Guides and other support documents

Sharing Large Files

This guide has been completely revised and now recommends a Web based service as a viable option for efficiently transferring data over the Internet.

The guide now suggests the use of a free Web based server called WeTransfer for sharing data. This is a free service for up to 2 Gbytes of data. The principle is as follows:

• You have a file less than 2 Gbytes

• You upload the file to WeTransfer which creates a time limited URL link

• You email this link to the other party who uses it to download the file

If the file is larger than 2 Gbytes then a free cross platform utility PeaZip can split the file into chunks that can be sent via WeTransfer. These chunks can be recombined by PeaZip at the receiving end

If the data being transferred contains any personal data PeaZip can also encrypt the data.

WeTransfer is a web service

Download information for PeaZip can be found on the Internet/network Tools page on this web site as well as a guide for installation and use of PeaZip with WeTransfer.

How to collect Windows system information, as a non expert user, to pass to an expert to assist them to help you.

A guide that explains what a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can do for you and explains why, in most circumstances, you are actually safer WITHOUT using a VPN.

Do not believe the hype!

The only time where a VPN is essential is if you are using a corporate computer and connecting to a corporate VPN within the corporate network from ideally a corporate owned and managed computer.

Is the email legitimate?

This guide explains how to look at the detailed email headers to see if an email, e.g. purporting to come from your bank, is what it seems or whether it comes from somewhere totally different.

It shows how to open the details look at the message headers which then tell the real story!

This document currently based on Thunderbird as the email client. Other clients can be added if you give the relevant information to the author

Reviewing PDF Documents with Acrobat Reader

A guide to show how to make comments on a PDF document to return to the document author.

Comments may be to

• correct typos or other typographical errors

• correct or query the wording

• suggest additional text to be added, or changes to the existing text

• etc.

Sharing Large Files

This guide has been completely revised and now recommends a Web based service as a viable option for efficiently transferring data over the Internet.

The guide now suggests the use of a free Web based server called WeTransfer for sharing data. This is a free service for up to 2 Gbytes of data. The principle is as follows:

• You have a file less than 2 Gbytes

• You upload the file to WeTransfer which creates a time limited URL link

• You email this link to the other party who uses it to download the file

If the file is larger than 2 Gbytes then a free cross platform utility PeaZip can split the file into chunks that can be sent via WeTransfer. These chunks can be recombined by PeaZip at the receiving end

If the data being transferred contains any personal data PeaZip can also encrypt the data.

WeTransfer is a web service

Download information for PeaZip can be found on the Internet/network Tools page on this web site as well as a guide for installation and use of PeaZip with WeTransfer.

Running broadband speed test

A guide to help you to run a broadband speed test to determine whether you are getting the performance you are expecting

Why you must have two Windows Accounts

Windows is a secure Operating System when it is correctly installed and used correctly!

The installation instructions for new computers provided by all leading manufacturers typically do not follow Microsoft's sound advice and consequently all computer installations are completed with just a single, highly privileged, Administrator account.

This method of setting up your computer is obviously simple but makes your new computer unnecessarily very insecure making it far easier for malware to silently bypass all of the excellent security that Microsoft has built into Windows.

It does not have to be like this!

This guide explains:

• Why the installation is insecure

• How to install all versions of Windows from XP up to W11 in a secure manner by creating two Windows accounts, one account specifically for Administration purposes, e.g. installation of software, and a User account to be used for normal day to day use ensuring that no software can be silently installed without first entering the Administration password.

• If you have already installed Windows incorrectly how to correct it and make your system safer.

Get started with Zoom, incudes remote Support

A starter guide for Zoom from a User perspective

• Includes setting up for the first time

• Includes being used for giving remote access to an "expert" to provide support to a user

A guide that explains what a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can do for you and explains why, in most circumstances, you are actually safer WITHOUT using a VPN.

Do not believe the hype!

The only time where a VPN is essential is if you are using a corporate computer and connecting to a corporate VPN within the corporate network from ideally a corporate owned and managed computer.

Is the email legitimate?

This guide explains how to look at the detailed email headers to see if an email, e.g. purporting to come from your bank, is what it seems or whether it comes from somewhere totally different.

It shows how to open the details look at the message headers which then tell the real story!

This document currently based on Thunderbird as the email client. Other clients can be added if you give the relevant information to the author

What is Fibre? Do I need it?

This presentation was created to explain what the roll out of fibre optic cabling would mean to local people.

It starts by explaining what data cables are and why we need them.

If continues by explaining what data types we use and how the volume of data does impact how the data is transmitted.

It goes through the limitations imposed by the laws or Physics. and how this limits the data transfer speeds that can be achieved with different methods of data transmission. It goes into the way in which fibre works and the limitations of this technology.

It briefly explains how data is transferred over the public telephone network and the difference fibre makes on data rates.

How the Internet Works

This presentation attempts to explain how your computer connects to the Internet.

It covers at a high level:

• Your connection from your computer through your router to some remote server over the Internet

• What an IP address is, what a "domain name" is and how they are related

• How this is used to route your request to the remote device and how it replies to you

• Some very basic diagnostic tools if something does not work

Running broadband speed test

A guide to help you to run a broadband speed test to determine whether you are getting the performance you are expecting

LibreOffice Writer - Create a letter

LibreOffice provides a suite of Office Automation tools that provides the equivalent functionality, and is, to a very large extent, fully compatible with all versions of Microsoft office. It is however Open Source and regularly updated. It is available for all common platforms.

This presentation goes through the steps to create a letter in LibreOffice Writer (compatible with Microsoft Word). It stresses that Writer is NOT just a typewriter but is capable of much more.

Writer supports "Templates" which provide a framework for the document you create. You need to understand that Writer contains an important feature called "styles". You set styles at a paragraph level. You do NOT insert multiple newline character to separate paragraphs!

You can create your own styles and even create a "Template" that can be used as the basis for all your documents of a particular type e.g. a business letter.

The presentation goes through the steps to create a template for a business letter and a sample letter template can be downloaded which can be modified for your own use.

• Click P to download the Presentation

• Click T to download the sample letter Template

A download link is provided to the generic LibreOffice download page for all platforms. This includes all LibreOffice Office Automation tools.

Reviewing PDF Documents with Acrobat Reader

A guide to show how to make comments on a PDF document to return to the document author.

Comments may be to

• correct typos or other typographical errors

• correct or query the wording

• suggest additional text to be added, or changes to the existing text

• etc.

Cloud Services and Backup

This presentation introduces backup and in particular the use of Cloud services as a backup solution. It addresses the following:

• Why backup your data

• What is the "cloud", why it is relevant, and options

• Local backup to local USB drives or local network storage (NAS)

• Software that you can use

Presentation is based on options for Windows but the principles also apply to other platforms e.g. MAC.

What is Fibre? Do I need it?

This presentation was created to explain what the roll out of fibre optic cabling would mean to local people.

It starts by explaining what data cables are and why we need them.

If continues by explaining what data types we use and how the volume of data does impact how the data is transmitted.

It goes through the limitations imposed by the laws or Physics. and how this limits the data transfer speeds that can be achieved with different methods of data transmission. It goes into the way in which fibre works and the limitations of this technology.

It briefly explains how data is transferred over the public telephone network and the difference fibre makes on data rates.

How the Internet Works

This presentation attempts to explain how your computer connects to the Internet.

It covers at a high level:

• Your connection from your computer through your router to some remote server over the Internet

• What an IP address is, what a "domain name" is and how they are related

• How this is used to route your request to the remote device and how it replies to you

• Some very basic diagnostic tools if something does not work

Keepass - Password Manager

This presentation is based on Windows. Most of the comments however can also apply to other platforms

This presentation covers a number of security issues including privacy threats, local security issues, other Internet threats etc.

• It gives an overview of data protection legislation

• It identifies steps you can take to mitigate the risk

• It introduces a Open Source and very effective Password Manager, KeePass that is an effective tool to help mitigate the risk. KeePass enables you to easily have, and use, very strong, and hence much safer passwords. There is a link to this program in the Apps topic

Keeping Your Computer Secure

This presentation is based on Windows. Most of the comments however can also apply to other platforms

Windows security Model:

• How to work with the excellent inbuilt Windows security and not against it

• What to do to keep secure and what to do if you have been using it incorrectly

• Security associated with using external services such as Virtual Private Networks, Cloud services, email, and your local router

LibreOffice Writer - Create a letter

LibreOffice provides a suite of Office Automation tools that provides the equivalent functionality, and is, to a very large extent, fully compatible with all versions of Microsoft office. It is however Open Source and regularly updated. It is available for all common platforms.

This presentation goes through the steps to create a letter in LibreOffice Writer (compatible with Microsoft Word). It stresses that Writer is NOT just a typewriter but is capable of much more.

Writer supports "Templates" which provide a framework for the document you create. You need to understand that Writer contains an important feature called "styles". You set styles at a paragraph level. You do NOT insert multiple newline character to separate paragraphs!

You can create your own styles and even create a "Template" that can be used as the basis for all your documents of a particular type e.g. a business letter.

The presentation goes through the steps to create a template for a business letter and a sample letter template can be downloaded which can be modified for your own use.

• Click P to download the Presentation

• Click T to download the sample letter Template

A download link is provided to the generic LibreOffice download page for all platforms. This includes all LibreOffice Office Automation tools.

Get started with Zoom, incudes remote Support

A starter guide for Zoom from a User perspective

• Includes setting up for the first time

• Includes being used for giving remote access to an "expert" to provide support to a user

Cloud Services and Backup

This presentation introduces backup and in particular the use of Cloud services as a backup solution. It addresses the following:

• Why backup your data

• What is the "cloud", why it is relevant, and options

• Local backup to local USB drives or local network storage (NAS)

• Software that you can use

Presentation is based on options for Windows but the principles also apply to other platforms e.g. MAC.

Is the email legitimate?

This guide explains how to look at the detailed email headers to see if an email, e.g. purporting to come from your bank, is what it seems or whether it comes from somewhere totally different.

It shows how to open the details look at the message headers which then tell the real story!

This document currently based on Thunderbird as the email client. Other clients can be added if you give the relevant information to the author

Keepass - Password Manager

This presentation is based on Windows. Most of the comments however can also apply to other platforms

This presentation covers a number of security issues including privacy threats, local security issues, other Internet threats etc.

• It gives an overview of data protection legislation

• It identifies steps you can take to mitigate the risk

• It introduces a Open Source and very effective Password Manager, KeePass that is an effective tool to help mitigate the risk. KeePass enables you to easily have, and use, very strong, and hence much safer passwords. There is a link to this program in the Apps topic

Keeping Your Computer Secure

This presentation is based on Windows. Most of the comments however can also apply to other platforms

Windows security Model:

• How to work with the excellent inbuilt Windows security and not against it

• What to do to keep secure and what to do if you have been using it incorrectly

• Security associated with using external services such as Virtual Private Networks, Cloud services, email, and your local router

Why you must have two Windows Accounts

Windows is a secure Operating System when it is correctly installed and used correctly!

The installation instructions for new computers provided by all leading manufacturers typically do not follow Microsoft's sound advice and consequently all computer installations are completed with just a single, highly privileged, Administrator account.

This method of setting up your computer is obviously simple but makes your new computer unnecessarily very insecure making it far easier for malware to silently bypass all of the excellent security that Microsoft has built into Windows.

It does not have to be like this!

This guide explains:

• Why the installation is insecure

• How to install all versions of Windows from XP up to W11 in a secure manner by creating two Windows accounts, one account specifically for Administration purposes, e.g. installation of software, and a User account to be used for normal day to day use ensuring that no software can be silently installed without first entering the Administration password.

• If you have already installed Windows incorrectly how to correct it and make your system safer.

Get started with Zoom, incudes remote Support

A starter guide for Zoom from a User perspective

• Includes setting up for the first time

• Includes being used for giving remote access to an "expert" to provide support to a user

How to collect Windows system information, as a non expert user, to pass to an expert to assist them to help you.