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Learn the Net News--a free weekly service from Learn the Net.com
http://www.learnthenet.comVol. 2, No. 27 -- Week of July 16, 2000
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Welcome to Learn the Net News.
The days of buying software may be drawing to a close as a new breed of companies, called application service providers (ASPs) begins to offer all kinds of programs for free or for rent. You can now get spreadsheets, word processors, calendars and a whole lot more on the Web. Discover where to find some of these useful programs and what this new trend means for you.
Would you like to travel the world, but can’t afford hundreds of dollars a night for a hotel room? The solution may be hostels. Once only for youth, hostels now welcome guests of all ages. While accommodations won’t be four star, with daily rates under US $20, it just may be cheaper than staying home. For a tour of some great sites, take our Web Tour this week—Hosteling—Way to Go!
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New to the Net? Know someone who needs helping getting online? Our new guidebook, "The Portable Learn the Net" is an economical way--just US $9.95--to get friends and family connected. To learn more about the book and to order online, visit
http://www.learnthenet.com/books/book.htm.------------------------------------------------
"Top Ten Things You Can Do on the Net This Week" include:
1. Reincarnate with Shirley MacLaine:
http://www.shirleymaclaine.com/2. Get up close and personal with the Hollywood sign:
http://www.hollywoodsign.org/webcastcom/index.htm3. Change your look with a virtual makeover:
http://www.makeoverstudio.com/4. Visit Sue, the world's best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex:
http://www.fmnh.org/sue/5. Explore the art of 45 rpm record sleeves:
http://3rdse.dev.l9.com:81/tcaz.htm6. Whip up some tasty desserts:
http://www.mycookbook.net/Course_List.asp?CourseName=Desserts7. Try on a personal history of T-shirts:
http://home.earthlink.net/~ltao/tshirt/intro.html8. Discover the hazards in your community:
http://www.nearmyhome.com/NearMyHome/gateway.asp9. Visit the timeless city of Fez, Morocco:
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/pulseplanet/ax/index2.html10. Book a trip into sub-orbital space:
http://www.spaceadventures.com/What’s your favorite site? Let us know, please.
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Good News, Bad News Department:
A study commissioned by Symantec, one of the largest makers of anti-virus software, found that most consumers now use this protective software. That may be because most new computers already have the software installed. The bad news is that only 37% update the software monthly. If this sounds like you, then it’s time to change your habit.
Newer programs can be configured to automatically download updates. Why is this important? Every day, new viruses are discovered. Since anti-virus programs can only delete known viruses, the program must be regularly updated.
The other interesting information revealed by the study is that very few consumers--only 19%--use a firewall to protect their data. Firewalls create a barrier that prevents intruders from breaking into your computer and snooping around. If you use a dial-up connection, the chance of someone hacking your data is low. But if you have a high-speed, always on connection, like DSL or a cable modem, watch out. Hackers can probe thousands of computers on the Net in short order, looking for weak security. To keep this from happening, install a firewall. The program I use is ZoneAlarm. You can download it for free for personal use from ZoneLabs at
http://www.zonelabs.com/.With anti-virus and firewall software in place, you’ll be assured of safe surfing. What are you waiting for?
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Michael Lerner
Publisher
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