From the Editor
Since we're entering the summer travel season, this month's issue is your tour guide through vacation-related topics. While at hotels, you may want to use public access computers to check e-mail messages or reserve tickets š we teach you how to protect your private data following such online sessions. Want to e-mail everyone about your recent trip? You'll learn how to do it without compromising the privacy of the recipients. Need ideas for fun getaways? Visit our Great Sites list for a taste of Hersheypark, pet travel tips, and a movie preview that takes you onboard an ark.

Your Local Help Desk

Question: I often send e-mail messages to a long list of friends and family but I'm concerned about revealing their e-mail addresses in the "TO" field. I've heard about the BCC feature, but how exactly do I use it? I use Windows XP Home Edition for my operating system and Outlook Express for e-mail.

Answer: "BCC" stands for Blind Carbon Copy, and it's a good way to send messages to many recipients without showing the world all of their e-mail addresses. When using Outlook Express, you won't necessarily see the "BCC" field when you create a new message. So after you create a message, click your cursor arrow on its "View" menu item. Select "All Headers" and the "BCC" field will be visible right below the "CC" field of the message. Then simply enter the e-mail addresses of your chosen recipients. Please note š sometimes spam filters will catch messages that don't have anything in the "TO" field, so put your recipients in the "BCC" field but in addition put your own address in the "TO" field to avoid that problem. All e-mail client software programs have the "BCC" option. If you use a program other than Outlook Express and can't find the BCC field in your particular program, check the program's help files to locate it.

Do not check the "Remember my ID" or "Remember my password" options. If you check either of these options, you'll remain signed in after you close your browser.

Never leave a computer unattended while signed in. Someone could easily access your personal information.

Use caution a sneaky shoulder surfer may try to watch your fingers as you type your password. Use your hand and body to shield the keyboard or number pad to minimize the risk of a thief acquiring your information.

Avoid using public access computers for online banking, sending e-mail messages containing personal information, or making online purchases. If you do use public computers for these activities, be sure to sign out of your online accounts, delete the cookies, delete the history, empty the browser's auto fill feature, clear the browser's cache, and close the browser. For instructions on how to do these tasks for specific browsers, see "Clearing Private Data From Browsers On Public Access Computers" in the tutorial section below.

Tech Tips and Tricks

Clearing Private Data From Browsers On Public Access Computers

Whenever you share a computer with others, particularly a public one, you'll want to protect your privacy by clearing personal data from the computer's browser prior to ending your online sessions. Fortunately, the top browsers make this process a pretty simple one. Just follow the steps below to insure that subsequent computer users don't walk away with your personal details š such as passwords or web form information š when using public access computers.

Clearing Private Data When Using Internet Explorer 7.0 And Windows XP Home Edition After Your Browsing Session:

1. Once you've completed your browsing session and with Internet Explorer still open, click your cursor arrow on the "Tools" menu item and select "Internet Options" from the drop-down menu.

2. When the "Internet Options" window opens, click on the "General" tab.

3. Under "Browsing History" you will see the following statement: "Delete temporary files, history, cookies, saved passwords, and web form information." Click on the "Delete" button. 4. When you close the Internet Explorer browser, your private data will be cleared.

Clearing Private Data When Using Firefox 2.0 For Windows XP Home Edition Or Macintosh OS X - Either At The Beginning Or At The End Of Your Browsing Session:

1. With Firefox open and either right after you start your browsing session or when you finish, click your cursor arrow on the "Firefox" menu item and select "Preferences" from the drop-down menu.

2. Click on the "Privacy" icon on the "Preferences Tool Bar."

3. Under "Private Data," click on "Settings."

4. Check every box next to the various types of private data that you want to keep private and then click "OK."

5. Check "Always clear my private data when I close Firefox."

6. When you close the Firefox browser, your private data will be cleared.

7. If you want to clear your private data immediately during a browsing session, click the "Clear Now" button found in the lower right-hand corner of the Privacy window. Finally, close the "Preferences" window.

Clearing Private Data When Using Safari 2.0 For Macintosh OS X š At The Beginning Of Your Browsing Session:

1. With Safari open, click your cursor arrow on the "Safari" menu item and select "Private Browsing."

2. Click "OK." When private browsing is turned on, web pages are not added to the browser's history, items are automatically removed from the Downloads window, information is not saved in AutoFill (including names and passwords), and searches are not added to the pop-up menu in the Google search box.

3. Note, you'll need to do this each time you launch and start a browsing session when using Safari on a public access computer.

©2007 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc.