What's New
A. Tech Tip: Gator Software
B. Goodbye to Alex
C. CommuniTech Digital Miracles Conference
Resources
A. Articles
1.New Study on User Responses to Websites
2.Low Cost Tools for Building Effective Websites
3.Can your walk identify you? (New Technologies)
B. Conference

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I. What's New
A. Tech Tip: Gator Software
Have you noticed a little alligator peering at you from your task bar? Have
you noticed more pop-up ads (ads that open in new windows) while you are browsing the Internet? Gator software will cause more of these ads, and will take up your computers memory, slowing it down. It can be bundled with other software you download and disguise itself as a "useful" program or a game. Gator is one of several programs now dubbed spyware. Without your knowledge, it tracks where you travel on the internet and shows you ads that match your browsing habits. It can replace ads posted by the site you are visiting with its own or launch ads in a new window. To read more about it,
check out http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,63345,00.asp
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/reference/danger.of.spywar
To remove it, go to your Control Panel (on a PC click on Start Menu, then Settings, then Control Panel) and select Gator/Remove. You will also need to remove Offer Companion through the same Control Panel. Search for files or folders(click on Start Menu, then Search, then Find Files or Folders) containing Gator on your hard drive. If you can identify it as belonging to the program, then delete it. If you are unsure, do not delete it.

B. Goodbye to Alex
Alex Ward completed his year of service as a VISTA on April 16, 2002. We appreciate all he contributed to the project and wish him well in his next endeavors.

C. CommuniTech Digital Miracles Conference
Several staff members attended the Digital Miracles Conference, cosponsored by CommuniTech (Upenn) and CTCNet, last Friday. Their website lists the schedule and speakers: http://www.dmc2002.org more
information about the presentations and further resources should be posted soon.

II. Resources

A. Articles
1. A Matter of Trust: What Users Want From Web Sites
http://www.pewtrusts.com/pdf/vf_web_watch_trust_0402.pdf

2. Now available from DiscounTech: Nonprofit WebBuilder
"Six easy steps to building your Web site.
The Nonprofit WebBuilder uses database-driven technology to provide you with a simple, easy-to-use system for building and maintaining
professional-appearing Web sites. Using the Nonprofit WebBuilder, you can quickly launch a Web site with little to no technical expertise. Purchase of this product includes hosting by B2P for one year. Versions for Mac and PC formats available."
Handling fee: $60.
To order, go to:
http://www.techsoup.org/discountech_btc.cfm?btcfile=dt041802

For articles on Web design and development, visit TechSoup's Web Building section:
http://www.techsoup.org/articles.cfm?topicid=13&topic=Web%20Building

3. Walk This Way
By David Cameron April 23, 2002
Whether you do the moonwalk or the cakewalk, new technologies may soon ID you by how you strut.
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/wo_cameron042302.asp

4. Consumer Trust in E-Commerce Web Sites Alarmingly Low, Consumer Webwatch Research Finds
(04/15/2002) A press release from Consumer WebWatch.

5. Deep Links Return to Surface
"Hyperlinks, the little bits of code that quickly whisk Web surfers from one
site to another, may soon be forced to detour around legal and technical "No
Trespassing" signs."
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,51887,00.html

B. Conference:
Silicon Valley Conference on Nonprofits
and Technology: 2002
Thursday, May 9, 2002
Silicon Valley Conference Center