Mice have come a long way since the days of those clunky serial critters that would last about two weeks before the internal workings needed replacement. Now you can add a sleek, ergonomically designed wireless mouse that will scoff at the likes of mouse pads and clean surfaces. The typical Microsoft Intellimouse Optical mouse comes with five programmable buttons (one scroll) and an optical sensor that determines when the mouse is moved. If you don’t like being tied to your computer there are also wireless versions available.

Most basic mice now come with a scroll button that allows you to move down a page simply by turning the wheel. This is nice if you want to read the text instead of looking to see where your cursor is, plus you can adjust the scroll button to jump as many lines as you want. Your basic mouse also comes with at least two buttons and in many cases these buttons can be programmed to do specific functions such as “double click” or go back a page in your browser. The more advanced mice have as many as five programmable buttons, which may seem intimidating at first but soon become indispensable as you gain experience using them.

So your new mouse comes down to a series of questions – wired or wireless, optical or mechanical, and just how many buttons do you want? A basic two-button scroll mouse can be as cheap as $8 and a top-end wireless optical mouse will set you back about $75. If you spend a lot of time mousing, ergonomic is the only way to go! Try before you buy in order to get a feel for hand position and button accessibility. A poorly designed mouse will lead to cramps and possibly contribute to long-term side effects such as repetitive stress syndrome.

Last month we looked at “White Box” computers, this month your white box changes color and takes on some new shapes. Computer case manufacturers have decided that basic white or beige is boring. They have also decided that not all computers should weigh 50 lbs. and stand two feet tall. Some manufacturers think computers are best served up with neon lights, a water-filled radiator and multicolored, lighted fans. The fancy stuff is referred to as “Case Mods” in the trade, short for case modifications. These cases normally find homes with computer geeks and diehard computer game players and no, I don’t have one.

For the business community, some of these new cases offer desirable features such as a smaller footprint and better match for the office decor. One example is not much larger than a shoebox and contains just about everything found in the larger case. Another is about the size and shape of a briefcase and is made of black or gray acrylic.

If you feel that something different may be needed, ask your vendor about options when discussing your next order. We at upstatecomputer.com have been selling more optional cases lately mostly because they are unique. There are additional benefits such as less noise and the desktop versions are less susceptible to contamination from dust on the floor and the occasional kick. Computer prices will reflect an increase of $50 to over $500 per system depending on what “case mods” you choose, but a typical business system is at the bottom of the scale. Most business users are looking for something stylish and quiet.

If you’re like everyone else, both you and your business conduct transactions on the Internet. Online transactions for the most part are relatively safe, but people in general tend to be somewhat naive when it comes to providing information to an unknown source. Most of the reputable sources will take appropriate measures to safeguard your personal information, but your mere presence on an Internet site is an open door to others.

Social Engineering is a method of obtaining information or access by simply “asking” for it. For example, if someone sees the XYZ Computer Service van parked in front of a company, they call that company the next day stating they are from XYZ Computer and need the Administrator password to do an update that was not completed the day before. Countless systems have been accessed using this method and it has even worked to gain physical access to a facility. A simple countermeasure is to have a single point of contact for all computer-related issues. This person knows the people who provide service and does not give out information over the phone.

Taking it a step further, have you ever been asked to verify account information by your Internet Service Provider? When AOL first became popular, some unethical users would send batches of emails to other users asking them to verify name and password. The emails looked authentic and out of so many sent there would always be a few replies with name and password. These accounts would then be used to order items online, visit porn sites or send out junk email. AOL now has banners stating they will never ask you for your account information or password, but the emails still come.

Let’s take it another step further. Most of you are familiar with Ebay, the online auction site. A more sophisticated scam was perpetrated when Ebay users received an email stating there was a billing problem with their accounts. The email looked like it was from Ebay, containing the Ebay logo and graphics taken right off their web site. The email appeared to be authentic because it stated that users should not reply to the email, but instead click on the Ebay billing center link contained in the email and they will be taken right to Ebay’s billing center. Once there, you had to log in using your Ebay user ID and password. There were numerous phrases stating that the site was encrypted, references to Ebay’s privacy policy and all kinds of authentic-looking information. Except for a few subtle clues, the average user thought they were at Ebay’s billing center. They were not!

After logging in, the next page asked for verification information including the credit card number, cardholder’s name, address, expiration date, PIN number, driver’s license number and state, mother’s maiden name and phone number. Many people entered this information just because they were Ebay users and thought they were on an official Ebay site because it had the “look and feel” of the real site.

The first thing you need to do if you ever receive an email asking for personal information is ask yourself “Why am I receiving this?” If you have given out information to establish an account, the only legitimate way to update it is by the exact same method you used to open it initially, not by responding to an email. Do not follow links or use phone numbers received in an email, use phone numbers from your statements or from directory assistance. If you know how to read email headers, you can find out if an email comes from the person or place that shows up in the “from” line. Email can be easily manipulated to show false information, just look at your daily dose of junk email for an example. Never give out a PIN number or Social Security Account Number! A legitimate organization has no use for your PIN number; they usually cannot even get yours from the system, only change it to a new one. Your SSAN is only required for payroll and tax purposes, not for identification and you are not required to give it out unless it is for those valid reasons.

The Ebay scam was perpetrated by relying on people’s conditioned response of giving out information whenever someone asks for it. By nature we do not automatically question requests that have some air of legitimacy. We see a recognizable logo and assume everything is ok because we have already given them information in the past and have a working relationship. When you go to a bank or a store in person, you usually know the people you are dealing with or at least that the transaction is legitimate. When you are on the Internet you must question everyone, trust no one.

Copyright © 1996 - 2001 - upstatecomputer.com
All Rights Reserved
Webmaster: admin - admin@upstatecomputer.com