Extend your laptop’s life
March 6th, 2008
What can you do to keep your laptop healthy? Aside from regularly running antivirus and spyware removal software, there are a number of steps you can take to extend your laptop’s life. (Read more…)
Archive for the 'Tips' category
Subscribe to TechNotes
October 25th, 2007
Did you know you can subscribe to your favorite blogs and websites using RSS?
What’s RSS, you ask? RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication; it’s a “web feed” format used to publish frequently updated content (like blog entries, news headlines, or podcasts). The feed is syndicated (published), and readers can subscribe (or bookmark). You can tell that a website has an RSS feed if there is a feed indicator in the address bar of your web browser or if the site advertises a feed (like the links at the bottom of the TechNotes homepage). (Read more…)
Digital Security: Your Personal Computer
October 15th, 2007
This is the third in a series of posts on Digital Security from TechNotes.
Setting up an account password for your personal computer protects you from two kinds of “snoops”: hackers who try to login to your computer remotely; and curious roommates, friends, neighbors, or strangers who have physical access to your computer. For further protection, don’t set your computer to auto-login and have it prompt you for a password when the computer goes to sleep.
If you share your computer with roommates, friends, or siblings, consider setting up multiple user accounts, each with their own passwords. This will protect your information and allow you to control how much access other people have to your computer and what they’re allowed to do. (Read more…)
Link Round-up: (Free) Alternatives to Illegal File Sharing
October 12th, 2007
Free music — where can you get it? Downloading copyrighted music and video is illegal and against Smith’s Acceptable Use Policy, but there are plenty of free & legal alternatives.
Digital Security: Online Identity
September 26th, 2007
This is the second in a series of posts on Digital Security from TechNotes. Stay tuned for more information about securing your digital life.
When you post anything online, remember that everything is, in effect, public. Think of your family, friends, teachers, school administrators, future employers, and admissions officers; as well as potential identity thieves and predators. To put it directly, don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see – and also don’t put anything online that someone could use to impersonate or stalk you.
So, what should you keep private? (Read more…)