4 Basic Steps to Cut/Copy and Paste

1. Select Text to Cut or Copy
2. Select Cut or Copy
3. Position the Cursor
4. Select Paste

Options to Cut (Different Methods to Execute Step 2 From Above)

1. Press (Ctrl) + (X) on the Keyboard

             OR

1. Select Edit…Cut from the Menu
   OR
2. Select Cut from the Toolbar (8^th icon from the left on the top toolbar — the picture appears as a pair of scissors)
   OR
3. Use the Mouse as follows:

a) Select the Text to Cut (The text should appear black when selected)

b) Position the mouse on top of the selected (black area) text.

c) Press and hold down the left mouse button.

d) Drag the mouse to the new location.

NOTE:  Watch the position of the gray cursor when dragging the pointer to the new location.  It is the position of the gray cursor that matters, not the position of the tip of the mouse pointer.

Options to Copy (Different Methods to Execute Step 2 From Above)

1. Press (Ctrl) + (C) on the Keyboard

             OR

1. Select Edit…Copy from the Menu
   OR
2. Select Copy from the Toolbar (9^th icon from the left on the top toolbar — the picture appears as 2 pieces of paper with the upper right edges folded down)
   OR
3. Use the Mouse as follows:

a) Select the Text to Copy (The text should appear black when selected)

b) Position the mouse on top of the selected (black area) tex

c) Hold down the Control Key on the Keyboard.

d) Press and hold down the left mouse button.

e) Drag the mouse to the new location.

NOTE:  Watch the position of the gray cursor when dragging the pointer to the new location.  It is the position of the gray cursor that matters, not the position of the tip of the mouse pointer.

f) Release the Control Key.

Options to Paste (Different Methods to Execute Step 4 From Above)

1. Press (Ctrl) + (V) on the Keyboard

Online scam artists have two main ways of getting your private information:
1. They can trick you into giving it to them;
2. They can take control of your computer and access your information.

They are looking for:
1. Credit card numbers with expiration date and bank account info (to steal your money); and
2. Social Security numbers, birthdays, home addresses, telephone numbers and full names (to steal your identity).

You must make it as difficult as possible for them to succeed.

Don’t be tricked into giving your private information to the wrong people!
1. Be extra-cautious of any web form that asks you for info such as your date of birth and street address. It is relatively safe to make purchases and give the correct info at known online stores such as Amazon.com or NewEgg.com. But if you are signing up online for a free service, game or filling out a form, be careful! Try asking this test question: Do they need to know your real name, real address and date of birth? If they don’t need to know it, then consider using a nickname, a P.O. box or made-up address, and change the year of your date of birth.

2. Only trust emails from people you know that are written in the manner you would expect. If your old friend sends an email that looks like it was written by someone else or sends a link to something you don’t need — ask them if they sent it before you follow any links in it.

3. Free stuff — be extra extra wary of anything “free” on the Internet. Running a website and building computer programs costs money. A small few may do it out of the goodness of their heart, but most are trying to make money! As an example: free screensavers. Free software (and some purchased software) is usually bundled with software that spies on you and collects your personal information, and, if you install it, you give them permission to use your personal information. And just because it might be from a “big-name” company does not mean they will not use your personal information in a way that could harm you.

As always, keep the following software updated:
Internet browser such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome
Adobe Flash Player
Anti-virus such as Microsoft Security Essentials

Get your computer checked every six months to a year by a TRUSTED computer professional. Don’t ever hand all your personal data over to an underpaid “computer repair mill” worker. I can’t name names by email but ask me over the phone or in person and I will tell you some real-life horror stories.

Be wary that your phone may also contain personal information — don’t let it out of your sight and dispose of it properly. Try to use the same agent every time at your cellphone provider — get to know them and insist on using them. If you don’t have a “steady representative,” then try asking the manager to point out the most popular and most experienced representative, and stick with them.

Don’t throw away old phones, computers, usb flash drives, etc. — get the trusted computer pro to properly destroy it for you.

It seems like we are headed toward a mandatory technology-driven future. The more you know, the better you will be able to cope and thrive in this new technical world. Investing in your own technology and learning how to make the most of it will save you time and money in the long run.

Important tips on caring for your computer as it gets warmer:

1. Clean intake and exhaust vents by using a can of compressed air or a vacuum (be very gentle if using a vacuum and keep away from keyboard!).
Blow air at an angle so that the dust can exit from the other side of the vent. This applies to desktops, laptops, modem & router, and LCD monitors and televisions.

If you do not clean these vents your device can overheat and melt itself.

2. Keep your anti-virus, Internet browser and Adobe Flash player up to date. If you have any trouble with updating your security software or your computer is running slower than normal and doing unusual things, make sure to get a 30-minute professional tune-up every 6–12 months.

If you do not keep your security software updated, you are at higher risk of information-stealing and computer-breaking infection.

3. Always keep your electronic device connected to a quality surge protector. The higher the “joule” rating the better. To purchase a decent surge protector, go to an office supply store or Wal-Mart and expect to pay around $30 — be sure to get the highest joule rating for that price that you can find. All boxes are marked with the joule rating. Surge protectors should be replaced every 2 years to be extra safe!

If you do not have adequate surge protection, your device can be destroyed by electrical surges. It doesn’t require inclement weather — it can surge at any time.

4. Back up your important data. Photos, emails, documents and other data can be permanently destroyed by any of the above warnings or by random hardware failure which can occur for no reason at all. Get a USB flash drive to store the most important documents and get a larger external hard drive to back up all of your data on a periodic basis.

If you do not back up your data, you could lose it forever.