From time to time I write about various shortcuts. I was recently asked to post some again, so here you go:
Ctrl + C is to copy what you’ve highlighted, Ctrl + V is to paste it.
 
There are a few more, in case you were wondering. A link to a good article, featuring PC & Mac short cuts can be found HERE.
https://www.techspot.com/guides/676-best-computer-tricks/
 
This article actually has a lot of shortcut tips to other things, like deleting the Windows.old file to make room, so not just keyboard tips.

 ​Tech tip
 
I’m writing today about an email I got recently. It’s such a great example of a phishing scheme, and they are becoming so prevalent these days. In phishing, there is no initial malware placed into your computer, there’s no virus, nothing but an email. Any computer is susceptible, because it’s not based on malicious software, it’s really based on malicious intent. In the case of my email, it gave me a link to sign onto my Paypal account to “Correct” my information. It said that money was being withheld due to this problem.
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Now, I do actually have a Paypal account. And I can certainly see why it might seem legitimate. These emails might pretend to come from the IRS, UPS, Amazon, anything common enough so that you would likely be a customer. Someday, these folks might actually learn to spell, and then it will be harder to discern. Meantime, here’s what they sent me:

Here’s the hyperlink they sent behind that login: https://omgclub.co.uk/renew/awur/eye/index.xyz... (link is inactive, do not follow)
 
First, let’s look at the From address: alerts.noreply-dmsmm.sp@notifymsp.paypal.xyx 
You can see it’s NOT from paypal, but from notifymsp. That’s a clue this is fake. Next, it has a link; that Paypal icon they give shows a hyperlink, as I give above, to omgclub.co.uk.  That’s clearly fake, and it’s coming from the UK no less.
 
Now, if you read the whole thing, starting from the subject line, there are SEVERAL errors and misspellings. I highlighted most of them in red. The grammar is bad, the spelling mistakes are too numerous, and the wording is just silly for a big corporation like PayPal. I especially liked the security TREATS. And why is it addressed to Paypal and signed from Paypal? I just don’t get it. This one was really just too funny.
 
Someday these emails will look perfect, but for now, pay attention and DO NOT CLICK on an embedded link in your email unless you are absolutely sure who it’s from and that it is legitimate.
 
Let me point out that while Carol and I are both using Windstream email, I did receive this email, but I was not able to forward it to Carol a week later. Sometime in there, Windstream started blocking it.

Usually, I just don’t know what that reason is. Typically, I do have a reason for whatever I am doing. It may be stupid, but I have given thought to it.

So why is the iPod Touch still around? I get old smartphones, and I think they still have a life. While they might not be a good choice for a phone, they are still powerful computers that run apps like News, email, Chrome, Whatsapp, and Square Reader. They work even when they don’t have a sim card installed. In fact, they work just like an iPod Touch.

So, there may be a reason why having a powerful computer in your pocket is useful, even though it may not make phone calls. You might have a flip phone you like, and you might get a free smartphone from a friend, relative, or from me. You might just like the iPod Touch, or you might want your kid to have a pocket computer, but not a phone. Read about the iPod Touch HERE.
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I love Google. I love all the info at my fingertips, it's simply amazing. However, it's also full of crap. 

Nobody is really in charge of cleaning out the old, outdated information on the internet. And nobody is really policing the info there either. I can look up a Microsoft support phone#, but what comes up first is an Ad, barely noticeable as such, and it offers a phone# pretending to be Microsoft support, but it's not.

You can do the same with anything, Intuit, Amazon, Google. It's not straightforward getting actual support numbers. Unfortunately, some of the companies doing this are not honest. Seems hard to believe, but it happens ALL THE TIME. I was at work and the person in the office with me was calling Intuit for help with something. She started talking about the $370 charge they wanted and that's when I knew it was a scam. She was just asking a question. 
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Like phone calls and pop-ups, you really need to be careful who you call and who you let onto your computer. I've said it before, don't let anyone you don't know on your computer. 

I've been talking about Windows aplenty. Let's talk about something else.

So, how are you? We haven't chatted in so long. I hope you are doing well.

OK, enough of that. Believe it or not, there are alternatives to Windows. I like Win 10, but I understand that not everyone does. While Apple computers, which are fantastic, do not account for more than 10% of the market, they are certainly beloved by those that use them. Well, mostly. I know Eileen isn't thrilled with hers. It took me a while to get used to it but it's a fine alternative, and indeed, an excellent computer. 

Many people get an iPad and practically never go on their computer anymore. It doesn't need to be an iPad, it could be an Android tablet, or even your phone. I think I saw that Samsung is coming out with a phone that will have a full TERABYTE of storage on it. And 6 cameras. At what point is a computer just superfluous? 

You can cast your phone screen to a larger screen or TV, you can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with it. At that point, it seems like you wouldn't need a computer. And considering you can do word processing and spreadsheets for FREE in Chrome, then there can be a real cost savings involved. Also, you don't need to use your current phone, you could use the last smartphone or tablet you had, as a computer. That's only a little bit out there, but seriously, what's a computer really needed for these days?

Another computer option is the Chromebook, which is generally a Google product, though several computer hardware manufacturers make Chromebooks. Basically, the Chromebook turns on and it's running the browser Chrome. Pretty much everything you do is done via Chrome. It runs really fast, it's simplicity is wonderful, and it generally costs much less than a Windows or Apple PC.

Finally, there is a flavor of Linux. There are MANY. I only know one person that uses Linux. What is really neat about it is that it works pretty well on very little hardware. That means you can keep your old computer going by converting it to Linux. It's a little different, but once installed, it will be 'familiar' to use. It generally will have the look and feel of a Windows computer,with a desktop, and associated icons.

Those are a few thoughts about alternatives to Windows, if you are so inclined.