Jim Hamm started the discussion about Firewalls with, "You may have already read this article. In recent years not much has been written about firewalls — one way or the other. I leave mine turned on in my Macs and when running Windows on my PC. Ubuntu doesn't come with a firewall and I haven't checked to see if one is even available."John Carter sends this information, "The purpose of a firewall is to keep someone from hacking directly into your computer." He goes on to explain in detail. "Without a firewall, a computer is open to attack even if you have an Anti-Virus application installed on the computer. In fact, you don't even have to be browsing the Internet to be hacked if you don't have a firewall; the computer just needs to be turned on and connected to the Internet. "However, a firewall is not a guarantee to stop spam and viruses that come through email or when browsing the Internet. An Anti-Virus application is best for that. Ubuntu does have a firewall, but it is not enabled by default. The firewall is ufw. "If you have a server (one computer providing access to the Internet for other servers in a network), the server is the only computer in the network that needs a firewall, unless a given computer in the network wants to block a port on that computer for some reason. "All new routers (and some modems) come with a firewall (a hardware firewall) and it is typically turned on by default, and this is probably the only firewall anyone ever needs. In fact, a router with a firewall is recommended, even if you only have one computer and if the modem itself does not have a firewall. "However, the modem/router may not have the features and/or flexibility that a computer firewall (a software firewall) can offer. "If you have both the modem/router firewall and the computer firewall enabled, and if you have ports open for access in the computer firewall (required by some applications), those same ports need to be open for access in the modem/router firewall. "It's a little more complicated than this, but the bottom line is that the author of that article is off-base about not needing a firewall. However, he is right about one thing: 'Firewalls tend to be horribly managed.'" John winds up his view of the issue with, "If something isn't working right and you turn off the firewall and things start working right, call an IT professional to properly set up the firewall. One such professional works at CompuTime in Prescott." Anyone else jumping into the discussion?
How to Make Safari Easier to Read
If you'd like to increase the font size on Safari web pages see this link that comes from Jim Hamm. He tells us, "I set the font size to 18 in tip #one. Definitely makes web pages easier to read, although the article states this may not work on all websites. I haven't tried tip #two yet, but may try it later on."
Or, try doing Command and + once, twice, or more to enlarge the Safari page. If the site you're looking at has the Reader listed at the top click to delete the ads and bring up only the article. Then if you want it larger click on Command and + to bring it larger to read and/or print it from there.
Pick Your Language
Your PMUG newsblog has now updated to offer Google Translate. Click on the little icon on the upper left side and be amazed at all the different languages offered. Know someone in a foreign country who'd like to see our postings here? Let them know!
Are you bilingual? Keep up your skills, too.
FREE Books From Amazon
Here's another listing of FREE books from Amazon. Jim Hamm informs us, "A few possible downloads I saw, but most seemed to be romance novels. Apparently, one has to check back periodically to see if any books of interest have been added." Then he added, "I like the daily email of free books from Amazon that I get from the following link much better.""Didn't I see something earlier about ebooks?" you're asking. Look along the right hand side for the listings. Click to bring up the category. There are 13 postings already about ebooks. "But, Jim, how can I read these FREE books on Mac if I don't have an e-reader like iPad?" John Carter gives us this solution: For all your Amazon e-books, download and use Kindle. Works on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. And it keeps your place when you go from one device to another. Got time to experiment with it, somebody? Let us know!
How to Convert to WordPress
Your iPad and iPhone Can Scan
"Want to scan something and you're not anywhere near a scanner?" John Carter questions, and then exclaims, "Yes, you are! Your iPhone or new iPad can be your instant scanner anytime, anywhere with Scanner Pro 4. Scan a anything (even a bulletin board, including multiple pages) like you're taking a photo of it, and you now have a PDF file you can email, print, or update to Dropbox, Evernote, or Google Docs. The only thing this app doesn't do is optical character recognition (OCR). Price: $6.99 in the App Store."
Want to learn more? Don't miss the monthly PMUG meeting.
Some Apps Have Gone
Some apps have bit the dust, so this article is "In Memoriam: Our Favorite Apps and Services That Have Gone Belly Up, and Their Replacements." Jim Hamm shares with us, "You may remember, or have used, some of these apps from time to time, as I have."
Such is progress . . .
Apple's Six Best Decisions
"Here's an interesting article and observation by Ted Landau of Apple's six best decisions — and why they make Apple the company it is today." Jim Hamm goes on to elaborate, "My only quibble with Ted is that the iPad should be included in the list. But he goes in detail explaining why he left this device out of his nominees. Possibly many of us — well, me, anyway — tend to think of Apple as a Mac, or computer, company. Not so much anymore. Here is a quote from the article: 'Apple’s success depended upon moving away from its focus on the Mac.' Hence, the dropping of 'computer' from the company name a while back."
Comparison of 5 Anti-virus Applications
Let's hear from Prez Art Gorski, "Here's a quick review of anti-virus applications for the Mac. I won't be installing any of these myself, but if you're worried about malware and don't mind the overhead of running this kind of software, give one of the free ones a try."
Read about these 5 apps; two are FREE, and the others run from $39.95 to $49.95 a year.
This is just in from Bobbie Pastor about Sophos, "This is a free download for your Mac. John Carter considers this a good product." See it here.
Looking at Safari's Latest Update
Might be interesting. David Passell says, "Apple has released Safari 5.1.7. The new version automatically disables out-of-date versions of Adobe Flash Player. Unfortunately, a closer look . . . " The article is dated 5-10-12 so this is new.
How to Access Internet Info
John Carter sends us a link for a free manual called, "Information Liberation: Your Guide to the International Web" from the makeuseof.com website. It details censorship in certain countries and corporate censorship such as media producers. The information download password is makeuseof and it is written by Jim Rion.
Where Did Those Parts Come From?
What's your best guess? Jim Hamm questions, "Where was your MacBook Pro — and all its innards — built? It took some real detective work by the author of this article to find that out for his MacBook Pro. This, or a similar scenario would probably apply to your computer as well, no matter the brand or model. It's a real world economy we live in."
Scroll down to the end of the article to find a link to a previous article with photos.
Discussing Rival e-Book Readers
How compatible are the various rival e-book readers? Jim Hamm forwards this link to David Pogue's article clarifying some of his earlier comments.
So, Jim, what does Zee like best? What do you like best?
"Zee likes both her iPad and Kindle at different times. The iPad can't be used in sunlight or bright conditions, and it's heavier to hold. But, the display is bright and has color. Good for magazines.
"The Kindle, on the other hand, is lighter and can be used in bright light. And, the small Kindle is only $79. Hard to pick just one.
"Overall, I think the iPad has more flexibility, but it's a lot more expensive. If you only want to read ebooks, I'd get the Kindle. It's light and works great as a book reader. If you want more than just to read books -- email, surf the net, read the news, etc., the iPad is terrific. I really enjoy my iPad, as does Zee. Powerful device."
Travelers: Be Careful with Your Laptop
A travelers' warning from the FBI has come to our attention. Dated 5-8-12, http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/e-scams tells about travelers' laptops being infected with malicious software from using hotel Internet connections. Read the details and be careful.
Use Caution with QR Codes
You probably see them all over. QR codes are getting more and more popular. But here's a caution from Jim Hamm. "The hackers don't miss an opportunity. Take a read on this article, and be cautious of QR codes."
Previously posted on this newsblog we called them "QR Tags"— see December 11, 2010; March 29, 2011; and January 29, 2012.
QR code, a “barcode on steroids” — abbreviation for Quick Response Code, a type of matrix barcode was first designed for the automotive industry, invented by the Toyota subsidiary Denso Wave in 1994 to track vehicles during the manufacturing process. Here are 84 accounts of the use of QR codes.
Upgrade Fever?
Can I upgrade to Lion and still keep my old, familiar, and useful Snow Leopard? You'll find complete directions here, but with a warning. If not done correctly you could lose all your data, everything on your computer! Aaaak! Read here for the info.
Another nifty announcement on that same site: Read about Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) events scheduled for June 2 & 3. "Hack for humanity" is their slogan, it's FREE, and being held at Burlington, VT.
So, PMUG readers, anyone want to pass on info on any recent upgrades?
Suggestions for iPad Case
Welcome Our PR Person
It was a happy announcement at a recent PMUG meeting, and here we introduce our new PR person, Amy Snyder. Let's get acquainted.
Amy grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from college in North Carolina. Eventually, she moved west to California before becoming a long time resident of Prescott.
Her professional background includes work in the medical field, real estate, and management. Currently, she works as a designer at Sun Pine Homes.
In her free time, Amy enjoys living a healthy lifestyle, traveling especially to New Zealand, and spending time with her family including her “precious spoiled cat.” She is an avid birder working on her “life list” and a member of the Prescott Audubon Society.
She also says, “I am a supporter of various nature, animal, and health oriented charitable organizations.”
So, Amy, tell us about your computer interest. "I bought my first Mac in 1992. Last year, I accompanied my stepfather, Harry, to the Prescott Mac Users Group. I was enthusiastically greeted and welcomed by members. As a life long learner, I find the PMUG to be a great environment to ask questions, share knowledge and skills, and discover new ways to enjoy the Mac."
A prior commitment will mean Amy's absence in May, but look forward to getting acquainted at our June meeting. You'll recognize her by her smile!
More Options for Cloud Storage
"Several options to store items in the Cloud have become available recently, and Amazon offers another one." See the article here. Jim Hamm passes along these details. "You can get 5 GB free, and Amazon even has a desktop app available. One good use of Cloud storage, as an example, is to store pictures that you want to keep in a couple — or more — of Cloud locations. This way, you've always got a backup of those important pictures you don't want to lose — and free up storage space on the disk in your computer."
Should Your iPhone Be Your Only Camera?
Jim Hamm has found an article asking whether your iPhone could be your only camera. Jim tells us the writer "compares several photos taken with a camera and the iPhone at the same subject. To me, the iPhone pictures looked as good as or better than the camera."