Ask Leo: That Email Looks Like Its From Me
By Leo Notenboom
If your contacts are getting email from you that you didn’t send, then it’s very likely that your email account has been compromised.
Ask Leo: That Email Looks Like Its From Me Read More »
Ask Leo: Keep Info on a Shared Computer Private?
By Leo Notenboom
I share a computer and I want to know how to keep my information private.
Ultimately … you can’t. At least not easily, and even then it depends on the data that you’re attempting to keep private, and the technical savvy of the individuals that you’re attempting to keep it private from.
There’s nothing like your own computer. But if you have to share, there are a couple of things that might help. A little.
Ask Leo: Keep Info on a Shared Computer Private? Read More »
Ask Leo: Odd Characters Instead of Quotes
By Leo Notenboom
The way characters are represented within computer documents and email isn’t always the same everywhere, and things often get misinterpreted.
Let me cover a few concepts, and throw out a few tips on how it can sometimes be avoided.
Ask Leo: Odd Characters Instead of Quotes Read More »
Ask Leo: How Can I Keep My Laptop Data Secure?
By Leo Notenboom
Laptops are portable, convenient and easily lost. When lost, all the data could easily be available to the finder. Encryption is the answer.
Ask Leo: How Can I Keep My Laptop Data Secure? Read More »
Ask Leo: Is it safe to let my browser remember passwords?
By Leo Notenboom
If I consider my computer to be physically secure, am I reasonably safe
letting Firefox remember my passwords (without using a master password), or am
I being incredibly stupid to do that? What if I do use a master password?
I certainly wouldn’t say incredibly stupid at all. But it’s definitely an
additional risk, and one that needs to be understood.
But you’re correct in considering physical security first. The problem is
that people often assume they have more physical security than they actually
do.
And master passwords? Well, they’re nice, but they too have their
limitations.
Ask Leo: Is it safe to let my browser remember passwords? Read More »
Ask Leo: Where is Windows Mail & Outlook Express in Windows 7?
By Leo Notenboom
I did not realize Windows Mail is not included in Windows 7 Professional. Is there a way to add Windows mail?
It’s true – Outlook Express was replaced by Windows Mail in Windows Vista, but with the release of Windows 7 even that has disappeared, along with Windows Messenger and a few other items.
To be honest, that’s good news for those of us who never used these tools.
But for those who did, it means an extra step or three.
Ask Leo: Where is Windows Mail & Outlook Express in Windows 7? Read More »
Ask Leo: Can Hackers See My Data?
By Leo Notenboom
I’ve heard that instant messages through AOL/Yahoo/MSN can be read by hackers that “sniff” the messages leaving my network. Is this true?
Yes.
It’s actually true for all the data that comes and goes on your internet connection: web pages, emails, instant messaging conversations and more.
Most of the time it simply doesn’t matter. Honest.
On the other hand, there are definitely times and situations when you really do need to be careful.
Ask Leo: Can Hackers See My Data? Read More »
Ask Leo: Is Changing My Password Enough?
By Leo Notenboom
I regularly hear from people who’ve had their email or other online account
compromised, who somehow are able to recover access to it and change their
password, only to have the account stolen almost immediately again.
The problem is actually quite simple, though the solution is a bit of
work.
Ask Leo: Is Changing My Password Enough? Read More »
Ask Leo: Is It Safe to Delete This File?
By Leo Notenboom
My C: and D: drives have many gigabytes of .DAT files under “Documents and
Settings”. I’m trying to free up space on the C: drive. Can I delete any of
these files? I really don’t know what they are, how they got there, or why they
occupy so much space on my computer!
I don’t know.
Honestly, I have no idea either as to what they are, how they got there, or
why they occupy so much space. That’s the problem with “.dat” files – there’s
no way to know what they are without more information.
But I do have some ideas on how to determine if deleting them is ok, and
ways to do it safely. And those ideas apply to any file type, not just
“.dat”.
Ask Leo: Is It Safe to Delete This File? Read More »
Ask Leo: Someone has created an account in my name … Now What?
By Leo Notenboom
It’s trivial to set up accounts on the free services in which you can be anonymous – using entirely fake information – or in which you can impersonate someone else.
I’m not sure I’d expect much help from the provider – Yahoo, in your case. To be honest, even if they did bother to reply, they wouldn’t know who to believe. You and I know that you’re not, but how’s Yahoo to know that you’re not the impersonator, or just someone trying to hassle someone else?
Here’s what I would do…
Ask Leo: Someone has created an account in my name … Now What? Read More »