Pic-Lits: picture-prompted writing

I found this little gem of a website this morning and am thoroughly enjoying it!

PicLits.com creates a mechanism for generating writing through providing striking images and drag-and-drop words to layer on them (you can also go freestyle and type in your own text if you prefer).

Here's the PicLit I made:

One small annoyance: their "blog this" feature isn't working so I had to make a screenshot of the image in order to share it here.  But tech glitches aside, this could be a really engaging activity for ESL and ABE students.  How many of us have heard our students say that they don't know what to write about or have no ideas?  A powerful picture speaks volumes.  Using PicLits, those stalled writers may find some inspiration!

This activity could also be done as a whole class on a SmartBoard if you are lucky enough to have one in your classroom.

Botnets, or What you don't know CAN hurt you

If you're online regularly enough to be reading this blog, you probably already know that there's some nasty stuff lurking on the Internet: viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malware.  Even if you don't know precisely what all these things are and how they work, you probably figure that you've got your bases covered with a good anti-virus program.  You know not to open unusual email attachments or get caught by too good to be true advertising (Click here to win a FREE iPAD!!!!).  But there's one security threat that you may not know about... and what you don't know can hurt you.  It's one of the hardest to prevent, hardest to detect, most widespread, and downright nasty pieces of work out there: a botnet.

Never heard of it?  A lot of people haven't.  And sadly, a lot of those people are probably infected.  So what is a botnet?

As defined by Google dictionary, a botnet is "a network of private computers infected with malicious software and controlled as a group without the owners' knowledge."  (The term botnet itself is shorthand for "robot network.")  If your computer is infected with botnet software, part of its memory and processing power are taken over (enslaved!) by a "bot master" who controls thousands or even millions of slave computers, known collectively as a botnet or zombie army.  The botnet is used to carry out cyber crime like sending vast amounts of spam email, attacking and bringing down legitimate websites, and capturing bank and credit card details.

Here's the worst of it: because the bot master has an interest in keeping your machine running and keeping its enslavement a secret, there is often little outward sign to you when your computer becomes infected.  The signals are there, but they aren't the major crashes and data losses that signal a virus infection.  You'll see your computer running slowly, you may be warned about suspicious activity, or occasionally your browser will lock up when you're online.  But generally you'll keep on working, oblivious, while the botnet does its dirty work in the background.

And the worst news of all?  Anti-virus software alone usually can't protect you from botnet infection.  So how can you protect yourself?

1)  Your computer needs a comprehensive security solution that includes anti-virus and anti-malware programs, and most importantly, a personal firewall.  (Not sure if you have a firewall?  Need to get one?  CNET's download.com has several good options.)

2)  Make sure Windows is up-to-date.

3)  Make sure your browser is up-to-date.

4)  Many botnets (including the largest ever detected, spanning millions of computers across 172 countries) are spread via portable devices like USB flash drives, so be careful where you put that thing!  Plugging your flash drive (or digital camera, smart phone, etc.) into a computer whose defenses you are unsure of is the cyber equivalent of unprotected sex or sharing dirty needles.  Sure, that computer might be clean, but there's no way to tell by just looking.  If you must use your flash drive on public computers or the computers of less-than-savvy web users, set your security software to scan your flash drive whenever you insert it in your home machine.

For another, somewhat humorous but enlightening take on botnets, watch this video from Symantec.  (Yes, they are selling you their product, but, hey, it's a good product and their videos are top-notch.)

Browsers - Basics and Beyond

What is a web browser?  A web browser is a computer program (or smartphone application) that connects to the Internet and displays websites and related web content like videos.  There are five prominent web browsers you should consider (listed here alphabetically by manufacturer):  Apple Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera (by the company of the same name).

How do I know which browser (and version of it) I’m using?  First, look for the icon in the upper left corner.  The icons for the various browsers are:

For details about your version, go to the browser’s Help menu and choose the About option.  Or, check one of these websites: www.whatbrowseramiusing.co or www.thismachine.info.

Why does it matter if my browser is kept up-to-date with the newest version?  In a word: security.  Most updates that software developers release for browsers fix a known security risk.  To help prevent vicious malware and viruses from infecting your computer, you should keep your browser up-to-date.  (When a major new version is released, you will also see improvements in speed and features, of course.)  What to do?  On the browser’s Help menu, look for an option to check for updates.

Which browser is right for me?
Google Chrome:  Chrome claims to be the fastest-loading web browser available.  It has integrated Adobe Flash player and innovative programming that predicts which links you will click on a site and pre-loads the content for those links before you click, which results in reduced wait times when you actually click the link.  Chrome has a simple interface and is great for general web browsing, especially sites that are media-heavy.  It may have some compatibility problems with older-generation websites, especially the back end of web-based tools.  However, it's the most compatible with other Google products like Google Docs.  Get it:  free download from www.google.com/chrome.

Apple Safari:  disputes the claim that Chrome is the fastest browser available.  Regardless of who’s right, it’s a strong competitor in the same market.  Like most Apple products, it has a clean, intuitive interface and is noted for its stability and for being less vulnerable to Internet security threats.  As the built-in browser on Mac computers, it’s obviously a Mac-user favorite, but is also available for Windows PCs.  Get it:  free download from www.apple.com/safari.

Mozilla Firefox:  the only completely open-source and non-profit browser available, Firefox is a strong, steady workhorse.  It’s not as fast as some of its competitors (although the newest version improved speed significantly), but for people who need to do a lot of online heavy lifting (teaching online courses and managing websites in content management systems, for example), Firefox is a friend you want to get to know.  It’s also a solid all-around browser – which is why it has overtaken Internet Explorer as the most commonly used browser in the world.  You should definitely consider it if you like the idea of breaking away from the products of the “Big Three” software corporations.  Get it: free download from www.mozilla.com.

Microsoft Internet Explorer:  this is the standard Windows browser, an old familiar program for PC-users.  Most PC-users will find its controls easy to use (even if they aren’t objectively the most intuitive) by virtue of having used its predecessors for years.  Explorer has lots of useful features and available add-ons, and the newest versions (IE8 & IE9) have improved on safety concerns.  However, Explorer also has some compatibility issues with older-generation websites, especially the “back-end” where Firefox and Opera are more reliable.  Get it:  You probably already have Internet Explorer 8.  If your computer runs Windows 7, and you want to upgrade to IE9, go to http://windows.microsoft.com and look for the IE9 promotional button.

Opera:  the browser you’ve probably never heard of (but should have).  From Norway!  Also disputes the claim that Chrome is the fastest browser, and according to some, actually has the proof to back it up.  Because it has a smaller presence on the web, it’s less vulnerable to Internet security risks.  It has a sleek, intuitive interface and, like Chrome, seamlessly installs updates to Adobe Flash Player.  Opera also claims to have more built-in features than any other browser available.  So don’t be scared off by the unfamiliar – Opera might just be the perfect browser for you.  Get it:  free download from www.opera.com/download.

Want to read more about the browser wars?
Check out these stories from LifeHacker and NPR News. 

Is McCain out of step with tech savvy senior peers?

Thanks to my ever-so-helpful husband for referring me to this interesting article from CNN.com about how Senator McCain (presumed Republican presidential candidate) compares to other seniors in his Internet use (or lack thereof). To sum up: the Senator admits to being technologically "illiterate" and relying on his wife to help him navigate the Web. The CNN article sites statistics that only 35% of seniors use the Internet, but that 75% of white, college-educated men 65 and over do. If you look at those numbers, McCain looks a little out of step with his peers.

But perhaps things are not quite what they appear. The Senator's aides have clarified that he is capable of getting on the Internet himself and does so several times a week. It seems to me that these statements (1-he's "illiterate" and 2-he accesses the Internet at least once a week) can't both be 100% accurate. Probably Senator McCain feels tech illiterate compared to his tech savvy family and staff, but probably isn't actually so out of touch as the phrase "computer illiterate" would lead people to believe.

Which leads me to think about other senior citizens in our tech saturated world. How many actually know a lot more than they think they know? How many are intimidated by computer technology and feel stupid when comparing themselves to peers they believe are more sophisticated and tech savvy then they? How many lack the confidence to even try to get on the Internet?

It seems to me that Senator McCain has stumbled upon a great teachable moment. He has now, with the media focused on this issue, the opportunity to speak to other American seniors and say, "Look, I didn't grow up with this technology either. It's new and intimidating for me, too. But I'm learning, I'm benefiting from it, and you can too." He has the chance to inspire seniors to learn and grow and take the plunge into the Internet world.

Senator? The class is yours....