Safe Computing Practices

I know, I know...your kids can do no wrong. I feel the same way. However, when it comes to computers, you have to watch them like a hawk. One minute they're listening to their favorite songs (freshly downloaded) and the next minute they're saying "Mom, I can't get on the Internet!" or "Dad, the computer just froze again!". This may have even happened to YOU, before. The term "safe surfing" doesn't only apply to protecting your children and your identity. It also has to be applied to the physical protection of your computer and all of the data that is stored on it.

How many times have you heard a friend say to you "I had to reinstall Windows and I lost all of my files." or "I had to call a computer repair company and it cost me $$$ to have it fixed"? Come on...admit it. You've heard something like this before. I'm in the computer repair business. This is how I make a living. However, I care enough about my customers to let them know how they can protect their computers from needing repairs like this.

Home computers have become almost a necessity, as did the telephone. There is an almost endless source of information pertaining to EVERYTHING, on the Internet. People like to stay informed, they want their kids to have the best chance at a good education, they like the convenience that a home computer can provide...the list of reasons to have a home computer goes on and on. Therefore, you now have to spend your hard-earned income on this new "necessity". The only remaining decision is how much you're willing to spend.

We've put together a short list of rules that might help you keep some of your hard-earned money in your wallet.

1. Make sure that you have a good antivirus program installed, running and updated. New viruses are discovered every day and not having your antivirus updated is like installing an alarm system in your home and not activating it.

2. Make sure to have at least two antispyware programs installed, updated AND RUNNING on your computer. So many people claim that they can't have a spyware problem on their computer because they scan once a week for spyware and the antispyware program cleans everything it finds. The problem is that you shouldn't let the computer be infected in the first place. You need to know, in real time, when something is trying to install itself on your computer and YOU can be the judge of whether or not you want it to install.

3. Make sure that you have a good firewall installed and running. Windows XP with Service Pack 2 has a firewall built-in. You want to make sure that it's turned on. You may choose to have a third-party firewall installed, instead of using the one included in Windows XP. Whatever you decide, just make sure that it starts when your computer starts and is constantly protecting you from outside (and inside) attacks. Broadband Internet connections have made firewalls an absolute necessity.

4. If your kids are under thirteen (or an age that you're comfortable with), then you should be monitoring everything they do and every website they visit. There are some sites that will infect your computer just by visiting them. Your kids may also be tempted to install cool screensavers, "smilies" or other programs that may harm your computer. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN. Your computer is "cool" enough. They'll probably tell you that AIM is better when you install "Extreme Messenger" or some similar program. I'm here to tell you, the more plain and simple you keep your computer, the better off you'll be.

5. If you want to download music, movies or software, pay for it. Don't let your kids talk you into installing any of the "file-sharing" programs like "Kazaa", "LimeWire", "iMesh", "WinMX" or "BearShare" (or any others, for that matter). To put it simply, they are loaded with "nasties" that will only end up costing you money, in the long run. Wal-Mart Music downloads are 88¢ per song. MusicMatch Jukebox can download songs for 99¢.

These rules, applied in conjunction with good common sense, will help to keep your computer safe. This, in turn, will help prevent data loss, identity theft and downtime on your computer while you wait for someone, like me, to fix it.

Notes

Virus: A relatively small piece of computer code, often spread through email, that can change your computer, in some way. This ranges from displaying nonsensical messages or ruining all the data on your hard drive.

Trojan Horse: Usually installed secretly, in conjunction with some other program, that usually has a specific purpose. Some trojan horses will try to find credit card numbers or bank information and send it out to specific servers for collection. Trojan horses can also be viruses.

Worm: A program, usually executed when you open an email attachment, that will replicate itself and send itself to all of the addresses in your address book. It will then repeat the process when those recipients open the attachment. Worms usually spread much quicker than any other form of "malware", specifically for this reason.