Let’s get one thing straight, right up front: Foxfire was the title of a series of books about mountain living and folklore, published in the 1970s. Foxfire was also the name of a cheesy teen angst movie made in 1996. Firefox is the name of the world’s best web...

It seems that I’ve fixed at least 50 computers since the first of the year that have been infected with “scareware.” Short for “scary software (I guess),” scareware is a form of extortion, as it is designed to scare you into giving a crook some money. Emerging about...

The war against computer viruses is a multi-billion dollar industry, with no clear end or victory in sight. Billions of dollars are spent every year defending against malicious computer software (malware) and even more money is lost to the damage caused by malware,...

I just don’t get it; it seems that some people are simply determined to have a miserable time with their computer. I meet way too many people who say they have been reading my columns for years, and yet they still seem to think that computers are magical,...

I got my first computer at the age of 30. In contrast, my daughter has lived her entire life around computers. I have pictures of her as an infant, barely able to peek over the top of the desk from her mom’s office chair, merrily pecking away at the keyboard. Very few...

Responding to a new wave of cyber-crime, the American Bankers Association (ABA) recently made a gutsy but overdue recommendation to small and medium-sized businesses: stop using your regular computers for online banking. That’s right, stop using your regular computer...

Even though it’s just another turning of the globe, New Year’s Day is supposed to be symbolic of new beginnings, new directions, new resolve and an opportunity to start over. Those being the laudable ideas that they are, consider the following resolutions to give...

“You may be eligible to receive some of the education stimulus bill!” “Did you suffer a Gallbladder injury while using Birth Control?” “We want to buy your home for Christmas! Sell Your Home Today!” “Make $10000 for Christmas!” “Bounci36D sent you a Holiday picture!”...

Computers are big sellers during the Christmas shopping season and this year is no exception. Desktop and laptop computers, netbooks and all of their accessories are flying off the shelves. But, if you think that retailers are raking in the dough because of computer...

My, how things have changed; cell phones, iPhones, Google phones, Blackberry phones, Android phones, Palm phones, it seems that everyone has some sort of a mobile phone. No longer just a "phone," though, your cell phone is actually a computer; most likely, a more...

This week, we will follow up on last weeks column by looking at some of the scams associated with Internet dating websites. While online dating can be fun and rewarding, it can also be crazy and dangerous. Let the online dater beware. In particular, beware of any...

It has been almost two years since I wrote about my experiences with Internet dating websites, which I found to be fun, somewhat addictive and a bit creepy. I've been encouraged lately to write an update article, which I now submit for your approval. Has the Internet...

You may have caught some of the media hoopla about Microsoft's new Windows 7 operating system being released this week. Yes, barely 2-1/2 years after Windows Vista was released to the general public, Microsoft is at it again, pushing a new operating system out the...

If my bank did a better job of protecting its customers who choose to do online banking over the Internet, I might tell you who they are. However, since they have recently decided to implement weaker online protections than they previously had in place, I will from...

The new breed of malicious software known as "scareware" is showing up everywhere around the Internet, infecting thousands of computers every day. Bogus ads designed to scare you into thinking that your computer has multiple virus infections are showing up on...

I worked today for someone that could have saved a lot of money if they had just learned how to use their computer. I don't mean extremely deep, arcane and obscure Windows functions; I'm talking about learning simple, basic things that every computer user should know....

I am honored once again to have been asked to teach a computer class at the Norman Public Library. Beginning Thursday evening, September 10 at 6:30 pm, I and whoever chooses to attend will dive headfirst into the dark underworld of computer and Internet security. It’s...

While many people prematurely get rid of perfectly good computers, the time can come when the point of diminishing returns has been reached. Generally speaking, this is when the amount of money spent rebuilding "Old Faithful" comes close to or equals what it would...

From the "Eternal Vigilance" department comes a report called, "iAWFUL (The Internet Advocates' Watchlist for Ugly Laws)." Released by the Internet commerce group Netchoice (www.netchoice.org), the report is a Top Ten list of ridiculous laws that have been proposed by...

Sure, everyone has heard of notebook computers (AKA, laptops), but how about "netbook" computers? These diminutive descendents of full-size laptop computers are becoming all the rage, doing exactly what many people need a portable computer to do. Originally called...