Announcements

Is Your Computer Safe?

Are You Sure?

To be safe, you need both anti-virus and firewall protection! We have Norton Internet Security 2002 on sale for only $18.97!! (And yes, US shipping is FREE!). This suite includes Norton Anti-Virus, Norton Personal Firewall, Norton Parental Control, and Norton Privacy Control.

Although it's the 2002 version, it's still supported by Norton, is still updateable, and is still a fantastic piece of software. The current 2003 version goes for $70.00, so this is an incredible deal.

With constant new virus threats, aggressive hackers, and now even cyber-terrorism, you just can't afford to be without the protection this package offers. Here's a quick breakdown of each component:

Norton Anti-Virus - This one is easy - it keeps your computer safe from viruses. It keeps an eye on your system for virus activity, checks e-mail attachments, and more. It even updates itself automatically and checks outgoing e-mail so you don't infect your friends! It's one of the best Anti-Virus programs around and we've sold well over 1000 of them this year!

Norton Personal Firewall - This keeps hackers out of your computer and prevents programs from sending information from your computer without your knowledge. In my opinion, this type of software is actually more important than Anti-Virus software. Why?

You can (usually) outsmart viruses by keeping your software up to date, not opening attachments, being careful about what you download, etc. You should still have AV software (I do), but if you don't you may be able to stay safe by knowing how viruses work and how to avoid them.

However, keeping hackers out is another issue. It's a lot harder to keep your computer from being hacked into since it's somewhat out of your control. The best way to keep your PC hacker free is with the use of a firewall - and this program has, what I feel (PC Mag agrees with me, by the way), is one of the best software firewalls on the market.

Oh, and for those who aren't worried about being hacked into - if an outsider does get access to your computer they can plant viruses, destroy files, steal personal information, render it inoperable, and more. Norton Personal Firewall blocks over 300 access attempts on my computer a DAY. Granted, most of them are automated attacks looking for easy targets, but why take a chance?

I personally know several people who have had hacking problems, and believe me - it makes getting a virus look like fun.

Norton Parental Controls / Privacy Controls - This keeps both your kids safe and your personal information safe. First off, it contains a database of objectionable sites (customizable) to help keep the porn away.

Next, it monitors the sites you give information to so that you (or your kids) don't accidentally send sensitive information to non-secure sites. You can also use Norton Privacy Control to prevent web sites from retrieving your email address without your knowledge, and to control which sites are allowed to track your online activities with cookies.

Whew, that's the highlight show. I want to stess our quantities are VERY LIMITED on this item, so if you're interested, act fast. We have been selling out a lot lately (sold out of Go Back yesterday). This is another item that will probably go fast!

http://www.worldstart.com/store/nortonis2002.htm

PS - Don't miss out - Isn't protecting your PC (you know, the one you spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on), worth a few bucks?

Computers 101

Q:
My friend sent me an email attachment but I could not open it.

A:
Nothing worse than getting a file from a friend and you don't have the right program to open it. Here are some common file extensions and the programs needed to open:

.doc - Microsoft Word
.pps - MS PowerPoint
.xls - MS Excel worksheet
.wpd - Corel WordPerfect
.pdf - Adobe Acrobat
.jpg - JPEG graphic file
.zip - Zip (compressed) file
.sit - Stuffit (compressed) file

The good news is that most software developers offer freeware viewers that will allow you to see, but not alter, content. NOTE: These addresses are long, so you may need to copy and paste into your browser if it breaks into more than one line.

.doc - Microsoft Word Viewer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0e56d944-38f6-4eb5-aca6-8bd280d5e6b1&DisplayLang=en

.pps - PowerPoint Viewer
http://microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=D1649C22-B51F-4910-93FC-4CF2832D3342&displaylang=en

.xls - Excel Spreadsheet Viewer
http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2000/xlviewer.aspx

.wpd - Wordperfect
Corel no longer offers a viewer

.pdf - Acrobat Reader
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

.jpg - You can view these in your web browser or most imaging software.

As for compressed files (.zip & .sit), you can Stuffit! No, I'm not telling you off...Stuffit Expander is a great program that will open most compressed files.
http://www.stuffit.com/expander/

There are also a million freeware/shareware programs for opening .zip files such as WinZip.

http://www.winzip.com

In addition, Windows XP has its own built in unzip program.

So, next time you get an attached file in your email but don't have the program to open it, just grab a viewer.

~ David

Have a question for the newsletter? Submit it at the link below:
http://www.worldstart.com/submitquestion.htm

Tip of the Day

Drag & Drop Opens

Here's a quick little one for ya.

Did you know that most programs allow you to open files by dragging & dropping them into their window? Well, they do. Really.

For example, let's say you have a picture file sitting on your desktop and your imaging software is already running. Just drag & drop the file into the program and it should open (again, this doesn't work with every program out there, but ya don't know till ya try).

This is really handy if you tend to have a lot of programs open at once.

Guess what? Just when you thought this couldn't get any better, it does! You can use this trick to open multiple files at once. Select the files you want, then just drag and drop the group to your program. (Note - if you need help in the multiple selection dept, head to http://www.worldstart.com/tips/selsavvy.htm )

Here's a shot of me opening 4 pictures at once. Let me tell ya, it was pretty exciting. My mouse is still quivering.

What if the program you want to drag to is minimized on your toolbar? Not a problem—just drag your file to its little button and hold (don't let go of that left mouse button). After a couple seconds the program window will open and you'll be able to drop the file into it.

Imagine how cool you'll look at the next computer expo with this little gem...

~ Steve

Have an original tip for the newsletter? Submit it below:
http://www.worldstart.com/writers-guidelines/index.htm

Amanda's Cool Site of the Day

Strange Facts

One of my favorite sites on the net is Strange Facts. I have a love for the curious and unusual and this site has it, and it's factual. You can read strange facts that were featured in USA Today, and the Chicago Times, not to mention a huge "As Seen on TV" section.

Here are a few strange facts to wet your appetite:

"Saturday mail delivery in Canada was eliminated by Canada Post on February 1, 1969!"
"The king of hearts is the only king without a moustache on a standard playing card."
"Tourists visiting Iceland should know that tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult."

http://www.strangefacts.com/

Do you have a cool, non-commercial site that you want to share?
Send it to Amanda at amanda@worldstart.com