Internet Fixes Tips And Tricks

If you have an e-mail address, you have more than likely found spam in your inbox at some point in time. Spam is what you would refer to as unwanted e-mail and there are a few ways in which you can try and keep it out of your inbox.

In Outlook Express, one of the ways in which you can prevent spam is to use the block senders feature. You have the option of blocking individual e-mail addresses. However, sometimes a much more efficient approach is to block an entire domain.

You can do this within Outlook Express by clicking the Tools menu, pointing to Message Rules, and clicking Block Senders List. From the Message Rules dialog box, make sure the Block Senders tab is selected and click the Add button. From the Add Sender dialog box, type in the domain name. You can then choose what you want blocked: mail messages, news messages, or both. Click OK. Click Ok to close the Message Rules dialog box.

Now when a message from the domain is sent to you, Outlook Express will automatically delete the message. And you are one step closer to being spam free, although keep in mind that this method can only block POP accounts.

Here are a Few More Ways To Create Rules in Outlook Express for Windows

1. Open Outlook Express
 

2. Click on TOOLS 
 

3. Select MESSAGE RULES and click MAIL
 

4. If this is the first rule created, the NEW MAIL RULE window will open (if this is not the first rule created, click NEW in the MAIL RULES tab)
 

5. In the first section of the box, labeled “Select the Conditions for your rule,” select desired conditions by putting a check in the box next to the desired condition label (you must select at least one condition and you can specify multiple conditions for a single rule by clicking more than one check box)
 

6. In the second section, labeled “Select the Actions for your rule,” choose desired actions for your rule by putting a check in the box next to the desired action label (you must select at least one action and you can specify multiple actions for a single rule by clicking more than one check box)
 

7. In the third section of the box, labeled “Rule Description,” you may specify particular criterion for selected conditions and actions by clicking any hyperlinks in this section (for example, if you have selected multiple conditions, click the “and” hyperlink in the RULE DESCRIPTION section to specify whether all of the rule conditions must be met before the specified action occurs (AND) or whether at least one must be met (ONE))
 

8. In the Rule Description area, be sure to click each word or phrase hyperlink so the rule functions to your expectations
 

9. In the fourth section of the box, labeled “Name of the rule,” type the desired name for the rule
 

10. Click OK
 

11. Repeat steps 4 through 10 as needed

The rules you have just created will filter your messages as you directed until you change them. You can change them as often as you like from the Mail Rules tab. Simply highlight the rule you would like to change and click the appropriate function: Modify, Copy, Remove or Apply Now.

When setting up a system, you should make only the first user account an Administrator account, even on a child’s machine.  Be sure to choose a good password to protect the Administrator account.  By default, this first account had approval mode enabled, meaning it can be used to configure Parental Controls and manage any setting on the system. All subsequent user accounts you create —especially for kids—should be setup as Standard Users. If a user with a Standard User account needs to complete a restricted task, installing a program for example, the Administrator can enter the proper credentials to complete the task.

For normal system use you should be able to login as a Standard User, and enter your Administrator credentials only when a task requires it.  Taking this extra step when you need it will help prevent accidentally doing something you didn’t mean to do – or installing something you know you shouldn’t.

The high gas prices don’t affect any of the Legislative Members on Capital Hill.  If they were making the minimum wage and trying to buy gas to get to a job then they would be voting instead of stalling until the end of the year as they are now.

They enjoy playing politics to much.  It’s a power rush for them.  Most of them have more money than they will ever spend. (Public Record)

Let them go home for there much needed break.  They should just be left out of the loop when it comes to Drilling off our coast lines the way they have played with this important subject.  There has to be a way that Bush can sign an Executive Order to over ride them in a situation such as this.

Americans are hurting.  I know that you will throw the old excuse out that we won’t see any of the oil for several years.  Remove the ban and I bet Oil will drop Twenty Dollars a barrel by weeks end.  Had we started drilling 30 years ago we wouldn’t be in this mess.

I have worked 30 years, am retired and disabled.  This will bother me but I am really upset about the people I see around me being squeezed just to find a way to work for nothing after they pay for gas!

Gary Chambers

I never thought I would see these two words in the same sentence.  You probably think of one every time you get close to your Computer and the other when ever you see your Car.

Share the Tips and Tricks you have come up with to deal with these big problems with others. 

Just leave your comments.

Here’s the common scenario:

A child anywhere from 6 to 16 campaigns for a new PC for his or her bedroom. Parents hem and haw and complain about expense, but, in the end, they give in and buy a value PC that can handle basic tasks — e-mail, word processing and Web browsing.

Once the new PC is set up and running, a second conversation ensues.

Child: “I need Internet access.”

Mom: “We have it on your dad’s PC. Use that.”

Child: “I don’t wanna. I need it on this one, so I can work on my book reports and, like, find stuff for current events. And all my friends are talking on AIM.”

Mom: “So?”

Child: “Mom, I don’t want kids to think I’m weird. I need to be on.”

Mom: “How often?”

Child: “Not too much, I promise.”

Life is full of such little lies. Of course, Mom gives in and Junior gets Internet access in his bedroom.

Within minutes, he’s signing up for a free AIM handle — usually through his parents’ AOL Internet access (Side note: Why is anyone still paying for this?).

The child goes online and now he’s, for all intents and purposes, all alone in the “big city.”

No one is watching him. No one is protecting him. And no one is making sure this kid follows basic online rules of conduct.

In fact, as far as the kid knows, there are none. He’s left alone to run into trouble and create trouble.

Many kids discover the Internet’s lack of rules and regulations early on. They create impossible-to-decipher screen names and then, once they’ve learned the screen names for their friends, wreak a little havoc. Sometimes they even claim to be other people.

Outside of instant messaging, they’re setting up MySpace pages, visiting Web sites found through Google, and essentially walking down every dark Internet alleyway none the wiser.

Such freedom! Isn’t this sprawling Internet metropolis wonderful?

Such recklessness.

New AIM accounts are almost always trolled by AIM predators and bots.

The predators hope to stumble on fresh meat to manipulate. Bots are there to test your security defenses — if they’re weak, the kid and his PC are in trouble.

While all this is going on in the bedroom, the clueless parent is in the kitchen, making dinner, cleaning up and caring for the family. What they really should be caring about is what’s going on in that bedroom on that PC.

Most children’s grade schools have held talks at various PTA meetings, educating parents on the various online dangers. They instruct parents about the proper placement of an Internet-connected PC. Of course, the parents who really need to hear this are typically not in attendance.

So how do we warn parents about the dangers of putting an Internet-connected system in a child’s bedroom? How do we make them understand that this can be a dangerous mistake?

All computer retailers often advertise how they’re here to help us: Their great products can help us achieve our goals and even connect with our friends, family, and workplace in more meaningful ways.

What if there was a new kind of document included with each system shipped by Computer Manufactures?

Let’s call it The Parents’ Do’s and Don’ts Guide For Their Kids. It could list some key points every parent should keep in mind, with topic headers such as these:

— System Placement: The Family PC Room

— Security: Hardware, Software, and allot of Common Sense

— Personal Information: It’s Not for Sharing

— The Dangers Your Family Faces and How to Avoid Them: You Can Have the Biggest Impact

This will never happen because manufacturers would worry that scared consumers would pack up the PCs and send them back.

So, friends, it’s up to all of you to spread the word. I know friends, relatives, and coworkers often call me, asking for tech advice. Why not start sharing your own Parents’ Do’s and Don’ts Guide For Their Kids?