This week: How to change your browser’s start page, share video files, and stay current and safe with updates.

Start here

I often hear from people who want to change the start page in Firefox or Internet Explorer. It takes longer to write out the answer than it does to change it! Here is a link to a screen cast I made that shows you how to change Firefox: http://youtu.be/MIllaSBE2Vo and here’s one for Internet Explorer: http://youtu.be/ziZGRBVGvDc.

Don’t even think about trying this at home

Another frequently asked question is “What’s the best way to email a video file?”

Don’t even try.

Video files are huge, and there will be a limit on the size of attachments you can email, and/or a limit on the size of attachments people can receive. The very best way to do that is for someone to upload the file to a site like Minus (http://minus.com/) or Gett (http://ge.tt).

You can make the video public or private. Then the person who uploaded the video emails a link to the file --- not the whole big honking file --- to the people s/he wants to share the file with. People receive a link in their email, click on it, and are taken to the video on the sharing website.

From there, they can download the video or simply watch it on that site. That video is never emailed, just the link. That is absolutely the best way to share a video. My “go to” site for this is called Minus (http://minus.com/). Minus is dead easy to use, completely free, and you can use it without registering for an account. If you do register for your free account, however, you’ll receive 10 GB of storage and you can upload files as large as 2 GB. (If you use my Minus referral link, we will both get 1 GB extra space for free. Here’s the link: http://min.us/rC52rDQ.)

If you don’t like Minus, you might like Gett (http://ge.tt). You can upload just about any type of file, including video files, and send a link via email. And like Minus, you can easily publish to Facebook or Twitter. Of course, you can mark the files private, too, and only people you send the links to will be able to get them. Gett gives you 2 GB storage space and I found it a little less intuitive than Minus, but it seemed to upload a little faster.

You really need those updates. Really.

I’ve been chasing malicious software infections all over town. Computers are getting clobbered by malicious software that looks like an anti-spyware program, but which is meant to scare the heck out of you and trick you into buying a solution to the problem. Not only will you not get the solution, your credit card information is now in the hands of nefarious people.

In addition to installing, properly configuring and running a good anti-virus + anti-spyware program all the time and supplementing that with an on-demand malware scanner, it is really important to keep Windows up to date. Make sure you’re getting your Windows Updates, and that they are being installed successfully. And when you are presented with an update for Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash Player, or Java, make sure you allow those updates. Those programs offer updates for security as well as for performance reasons. It’s important to stay current if you want to stay secure.

If you need help with Windows updates, see here for Windows 7: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Install-Windows-updates. Vista users should check here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Install-Windows-updates. If you’re still using XP, the instructions are different: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/windows-update. If you need help with those other updates, see this previous column: http://rlis.com/columns/column336.htm.

Do you need help with your computer? I'm here to help you and your home or business computer get along!

Cate Eales runs Computer Care Kelowna (http://computercarekelowna.com/) a mobile service helping home users and businesses get along with their computers. To arrange an appointment phone her at 250-764-7043. Cate also welcomes your comments and suggestions. Send email to help@computercarekelowna.com.

You can read previous columns here: http://rlis.com/column.htm . If you'd like to subscribe to this column by email, please visit this link: http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?Sub=20618 . It's easy, and free. If you'd prefer the RSS Feed, click here: http://rlis.com/rlis.xml.