Tips

It will be impossible for me to include all the computer tips that exist, however I will endeavour to include the ones I am aware of, and which I think are most useful.  If you know of any that should be on the list, please email them to me!

Security

IMPORTANT – If you are running a Windows machine, make sure you either run Windows Update regularly, or have it set to Automatic Updates.

Anti-virus – I have been using Avast from www.avast.com for some years with no problem.  It is free for home and personal use. Be aware that McAfee and Nortons, while they do the same work no better, tend to slow your machine down with all the extras they have built-in, and also cost money.  Do not use your computer without an antivirus program running.  Don’t have more than one antivirus running at the same time, they can conflict.  Never open an attachment from someone you do not know, and only from someone you know if they tell you they are sending it.  Don’t click on a link in an email from any organisation that says they have to update your details – more than likely this will take you to a page that will infect your machine.  No bank or credit card company will send you an email requesting personal details  via a webpage.

Spyware

This is software that keeps track of what you enter and which sites you go to, and sends that info to another machine.  While many of these are genuine tracking software from retailers wanting to see what you  have bought, in fact a large majority of the information is collected and passed to companies that specialise in sending out spam (junk emails) – in 2006 it was estimated that 75% of the world’s email traffic was spam!  Unfortunately there is also malicious spyware called key-loggers, which collects things like log in data, bank account numbers and passwords, and this is passed on to crooks who use it for identity theft.  There are several good free anti-spyware programs – for example Anti-Malware by www.malwarebytes.com, SuperAntispyware by www.superantispyware.com and Spybot S & D (Search & Destroy).  There are also some good commercial ones, including Spy Sweeper by
www.Webroot.com  and Spyware Doctor by www.pctools.com
Unfortunately there are also a lot of bogus anti-spyware programs that do their best to convince you that they will clear all spyware, but often do not clear all, and sometimes add some of their own spyware.

To quote from a knowledgeable source I use: “The best approach to security is GOCS – or good old common sense. If it looks suspicious, or you are not sure of it, ignore it!“