We all need up to date information on how to secure our computers, protect against Internet fraud and protect our personal information. The federal government in collaberation with the technology industry has developed a great web site which provides practical tips to help you safeguard your computer and your personal information...... onguardonline.gov.

Are you one of the 75% of Internet users today who would like to shop on the Internet but do not like giving out credit card numbers or personal information? Since the year 2000 the number of online users either buying or researching products online has roughly doubled. Even though there is wide use of the internet for shopping, worries about sending personal or credit card information online still keeps many away.

But the advantages cannot be ignored. Shopping on the net can be a boon to seniors, the physically challenged, or people who are not in a position to venture out. Users can shop almost any store in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SeniorNet of Dallas is offering a 2 hour online shopping workshop on Friday, May 29 at 1 PM. The course will give you tips for shopping safely and reveal how your online purchases are secured and processed. We will also teach you about comparison shopping, auctions, finding bargains, online coupons, company privacy and return policies and delivery options. We hope this course will give you the pros and cons of shopping the net and the tools to decide if you, too, want to join the millions who now enjoy shopping with their mouse instead of their feet.

Better hurry! Our May - June 2009 classes are filling up fast. Click on the link below to see the new schedule of classes and workshops.

Call 214-841-2818 today.

May-June, 09 Classes

As volunteer educators we are always interested in how you, as Seniors, view today's world of technology and computers and how you would like to use them. If you are 50 years old or older, we'd like you to give us your input in a short survey (just 8 questions) which is COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS. The results will be used for no other purpose than help us improve our ever-changing curriculum. If you haven't taken this survey before, just click on the "Talk to Us" link below and use your Browser's back arrow to return here when your finished. A BIG THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!

TIP!!

Need to make email easier to read?

If you have a scroll wheel on your mouse (between left and right mouse button), there is a very easy way to increase the text size in your email.

Just hold down the "Ctrl" key on your keyboard while you push the scroll wheel forward on the mouse.

Try it! It works!

Note: This method works only for web-based email. It does not work if you are using Outlook Express for email or other email systems which run from your local computer.

Spyware is a general term used to describe software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent first.

Read Microsoft's excellent article which explains Spyware and how to prevent it. Click HERE.

This is a series of charts from the "Generations Online in 2009" Pew Research report released on Jan. 28, 2009. It is interesting to note that the biggest increase in use of the Internet since 2005 has been by those who are 70 years old and older! (slide number 7). We like to think that SeniorNet had something to do with that. To view the slide show in full screen, click on the "screen" icon in the bottom right of the picture below.

V. Ingram

Our popular Snowball Fight game is no long available but you were all getting too good at it anyway, so here's a NEW challenge. THE TURKEY SHOOT!. . Have fun and practice your mouse maneuvers at the same time. Click on the link below to play. Get those turkeys!! To return to this page when your done, just click on your browsers BACK arrow.

Our Dora (Dora Owens, SeniorNet coach and office assistant) has been training all year for this as we know from her Walking Log. CONGRATULATIONS DORA on your active support of this great cause and for being one of the millions of happy survivors!