From time to time we like to post ways to make things easier. Shortcuts are a great way to make that happen.

We covered keyboard shortcuts for PC users in the first part. These shortcuts will be very useful to Mac users who use Google sites.

Mac users

Do you use Google Sites for your website? If you love keyboard shortcuts like we do, then this will be very useful for you.

This is part one of our shortcut series. We want to put out as much information as we can in different areas of technology. 

Basic PC keyboard shortcuts

Application
Open shortcut help	Ctrl + /
Open shortcut help	?
Search	/
More actions	m
Site
Create page	c
Toggle site subscription	Shift + f
Manage site	g then m
Share site	Shift + s
Page
Edit page	e
Edit site layout	Shift + L
Revision history	g then r
Toggle page subscription	f
Page settings	u
Print page	Ctrl + p
Copy page	Shift + c
Preview page as viewer	g then p
Change page template	Shift + t
Move page (for pages besides Home)	Shift + m
Delete page (for pages besides Home)	Shift + 3

Shortcuts in editing mode

Application
Open shortcut help	Ctrl + /
Remove formatting	Ctrl + \
Undo	Ctrl + z
Redo	Ctrl + y
Add or remove link	Ctrl + k
Save page	Ctrl + s
Cancel	Esc
Menus
Open Insert menu	Alt + i
Open Format menu	Alt + f
Open Table menu	Alt + t
Open Layout menu	Alt + L
Open Help menu	Alt + h
Text formatting
Strikethrough	Alt + Shift + 5
Superscript	Ctrl + .
Subscript	Ctrl + ,
Bold	Ctrl + b
Italic	Ctrl + i
Underline	Ctrl + u
Paragraph formatting
Heading 2	Ctrl + Alt + 2
Heading 3	Ctrl + Alt + 3
Heading 4	Ctrl + Alt + 4
Normal text	Ctrl + Alt + 0
Align left	Ctrl + Shift + L
Align center	Ctrl + Shift + e
Align right	Ctrl + Shift + r
Numbered list	Ctrl + Shift + 7
Bulleted list	Ctrl + Shift + 8
Decrease indent	Ctrl + [
Increase indent	Ctrl + ]

We will cover keyboard shortcuts for Mac users in part two. These shortcuts will be very useful to Mac users who use Google sites.

 

Access to public computers in libraries is convenient and a great resource for library users.  But before you use the internet, take time to understand the privacy risks and learn how to spot potential problems.   Take a moment to be certain the path ahead is clear and watch for warning signs.  Enjoy the internet with greater confidence, knowing you’ve taken the right steps to safeguard and protect your privacy while using a public computer.

Privacy Tips

Protect Personal Information

Every individual who takes all the possible public WiFi security precautions are going to run across issues from time to time. That’s why it’s imperative to keep your Internet security software installed, up-to-date and running on your machine. The top consumer security software will also offer business protection solutions, so you can protect yourself while you’re out and about, and your servers back at the office, all at the same time.

Practice Security for Privacy

Enable the “Always Use HTTPS” option on websites that you visit frequently, or that require you to enter some kind of credentials. Remember that hackers understand how people reuse passwords. Most websites that require an account or credentials have the “HTTPS” option somewhere in their settings.

Turn off Sharing

When connecting to the Internet at a public place, you’re unlikely to want to share anything. You can turn off sharing from the system preferences or Control Panel, depending on your OS, or let Windows turn it off for you by choosing the “Public” option the first time you connect to a new, unsecured network.

Keep WiFi Off When You Don’t Need It

Even if you haven’t actively connected to a network, the WiFi hardware in your computer is still transmitting data between any network within range. If you’re just using your computer to work on a Word or Excel document, keep your WiFi off.

Use a VPN (virtual private network)

By using a VPN when you connect to a public Wi-Fi network, you’ll effectively be using a ‘private tunnel’ that encrypts all of your data that passes through the network. This can help to prevent cybercriminals – that are lurking on the network – from intercepting your data.

One recommendation in keeping your network secure. You can purchase your own person WiFi and bring it anywhere.

A couple of software recommendations

• https://www.malwarebytes.org/
• http://www.mcafee.com

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop us an email. We are also available in online chat which is located right on our website.

 

 

 

 

Last Sunday we published a post for PowerPoint Window users. Since I know that not everyone is on a PC and I am sure alot of Mac users would love some shortcuts if they don’t know them already.  I love helping people with different tech related things.

Editing text and objects

To	Press
Delete one character to the left	DELETE
Delete one character to the right
Cut selected text or object	+ X
Copy selected text or object	+ C
Paste cut or copied text or object	+ V
Paste special	+ CONTROL + V
Increase the font size	+ SHIFT + >
Decrease the font size	+ SHIFT + <
Apply bold formatting	+ B
Apply an underline	+ U
Apply italic formatting	+ I
Center a paragraph	+ E
Justify a paragraph	+ J
Left align a paragraph	+ L
Right align a paragraph	+ R
Undo the last action	+ Z
Open the Format Text dialog box, Font options	+ T
Open the Format Text dialog box, Paragraph options	+ OPTION + M

Moving around in text

To move	Press
To the beginning of a word or one word to the left	OPTION + LEFT ARROW
One word to the right	OPTION + RIGHT ARROW
To the end of a line	+ RIGHT ARROW
To the beginning of a line	+ LEFT ARROW
To the beginning of a paragraph or up one paragraph	OPTION + UP ARROW
Down one paragraph	OPTION + DOWN ARROW

Working with objects

To	Press
Select the next object	TAB
Select the previous object	SHIFT + TAB
Select all objects and all text	+ A
Move the selected object in the direction of the arrow	Arrow keys or + arrow key
Group the selected objects	+ OPTION + G
Ungroup the selected objects	+ OPTION + SHIFT + G
Regroup the selected objects	+ OPTION + J
Rotate the selected object clockwise	OPTION + right arrow
Rotate the selected object counterclockwise	OPTION + left arrow
Format the selected picture	+ SHIFT + 1

Presentations

To	Press
Create a new presentation	+ N
Create a new presentation with a template from the PowerPoint Presentation gallery	+ SHIFT + P
Insert a new slide	CONTROL + M or + SHIFT + N
Zoom out	+ PLUS SIGN
Zoom in	+ MINUS SIGN
Make a copy of the selected slide in outline view, slide sorter view, or in the outline pane in normal view	+ D
Make a copy of the selected slide in notes page view, or in the slides pane or notes pane in normal view	+ SHIFT + D
Open a presentation	+ O
Close a presentation	+ W
Print a presentation	+ P
Save a presentation	+ S
Save a presentation with a different name, location, or file format.	+ SHIFT + S
Quit PowerPoint	+ Q
Find text and formatting	+ F
Add a hyperlink to selected text, an image, or an object	+ K
Cancel a command, such as Save As	ESC
Undo an action	+ Z
Redo or repeat an action	+ Y
Move through multiple open presentations.	+ ~

Changing views

To	Press
Switch to normal view	+ 1
Switch to slide sorter view	+ 2
Switch to notes page view	+ 3
Switch to outline view	+ 4
Switch to full screen slide show	+ SHIFT + ENTER
Switch to full screen (hide menus)	CONTROL + F
Switch to presenter view	OPTION + ENTER
Show or hide guides	+ OPTION + CONTROL + G
Switch to handout master view	+ OPTION + 2 or SHIFT + click Slide Sorter View
Switch to slide master view	+ OPTION + 1 or SHIFT + click Normal View
Switch to notes master view	+ OPTION + 3

Selecting text

To select	Press
One character to the right	SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW
One character to the left	SHIFT + LEFT ARROW
From the insertion point to the same point one line up	SHIFT + UP ARROW
From the insertion point to the same point one line down	SHIFT + DOWN ARROW
All text to the start of the line	+ SHIFT + LEFT ARROW
All text to the end of the line	+ SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW
From the insertion point to the end of the paragraph	SHIFT + OPTION + DOWN ARROW
From the insertion point to the beginning of the paragraph	SHIFT + OPTION + UP ARROW

Slide show

You can use the following keyboard shortcuts while running your slide show in full-screen mode, with or without the presenter tools.

TIP   You can press the HELP key during a slide show to see a list of keyboard shortcuts. (The HELP key is not available on some laptop keyboards.)

To	Press
Perform the next animation or advance to the next slide	N , RETURN , PAGE DOWN , RIGHT ARROW , DOWN ARROW ,     ENTER , or the SPACEBAR (or click the mouse button)
Return to the previous animation or return to the previous slide	P , PAGE UP , LEFT ARROW , UP ARROW , or DELETE
Go to slide number	The number of the slide that you want to view, and then press RETURN .
Display a black screen, or return to the slide show from a black screen	B or PERIOD
Display a white screen, or return to the slide show from a white screen	W or COMMA
Play slide show from the first slide	+ SHIFT+ RETURN
Play slide show from the current slide	+ RETURN
End a slide show	ESC , + PERIOD , or HYPHEN
Erase on-screen annotations	E
Go to next hidden slide if the next slide is hidden	H
Redisplay hidden pointer and/or change the pointer to a pen	+ P
Redisplay hidden pointer and/or change the pointer to an arrow	+ A
Hide the pointer and button immediately	+ I + H
Display the contextual menu	Hold down CONTROL and click the mouse button

Working in a table

To	Press
Move to the next cell	TAB
Move to the preceding cell	SHIFT + TAB
Move to the next line or row	DOWN ARROW
Move to the preceding line or row	UP ARROW
Start a new paragraph in a cell	RETURN
Add a new row at the bottom of the table	TAB at the end of the last row

Windows and dialog boxes

To	Press
Close the active window	+ W
Perform the action assigned to a default button in a dialog box	RETURN
Cancel a command and close the dialog box	ESC
Hide the current window	+ H
Minimize the current window	+ M

Don’t hesitate to give us a call or contact us via email for help.

Wondering if there is a faster way to tweet? There is and we have all your Twitter keyboard shortcuts to help you make your tweeting experience better!

Keyboard Shortcut

Actions  

• n- New Tweet
• f- Favorite
• r- Reply
• t- Retweet
• m- Direct Message
• u- Mute user
• b- Block user
• Enter- Open tweet details
• l- Close all open tweets
• /- Search
• Ctrl+Enter- Send tweet

Navigation

• ?- This menu
• j- Next tweet
• k- Previous tweet
• Space- Page down
• Period- Load tweets

Timelines

• gh- Home
• gn- Notifications
• ga- Activity
• gd- Discover
• gp- Profile
• gf- Favorites
• gl- Lists
• gm- Messages
• gs- Settings
• gu- Go to user

There are keyboard shortcuts for just about everything online. There will be more Saturday shortcuts to come in the future. Can’t figure something out, we also do personal one on one training at your business or residence.

In this day and age, you need to keep your computer and personal information safe. Hackers are out there and we all know that.  They will take your information and steal your identity.  Bank accounts, email, online shopping need to be kept safe at all times.  Changes to your passwords every 6 months aren’t mandatory, but we strongly recommended it.

7 Tips for Protecting your Computer

Protecting your computer from viruses and other threats isn’t difficult, but you must be diligent. Here are 7 tips for protecting your computer from viruses:

• Install an antivirus program.  Installing an anti-virus program and keeping it up to date can help defend your computer against viruses. Antivirus programs scan for viruses trying to get into your email, operating system, or files. New viruses appear daily, so set your antivirus software to install updates automatically.
• Install a malware program.  Many PC users just install an anti-virus. I strongly recommend installing both. There are different types of malware that include: infectious malware, web threats, concealment malware and mobile malware. McAfee might say that the total protection from them includes anti-malware, but I double checked and didn’t see it listed anywhere.
• Don’t open email attachments, unless you’re expecting them.  Many viruses attach themselves to email messages and will spread as soon as you open the email attachment. It’s best not to open any attachment unless it’s something you’re expecting. Be especially wary of .exe files.
• Keep your computer updated.  If you’re a PC user and use Windows, Microsoft releases security updates that can help protect your computer. Make sure that Windows receives these updates by turning on Windows automatic updating.
• Use a firewall.‌ Windows Firewall (or any other firewall) can help alert you to suspicious activity if a virus or worm attempts to connect to your computer. It can also block viruses, worms, and hackers from attempting to download potentially harmful programs to your computer.
• Use your browser’s privacy settings.  Being aware of how websites might use your private information is important to help prevent fraud and identity theft. If you’re using Internet Explorer, you can adjust your Privacy settings or restore the default settings whenever you want.
• Use a pop-up blocker with your browser.  Pop-up windows are small browser windows that appear on top of the website you’re viewing. Although most are created by advertisers, they can also contain malicious or unsafe code.  A pop-up blocker can prevent some or all of these windows from appearing.  The Pop-up Blocker feature in Internet Explorer is turned on by default.
• Turn on User Account Control (UAC).  When changes need to be made to your computer that requires administrator-level permission, UAC notifies you and gives you the opportunity to approve the change. UAC can help keep viruses from making unwanted changes.

Let Us Help

With hackers, identity theft, viruses, etc. being on the rise and technology changing daily, PC owners should stay on top of keeping their computers virus and malware free.  If you need help with anything related to viruses, don’t hesitate to contact us!

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About Us

SOBX Tech is Eastern North Carolina’s leader for computer services, computer repair, software installations and software upgrades.  SOBX Tech serves the Southern Outer Banks community and surrounding areas. Located in Eastern North Carolina, along North Carolina’s beautiful Crystal Coast, we’re happy to provide on-site service in your home or business, at no extra charge!

 

Not everyone is aware of malware, spam, and spyware that can be running in the background. Most of the time you wouldn’t even know it.  When opening email or browsing the web, you must be aware of the site, and what it contains.  A computer virus is a malicious software program designed to damage your computer system by deleting files or even taking over the computer to launch attacks on other systems.  Running laptop and PC virus protection programs have to be a part of your daily routine, just like backing up your information in case of a computer malfunction.

Tips for Protecting Your Computer from Viruses, Malware, Spam and More

Need help with your laptop or PC? Not sure if you have a virus or some other type of malicious program, give us a call and we can set up an appointment.

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About SOBX Tech

SOBX Tech is Eastern North Carolina’s leader for computer services, computer repair, software installations and software upgrades.  SOBX Tech serves the Southern Outer Banks community and surrounding areas. Located in Eastern North Carolina, along North Carolina’s beautiful Crystal Coast, we’re happy to provide on-site service in your home or business, at no extra charge!