Al Lustie's Tips and Tricks

Suppose you receive an email from your bank asking you to confirm your account number, and maybe your social security number.  It's your bank, right?  They just want to confirm that they have the right email address for you.

WRONG!

Some nasty Offspring of a Nasty Dog is fishing for your information so he/she can steal from you.

• Steal your identity.
• Steal your savings.
• Steal your  credit rating.
• Steal your peace of mind.

It's called "Phishing".  It may come as a web site, an email, even a letter in the US Mail.

What can you do?

Two things will keep you safe.
1.  NEVER give out your bank information or your social security information.  NEVER.  NEVER!

2.  Report it to your local police or sherriff's office.  Most law enforcement offices want to keep track of stuff like that, and when they can they warn their taxpaying supporters and occasionally they can go after these nasty, nasty thieves.

Stay Safe.

I'd enjoy your comment.

I was asked this morning about staying with Windows XP now that Microsoft has stopped all support for it, including stopping any security fixing.  "What should I do?" asked my friend.

I answered as honestly as I can, given that he will not be purchasing a new iMac.  I said, "Upgrade to Windows 8.1 if you can."  I sent him instructions on how to check and see how much memory his computer has (4 GB  RAM is about a minimum) and how to use http://www.crucial.com to find out what he can add, if anything is needed.

Then I mentioned that he would not be advised to get Windows 8.  Go for Windows 8.1.  When he does, if he does, I will recommend that he set it up to start with the Start menu on screen.  Avoid the tiles.  He doesn't use a Windows touch screen, so the tiles are nearly useless and won't get him where he wants to be.

What do you think?  Would you advise him the same way?  Have you experience that says differently?  Leave a comment and let us know.

For computer users this fall is the time of the "New".  New operating systems, upgrades, changes in look, feel and performance -- it seems overwhelming to some of us.  How should a person deal with these changes?

One way is to simply talk to your tech, whether at a retail store or the one you usually work with.  Ask for advice:  "Should I make this change now, or wait awhile? And if I should wait, how will I know when to make the change?"

Another way is to do a tiny bit of homework.  Using your current web browser, check out some of these links:

IOS 7 for iphone, ipad and ipod: http://www.techradar.com/us/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/11-brilliant-ios-7-tips-and-tricks-1179681 for IOS 7.  Or do a search on "When should I upgrade to IOS7?

Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade from Microsoft.  https://www.google.com/search?q=upgrading+to+Windows+8.1&oq=upgrading+to+Windows+8.1&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.8051j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=119&ie=UTF-8#es_sm=119&espv=210&q=upgrading+to+Windows+8.1&tbm=nws
  This one has a series of  links and advice.  Messing with any Windows product usually requires preparation, and the change from Windows 8 to 8.1 requires some effort on the user's part (or his/her tech's part).

Maverick is the new OS (Operating System) for Mac computers.  http://www.macworld.com/article/2052602/get-your-mac-ready-for-mavericks-os-x-10-9.html
  the Macworld.com site has a good number of articles that are useful and which you may profit from.

If you take the optional way of doing some homework you will be pleasantly surprised to see that:

1. there are a lot a easy to understand resources
2. probably you can make this change successfully
3. upgrading makes sense.

What has your experience been?  Leave a comment and let us know.