Tips from Glenn Holsborg, Techno-Aid

THINGS I’M NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU…BUT I WILL

• Turn it off, turn it back on.
  9 times out of 10, rebooting your computer and any equipment that connects to it will solve most problems.
  
• I’m like Santa
  I know if you’ve been bad or good. Fessing up to what really happened right before the system crashed is going to save time and you money…and I’m going to figure it out anyway.
• Use strong passwords
  I suggest combining letters and number, but never your birth date, to create a “base” password. Then add a unique suffix for each site you log into, if your base password is your spouse’s initials and your anniversary date, this creates a unique password for each site.
  Example – your base password is CTF022203, your password for a bank login might be CTF022203AM.
• Make sure you have current antivirus software.
  Set it to update at least once a day and fun a full system scan at least once a week.
• There is no such thing as a free lunch.
  Downloading free music, movies and games from file-sharing sites can open holes in your system for others to exploit. Play it safe and use established services like iTunes, Netflix and Rhapsody.
• Keep it clean.
  On your computer, run Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter at least once a month. This will store files more efficiently so your system doesn’t slow down. After about four years, your computer is elderly. If you’re spending money for a blazing-fast Internet connection, spend the money for a new computer.
• If you can’t get online.
  Call your Internet Service Provider (ISP) first, that might be AT&T, Comcast, etc. Connections problems can often be checked and fixed for FREE.
• Check the cables.
  Customers are always shocked that a cable came loose. Of course, everything that needs power is plugged into an outlet, right?
• Remember Public Wi-Fi is public.
  If you don’t have a compelling reason to check your email or bank account while sipping a latte at the mall…DON’T DO IT! While you’re on a public network, even one that is encrypted, a nearby hacker can capture your passwords.
• Got neighbors?
  If you do, protect your home wireless network with a password. If a person knows what he’s doing, getting into your computer on a non-encrypted network is easy.
• You backed up your data, right?
  External hard drives with lots of disk space now sell for under $200, and with the software that typically comes with it, make regular backups a no-brainer. Secure online backup services save your data offsite should anything happen to your home, such as Mozy or even Dell.
• If you travel with your laptop, get a lock.
  In a recent survey by the Computer Security Institute found that 50 percent of respondents had a laptop or other mobile device stolen in the past year. A simple cable lock (starting at about $20) lets you physically secure your laptop anywhere you go.
• Remember:
  If your company owns the computer, they own what’s on it, too—even your email in some cases. Act accordingly.
• Give it a rest.
  Turning off your computer when it’s not in use saves energy and clears out the RAM, or temporary memory, which otherwise might slow your computer over time.
• No, you can’t use your cell phone to pop popcorn.
  Next time an Internet rumor drops into your inbox, don’t just pass it on…check it out at www.snopes.com first.