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Welcome to Computer Tips, your local source for computer help and information.    This is your host, Doug Bocaz-Larson, computer science program manager at the Grants Campus of NMSU.  

Today’s computer tip topic is: Internet Downloading

Are you tired of annoying creatures roaming your desktop?  Have you ever downloaded Bonsai Buddy, that horrible purple gorilla who takes over your computer?   There are so many free programs out there promising to make your life easier when they just manage to make things more difficult.   It makes you not want to download anything after a few bad experiences.

It seems like people often take two approaches to downloading.  They either download nothing off the internet or they try downing loading everything.   Both approaches have their ups and down sides.   Occasionally, it is worth downloading some programs off the internet.   Sometimes you can find wonderful free software such as an anti-virus program.  You also should download computer updates.  Downloading updates can help your computer run better and protect your from viruses. 

Downloading anything and everything can be a problem though.  The worst thing that can happen is getting a virus.  Other problems include free software that has so many bugs it creates major problems for your computer.   Spyware is another issue.  Gator is a common spyware.   Gator promises to provide you with useful tools such as calendars and shopping help but it actually is collecting information on you and selling it to other companies who in turn will send you spam.  Spyware, like Gator, does something much worse than give you annoying junk mail, it makes you more open to identity theft.   Ad-aware is a great free program to check your computer for spyware.  It is from www.lavasoftusa.com and works great.  I used it on one of my computers and found 250 spyware programs.   I couldn’t believe it.    Ad-aware can remove these programs from your system and check for future spyware.  

Here are some great tips from computerworld.com about being a safe downloader:

1. Keep Windows and Internet Explorer up to date. (support.microsoft.com has all the updates and does a check of your system to see what updates you need)
2. Keep desktop antivirus software up to date. (get an antivirus program such as Norton and let it download updates automatically while you surf the web – There are also some great free anti-virus programs online such as from grisoft.com)
3. Be careful what you download.   Only download software that is well known or recommended by others.
4. Install a desktop firewall (Windows XP has one built in)
5. Change your e-mail so it blocks all executable e-mail attachments and don’t open an attachment from anyone you don’t know.

That’s it for today’s computer tip brought to you by the computer science program at the Grants Campus of NMSU where we provide you with a variety of computer training opportunities from PC repair to Web Design.   If you have a question for me about your computer, email me at [email protected] and I might use your question in my next Computer Tips segment.  That’s [email protected]   You can also view this computer tip, along with others, at bocaz.com.  That’s w-w-w.b-o-c-a-z.com.     Or check out our computer program at http://grants.nmsu.edu.    I look forward to talking to you again soon.

Find more information on this topic at:

http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,92781,00.html