05.07.05
Some Pesky Pop-ups are Real
Dear Mom,
I enjoyed our visit on the telephone the other day and am glad to hear you are doing better. I also understand your confusion with those pesky pop-ups. Most are bad, but some are just taking care of your system.
Microsoft does use the pop-up in the lower right hand corner of your screen to notify you when new updates are available for any of their products. The one you were referring to was from their AntiSpyware beta program I installed earlier this year on your computer. They do have regular updates for the “definitions” and also for the program itself. The “definition” updates happen automatically in the background and you should not notice these. The one that you saw was a program upgrade of the software. This also requires you to tell the installer “yes” you want to proceed and click “OK” a few times during the installation. Once it is installed, this particular upgrade requires you to reboot your computer to complete it’s installation.
Other Microsoft products us this same method of notification, as well, and that is what makes it so confusing. The bad programs that use this method are hard to distinguish from the good programs and it doesn’t get any easier when you add in the ways some pop-ups try to look like good programs to get you to click on them.
There are a couple of defenses to try. Read the text very closely because sometimes this will give you a hint. One popular pop-under says “Warning: Your computer may be infected with spyware, click here to check.” If it was a program on your computer installed to keep an eye on spyware, it would not have worded it that way. If it looks like a browser (Big E in top left corner) you don’t want to click one of these as a general rule. The programs installed would pop up and say something like “threat detected, worm bg2asvv is trying to install itself on your computer. It has been prevented.” It can refer to a virus, a worm, or a trojan and will usually name the one trying to disrupt your life.
Second, call or email me before you do anything with them and I will help you figure it out. Be safe and enjoy to trip to the mountains.
Love,
your son
29.06.05
Your Different Programs
Dear Mom,
I know we talked about this before, but we probably need to go over them again to make sure you are clear on the programs and what each do for you, because when we talked about email the other day, you mentioned Internet Explorer which is your Web Browser.
OK, here we go…
The one with the big blue e 
is your web browser. This is the program you use to go to different places on the Internet, like Google or Yahoo or your daily newspaper that is online. There is a way to use this program for getting your email through what is called “webmail” , but we have set up another program to handle your email. To go somewhere on the Internet, just type in the “address” into the address bar at the top of the page and hit the “enter” key. This will take you to the “web address” you have typed in.
Your email is handled with Outlook Express, 
and all you need to do is double click on the icon and it will open and get your email for you. When you write an email, it will automatically send it when you hit the send button.
Now you also have a program that lets you write letters on your computer. It is called Microsoft Word 
. It comes as part of your Microsoft Works package, which also has other programs that can be useful. By double clicking on the Word icon, it will launch the program and give you a fresh and clean place to write. This will let you keep in touch with Aunt Melba, since they will probably never get a computer at this stage.
Well Mom, that is all there is to these three programs. Just click and go, it’s that easy.
I love you and will write again soon.
20.06.05
Back Home Safe & Sound
Dear Mom,
It sure has been busy around here the last week or so. We went to see the “kids” and that granddaughter over the weekend and had a wonderful time. She is a great young girl at 28 months old is fun to be around. Her personality is blossoming and having a normal conversation with her is getting easier. While sitting on the couch, she comes around the corner and calls “what cha doing?” or “Pop, come here” and, of course, I jump and run to see what is so very important.
A great time was had by all, but, just so you know, your grandson tried to kill me Saturday. He decided we needed to take a bicycle ride. Now, it has been a long time since I rode regularly, but I was game. What I forgot was the fact that everything from their house is downhill and getting back home is like being Lance Armstrong in the Pyrenees of France. I’m talking, KILLER UPHILL! It took several hours to recover from a short ride.
I’m glad you are getting used to using email, this sure does make it easier to communicate with friends and family. I am so proud of you for the tenacity you’ve shown with learning these new things. I realize that this seems so easy for me, but is brand new to you, so I will keep reminding myself to stay basic in the instructions I give you.
As soon as time allows, I want to go over a few more things with you, but it will have to wait a couple of days.
Have a wonderful week and we’ll talk soon.
your son…
12.06.05
Don’t Believe Everything
Dear Mom,
This is just a quick note about some harmful emails that are going around. Remember, be careful about the emails you open and never, never, never open an attachment. What reminded me to write to you about this is a new one that started this week. Here are a few to watch out for.
1) Michael Jackson attempts to commit suicide. Click on this attachment to see details…
They are trying to get you to click on a file that will install a “trojan horse” on your computer. The term is just like it sounds. Once installed, they can actually control your computer without your knowledge.
2) Someone (usually Nigerian) says they have millions of dollars they need to get out of their country. If you will help, they will give you lots of money. Then they ask for surity from you.
This scam is probably one of the oldest ones on the Internet. The names will change and sometimes it is from a deposed “prince” or other part of the “Royal” family. It promises to give you a large sum of money if you will just put up the “front” money to get the rest out of the country.
3) From: Administrator Subject: your account…”your account is about to be suspended, please click the link to stop this from happening.
This is very similar to number 1 in that they are trying to accomplish one of two things, usually. They want you to click a link to install a “trojan horse” or they want you to follow a link to a fake website so you will enter your user name and password so they can get information about you.
4) From: your bank Subject: your account…”there are problems with your account, but we can get this resolved if you will click the link and enter your user name and password for you bank account.
Like number 3, this is usally to direct you to a website that looks just like your bank website and captures your user name and password.
5) Chain emails (just like chain letters)
Enough said here.
Mom, this is just a few of the more previlent ones that are out there and even these have variants where the wording is changed or the country is different.
So what do you do when you get one of these emails in your inbox? Delete them immediately. They are just trying to steel your money or your time, neither of which is worth the effort.
I have to run, but I will write as soon as I can.
your loving son
09.06.05
Finally On the Internet
Dear Mom,
I am sorry to hear about Uncle Roy. I do hope they can get the skunk out from under the house and that Aunt Melba will let Uncle Roy back in pretty soon. I had a birddog that had that happen a couple of times and it was really nasty.
I am so glad you are getting into this computer thing. It really can be fun once you get over the initial shock of what it takes to be safe while surfing online. Plus, once most of it is setup, it is pretty easy to maintain and I can even do that remotely now that you are on the Internet.
You said the local Internet Service Provider (ISP) was able to get an account set up for you and they helped get you on the Internet. That is just great, so now with email working, Sis won’t have to keep printing out my emails to you, I can send them directly to you.
This is really exciting to have you online. I have to run because I am writing this on my lunch hour, but I will write again soon.
Love ya Mom
04.06.05
A New Computer, That’s Great
Dear Mom,
That is great news about the new computer. I think that once you retire, you need to keep the mind busy with daily challenges, and a Windows PC (personal computer) is just the ticket.
Now Mom, there a few things you need to do before you get an Internet connection and go online. Let me see if I can put together a list of steps for you.
Make sure and play around with the mouse and get comfortable with clicking the left and right mouse buttons. A great way to practice this is to go to the “start” button with the on-screen arrow and click the left mouse button to pop up the menu. Move the arrow up to all programs and another menu will “pop” open. Move the arrow to the label that says “games” and when the other menu opens move over the “solitaire” label and click the left mouse button. This will open the game and it will give you great practice.
Now we need to get some terminology worked out to make it easier to give instructions.
1. When I say, “go to and left click” that means to move the arrow with the mouse to the identified label or object and click the left mouse button.
2. “go to and right click” is the same thing but you will need to click the right mouse button.
First let’s make sure the Windows firewall is turned on to help protect your computer. Mom, I need you to:
1) “go to and left click” the “start” button at the bottom left corner. On the menu
2) “go to and left click” the “control panel” label. This will open a window with different icons and at the bottom right it says “security center” and you need to
3) “go to and left click” that label. The security window will open and
4) “go to and left click” the “windows firewall” label. A smaller window will open and it has 3 tabs at the top.
5) Make sure you are on the “general” tab and make sure the radio button for “On” is clicked. Now
6) “go to and left click” the “OK” button to close that window, and
7) “go to and left click” the red X at the top right hand corner of the security window, leaving the control panle window open.
“go to and left click” the red X on it to close that window.
That’s it Mom. Your firewall is on and working.
03.06.05
New Blog Coming
The setup and configuration are about done and the blog will begin in the next few days. I am still tweaking on a couple of things, but almost have it where I want it.
Bookmark the site and visit often.