Home Computer Tips

At work, many of us have an Information Technology person or department to ensure our computers are kept up-to-date and safe. Many people are unaware however, how to keep their home computer protected and secure and are left to their own devices in maintaining a safe computer system. There are a few topics you can familiarize yourself with to protect you and your PC from common problems.

Viruses
It can be difficult to identify which software programs are safe or not; particularly when you have to worry about so many different programs within a PC. Bad software comes in many forms, but the most common form is a computer virus: a small computer program that either by itself, or in connection with other viruses, completes destructive actions to computers. Sometimes, they only slow down the computer's progress by making copies of themselves -the virus gets bigger over time, but does not really hurt the computer. Other viruses may copy themselves and then send those copies to other computers; these are spread through contact.  When these viruses invade a computer, they may not destroy data, but often slow it down so much that it's necessary to reload the software to alleviate the problem. The most dangerous and destructive types of viruses are those  that not only spread from computer to computer, but also destroy files and damage hardware. Beyond viruses, there are other malicious programs as well, including Worms, Trojans and spyware. These may spread via different methods and may be used to spy on the user's information or habits.

Online Hackers
Another potential danger that computer users need to watch out for are online hackers. They are information thieves:  individuals who  want access to the information on your computer, or hackers: who want to use your computer's processing power for their own purposes. Both of these groups use specially crafted programs to trick your computer into letting them have the information they desire.

Safety Precautions:

• Update all of the software on your computer on a regular basis. Windows^® has an automatic update feature that should be turned on. This will automatically load and install any new updates to Microsoft^® software.
   
• Install a good antivirus and anti-spyware program, and regularly update them. Your computer needs periodic updates to keep up with the latest viruses. It is highly recommend that software be set to check for new updates daily.
   
• Install and use firewalls on your computer and your communications equipment. If you are using Microsoft's Windows XP operating system, it comes with a built-in firewall.
   
• Do not download programs from the Internet unless you're certain you really want the program and you trust the source. Always ensure that your antivirus program is working and up-to-date before downloading any files. Parents should pay special attention to what kids download since many of the games and files available for kids contain spyware that should be avoided.
   
• Stay away from websites that seem suspicious. If you must visit one of these sites, disable both JavaScript and Java in your web browser before doing so. If you do not know how to disable these, you may want to avoid visiting dangerous parts of the Internet.
   
• Always be aware of changes in your computer. If it suddenly slows down for more than a few seconds, there may be something running in the background. If it happens more than once or twice and does not seem to be related to any new hardware you've installed, turn it off and take it to a professional for examination.
   
• When you are not using your computer, turn it off or disconnect it from the network. Today's computers are not negatively affected by turning the power off and on. Remember, when you are not using your computer, others from the Internet may be using it. Many malicious programs wait until the keyboard has been silent for ten or more minutes before the program starts running at full speed.