What do I need to know about the new computer operating systems?
    With the approach of the new year, Apple and Microsoft are gracing us with new versions of the software which undergirds their desktop and laptop computers. Apple has introduced version 10.10 of their OS X software (nicknamed "Yosemite") and Microsoft has lept its numbering convention and will jump directly to Windows 10 (skipping a version 9) sometime in the latter part of 2015.
    For Mac users, version 10.10 offers some significant improvements "under the hood" which further fine-tune the OS X (that's pronounced Oh Ess Ten, by the way) experience which had its beginnings back in 2001. Version 10.10 has a slightly different "feel" from earlier versions, and promises to be both faster and more stable than its predecessors, and it increases the integration of the user's local computer and services offered through Apple's "iCloud" environment (which we'll talk about in more detail below). Similarly, Windows 10 is expected to boast improved reliability and builds on the effort by Microsoft to unify the desktop/laptop user interface with that of Windows mobile device users (cell phones and tablets) which debuted in Windows 8. Based on our experience, many longtime Windows users will applaud Microsoft's decision to bring back some form of the "Start Menu" which has existed since Windows 95 but was dropped in Windows 8. But the ubiquitous "tiles" introduced in Windows 8 will remain.
    The big question for Mac and Windows users alike: Do I need to upgrade my computer to a new operating system? The short answer is "probably not." As we outlined in the last issue of OCW Insider, if your computer is working OK, pretty much doing what you want it to do now and is less than, say, five years old, there's no real need to change anything. And almost every major operating system change has implications on other software on the computer (sometimes entailing the need to purchase newer versions of affected software). And even small changes in the "feel" of the operating system can take some getting used to. We stand ready to evaluate your computer and your individual needs in order to provide upgrade advice on your specific situation.

So what about iCloud and this whole "cloud computing" stuff?
    Cloud-based computing is basically a concept of relying on services provided via the Internet to handle many of the functions which, in the past, a user's computer had to handle locally. For example, if you needed to use Microsoft Word software just a few years ago, you had to have a copy of Word installed on your computer. Today you can purchase access to a fully functional version of Word which exists at Microsoft and is accessed with Internet Explorer. A few years ago, all of a user's personal files existed only on their computer's harddrive. Today, personal files can be kept online at any one of a number of sites on the Internet. Those files can be shared with others, if the user desires to, making long-distance collaboration on projects much easier than ever before. And files kept "in the cloud" won't be lost to a computer harddrive failure or other catastrophe.
    So, iCloud is a subset of the cloud-based computing concept that Apple offers to both Macintosh and, to a limited degree, Windows users. The basic iCloud offering is free, and provides a means to make files such as a user's music and photos available to as many as five different computing devices (laptops, desktops, tablets and other mobile devices). In it's free incarnation you can think of iCloud as a synchronization conduit among various devices (essentially nothing is actually stored remotely, only selectively shared). It is also possible to purchase storage space on iCloud, effectively providing off-site backup of personal files. While there are other ways to accomplish many of the functions of iCloud, the friendly user interface and ease of configuration are its biggest attractions.
    This is just a very cursory explanation cloud-based computing in general and iCloud in particular. There are many factors and caveats that need to be considered when entering into cloud use (cost and security being only a portion of the equation). We welcome the opportunity to discuss the topic with you in more detail.    

Is it safe to make purchases over the Internet?
   This is a difficult question to answer with complete certainty. Obviously, any time you start sending private or confidential information over the Internet, you are potentially opening yourself up to identity and/or credit card information theft. But there are some things one can do to minimize the exposure, including:
1. Never, ever send credit card numbers, PIN numbers, or social security numbers via e-mail. No legitimate financial institution or vendor would request that you do so and you should never voluntarily transmit anything of that nature via e-mail.
2. When dealing with any financial transaction on the web, make sure that the address of the site starts with "https://" (indicating a secure connection) and be absolutely sure that the full address of the website is correct (e.g. paypal.com is not the same as paypals.com).
3. Be wary of free public wi-fi connections, especially those that do not require a password to connect. You never know who is sharing the wi-fi with you, and it doesn't take a computer expert with sophisticated hardware to "sniff" traffic on an unencrypted public wi-fi network to harvest personal information being transmitted over it.
4. Increasingly, credit card vendors are offering customers the option of receiving an e-mail anytime an attempt is made to make a charge against their accounts. This is an excellent way both to track legitimate credit card use and to spot potential fraud almost in real time, and the service is definitely worth considering!
5. And anytime you see a credit card charge that you don't recognize (from an e-mail alert or your monthly statement), even if it is a very small one, never hesitate to call your card vendor's toll-free telephone number to initiate a dispute of the charge. Credit card vendors are acutely aware of the growing fraud problem on the Internet and will always work closely with customers to resolve any disputes.
    This is not an exhaustive discussion of financial safety on the Internet. We can only offer a few tips here but are always ready to discuss the issue in more detail in person.

What do you want to know more about?
    There are still many other topics we could talk about here or in a personal consultation. We welcome your comments and questions for future issues of the OCW Insider. Or give one of us a call or shoot an e-mail and we'll set up an appointment to meet with you!