Starting your new year with better resolutions
There's
nothing like starting off a new year with a few good intentions
regarding your PC. Here's a small selection of goodies and set of
"dos and donts" that you will certainly find useful throughout the
year making it hassle-free especially when it comes computer-related
issues.
Let's try to stamp out viruses, worms and hoaxes by making sure
every PC you use is running antivirus software that is regularly
updated. There are several excellent freeware virus scanners
available on the net and some of them include AVG Antivirus
www.grisoft.com and AntiVir www.free-av.com/.
Core applications: Keep your email client and browser up to date to
enjoy error-free operation of email and smooth surfing of the World
Wide Web by downloading the latest versions of Internet Explorer and
Outlook Express for free from Microsoft's website.
Also keep your operating system up to date by periodically
downloading patches and security fixes available at
www.windowsupdate.com iron out the glitches and incompatibilities of
your system.
Mail miseries: Another thing to always keep in mind is that you
should never open unexpected email attachments, even from people you
know, especially if the attachment has an unfamiliar file extension.
If any doubts check with the sender.
Never delete files on your PC on the advice of anyone without
checking first. Type the file name into Google and you'll quickly
find out what it does.
There's a lot you can do to minimize if not completely stop the spam
or unsolicited email entering your mailbox. One of your
resolutionsshould be to completely avoid opening spam email. To do
this, right click on the message and send it to Deleted Items.
Also never email to unsubscribe or reply to spam, unless it's from a
well-known organization, because it was probably sent to you
randomly from overseas and once you reply, they know yours is a live
email address. And never buy anything from any company that sends
unsolicited email.
Pop-up ads: You can get rid of over 95 per cent of pop-up ads with
freeware programs, such as the PopUpStopper www.panicware.com and
Free Surfer http://www.kolumbus.fi/eero.muhonen/FS/mail.
Personal info: Always refrain from sending personal information or
credit card details by email or on a website unless it is encrypted
or via a secure server, which is shown by a little padlock icon on
the bottom of your browser window.
Security: To beef up security on your PC against malicious worms and
hackers on the net, install firewall software. There are free number
of programs available online for free. Programs like ZoneAlarm
www.zonelabs.com and Outpost www.agnitum.com/products/outpost.
Against browser hijacks: Scan your PC at least once a week for
spyware and trojans with freeware programs like AdAware
www.lavasoftusa.com or SpyBot http://security.kolla .de, and update
them every few weeks.
Never give permission to websites to install programs or files on
your PC. They might contain something nasty.
When installing programs, especially downloaded from the internet,
read the End User Licence Agreement. Look out for phrases like
"advertising messages" or "help us to identify" and "assist in your
web browsing". They may indicate the program contains spyware (a
program, usually put on to your PC after visiting a website, that
makes use of your internet connection without your knowledge or
permission to send data back to its parent site).
Oh! my password: Don't use the same passwords for logging on to your
PC or websites and change them regularly. Don't use the obvious
passwords such as your children's, pet's or your own name.
Back up 'em all: Buy a CD-writer and back up all of your
irreplaceable data files at least once a week. When a program
suggests that you save your work do so.
System maintenance: To keep your system working smoothly, don't
clutter your PC with trial and demo programs from PC magazine cover
mount CD-ROMs. If your PC freezes refrain from frantically hitting
the keys or the PC case. It might make you feel a bit better but it
almost never works and may make things worse.
Shortcuts: Commit the following keyboard shortcuts to memory. You
can copy and paste just about anything to and from web pages,
documents, graphic programs, spreadsheets by highlighting the item
them pressing Ctrl + C (to copy) and Ctrl + V (to paste). You can
copy whatever is on the screen into the clipboard by pressing the
PrntScn key, or just the active window or dialogue box with Alt +
PrntScn, and paste it into a document or graphics program with Ctrl
+ V. If you make a mistake you can undo the last action in almost
every program by pressing Ctrl + Z.
Top tips
A few blindingly obvious things for all new PC owners, and old
hands, to remember. Cut this out and stick it to the front of your
PC.
- No computer in history has ever been fixed by swearing at it;
- If it 'aint broke, don't fix it;
- When you're in a hole stop digging; and most important of all:
- When installing any new item of hardware or software always RTFM.
If you don't know what that means, then find out and do it.