avoid the frustration of looking into a folder full of document files with generic icons and being unable to identify which applications created the files.

Most of the time these are NOT placed on the desktop, but there are times in which people may use a file constantly and want it there for easier use!

The above are files created in Power Point, Word, Corel Draw, Adobe, Excel. The programs themselves are application icons. The documents we created with those programs are called File Icons! For Example, the phone list was made in Word (See the Word Icon) but the name next to it was phone list. It’s a phone list MADE in Word!

The older computer may not use visual icons like this, but your file extensions should clue you in as well! For Example: Lampchop.tif could be a picture of your lovely lambchop dinner you sent to your brother to make him drool! phonelist.doc could be your list of current phone numbers you keep on the Freezer!

Folder icons are literally FOLDERS (pictures of them). You can use those much like you use folders at home. For example, you have a folder you place all your different statements for bills like: Gas, Electric, Credit Card, Bank Statements, etc.

For our computer at home we have 3 main folders: MOM folder, DAD folder, and KID folder.

For this example I’m going to use ‘stereotypical’ examples so you can get the picture of what I’m trying to get across!

In my MOM Folder she may have some ‘file’ documents that she typed up with her favorite recipes to keep handy with a touch of her mouse! She may also have her Photoshop program icon there also that she uses all the time for her scrap booking projects!

Photoshop program - program Icon (application icon)
Scrapbook programs - file Icon

The document that contains her recipes are file icons
The program she used to created it in is a program or application icon


In my DAD Folder he may have spreadsheet documents for work that need to be updated on a regular basis, and for his ‘application’ maybe quicken for the families finances.

The spreadsheet he created is a file icon, but the program he used to create it is a program or application icon! Quicken would be an application Icon as well!

In the KID folder it could be copies of their recent book report, science project they are working on! It will also have their latest game they love to play in their free time!

Application Icon - SpongeBob Square Pants Computer Game
File Icon - Science program and Book Report they are currently working on.

Other examples may be:

Website shortcuts to websites you visit on a regular basis (like this one? LOL!)

At times you are going to download a program, and you want to know WHERE you put the file and the desktop is a great place to do just that!

You can place all of these things in your folders on your desktop. Its called CLICK ON IT, and keep it held down and DRAG to where your folder is. Once on top of that folder - RELEASE and it will be in there for the next time you go looking!

It nice for families to have their own, or maybe you have a collection of things you wish to keep on your computer for church and ONE for your hobby! Make TWO folder Icons! One for EACH!

Remember FILE is something you create, and FOLDER is what you store it in! Program or Application Icon is the item you use to create your file icon!

I found a video program I attempted to explain some of this in. I have a cold so excuse my voice! I will try to do better in the future!

Remember if something isn’t clear – go to the top of this lesson and hit the word ‘comment’ and write me a note! Chances are you aren’t the only one!

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How-To Change Web Browser Font Size

Ever wish you could increase the font size on a screen, because its TO SMALL to comfortably read?

You may even wish to change your web browser font size smaller.

Today we are going to go over some easy tips on how-to change your font in your browser.   Don’t worry this will be a very easy lesson for the Computer Beginner!

If you are looking for How-To Change your Font Size on your Computer Screen we have an article for that as well.

How to Change Font Size in Internet Explorer (IE)
How To Change Font Size in FireFox

From what I have noticed with the recent versions for Internet Explorer and FireFox?

You can hold down the control key (CTRL)

While you are holding down the CTRL key, move your mouse wheel either direction to find a view that is comfortable for you.


How to Change Font Size in Internet Explorer

As you can see towards the top of your web browser in IE you have File, Edit, View, etc.

Click on View and go down to Text size to increase the font or decrease the font in IE.




How-To Change the Font Size in FireFox

Once again you basically do the same things as you did in IE.







There is a shortcut in FireFox for this as well. 
You would hold down the CRTL key again, and then hit your plus (+) or minus (-) sign on your keyboard.


I also found a video with similar tips, and it also discusses add-ons for your browser.





What if its your font Size on computer screen or computer monitor?

Increase Font Size on Computer Screen

That is today’s Lesson on How-To change your Font on your Internet Browser!  Don’t forget to subscribe to received future How-To lessons for the Computer Beginner delivered right to your mails box!

Questions?  Feel free to ask in comment section!

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What is Cache? How do you clear Cache?

Today's how-to guide for computer beginners is about computer CACHE!

Dealing with computer cache is a basic computer operation, and will be useful for you to know.




Here is are some list of questions I have been asked, and we will go over them one by one!

How you pronounce ‘cache’?  It is pronounced CASH

Today, we are going cover the following questions:

What is cache or Define computer cache? 

How-To clear your computer cache, or what some people call how do you delete your computer cache

Temporary Internet Files refers to a folder on your computer where the cache is stored.  When read about the two terms you will notice that some people refer to them as one in the same. 

In other words, How-to clear the temporary internet files could be asked instead of using the word ‘cache’.  Other times they could be referring to Disk Cleanup.

Definition of Computer Cache

I will try to explain what Cache is for the computer beginner, and here is a couple of cache definitions that google came up with!   There are different types of cache, and we will be talking about internet cache today.

Different types of Cache is also explained briefly at Free Computer Maintenance.

Cache as most people call it are basically the Temporary Internet Files folder on your computer!

It contains a kind of travel record of the items you have seen, heard, or downloaded from the Web, including images, sounds, Web pages, even cookies. Typically these items are stored in the Temporary Internet Files folder.

How Stuff Works has an article on Cache as well, and they use a different visual to describe it. 

Your Internet connection is the slowest link in your computer. So your browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera, etc.) uses the hard disk to store HTML pages, putting them into a special folder on your disk. The first time you ask for an HTML page, your browser renders it and a copy of it is also stored on your disk. The next time you request access to this page, your browser checks if the date­ of the file on the Internet is newer than the one cached. If the date is the same, your browser uses the one on your hard disk instead of downloading it from Internet. In this case, the smaller but faster memory system is your hard disk and the larger and slower one is the Internet.

Storing these files in your cache can make browsing the Web faster because it usually takes your computer less time to display a Web page (or what they call loading the page) when it can call up some of the page's elements or even the entire page from your local Temporary Internet Files folder.

So if you have NOT been to a website yet your temporary files do not have a record of any information on that website, and it will take longer to load.

Now next time you are surfing the web.....
you will know why some pages LOAD faster than others!

Keep in mind at times you need to clear out that cache, because it does take up room on your computer! It will slow your performance down as well.

People ask me how often you need to clear cache, and it really depends on how often you use your computer and the internet in particular!

Believe or not you will know how often you should clear cache the more you use the computer, and the more your surf the internet! Keep in mind if you have never cleared cache before it may take a while to empty the cache, but it will NOT take as long afterwards (after you do it the first time).

Clearing the Cache or Deleting the Cache at times is more about personal preference.  Some people do this before they browse the internet, and others may do this once a week.  If you notice things are starting to slow down a bit – clear the cache to see if that helps.

Keep in mind if you are like some people that just pop on for 10 minutes to check email, and read a bit then sign off you will have to clear cache less often!

Especially with older web browsers: If you empty the cache to often loading web pages will always take forever, and it will be very frustrating! Its just like seasoning your food!

You don't want to much or to little in the cache to make it work well for you! When you do clear the cache things will take longer to load next time you visit your favorite webpage at times! After a while believe me you will notice your performance difference! TRUST me on that!

Before Proceeding we need to find out what web browser you use.

What is a Browser, Web Browser?

Most of the time if you look at the top of your web browser you should see a ‘help’ section.  You can click that, and search for ‘cache’ for instructions similar to our lesson below.  As much as I try to keep up on changes to web browser update sometimes there is a delay from me.  So keep that ‘help’ section in MIND!

I will tell you I have more than one web browser on my computer, and that would NOT be unusual!  So, I clear the cache for each one separately.

 

Clear Cache on IE or Clear Cache on Internet Explorer 9:

We will start with deleting cache on Internet Explorer 9.0 version first.

 

This is the Internet Explorer or IE web browser Icon.

Look to your upper right hand corner of your web browser, and find the symbol I’m pointing to here.

This will bring up a menu with some options.





Look for Safety First
And you will next be offered the option of delete browsing history.




Internet Browser have come a long way, and now they give you the option of saving some cache that you use.  The top portion would be websites that you have placed in your ‘favorites’ section on your browser.

I would say most of the time people like the first four clicked.  They would be self explanatory.

 

For a better Explanation of all your options?  I wrote a How-To Article just on ‘delete browsing history’ menu.

You can delete files you downloaded, information you have typed into forms online, passwords that are filled in automatically by the browser (you would have an the option at the time to allow this). 

Once you have made your choices you would look to the bottom of this screen, and push your delete button. 

Once the process of clearing your cache or deleting your cache is done at the bottom of your browser you should get a message similar to the one I pictured below.



Clearing Cache on Internet Explorer 6
Clearing cache and cookies on Internet Explorer 7
Deleting Cache and cookies on Internet Explorer 8

Clear Cache In Mozilla FoxFire 5.0

This time in Mozilla FoxFire

 

Some people have this orange foxfire Rectangle button that is pictured (top left hand side).  When you click on that




you will be presented with a number of choices.





You want to click on the ‘options’, and then on the advanced.

Other versions of Foxfire:

Click Tools, and then Options

As you can see pictured.  The advanced, then network, then clear now.

You would click ‘okay’ on the bottom for close this window.


With your history you would go into the ‘privacy’ section, and click the options you wish in much the same way we did here.


My Foxfire Browser I have option at the top of my browser to go directly to tools





I go down to the section called ‘clear recent history’










At the top you have an option of how much you wish to clear.  My option says ‘everything’.  You can pick timeframe you wish.

I also make sure I click the cache, cookies option as well. 

Then the CLEAR NOW button.

 

How-To Clear Cache in Google Chrome

This is your Google Chrome Icon, and you want to click on it to open a web browser window.

 

In the TOP right hand side of your browser window you will see a symbol that represents what the call, ‘Menu’

Click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
Select Tools.
Select Clear browsing data.

In the dialog that appears, select the checkboxes for the types of information that you want to remove.

Use the menu at the top to select the amount of data that you want to delete.

When you are finished with your choices.

Click Clear browsing data.

I hope my how-to lesson for the computer beginner on CACHE was understandable to you.  If you have any questions or comments please feel free to use the comment box.


Don’t forget to leave your email in our subscribe section so you don’t miss any future lessons!

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