1. Scare stories - what do you need to know?
2. Cons - how to spot them
3. Your kids downloading music - do you need to worry?
4. Tips for safer surfing - somme more things to do to reduce risks from e-mails and visiting web-pages
5. What is all this Broadband Stuff?  Is it really for me?  Some on-line help.
6. Some websites that I have found interesting (e.g. The complete works of Charles Darwin or bunnies enacting famour films in 30 seconds) - this is an experiemnt

1) Let’s begin with scare stories and what you can do about them.

When you are connected to the Internet or World Wide Web (WWW), you run the risk of someone connecting to your computer or sending you things that will certainly annoy you and may even damage your computer (PC).  But it doesn’t have to be like that.

Here is a very useful article from the Sunday Times, August 7 2005 that explains the terms and what you can do to take more control of your PC and how it is used.  More Sunday Times Doors Articles worth browsing can be found at this link.

2) Current spate of “cons” - how might you spot them?

In the last couple of days there have been some spoof e-mails going to people in our community.  If you fall for them, they will know your address is an “active” one and sell it on to spammers who will send you unwanted mail or, at worst, try to infect your PC. Make sure your virus checker and firewall are updated regularly. Some things to think about:

(a) An address with a misspelling in it (Barcllays instead of Barclays was a recent one);

(b) A large organisation suddenly turning charitable! (like Sainsbury apparently wanting to give money away if you passed on the e-mail to your friends.  This had nothing to do with Sainsbury supermarkets. This trick also sends your addresses to the Spammer and probably left an address entry in your Contacts List. You should delete the e-mail and any e-mail address it leaves behind in your Contact List or Address Book). Very rarely are you going to get something for nothing.
Additional warning signs:
“click on [this trusted logo]” (you may download a virus or allow someone to take over control of your PC or search its contents) - see (d) below;
“warn your friends about this opportunity or threat” (you may give away your address book to spammers, or worse) - this is “pyramid selling” for want of a better phrase!;
“Follow this link to [a topical issue like the Olympics or natural disaster - yes, some people have no scruples] to donate money or learn about business opportunities” (if the approach is innocent, you can find out by using Google (see (d) below) - there is no reason to take the risk of clicking on the links offered by someone you don’t know!)

(c) If you are asked for personal or bank details (even by trusted organisations) - check for the padlock symbol at the bottom of the browser screen - click it to see the security certificate. If there is no padlock, move on because the website is not secure (no matter what the site owner says). Some smaller companies offer secure payment services such as PayPal that you first have to register with - but beware any hidden charges on transactions.

(d) If in doubt, go to the legitimate website [use Google or Yahoo search if in doubt] and look at “Contact Us” or any other warnings about current confidence tricks on the legitimate site. If the e-mail comes from an organisation you deal with regularly, use your trusted Favourites link to that website - not the one provided in the e-mail.

(e) NEW LINK: The BBC recently reported a Which (Consumers Association) study that showed the top ten frauds or scams.

3. Your kids, their music and legal downloads - I recently wrote a note to a worried colleague of mine who has a daughter who openly says she is downloading music, but my friend doesn’t know enough to ask the right questions to be sure her kids are staying legal.  Especially as parents will be liable for (a) fines; and (b) heavy telephone bills if the websites being used take over your PC and install a telehphone dialer that uses premium lines.

4. Tips for safer surfing - some further hints for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox browser users. Although one hint applies to Outlook Express or Outlook 2003 onwards.  The same principles apply to other e-mail clients.

5. Why broadband? Here are some pointers to help you make sense of the services, which limitations you might accept because you are a lighter user and what about choosing equipment???

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