Laptop Security at the JCC

As with any public access network, the wireless internet at the JCC is basically not secure. The following guidelines are provided to minimise the risk to users.

Essential

• Make sure your Anti-Virus program has not expired and the latest updates have been downloaded. Run a full scan if your computer exhibits any strange behaviour.

• Ensure that you have at least one Anti-Spyware program and you both update it and run a full scan every week or so. Examples of Anti-Spyware programs include Spybot, Ad-Aware 2007, Windows Defender, AVG Anti-Spyware.

Strongly Recommended

• Do not load any programs on your computer from any source, including manufacturer’s disks, unless you know what the program does and need it. Be very careful against downloading anything whilst visiting web sites.
• Switch off the wireless interface of your laptop when you are not using it. Otherwise you are potentially broadcasting not only details of the networks you have used, but also your email details.
• Always log out/sign off of any web site you have had to sign into. Otherwise your login details may be available to other people. This is not only important for banks etc, but also web mail and any site that needs your personal logon.
• Configure your wireless adapter to minimise the risk as follows:

1. Do not connect automatically to any network
2. Remove any preferred networks that you do not use, from the configuration.
3. Ensure that each network type is set to “Infrastructure” never “Ad Hoc”.

Note that the procedure for configuring the wireless adapter may vary from one manufacturer to another. In general there are two types of wireless manager. Laptop maufacturers like Dell, Toshiba and HP provide their own wireless management software, as do manufacturers of wireless adapters. In this case you may need to use their help to make the changes in step 4 above.

If however your laptop uses the Microsoft Windows Wireless Zero Configuration (WZC) service, you can make the changes as follows, having selected “Show wireless networks”. The following image depicts a portion of this window and the next step would be to click on Change Advanced Settings.

That will open a window similar to the one seen below after clicking on the Wireless Networks tab. The next step would be to click on the Advanced button pointed out in the figure below.

Finally that opens a small pop-out window where three choices are displayed. Select. the second choice Access Point (infrastructure) Network Only. By selecting this button, the ability to connect to an ad hoc networks is removed, which eliminates the chance of possibly associating with a malicious ad hoc network.

Also uncheck Automatically Connect To Non-Preferred Networks.

If you carry out the steps above yourself, you will be in better control of your computer security. However do not hesitate to ask for help from a JCC Committee member or helper if you need it.

Cool websites

Here are the links from Diane Wynne / Chris Jones presentation on Thursday April 17th

Cool Websites – mostly Flash and some take time to load. Some of these were gleaned from "Web Designer" magazine

Diane's picks:
http://www.upmforestlife.com/
About sustainable forest in Finland (all in English) very informative and interesting as well as visually brilliant. High resolution images form the backdrop for pop-open window that contain high-quality video and audio. Loads of info about the wildlife and plants sometimes just stills and sometimes videos of the animals. I found this really interesting and informative.

http://www.dupontvisual.com/dupont/energy/
Basically a site detailing what DuPont’s role in energy is but visuals great and menu links different

http://www.tvtrip.com/ (not Flash based)
Check Out Before You Check In
A video clip hotel site allows users to view various hotels so thy can gain a more accurate insight into the size of the rooms and their suitability. As well as the hotel rooms and facilities, the surrounding area is also explored to help eliminate the risk of any unpleasant surprises. Includes several places in Spain including Altea Hills.

http://www.hungrysuitcase.com/
A humorous way of analysing which holiday would suit your interests. You fill your suitcase with what you appreciate and you get an analysis of the type of holiday that you’d want to take. Great fun.

http://breakingbad.com/
New US TV series Breaking Bad
Chemistry: the study of change. Meet Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher sleepwalking through life when, boom, a terminal diagnosis changes everything. Liberates him. Empowers him to use his chemistry skills anew: to man a rolling drug lab and finance the future for his struggling family. It's an uncontrolled experiment with the American dream. And it finally wakes him up. Breaking Bad: Change the Equation.
Clicking on revolving gun unlocks opening scene of series and clicking on different things does different things. It gave me an interest in seeing this series (but then I don’t have BBC, ITV etc) and would like to know more if only I could work out how to get more info – maybe too complicated for an oldie like me!
However, a good idea for getting the public interested in a new serial. Appears to be a more entertaining series than the usual cops and robbers or hospital emergencies normally available – only time will tell!

http://www.picnik.com/
On-line image editor – simple editing but clear instructions and easy to use. Sample images available for trying it out. You can select photos from your computer and it uploads them so you can alter them and then save them back to your computer
If initial site comes up in Spanish scroll to bottom of page and select English

http://www.viamichelin.com/
Not necessarily a cool site but a must if planning a journey.
We’re going to Elche for a trip and I entered my address and a specific place in Elche. I requested the quickest route and it gave detailed instructions from our house, with maps of the route to take. We also used it last year when we went to Portugal. I never gave a wrong direction which was brilliant as far as I was concerned as my better half gets very tetchy if he isn’t warned in plenty of time where he’s got to go!!!!

Google earth.
This has been updated to include Javea – maybe I’m the last to know this but our house is now viewable. Last time I looked it was just a fuzzy blur. Useful for finding the backstreets to avoid the summertime traffic jams. (My house is still a fuzzy blur! - CBJ)

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Chris B-J picks

http://food4thought.bhf.org.uk/
3d Educational tool from British Heart Foundation. The website is designed to educate you as well as entertain as you are taken through an urban jungle to take up the various challenges that await you.

http://www.coca-cola.com/HF/index.jsp
The Happiness factoryCoca Cola promotional game type site.

http://www.jonathanyuen.com/
This is Jonathan Yuen's on-line portfolio. It is very creative and beautifully crafted.
It is minimalist - if you are in to Zen, this is the site for you. Very soothing!
To navigate, hold the mouse pointer over the red buttons with a cross on them
and click on the tiny red arrows.

Crafting Greetings Cards - stockists

This from Marjorie Jowett
List of Card Crafting Stockists (Updated April 2008)

La Rulla, Javea Old Town:- near church in main square. Turn right instead of going down steps near Information.
Card, envelopes, A4 papel vegetal, A4 acetate for ink jet printers, some peel offs and bits to stick on, glue-sticks etc. Good prices and good selection of envelopes..

La Rulla, Javea Port:- In the arcade (near the Oasis Centre). They stock similar lines to the above.

Botella Office Stockists, Javea:- Downhill from Correos on right. It is bigger than it first appears.
Card (probably the best for card prices), handmade paper and envelopes, good quality paper and envelopes, labels, glue-sticks etc . Good prices.

Javea Craft Centre, Jesus Pobre Road, Javea:- On right going uphill after the bodega. Parking not good. I park at the bottom and walk up.10am to 5pm. English.
All craft items needed for card making. Good for peel offs. Good prices. This shop has changed hands, but the stock is the same (or more varied).

Art y Facts Arenal, Javea:- In same block as Cam Bank, opposite Spec Savers.
All craft items for card making. Fair prices. Very helpful. Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 1pm. English.

Fiesta Crafts, Javea:- round corner in the new building near to Wok restaurant at roundabout near Barclays Bank.
Interesting stock increasing all the time. Helpful. Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. English.

Aladdin’s Cave, Pedruguer:- On N332 on right just before Denia turnoff.
All craft items. English hours. English. I went recently and found it not as well stocked as previously.

Scrapbook Shop, Arenal, Javea;- Almost opposite Art y Facts. In service road near Pit Stop and Yorkshire Linen.
Interesting selection of card and scrapbooking items. A bit pricey for some things. Dutch owned, English spoken. Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 3pm.