__________________________________________________ [[USE YOUR BROWSERS BACK BUTTON WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED]] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ======================== ==---www.TomCat.ws----== ======================== === A WORD OF ADVICE === ======================== ====-- Issue 2001 --==== ======================== Welcome to "A Word of Advice", an Online-Only Publication for the clients of TomCat Web Services ONLY. It was placed here to give generalized advice on the possible pitfalls of the internet, and helpfull advice on how to get more out of it as well. In this issue we'll cover: 1) Cookies (What they are and if they're dangerous) 2) Secure Servers (How to tell if you're on one) 3) Bogus Advertised Offers (Be carefull of scams!) 4) Online Customer Relations Guidelines In the future we'll be covering such contraversial topics as Viruses & the Hacker to give you at least a rudimentary understanding of them, so that the next time you get a Virus-Warning in the Email, your heart wont skip a beat. You'll know about Cookie, Viruses, what a Cache is, and how to better use your PC online & off. Also tidbits on a variety of other subjects such as how to conduct a better Search for something, how to hide an Email address, etcetera. Enjoy! -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- COOKIES- Cookies are pieces of information ANY website can place on your computer. Sounds scary, but, it isn't significant, or dangerous, to your home PC. There are many rumors about them being "bad", but the only thing they can really do is store data, not run a program like Java or even HTML. It's more of a PRIVACY issue than anything else, since it seems to be able to track your movements, store personal information, and how many times you clicked on thier website. You may see a message such as "You've been here xxx times before. The last time was on __such&such a date___." The thing is, if a website places your credit card number in as data, it could definately be an unwanted morsel. However, most cookies are docile, and simply offer to better your surfing experience at thier website. If you would like to see what a cookie can do, take a closer look at our Flash-Tour. Notice how it only pops up ONCE when you visit us? That's due to a cookie that expires every 45 days! If you haven't been here that long then it gets deleted and the movie is shown again. If you utilize a Flash-Intro we may add a cookie to your Site. But even though a FEW EMails warning of bad cookies MAY be justified, the majority are innocent, helpfull tidbits. Some services store your name so they can be more informal during visits by mentioning your first name every so often, or bookmark where you were last time so you can be taken right to the information you're interested in. -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- Copyrighted 2001 by www.TomCat.ws, Publication not for Public Distribution. -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- SECURE SERVERS- There are times when a website needs high security to either keep sensitive data safe, or to offer an E-Commerce enviroment where visitors can enter in sensitive data such as credit card numbers to purchase your product or service. This is VERY IMPORTANT AND SERIOUS! If you EVER ebter in such sensitive data as credit-card numbers or bank account information, be SURE that the website your are on is hosted on a Secure Server! TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE ON A SECURE SERVER, as you go to enter in data such as an Order-Form that asks for your credit-card number, usually a Po-Up Window will notify you that you're entering a secure area, and offers you an option to READ THE CERTIFICATE. You should check to see if it is not an out of date Certificate, but as long as it IS scure it should be okay. LOOK FOR THE PADLOCK ON YOUR BROWSER! In Internet Explorer and Netscape a Padlock icon usually somewhere near the bottom of the window. Just BE SURE THE PADLOCK IS CLOSED, AND HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW!!! If you need a Secure Server, be aware the cost can be staggering, but we can obtain this by upgrading your HOSTING Account to GOLD Status. If you believe Ecommerce is needed for your website, please contact us. -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- BOGUS ADVERTISED OFFERS- There are a multitude of advertisements of the internet. So it's not astonishing that there are places out there that can simply take you for a ride and leave you stranded. Here are some clues that will tell you that this is probably a bogus scam. If the offer seems to good to be true, HALF the time it is. We say 1/d the time because offers in the virtual world can be legit and seem to good to be true. (Ex: Napster, free music). HOWEVER, if you've won a prize and need to send money, for instance, it's probably a scam artist. "Advertise to thousands of Email Addresses that change every month!" This is a SPAMMER looking to stay anonomous while grabbing up your money and placing your ad in Inboxes where people never asked for it in the first place, exposing YOU to the risk of being the actual "Spammer". :-( "FREE Ecommerce website with shopping cart and several features!" Hey, NOTHING is free if it is profitable on the web. Abeit some companies start out by being free to obtain a larger user-base before going "Pay", this seemingly Free offer can turn ugly on many levels. Be aware! "Add a FREE ______ to your Website in just minutes!" Okay, well, this isn't actually bogus, but it can be a leary deal if they plaster an ad somewhere, or usurp the Email addresses of YOUR visitors! Or go pay or fold-up! There ARE some great services out there, but let US advise you! We're experienced enough to help you find a solution for something you desire, and we'll impliment it for you. Watch out for Emails from unknown persons. NEVER open an Email that has an Attachment if you are unsure of the Email at all. It can easily be a picture with a virus inside of it or worse! -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- -=- ONLINE PUBLIC RELATIONS- Assume everyone is an adult with money and you may waste alot of valuable time chatting with a teenager who's bored with doing his farm chores. But how do you tell? KIDS use the acronym ASL alot, meaning Age, Sex and Location. They may type atrociously, but so do some adults, so if you're suspicous, ask questions that will reveal clues or force thier hand, like discussing business only may be boring enough for them to leave, or getting a telephone number so that you can call them directly. Voice-Chat helps alot with weeding out kids. But if it's an angry adult, you'll have alot on your hands. They know where YOU are, no visa versa unless you get setup with protective measures. If you upset them, there IS a chance your website can be "hacked"! (Even Microsoft and AOL aren't fortresses and have been hacked). You could try to go to your website the next day and get a picture of naked people. Not good at ALL for your visitors to see! GET THEM TO SUBSCRIBE to your Newsletter! Get thier Email Address or thier phone number or address! You need to follow up and have a bigger list to publish advertisements to. ;-) That is your number one goal next to sales, to get a Contact on file if not a sale. -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- WE HOPE YOU FOUND THIS INFORMATION USEFULL. WE WILL POST MORE ADVICE INFO IN THE FUTURE, AND ALSO ARCHIVE THEM FOR FUTURE REFFERENCE. Thank You. -=- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -=- Copyrighted 2001 by www.TomCat.ws Web Design Services. Not for public use!! Do not forward, copy or distrubute this information. Is for the clients of TomCat Web Services ONLY. We appreciate your patronage and support. -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=- - -=-