Self-help Resources
Concepts & Terminology | Security Basics | Passwords
Scams, Spam, Phishing… | Internet at Risk | Privacy
Securing Your System | Windows | Other OSs
Software | The Internet | Website Design
About these Resources | Requesting Help | Site Linking Guidelines
Phone calls from a “technical support” person saying that you have a problem with your computer are all scams. Just hang up.
There are many varieties of scams, all designed to steal from you.
Health & Medical
Concepts & Terminology
- Terminology
- Basic concepts
- Home networking
- Sharing files between computers
Security Basics, Strategy, Policies & Data inheritance
- Basics: preventing unauthorized access
- Strategies: preventing infections
- Policies: protecting your computers & network
- Data inheritance
Passwords & Password Management
Scams, Spam, Phishing, Vishing & Identity Theft
- Computer “tech support” scams
- Spam: unsolicited emails and mailing lists
- Identity theft — obtaining information by deceit
- Phishing & email scams
- Vishing: scamming by phone
The Internet at Risk
Protecting Your Privacy
- Your privacy at risk
- Data breaches reveal personal data
- Encryption: protecting your data
- The surveillance economy
- Restoring your privacy
Securing Your System
- Firewalls: your first line of defense
- Security software: evaluations & solutions
- Malware: detection & removal
- Ransomware: holding your digital life for ransom
- Vulnerabilities in Internet software
- Windows vulnerabilities
- Mobile security — vulnerabilities in mobile devices
Microsoft Windows
Windows basics | Current (supported) versions | Upgrading Windows | Legacy Windows
Windows Basics
- Windows: an overview
- Windows basics — general concepts & terminology
- Troubleshooting Microsoft services
Current (Supported) Versions
- Windows 11*
- Windows 10 (October 14, 2025)
*Windows 11 has no official end of support. Each major release has its own “end of service” (24 months for consumers).
Upgrading Windows
Legacy (Unsupported) Windows
Support has expired for these versions and they are unsafe to use.
- Windows 8.1
Legacy - Windows 7
Legacy - Windows Vista
Legacy - Windows XP
Legacy
Note: Pre-XP information has been removed from the site.
Other Operating Systems
The following pages on this site deal with alternatives to Windows:
- Linux — distributions, desktops & documentation
- Mac — information & software
- Chromebook
- ArcaOS
- eComStation
- IBM OS/2 pages
Legacy
Running Multiple Operating Systems (Advanced)
Running more than one operating system on a single computer:
Recovering Your System
Software
- Recommended software: useful & reliable programs
- Internet | PDF | Graphics | VLC Player
- Office Suites | Editors | Utilities
- Updating your software
- Able2Extract Professional 12 review
Legacy - Web browsers
- Browser extensions
- Browser plugins are vulnerable
Legacy - Email software
- Shareware & freeware: definitions & sources
- Virtual meeting software
The Internet
Connection Issues
Finding Information
Staying Safe Online
Email Issues
- Email troubleshooting
- Safer email
- Email newsletters
- Correctly Using To, CC & BCC
- Spam: unsolicited emails and mailing lists
- Phishing: email scams
Web Browser Issues
Website Design
Building a Website
- Web design basics
- HTML5 technologies
- Web design tips & tools
- Web graphics & stock photos
- Cut 'n paste HTML editing
Design Issues
- Can't see new website content?
- Designing for multiple screen resolutions
- Web design ethics: responsible e-commerce
The power of CSS
These are two identical pages except that CSS is disabled in the second example:
- Alice with CSS
- Alice without CSS (the display issues are intentional)
