Computers London

The internet presents many amazing opportunities, such as the ability to stay in touch with relatives around the world and to learn new skills. It can also provide 24/7 companionship for those who live alone. Making the most of all the internet and social media have to offer can open up a whole new world. It’s simple if you follow these 10 easy steps (please note, where website details are given, ask a computer-savvy friend or relative to help, or enquire about access at your local library). 1) Find a free course: the charity AgeUK has details of training sessions around the country that are run by volunteers with everything explained in simple language to make it easy to understand. Call them free on 0800 169 6565 or see http://www.ageuk.org.uk/work-and-learning/technology-and-internet/ The BBC website also has a brilliant course that teaches you how to use the internet in a series of basic steps: www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/course - and also includes a jargon buster to explain the most confusing terms. 2) Get an email address: Services like Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail all offer free email accounts that allow you to send and receive typed electronic messages and pictures. Easy-to-use, just click sign-up and then follow the instructions to fill in the information form and create a password. Always use a mixture of letters and numbers to make your password secure and when choosing an email address, steer clear of anything that may identify your home address or date of birth. 3) Buy a refurbished computer: Website http://www.getonlineathome.org has details of ways to buy an affordable refurbished computer. 4) Start searching: A search engine is your gateway to everything the internet has on offer. Examples include Google, Microsoft’s Bing and Yahoo. By typing single words, phrases or questions into the search box, it will bring up the most relevant links to website pages relating to your query. By making your favourite search engine your homepage, it will instantly appear every time you open your computer’s internet browser. Common ones are Internet Explorer on Windows PCs or Safari on an Apple Mac. 5) Beware viruses: Computers can be vulnerable to attacks from criminals aiming to steal personal details stored electronically on your desktop or laptop. Always install anti-virus software from companies such as Norton, McAfee or Trend Micro. They offer a good level of protection out of the box, without having to understand any complicated settings. Unsolicited email messages, known as spam, can appear as if they come from your bank, friends or other reputable organisations you deal with. These can hide viruses in the links included within the message so always think before you click. 6) Buy a webcam: If your family live down the road, miles away or even on the other side of the world, a webcam allows you to see and chat to them, often for free. You can purchase a webcam for as little as £5 and it should work instantly, simply by plugging it in to the computer. Then by signing up to a service such as Skype or Windows Live Messenger, you can have video conversations to make it just like your relatives are right there in the room with you. 7) Join Facebook: Facebook is what is known as a social network. By adding people you know to your Facebook account, you can then see what they are doing in their life, through photos and written updates. For example, it can remind you when your granddaughter’s birthday is, or show you pictures of your grandson’s wedding. When you are added to someone else’s account, they will then be able to see everything you decide to share and make public. But always ensure you have Facebook’s privacy settings set to the strongest possible level. If in doubt, ask your grandkids or a friendly neighbour. 8) Start Tweeting: Twitter updates, known as tweets, are short 140 character messages posted by users about anything and everything. From what you’re watching on TV, to views on politics or simply random thoughts from celebrities. Twitter is very easy to use - its oldest user is aged 104! 9) Write a blog: A blog is your own personal webpage and many services such as WordPress, Posterous and Blogger are free. By following the simple instructions, within minutes you could make your page available to millions of people in cyberspace and fill it with anything you like. You will get your own website address and could write about a topic that interests you, something to do with your work or previous occupation or just relive memories of years gone-by. 10) Protect your personal details: Whether on Facebook, Twitter, chatrooms, instant messaging, email or anywhere else on the internet, never give out personal details such as your full name, age, address, phone number and date of birth unless you are 100% sure who you are telling it to. Do not use this information in usernames or passwords and never give the passwords to your internet banking accounts to anyone. Click here to access more useful information for the over 50s from in my prime.