Can You Spot the Problems With This Fake Email?

Recently, I received an email from "Skype".  It told me that my account had been suspended and detailed what I needed to go through in order to reactivate my account.  I knew right away that it was fake because I have never had an account on Skype.  However, if you do have an account, how easily would you be able to identify this as a fake email?  Without reading on, can you spot five problems with this email?  (You can click on the picture to enlarge it.)

Here are five problems you should have caught:

1) Email Address - If this email were really from Skype, it would be coming from blahblah@skype.com.  This email is not coming from skype.com, it is coming from account53654156pod6501_verifcation.com.  Also, check the spelling carefully.  I once received an email that came from statefram.com.  Obviously, they were hoping that I would not realize the transposed letters and think this was actually from State Farm.  If the email is coming from something other than the company's main website or it is extremely long (both apply in this case), be suspicious.

2) Missing Logo - Yes, a small Skype logo appears on the right-hand side, but most companies put their logos all over their emails.  You would expect a full-sized logo that says "Skype" somewhere in a email coming from Skype.  If an email is text only or only contains a small logo, be suspicious.

3) Poor Grammar/Spelling - Except for the misspelled "verifcation" in the email address, this email actually has good spelling.  However, there are multiple grammar issues with this message.  The first paragraph is missing a space after a period, none of the paragraphs end with any punctuation, the colon after Reference Number has a space before it and not after it, and there are a few words that should not have been capitalized.  An automated email like this coming from a large company will have been proofread by multiple copywriters.  Minor grammar errors will sometimes happen, and occasionally a company will make a major mistake, but no company would ever allow an email with this many errors to go out in its name.  If you are not an English teacher and you notice more than one spelling or grammar error, be suspicious.

4) Strange Wording - Skype is not going to be concerned with the activity on your credit card.  The would obviously want to make sure that purchases you made through Skype are legitimate, but they would reference activity on your account, not on your credit card.  If the wording seems strange or overly urgent, be suspicious.

5) Link in Email - Due to all the phishing attacks, very few companies will provide a link in an email for you to confirm your account details.  Almost all of them will ask you to go to their website and log in there.  (This does not apply to opt in emails for lists, like the one you received to confirm your subscription to my mailing list.  You should know the link is legitimate since you requested it.)  If there is a link in the email for you to confirm your personal information, be suspicious.

There are two more items you would not have been able to see from the email picture, but that were apparent to me from seeing the actual email:

1) Single Image - You would not have been able to notice this based on the picture provided, but the entire email is an image, with all the text and pictures contained as part of the image.  This is a tool used by spammers and scammers.  Since spam filters will not see any text (they cannot read the text in the image, they just see it a giant picture), it is much more likely to make it to your actual inbox.  Not only does this mean that it will more people will read it, but appearing in your inbox makes it seem more credible.

2) The Actual Link - When I hover over the link to "confirm my information", it does not take me to skype.com.  It actually takes me to http://j.gs/7174136/gqsw82.  A large company is unlikely to use shortened web addresses for something like this.

The simple way to never be scammed by emails like this is to never click on links in emails.  As I mentioned earlier, most companies will tell you to go to their website and log in instead of sending a link.  Even if Skype did actually send links in their emails, they would not mind at all if you went to skype.com and entered your log in information there.  If they were legitimately concerned about activity on your account, they would provide instructions on how to reactivate your account once you log in.

The Scroll Wheel Does So Much More!

For years, the majority of mice have come with a scroll wheel. Yes, the scroll wheel allows you to do is to scroll up and down, but did you know it can do more?  Here are five other things you can do with your scroll wheel:

1) Open a Link in a New Tab - Browser tabs have made our lives more convenient.  Instead of having to open multiple browser windows, we can now see all the pages we have open in one simple bar at the top of the screen.  It is not uncommon for me to have five or more tabs open at a single time.  If you need to open a link in a new tab, simply click with the scroll wheel (called a 'middle click').

2) Close a Browser Tab - Staying on the topic of middle clicking, if you want to close a tab in your browser, simply middle click anywhere on the tab at the top of the page.  It's much easier than trying to get your mouse right on the little 'x'.

3) AutoScroll - Middle click in a browser window, an Office document, or many other programs, and your cursor will turn into a small compass.  Move your mouse in a any direction to scroll in that particular direction.  Once you've reached where you want to go, middle click again to get your regular cursor back.  This may not work in every program, but the only way to know for sure is to try it.

4) Close a Window - This one only works in Windows 7 or 8.  The taskbar at the bottom of your screen contains an icon for every program you have running.  When you hover over that icon, a thumbnail of the window or windows you have open will show up.  You can right click to open a particular window, or you can middle click on the thumbnail to close it.

5) Zoom In and Out - Holding down the Ctrl key while scrolling up or down will zoom the current window in or out.  This works in most programs, and once again, the only way to know for sure is to try it in your favorite program!

Three Steps to Secure Your Home Network

Wireless networks are wonderful.  We can take our laptop, tablet, or phone and sit anywhere in the house while we surf the web.  However, having wireless access in your home also means that someone sitting in their car across the street can use your internet unless you take steps to block that person out.  And while you might just think that you are being generous by allowing others to use your bandwidth, any activities (including illegal ones) performed by a person on the network will be connected back to you.  You may be able to clear yourself eventually, but you will end up with many hassles and legal bills before that happens.

Fortunately, it is simple to secure your home's wireless network to block out intruders.

1) Add a password - This is the most basic security step you can take.  When someone tries to connect to your network, they will be forced to enter the password you set up.

To set up your password, you will need to access your router's control panel.  To access this panel, you will need to go to a web browser window and enter your router's network address.  (The network address will be listed in your router's documentation, or you can look up the address for your router online.  It will begin with 192.168.)  Next, you will need to enter the user name and password.  These have a default setting, so if you have not changed them, look up the defaults in the documentation or online, as well.  Then, you will need to navigate to where you can change the password.  The exact procedure will differ based on your router, but for my router, I click on "Wireless" and then "Security".  For the best security, you will want to use WPA2 security unless you have a device that cannot connect with WPA2.  On my router, this is changed under "Authentication Type".  Underneath that option is a place for the "Passphrase".  This is obviously where you will enter the password that you want.

While this step will keep most people off your network, a determined person will still be able to get around your security if all you do is add a password.  To stop these people, you need to do more:

2) Change your SSID - The SSID is a name that identifies your wireless network.  By default, it will usually contain the brand name of the router.  Remember how we could access the control panel earlier by looking up the router's address online?  If your router's brand is listed in your network name, anyone on your network could look up that address and access your control panel.  Even if the model number is not in the description, most manufacturers use the same one or two addresses for all their routers.  Once on your network, it would not take long to be inside your control panel.

To change your SSID, you will once again go to the control panel and search for an "SSID" option to change.  On my router, I can access that by simply clicking on "Wireless".  Once there, think of a creative name for your network.  You can use your last name, your address, or even change it to "FBI Surveillance Van".  (Yes, I know of at least two people who have done that!)  This is not a password, so there is no need to be concerned about coming up with a complicated name.  The critical factor is that your router's brand name is gone!

If you want to be extra conscious about security, you can disable SSID broadcasting.  This will cause your network to appear as something like "Unidentified Network" or "Unnamed Network".  Then, in order to connect, you will have to enter the network name along with the password you set earlier.  While this provides a little extra security, it also adds the inconvenience of having to remember and enter the network name along with the password.

3) Change your Access Password - Remember how we had to enter a user name and password to access the router control panel.  Because so many routers use the same default address, it would not take long to guess the address of most routers.  Once the person has done this, they will almost always have access to the model number of your router (it is usually displayed on the login page).  If your user name and password to access the control panel is still the default, they can look it up just as easily as you can!  Once inside your control panel, they can make all kinds of changes to your network, including blocking you from accessing your own router.

To stop this, change your router's access password.  (Some may also allow you to change the user name, but others may not.)  This may take a little time to find in your control panel, but it is worth it.  You can also attempt to look up directions in your documentation or online.  Make sure you write this password down!  You will most likely use it infrequently, so you want to have it written down where you can find it when you need it.

Adding Hardware to Your Computer

I received a question from a customer this week that I felt I should discuss in a more general sense.  I helped a couple recover their pictures, videos, and other files off of a dying hard drive and put it onto DVDs for them.  They purchased a new computer when it was on sale, but then they discovered that it did not have a CD/DVD drive on it.  They came to me to ask what they could do to get their files off of the DVDs and onto their new computer.

The answer that I gave them is true not only for DVD players, but also for many types of devices.  I recommended an external DVD drive that I found on sale for $25.  This drive will plug into a USB port and provide them with a drive when they need it.

This solution works if you need to add many different types of functions to your computer.  If your new laptop doesn't come with a port for a network cable and you want one, you can get a network port that plugs into a USB port.  This also comes in handy to replace a port on your computer that has failed.  If the wireless card in a laptop fails, you would be unable to connect to any WiFi.  However, you can find WiFi devices that plug into your USB ports for less than $5.

The key to remember:  your computer isn't dead just because one port died or because it doesn't have a capability you want.  Almost every device that you can have built into your computer also comes in an external version at a reasonable price.

Clean Up Week: When All Else Fails...

If you have been following the tips this week, you have probably freed up some space on your computer, fixed some errors, and disabled some programs that ran when you started your computer.  However, you may find that your computer still seems to be running slow.  When all else fails, there is one simple way to restore your computer to peak performance.

First, if you think your computer is running slow, you should always do a scan with your antivirus.  If that doesn't fix your problem, try running a second scan with a program like Malwarebytes or Hitman Pro.  If multiple antivirus scans don't catch anything, then your computer is probably suffering from operating system decay.

Operating system decay occurs over time as you use your computer.  While certain operating systems have worse records when it comes to decay, it is an inevitable part of using any operating system on any computer or device.  Fortunately, your operating system is software, and you can always put a fresh copy of your operating system on your computer!  This will restore your system to the way it was when you first took it out of the box, minus any slower performance due to wear on the physical equipment.

Before you begin, you need to realize that this will completely delete everything on your computer.  Make a backup of your Users folder on your C drive (this is where all items on your desktop and in the folders My Documents, My Pictures, etc. are stored.)  Also, make sure you have copies of any software on your computer, as these will be deleted, too.  Finally, I recommend running Magical Jelly Bean's Keyfinder and writing down any product keys that it locates.  Not only will this make the reinstallation process easier by consolidating all your keys in one place, but it will also be a lifesaver if you lost your key or the key sticker faded.

Now that you are ready to install a new copy of Windows, you need to figure out how to access the recovery partition.  Most computers have a recovery partition that can be accessed by pressing a certain key combination at startup.  Some also have software in Windows that can start the process.  To find out what you need to do, check your computer's documentation or look it up online.  At the beginning of the process, it may offer to save all your files for you.  I do not usually select this option because I want a completely fresh copy of Windows on my computer, not one that has information from the old installation on it.  If you do select this, make sure you still have a copy of your data in case something goes wrong.

If you are uncomfortable going through this process by yourself, most computer stores will be able to perform this for you at a reasonable price.  Call around to several stores in your area and check prices.

Clean Up Week: Check Start-Up Programs

When you start up your computer, you know that Windows is loading.  However, Windows also has instructions to load a variety of start-up programs, too.  Some of these are important; you want your antivirus software to load right away!  However, sometimes programs that you don't actually need will be set to load at startup.  Once, I found a program that I rarely used had a little feature that "pre-loaded" portions of the software at startup so that the software would start faster when you opened it.

If it seems like it takes forever before you can use your computer after you log in, these startup programs might be the problem.  CCleaner (which I mentioned in yesterday's tip) has a feature that will allow you to disable or delete startup program entries.  Click on the Tools button on the left side, and then select Startup.  On the tabs at the top, you can see which programs start when Windows loads and which add-ons start when your browsers are opened.  If there is a program that you do not want to start, you can double-click the entry to disable it.  (Just like the programs list, do not disable entries unless you are sure that you do not want them.  You don't want to disable something critical to your computer's operation.)

If you don't want to install CCleaner, you can also do this through Windows.  In Windows Vista/7, go to a search box (on the Start Menu) and type "msconfig".  Then, click on the "Startup" tab to see the list.  Uncheck each option you do not want to start with Windows.  In Windows 8, the process is even easier.  Do a Ctrl+Alt+Delete and select "Task Manager" and then go to the "Startup" tab.  To disable an item, right-click it and select "Disable."

These tools are also helpful for fixing error messages that occur at startup.  Sometimes a program will be removed but its entry in the startup options will not, leading to an error message every time you turn on your computer.  If you get a message stating that "vloader.exe" is not available, you can go to CCleaner or msconfig and search for an option with that file name.  (You may need to look at the file name on the far right of the window.)  Disable that entry, and you should not see the message the next time you restart.

Clean Up Week: Scan for Junk

Your computer creates a lot of files on a daily basis.  Many of these are temporary files that are meant to be created for a specific purpose and then deleted.  In most cases, these files are deleted, but events sometimes result in these files being left on your computer.

Installing programs can also create entries in your registry that are unnecessary once you decide to uninstall the program.  Even if you used yesterday's tip and scanned your registry for leftovers after you uninstalled a program, there may still be unnecessary entries left over that Revo Uninstaller did not catch.

CCleaner will scan for both types of junk.  Download and install CCleaner, and then run it.  On the left-hand side, you will see options for "Cleaner" and "Registry".  The cleaner will scan for temporary files and a variety of other items that might be taking up space on your computer.  You can control what it searches for by selecting or deselecting the checkboxes.  Click the Analyze button and let it scan and determine what it can find.  Then click the Run Cleaner button to clear it all out.  When I ran this on my computer this week, it found 4 GB of unnecessary information to clear (that's a lot!).

You can also have it scan the registry for errors or unnecessary entries.  Click on the registry button on the left-hand side.  Then select "Scan for Issues".  After the scan, select "Fix selected issues..." to fix what it finds.  If will first ask you if you want to back up your registry, ALWAYS do this! One bad edit to the registry can severely damage your computer, so you want to have a backup in place in case something goes wrong.  (I have used this program on to clean many computers and never had any problem, but it never hurts to be cautious!)  Then, you can see the suggested edits one-by-one or simply have it fix all of them.  Once you have cleaned it, go back through the process again (I normally skip the registry backups on successive scans) until it tells you that it found no issues.  In many cases, clearing one entry will make a dependent entry unnecessary, too.

Tomorrow, we will look at another useful feature of CCleaner.