If you feel intimidated when someone tries to teach you something new on
computer, this newsletter is for you! In course of my career, I’ve worked with many people who I knew were smart but were convinced that they couldn’t learn how to do new things on a computer. At some point, they’d convinced themselves that they weren’t one of those “computer people”. I would try to teach them how to do something that would make their work a lot easier or faster, and I could see them shut down immediately. “I can’t do stuff like that. I’m just not good at it.”
In a few cases, my colleagues were simply amazed that I knew how to do things like upload photos to Internet or how to start a new folder in Windows. Some would tell me that I must have some special gift for technology. I would just laugh and tell them that nothing could be further from truth! I have a degree in psychology. I’m not a math and science type of person, and if it weren’t for patience of my tech-minded husband and friends, I never would have learned how to do these things.
The fact is, computers are such a part of our lives, that you can’t afford to think of yourself as not a “computer person”. The reason I think that a lot of people are intimidated when learning about computers is that so much of instructions and directions are full of jargon and assume that people have as much technological knowledge as people who work with computers for a living.
I’m convinced that if I can do it, anyone else can do it too. All it takes is an open mind, confidence, and someone to explain things to you step by step in plain English.
--------------------- Aside from using anti-virus software, there is another way to keep some email viruses or worms from driving you crazy and clogging up your inbox. While "Sobig" virus seems to have died down, there are sure to be some like it in future. If you would like to prevent these bogus Emails from reaching your inbox, you can set up rules in Outlook or Outlook Express to send them directly to delete folder.
Although Sobig virus seems to be under control, it might be good practice to do this now. That way when next big virus comes around, you'll be able to filter it out right away. It might seem like its difficult, but I know that anyone can do this. If you're smart enough to do your taxes and balance your checkbook, you can do this, trust me.
If you're using Outlook Express, go to Tools, then select "message rules" and then "mail". A box will pop up with buttons on right side of window. Hit "new" button. Another box pops up with three windows. In first box, click box next to "Where subject line contains specific words". In second box, click "delete it". Now in third box it should say, "Apply this rule after message arrives/Where Subject line contains specific words/Delete it." Click on words "contains specific words".
This is where you tell program what words to look for in subject line. It’s very important to remember that this is case sensitive, meaning that if you put "abc" in, it will only delete emails with "abc" in subject, and not "ABC" or "Abc". For Sobig virus, there were seven subject lines that were commonly used. If you would like to read more about this, go to http://www.webpro.com/iq/SobigF.asp The subject lines are:
That movie Wicked screensaver Your application Approved My details Details Your details Thank you
It’s a good idea to copy and paste phrases above to make sure capitalization is exactly same. (copy=control C, Paste=Control V) Enter first phrase into box and then click on "add" button to right. That phrase will appear in box below. You can add as many phrases as you'd like, clicking "add" after each one. When you're done, hit "ok" Then hit "ok" again. At this point, we are back to one box open with buttons on right. Be sure to click "apply now" button if you want rule to apply to email that is already in your inbox as well as any future emails. When you are done with that, click "ok" button and you're finished.
If you use Outlook, process is a little different. First go to Tools, and then choose "Rules Wizard". Click on "new" button on right. It should say at top of a new box "What type of rule would you like to create?" There will be a list of types of rules: you want to choose "Check messages when they arrive", which is at top so it should already be highlighted. Simply click on "next". The next box asks you "which conditions do you want to check?" with a list of choices, each with an empty box next to it. Scroll down until you get to "with specific words in subject", and click box in front of it. Once you click it, you'll notice that "with specific words in subject" appears in box below. Click on "specific words" in lower box here to specify which words program should look for. This is where you tell program what words to look for in subject line. It’s very important to remember that this is case sensitive, meaning that if you put "abc" in, it will only delete emails with "abc" in subject, and not "ABC" or "Abc". For Sobig virus, there were seven subject lines that were commonly used. If you would like to read more about this, go to http://www.webpro.com/iq/SobigF.asp The subject lines are:
