|
|
March 18, 2013 - Hammondsport Mac Users Group ATTENDING: Tom B, Larry T, Bob S, Jerry L, Bob G, Gene N and Ed M. TOPIC : Internet Safety
1) Browsing 2) Sharing 3) Downloading 4) Buying 5) Guarding
Tom used a small Wacom Tablet with Graphic Converter for direct note taking, viewable via wall projection - several screen views could be shrunk down or expanded via the F3 Key* using Exposé to quickly add new comments (see example) - notes were saved as GIFs for later use. *F9 Key on older keyboards 1) BROWSING BEST ADVICE : You always leave a digital trail whenever you travel on the internet. - - - - - CACHES - how to empty temporary images? Go to: - - - - - HISTORY - how to clear temporary URL addresses of sites you have visited? Go to: Safari Desktop Menu>History>Clear History... - - - - - COOKIES - how to get rid of temporary cookies? Go to: - - - - - WEBPAGE PREVIEWS - this folder can be manually emptied by
Select All and sending images to Trash - also the folder can be locked
via 'Get Info' so that it will not be used to hold future images - to
locate this folder, go to :
- - - - - I.P. ADDRESS - every device connected to the public Internet is assigned a unique number known as an Internet Protocol (IP) address. It consists of 4 numbers, separated by periods and looks something like 127.0.0.1. Various companies (such as StatCounter) offer tools to help web designers gather data of their site visitors by tracking characteristics and trends using the IP address numbers. Look up your IP address . Test your internet speed .
- - - - - Jerry recommended the following add-on extensions for browsers :
2) SHARING BEST ADVICE: Don't share any more personal data than absolutely necesssary. - - - - - SPAM - use the Junk filter in your Apple Mail application - - - - - DO NOT CLICK on any links in spam mail, even the 'cancel now' link. - - - - - SET UP a free on-line account as an alternative to be used when needed for filling in forms and applications - Yahoo Mail and Google Gmail are easy. - - - - - PHISHING - phony letters (or phone calls) asking for personal information, often accompanied with names of people you know - verify by going online to the actual site or calling back the official listed number. - - - - - BOUNCE unsolicted or unwanted e-mails in Mail>Message>Bounce - the sender will receive a message that account does not exist. - - - - - ETIQUETTE - read some good hints regarding e-mail sending and receiving. - - - - - BLIND CARBON COPY - don't send or forward e-mails with multiple addresses visible (unless there is a reason for everyone to see them) - use the 'BCC' feature of your Mail application - see how to use BCC for group mailings and also how to add a BCC field to your letter.
3) BUYING BEST ADVICE: Make sure you see a padlock - - - - - USE SECURE websites for money transactions - the URL should start with https - the 's' means 'secure' with padlock icon - - - - - GOOD EXAMPLE of a secure site: PayPal - - - - - BAD EXAMPLE of non-secure site: the local Shopper's on-line ad payment form
4) DOWNLOADING - - - - - UNCHECK the box 'Open Safe Files after downloading' - go to Safari>Preferences>General
- - - - - BE WARY of a file ending in .exe - this file is not a Mac format and may launch an unwanted action.
5) GUARDING BEST ADVICE : Don't use a word found in the dictionary for your password - and don't write it down
PASSWORDS Tips To Create Strong Passwords - shows a handy formula for creating a great, memorable password
- - - - - Note : One of the main tactics of hackers is to break into small, poorly guarded web businesses to steal passwords that might let them into more secure accounts elswhere, especially since people often use the same password for all accounts.
IN THE NEWS
Social Engineering Scams to Steal Your Money - interesting article from Digilloyd
Thoughts Prompted by Google Reader's Demise - article by Adam Engst with some interesting thoughts about our world of information overload - a couple excerpts: "It’s said that change is inevitable, and that we should get used to it. But I’d argue that’s not actually true — for most adults, life is more the same than different every day." "While it’s increasingly impossible to avoid relying on cloud-based tools, anything out on the Internet can disappear without warning."
SOFTWARE
HARDWARE
Hammondsport Mac Users Group - Hammondsport, NY 14840 - www.hportmug.com
|
Apple OSX provides
a Guest Account which assures that every file is automatically reset
to default when the guest logs out 
on
any website dealing with money or credit cards. 
- - - - - Disable
auto login at startup - do this in Accounts Pane of System Prefs
- - - -
- Use auto logout after 30 minutes--- set this in Security Pane of Sys
Prefs
Here is an
easy-to-do project on Mac - create a small, portable, secure disk image
to store personal info, numbers, passwords safely locked up until you
need them - 
