April, 2008,
What Happens "Behind Your Back..."
Dear Avi,
For business owners and parents, the use of computers at work and in the home lead to some troublesome issues; just what are your employees, or kids, doing "behind your back".
What, if anything, should you do about it?
This month, our WCC "Tech Tips" looks at:

• Monitoring Software: New software that allows business owners and parents to monitor other computer users' activities. Pro's and con's.
• AVON Chamber of Commerce Offers FREE Computer "Search" Workshop: May 1.
• STAYING Green With Your Computer: West Hartford Residents: Free ewaste Dropoff at Brixton St, May 3rd.
• WCC is moving to a new office location on May 1st.
• Parting Shot: Avi and Tahl "Sweating It Out" at the JCC

Spring is finally here, and there's lots of exciting news and events with the turning of the seasons.
Enjoy this wonderful season,
Avi & Tahl

Avi Smith-Rapaport, Tahl Smith-Rapaport, and the entire team at:
We Care Computers, LLC
860-836-4191 or info@wecarecomputers.com

COMPUTER MONITORING SOFTWARE
Does It Work? Do You Need It?

Computers, both at home and work, are sometimes used in ways that business owners and parents strongly object to.
Unauthorized web surfing, circulating questionable content, use of email for personal reasons, and a score of other activities cause a loss of productivity in the workplace. Or worse.
On the home and parenting side, there's the potential for even greater abuse, as frequent stories about online predators, FaceBook problems, and improper correspondence attest.
While let's never confuse running a business with the far greater challenge of being a parent, in this case, there are some shared insights. In nearly all cases, "policies" prohibit the activity. Businesses call them policies or guidlines. Parents call them rules.
Yet, whatever you call them, they are being disregarded. How serious is it? What do you do?
At We Care Computers, we constantly test software to see if it lives up to manufacturer's claims. Our latest tests involve "monitoring software" made by a company called SpectorSoft, and we're delighted to report it works. Very well.
Here's what it does:
1. Monitors email and internet use on a single computer, small network, or company wide basis.
2. This includes chat and instant messages, visited websites, and programs launched, to name a few.
Only the "owner" of the computer or network has access to the information. But this monitoring software can be a powerful tool to help detect computer abuse. You can only solve a problem when your know it exists.
Is it for you? That's a trickier question because it sometimes involves issues of privacy and trust.
On the employee side, not so tricky. Employees are expected to honor company policies, and if they don't, corrective action should be taken. The quality of all employees' work is reviewed in many different ways, and computer usage should be no different.
On the family side, however, parents need to walk a line between trust and personal responsibility that seemingly changes with every new birthday. You want to give kids confidence to grow, and that includes the occasional stumble. But in the secret world of the internet, that "stumble" may take on very serious proportions.
You certainly don't want to spy on your kids, but you don't want to be blindsided either. Or worse, have them blindsided.
We're going to leave this conversation regarding monitoring software, as far as families go, as one of personal choice. You know your kids, you know the risks. The software can only inform you of whether a problem exists or not.
We Care Computers will discuss any questions you have via phone or email, and we'll certainly help you choose the correct version of the software if you feel it is right for your business or home.
One final thought for employees and kids. Sometimes just knowing "someone's always watching" what goes on when you're not home or in the office is remedy enough.

AVON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTS A FREE CLASS ON COMPUTER SEARCH TECHNIQUES
The Avon Chamber of Commerce (WCC is a member) offers FREE classes in computer skills to interested adults. On MAY 1, We Care Computers will be teaching a class on how to use search engines. Taught by WCC's PC guru and trainer, Barbara Becker, the class will include:

• How a search engine like Google works
• Search strings that bring the most efficient results
• Interpreting search results - choosing what sites are most likely to be helpful from a list of results
• Commercial or Sponsored sites vs. Informational or Research sites
• Researching companies and finding contact information on websites
• Using Google to research common computer application error messages
• Using Internet Yellow Pages, Craig’s List, eBay and other popular sites

WHEN: Thursday, May 1, 2008 - 8:30-10:00 a.m. - class starts promptly at 8:30 a.m.
WHERE: Computer Lab at Thompson Brook School, 150 Thompson Road, Avon
COST: Free. LIMITED TO FIRST 20 Signups
HOW TO SIGN UP: Call or email the Avon Chamber of Commerce at:
Call to register: (860) 675-4832 ext. 1
Email: avonchamber@sbcglobal.net
SPONSORS: Chamber Insurance Trust, Connecticare, We Care Computers, LLC

"STAYING GREEN WITH YOUR COMPUTER"
In February, WCC wrote about "Green" computing practices, and we just want to update you on a new opportunity to continue to "STAY GREEN" with your computers and other ewaste.
The town of West Hartford is sponsoring an ELECTRONICS RECYLCING COLLECTION on Saturday, May 3, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at the Public Works, 17 Brixton St.
You may bring computers, monitors, cell phones, TV's, VCR's, copiers, fax machine, stereos and even compact flourescent lightbulbs. No appliances except microwaves and air conditioners. All will be recycled properly. West Hartford residents only.
What a great idea! It's Spring, and a great time to clean out ALL of your old electronics equipment. Can't beat the cost either. FREE.

FIRST TWENTY EMAILS GET A FREE WE CARE COMPUTERS T-SHIRT
Happy Spring! As a thank you to our readers of this newsletter, we will give away 20 T-Shirts to the first 20 people who email us the following information:
1. Name
2. Mailing Address
3. T-Shirt Size

email address is: info@wecarecomputers.com
First come, first served. Wear it proudly!
SPRING CLEANUP

During this year's Spring Cleanup, don't neglect your computer system. Clean out any dust that's accumulated on the various fans for a start, as dust does build up over the winter with dry heat and less circulation than other times of the year.
Or, just give us a call and we'll go over your system, make sure it has proper Spyware protection, backup software, and the latest in online security.

Parting Shot: AVI AND TAHL SWEAT IT OUT AT THE JCC
We Care Computers owners Avi Smith-Rapaport (below left) and Tahl Smith-Rapaport (below right) recently spent 4 hours spinning furiously at the Jewish Community Center as part of a fund raiser for the American Heart Association. Through the combined efforts of all involved, more than $ 4,100 was raised for the AHA.
Congratulations to all.

(JCC Instructor Ari Steinberg, Avi, JCC Instructor Kathy Armstrong-Crouch, Tahl)

We Care Computers is Moving to a New Office:
Effective May 1, 2008, WCC's offices will move to:
We Care Computers, LLC
2437 Albany Avenue
Suite 101A
West Hartford, CT 06117
All other contact information remains the same. Cheers!

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine."
Ralph Waldo Emerson