Percy Pig is now online too!

Ian Knowles shares some tips about when and when not to click, open and reply, in the first of a regular advice column

In this issue: Basic Internet Security.

Premium Rate Diallers,Viruses, Spyware, Junk E-mail (also called Spam) and Pop-Ups are all problems that can affect computers; especially those connected to the Internet and very few these days are not. All very annoying but largely preventable, if you take a few appropriate measures.

Anti-virus programme

Firstly, install a reputable Anti-virus program. If you already have one, ensure it is set to automatically update its virus definition files (check that it actually does so), alternatively, manually update the antivirus definition files, in both cases at least once per week, as new viruses are released all the time. Even if you can't see the effects of a virus, some will open up a 'back door' to allow hackers access to your PC.

Firewall

Secondly, if you are connected via broadband, install a firewall, either a software firewall, often available as part of a comprehensive antivirus suite or you can use a hardware firewall.These hide your PC from the outside world and prevent hackers obtaining sensitive information that may be stored on your computer. Firewalls are more use on broadband connections, as they tend to be on-line for much longer periods.

Be vigilant!

Be vigilant when opening emails and when surfing the Internet. If you don't know who an email is from, especially if it has an attachment, just delete it, don't open the email or the attachment unless you are confident you have an up to date antivirus program. Don't be tempted to reply to spam emails or request to be taken off their mailing list. Many recipients are randomly generated and replying merely serves to confirm your address.

Don't click!

When visiting websites, if you see a pop-up for example telling you your computer is at risk etc, don't click anywhere other than the X in the top right hand corner otherwise you are inviting spyware onto your computer.These can be malicious and install Trojans and premium rate diallers or at the very least install spyware which tracks your surfing habits and usually results in an increase in spam. Don't use free file sharing software such as Kazaa and iMesh etc, as these get revenue from using pop-ups and other advertising.

Finally, if you use a Microsoft operating system, browser or email client, ensure that you have the latest updates and security patches installed. Updates are released regularly to fix problems and security loopholes that will help prevent your computer suffering from virus and hacker attack.

Next issue: Basic Data Loss Prevention.

Ian Knowles

Website Wonders - Must see websites

It's Spring and so my thoughts turned to Easter and all of its delights.

First of the must see websites this issue is www.happy-easter.com - a great children's site - clear to view with a good variety of pages dealing with the traditional side of Easter

Secondly, www.pragueexperience.com gives a great insight into Easter in Czechoslovakia; the Easter market sounds delightful, whilst the traditions are an eye opener - on Easter Monday in particular, it would be scary to be a girl in that country.

At www.activityvillage.co.uk there are lots of child friendly, Easter oriented things to print and further links through the holiday pages on the left mean that there are many things to help keep the children amused during the holidays.

www.refuel.org.uk is a great mixture of classical art and the Easter message along with a number of thought provoking questions and further resources covering the major Christian festivals.

Easter for many means one thing - chocolate! After wiping the drool from my keyboard and visiting a lot of delicious sites, I found a site with a slightly different take. http://www.chocolate.org is not one for children, but explains the science of chocolate in exacting detail. Once you read this, you may understand why exactly you ate all of your Easter eggs in a frenzy.

Finally, I couldn't resist a peek at www.bradshawfoundation.com - a site that made me wish I too could visit Easter Island and be dwarfed by the statues of MOAI RANO RARAKU.

Laura Hegarty

Bade Newby Display - series on local businesses

If ever you want chopsticks or car stickers screen-printed in Barrow, I know just the place! On a blustery January day, I visited Bade Newby Display in Melton Road and satisfied my curiosity about just what happens in that intriguing building the business occupies.

Bade Newby himself, who began his career painting bingo balls, started the business in 1967 in his garage at the old bakery in North Street.

From there, the business moved to Beveridge Street, in the slaughter shop of what had been Townend's butchers.For the last 20 years it has been located in what has been an undertakers'; the garage for the Mount, complete with chauffeur's quarters and Rolls Royce (the inspection pit is still there); and the meeting place and store for the Home Guard during World War Two.

The family business can print anything from a one off to over 50,000 of the same item.The range of processes and surfaces that they can accommodate is dizzying. During my visit, I saw among other things examples of screenprinting on plastic shuffle puzzles, on paper and card for point of sale advertising, on metal for outdoor use and on self-adhesive labels to create stickers.

Click to enlarge (44kb)

One of the attractions of the business is the variety that it offers. Every job is different, whether it be producing tags to attach to wheelie bins in a neighbouring borough, using the 50" wide digital printer to produce large, highly detailed promotional boards or heat bending plastic to form three dimensional promotional leaflet holders in the shape of removal vans. Also on offer is the facility to create vinyl cut lettering or even on site screen-printing - a case of'have screen, will travel'.

The business has its own website www.badenewby.co.uk which has led to a greater range of orders and national/international clients such as Nike. This, along with the move to digital printing is ensuring that even though they may be sited in a historic building, Bade Newby has an eye to the future.

What are you terrified of?

Everyone is terrified of something - or so I am assured. Most of us can appreciate the terror of spiders, snakes, or even something small which most of us wouldn't think about - like the touch of coat buttons or feathers - but what about computers? The fear that once they are switched on, you are terrified you will press a button and everything will disappear for ever.

If you are a computer buff then this article is definitely not for you. However, if you have been given a computer by your kids, inherited one from work, or the children have told you to get one so they can keep in touch by email as they disappear off to the far flung ends of the earth, then your Barrow library and Rawlins College might be able to help you get over your terror.

Since 2004 Rawlins College have been running free 'taster' courses on Thursday mornings at Barrow Library entitled 'Computing for the Terrified'.The library has three computers so if you don't have a computer at home, then you can book a session by phoning or calling into the library. Sometimes you can call in and get on a computer straightaway without the need to book.This facility is free, but you do need to have a library card and a password to do this, but the staff are very helpful and will give you all the information you need to get started.

The 'taster' courses are run over a five-week period and are free to anyone who has not attended a computer course at Rawlins before. The course is designed for absolute beginners of all ages, but if you have keyboard and mouse skills this is an advantage, but not a necessity. We use some laptop computers as well as the library ones, so everyone has a computer to practise on. Over the five weeks, the aim is to teach students the following:-

• The difference between hardware and software
• How to produce and save a simple letter using Microsoft Word
• How to gain information from 'surfing' the Internet
• Set up an email account and send and receive messages
• Send a letter as an email attachment

So if you think 'hardware' or 'software' is something you buy for the house, or 'surfing' is what the youngsters do on the beach in Cornwall, then these courses are definitely something you should think about. We try to make them informative, interesting, fun and give individual tuition where possible.

A maximum of eight people are enrolled onto the course at one time, but if you are interested your name can be put on the waiting list. Details are available at Barrow Library and the next course will run after Easter - dates to be confirmed (why not put your name down at the Library and we will contact you).If you can't make a Thursday morning then the same course is held at Sileby Library on Wednesday mornings.

Pauline Green (Tutor & Barrow resident)