UNHCE Information Technology & Distance Education Blog: Internet and Browsers Archives

Recently, an email was sent to users with unh.edu addresses, asking them to provide sensitive information to keep their accounts in good standing: DELETE the email and don't respond. This is a classic phishing scheme.

Phishing is the term for an attempt by "bad guys" to obtain your sensitive information, like usernames, passwords, etc. This is often done through email. For tips to avoid falling victim to such attacks, see this article from US-CERT.

Anne Adrian of Alabama Cooperative Extension has a great post about "how blogging fits into Cooperative Extension".

This post includes the questions, answers, and some examples so others can see how Cooperative Extension professionals are using blogging. In my opinion, Extension has not even created the "drop" in the bucket. Typical Extension subject matter professionals have tremendous of knowledge to share, and I hope this post helps them understand blogging can work for them.

An article from US-CERT about Email clients.

How do email clients work?

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How many email clients are there?

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How do you choose an email client?

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Can you have/use more than one email client?

To clear your cache and cookies in Firefox follow these steps.

1. Select "Tools" from the ribbon list of options at the top of the browser
2. Near the bottom of the window is a selection marked "Clear Private Data" Select this option
3. You should see this window pop up:



4. Check off the cookies and cache selections only
5. Select "Clear Private Data Now"
6. Close down your browser

One of the core technologies behind the Web 2.0 "revolution" is RSS (Really Simple Syndication). Most websites that are updated with any sort of regularity have feeds of at least their headlines, and usually of full articles. Some sites also have secondary feeds listing their comments, videos, links, and other updates as well.

Because RSS is so common these days, keeping up with the rush of information that shapes our lives has become pretty easy ("really simple", even). Instead of jumping from one site to another, you can keep track of all the content of the sites you visit regularly in one central place.

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While there are desktop applications that collect your syndicated content, reading RSS feeds is one task that justifies the buzz around "Web 2.0". For reading news, keeping up with blogs, even tracking packages, little can compare with Google Reader -- its easy to add feeds, easy to read them, and easy to organize them.

Read How to Get Started with Google Reader at lifehack.org

Great video showing some google search tips:

Ever want to search all of the Cooperative Extension sites around the country at once? Now you can, through a custom Google search set up by the folks at eXtension.

Just go to http://extension.unh.edu/cesites.htm, our listing of the other states' Extension sites, and use the search box at the bottom of the page.

Follow these Ten Tips for Smarter Google Searches, and you're sure to find what you're looking for faster and more easily.

Via HighTouch

Don't spend your time checking websites for updated information, get all the updated information in one place. Many sections of our Extension site allow for this (Extension Update, ITDE Blog, News, NH Outside, Profiles in Extension, and the Gazette) through the use of something called RSS (Real Simple Syndication). You can also subscribe to updates from any blog and almost all news sites (e.g., NY Times, NPR, Concord Monitor)

Here's a short video that will introduce you to the basics (courtesy of CommonCraft):

Click To Play

I recommend using either Google Reader or Bloglines for web-based solutions. You can also use FeedBlitz to have updates mailed to you daily. You can subscribe to Extension news updates via FeedBlitz using the consolidated Extension subscription form.

UNH CIS has warned clients that use applications such as Banner or Blackboard to not upgrade to Microsoft Internet Explorer 7. Since this will be pushed out as an automatic update from Microsoft, it is important that affected users block the update. Instructions can be found in this Campus Journal article: CIS Warns Clients Not to Use Internet Explorer 7

Clearing your cache (infomration stored in RAM) is sometimes necessary for better system performance.

Cache is a collection of web page copies stored on your computer's hard disk or in its random-access memory (RAM). The browser accumulates these copies as you browse the Web. Sometimes, you need to clear your cache in order to view the latest version of a web page.

• Here's how to clear your cache in Netscape:
  Click on Edit
  Click on Preference
  Double Click on Advanced (so it expands)
  Click on Cache
  On the right you will see two buttons - clear disk cache and clear memory cache
  Click on both of them
  Click OK
  Close Netscape and then reopen
  
  
• Here's how to clear your cache in Internet Explorer
  Click Tools
  Click Internet Options.
  On the General tab, click Clear History
  Click OK
  Close IE and reopen
  
   

This is IMPORTANT INFORMATION, and you will not have access to it if you are shut off from the Internet by UNH. For that reason, please print this out for future reference!

If UNH CIS detects unusual activity on your computer, they may shut you out of the network, in order to protect the other computers at UNH. When this happens, they only allow you access to a few sites, including theirs, Microsoft (for a Windows update), and McAfee for virus updates.

It is IMPORTANT to note that, while UNH uses McAfee for virus protection, UNHCE does NOT. We use Symantec/Nortons. The two antiviral packages conflict. Installing McAfee with a copy of Symantec/Nortons on your computer could render your computer useless. For that reason, it is important to use your copy of Symantec/Nortons to scan your hard drive, rather than use McAfee, as they recommend.

If you have been keeping up-to-date on Live Update, which is automated for most people, then your virus definitions may be fine. Double check with someone else in your office by looking at the date on your copy of Symantec/Nortons (Start\(all) programs\Symantec or Nortons, or use your Live Update or Nortons icon on your desktop.)

Compare the date on your version to someone who has completed a live update that day. If the dates are the same, your virus definitions are all set and can begin your scan. If not, you need to get a copy of Intelligent Updater, which can be downloaded from the Symantec site at: http://www.symantec.com/downloads/. That will need to be done on a computer which is connected to the Internet, burned onto a CD (it's too large for a floppy) and brought to your computer for installation. (The ITDE office can assist you with this step.)

Clicking on Intelligent Updater will start the update of your virus definitions. Once that is complete, you can do a scan of your hard drive.

Call the hot seat at:862-0351, if you need further assistance.

Cache is a collection of web page copies stored on your computer's hard disk or in its random-access memory (RAM). The browser accumulates these copies as you browse the Web.

Sometimes, you need to clear your cache in order to view the latest version of a web page.

Clearing your cache in Netscape:

* Click on Edit
* Click on Preference
* Double Click on Advanced (so it expands)
* Click on Cache
* On the right you will see two buttons - clear disk cache and clear memory cache
* Click on both of them
* Click OK
* Close Netscape and then reopen

Clearing your cache in Internet Explorer

* Click Tools
* Click Internet Options.
* On the General tab, click Clear History
* Click OK
* Close IE and reopen

The state of NH offers training courses conducted by professional trainers in a variety of computer topics.

The 2005-2006 training calendar has been announced. It includes training in:

* Basic Computer skills
* Office, including Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
* Windows XP
* Browsers & using the Internet

Download this spreadsheet containing a list of courses relevant to UNHCE staff. It lists courses chronologically, but can be sorted by application (Such as "Access," or searched using Ctrl + F and inputting the topic.

To view the entire 2005-2006 catalog, go to: http://www.nh.gov/hr/docs/Catalog_of_Courses.pdf

The registration form is available on page 12 of the guide.

Note: This is an 87-page document. To ease in navigation, click on the Bookmark tab on the left side of your screen to open the bookmarks. Clicking on a bookmark will take you to that section of the document.

For questions or further information, contact Ruth Viola at: Ruth.Viola@NH.Gov or call (603) 271-1434

Remember that UNH staff are entitled to discounts. For discount information, go to: http://ceinfo.unh.edu/Intranet/ITDE/trg/unh_disc.htm

CIS (Computing & Information Services) has announced their training list for this fall.

Sign up early for CIS classes. Not only are the most popular classes oversubscribed early; CIS has begun to cancel classes which are under-enrolled two weeks prior to the class date.

Courses which will be offered in September and October include:

* Adobe Acrobat 6.0 - Level 1
* Adobe Illustrator
* Blackboard - FREE courses in different topics
* Dreamweaver (2 levels)
* Excel - 3 levels
* Photoshop - 2 levels
* PowerPoint - 2 levels

Blackboard classes are offered for free. Vendor-based classes cost $99 per day. Many topics are 2-day sessions.

To see current offerings and their descriptions, or sign up for a session, use their website at: http://training.unh.edu They keep adding to their offerings, so check back for updated information.

To change the text size in Netscape 7.0:

* Select View from the top menu bar

* Select Text Zoom from the drop-down menu

* Select the size (smaller, larger, or percent.)

For a tutorial on this topic, go to: http://cecf1.unh.edu/tutorials/tutorial.cfm?tut_id=21

Note: a listing of all the UNHCE on-line tutrials is available at: http://cecf1.unh.edu/tutorials/index.cfmtut_id=21">http://cecf1.unh.edu/tutorials

There are several accessibility options available in Internet Explorer, which can improve visibility.

The user can change text colors, fonts, and size to adjust for any vision impairments. In addition, you can modify the defaults in Internet Explorer so that you can override styles (a combination of type faces or fonts, colors, sizes, and background colors) that were applied to the Web page by the authors.

Make a selection for step-by-step directions on each of these options:

Changing the Web page colors in Internet Explorer

Changing the font in Internet Explorer

Changing the text size in Internet Explorer

Overriding Web Page Styles in Internet Explorer

To reset colors & fonts to override styles on Web pages in Internet Explorer:

* Select the Tools menu from the top menu bar

* Click on Internet Options.

* On the General tab, click Accessibility.

* Change the settings as needed.

To display Web page text larger or smaller in Internet Explorer:

* Select the View menu from the top menu bar

* Point to Text Size

* Select the desired size.

Note: An on-line tutorial demonstrating this process, step-by-step, is available at: http://cecf1.unh.edu/tutorials/tutorial.cfm?tut_id=22

For a listing of ALL UNHCE on-line tutorials, go to: http://cecf1.unh.edu/tutorials/index.cfm

To change how Web page colors are displayed in Internet Explorer:

* Select the Tools menu from the top menu bar

* Click on Internet Options.

* On the General tab, click Colors.

*Change the settings as needed.

To display Web page text in a different font in Internet Explorer:

* Select the Tools menu from the top menu bar

* Click Internet Options.

* Select the General tab

* Click Fonts.

* In the Web page font and Plain text font lists, select the desired fonts

To rearrange Internet Explorer's toolbars, click on the end of
any of the toolbars and hold down the mouse button while dragging
it to a new location. You can also shrink or enlarge the height
or width of a toolbar by hovering your mouse pointer over the
edge of a toolbar until it changes to a double-sided arrow. Then,
click and drag the edge closer to or farther from the opposite
side to change the toolbar's size. Finally, you can disable,
enable, or change what's available on any of these toolbars by
right-clicking on one and making the appropriate changes in the
resulting shortcut menu. You can also access this capability by
choosing View | Toolbars from the Internet Explorer menu bar.
Courtesy of: Element K tips

Instead of reaching for your mouse to click in your address bar
and type a new URL, press [Alt]D instead. This highlights the
current address in IE so that you can instantly type a new
address or paste a URL you've copied by pressing [Ctrl]V. In
addition, you can quickly move your cursor to different sections
of a URL by pressing [Ctrl][Left Arrow] to go back, or
[Ctrl][Right Arrow] to go forward.
Courtesy of: Element K tips

CIS (Computing & Information Services) has announced their training list for June & July. There are several FREE sessions in addition to their vendor-based training. Some August offerings have also been posted.

Sign up early for CIS classes. Not only are the most popular classes oversubscribed early; CIS has begun to cancel classes which are under-enrolled two weeks prior to the class date.

As of this posting, CIS has announced they will be offering training in the following topics this summer:

* Adobe Acrobat
* Blackboard - 13 FREE courses in 5 different topics
* Dreamweaver (3 levels)
* Excel - 2 levels
* Photoshop - 2 levels & special topics
* PowerPoint - 2 levels

In addition, CIS offers a FREE training series, entitled Computing @ UNH. Offerings include:

Using Photoshop to Enhance Digital Images - July 27th

Computing @ UNH: Using Dreamweaver MX 2004 to Create Webpages - August 24th

Scanning Demonstration (offered three times)
* June 23rd
* July 28th
* August 25th

To see current offerings and their descriptions, or sign up for a session, use their website at: http://training.unh.edu They keep adding to their offerings, so check back for updated information.

Purdue has a web site with Free tips for various applications we use. Topics include:

The Office Suite (Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word), along with Acrobat, clip art, Browsers (Both Explorer and Netscape), and information on palm pilots.

To access this site, go to: http://sharepoint.agriculture.purdue.edu/agit/instructional_tools.aspx

Due to funding issues, the Land Grant Training Alliance website will no longer be available after May 1, 2005.

This site contains links to a variety of University and Extension-sponsored training opportunities. In addition, it contains tutorials on a variety of topics. Some of these tutorials might be helpful in assisting you to make technology work better for you. Although many tutorials are not in the most-current version of the software, most of the information is applicable.

Of particular interest are:

• Microsoft Word 2000 Merge


• Corel WordPerfect 8.0


• Corel WordPerfect 8.0 Tables


• Microsoft
  PowerPoint 2000


• Web Site Accessibility


• Web Authoring
  That Works
  
  Posted by Barbara Wright at 11:25 AM

Thanks to everyone who responded to our on-line Training Needs Assessment Survey. We received 67 responses, which was more than we had hoped for.

Here are some of the highlights:

Respondents would like to receive training on the following applications (in order from highest preference): Access, PowerPoint, PictureTel, PhotoShop, Excel, Windows XP, PageMaker, Word, Acrobat.

Respondents feel the following characteristics of training are important (from most important to least): Instructor present, cost, time involved, customized content.

Based on these data and our past experiences, we've decided to take a new approach to training in the coming year, that we call the "roll-your-own" method.

Here's how it works:

An office or other group decides they would like training in a particular subject (see list below). They contact the appropriate ITDE team member (see list below) and schedule a time, place, and topics for training. There needs to be a minimum of five people committed to participate in the training, and it may be opened up to wider participation if space and resources are available.

We have used this technique several times in the past year, and find that by tailoring the training to a particular group's needs and scheduling at a time and location convenient to the group (like the county office), the training is much more effective and efficient.

To further tailor training to the particular group's needs, it's our intention that the instructor-led training be more task-oriented, to equip Extension staff with the skills they need to perform their jobs.

The following is a partial listing of subjects and contacts:

Faye Cragin: Advanced PowerPoint, PhotoShop, and PageMaker / InDesign
David Foote: PictureTel
Stephen Judd: Access, Excel, and any topic not specified here
Michael Toepfer: WordPerfect and "How to Get the Most from the Windows Operating System"
Barbara Wright: Word