Safe Computing - for "Newbies" and the Not-So-New

(Ms.) Jj,
Creative Director
Vision IPD

There are a few things that I try to teach all my clients to help them practice "safe computing."

1. ALWAYS use anti-virus software and keep it up to date! Yes, is it an annual expense but if you are on the Internet at all, you need it. Any one of the major products will work.

2. DO NOT CLICK on buttons or links in email or in "pop-up windows". These days it can be VERY hard, sometimes, to tell the difference between legitimate message windows that YOUR computer generates and those generated by outside agents. Unethical advertisers have learned to make their ad windows mimic Windows message screens, in hope of luring viewers to click. The "click here to close this window" button or even a very-realistic "x to close" in the upper right INSIDE of the actual window "x", if clicked, can download "spyware" or other "malware" programs onto your computer.

"Malware" is malicious software that can be used by outside agents for various purposes, from tracking your internet use to "taking over" your computer to use it for spamming others. At the very least these programs use up your computer's "brain power" (processor time in geek-speak) and make it bog down and run slower.

Often these programs and windows tempt you with promise of "block pop-ups" or threats of "your computer is infected.." but the software they download if clicked is NOT what is promised.

I do not recommend "pop-up blockers" or any other blocking software. It's just a belief that I have that education is the better way to go. However, if you are concerned that your computer might have been compromised, you might want to download and run the same FREE programs I use to eliminate malware from my clients' machines.

Lava Soft Ad Aware SE is one such program that will ferret out "adware" and allow you to remove it.

Spybot Search and Destroy is the other tool I use. It will find and destroy invaders and also allow you to block future incursions. Both programs are updated occasionally, so DO check for updates and run weekly or more often.

3. DO NOT DOWNLOAD OR INSTALL TOOLBARS, browser "helper" programs, "weather bug" or the like. They also are a pathway by which adware and other malware can be installed on your system.

4. SUPERVISE children and visitor's use of your computer. We all want to be hospitable and share with friends and guests, however they may not be as safety-conscious as you. A case in point: one of my clients seldom had problems with her computer. Her husband, much less savvy than she, had us out for two major tech calls due to extreme malware problems. While his computer was down at one time, she allowed him to use her machine to "make an essential online business transaction." As far as she knew, he had only gone to his bank website and logged into his account. However, she began to have popup issues and asked me to take a look while I was there working with her on other questions. When I looked back through the recently visited sites, i recognized a "questionable" URL that I had seen on her hubby's machine and when I downloaded and ran the programs mentioned above, I found and neutralized the offending malware. She had NOT stayed in the room while he was working... after all she trusted her husband... but after this she no longer shares computers with him.

5. Find and use a good tech They are not always expensive, but it's worth the time to find someone reliable and knowledgeable and to not rely on someone's nephew or granddaughter who may mean well but not understand all the issues.

6. Don't wait until it's too late to be able to fix the problem. Just like people and cars, computers perform best with preventive maintenance! Ask your tech what you need to do and how often. One often overlooked maintenance item, especially if you live with animals, is to keep the ventilation ports (which may be in various placed on your computer box) clear of dust and animal hair. WE open our computers up and regularly vacuum them out... but there again, we are geeks and live with 9 cats a dog, a rabbit and birds! Non-zoo, non-geek households may not need this extreme maintenance!

For a free consultation to see how your business can benefit from professional design services on the Internet or in print, contact Vision IPD Incorporated, PO Box 2497, Bangor ME 04402 phone 207 433 0687 or email vision(at)visionipd.com