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Irregularly posted tips, gleaned from all over the internet, for beginning and medium level computer and technology users. Feel free to subscribe to get these by email if you wish (below, right). Or,come to this site anytime. We update it about twice a month with new tips and links.
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Friday, June 20, 2014

How to Stay Safe While Online

This older (well, not THAT old!) article posted on Gizmo's Tech Support Alert hits the nail on the head when it comes to safe computing.

It's a solid compilation of tips- from very basic, to more advanced- and is worth a perusal!

Thanks, Gizmo!

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-stay-safe-while-online.htm


Thursday, June 5, 2014

Safer Computing

Sometimes, I just get flat out tired of taking malware off of people's machines. So, when I found this article, I used it to create a check-list. Now, if someone asks me to help them, I also ask them to let me set up their machine so that it is safer!

I even make them a little folder on their desktop that says "Weekly Cleaning." In it, I organize shortcuts to the top five things (programs, usually) they need to do, in order, each week.

For beginner level users, I install, configure, and then provide links and basic "how to" instructions to run (in the order indicated):

1. Ccleaner
2. Spybot Search and Destroy (free version)
3. Mozyhome (free version)- this one backs up key files, usually their "My Docs", to a free account in the cloud. You can set it to do so automatically, too, but I ask them to do it weekly manually, as part of their "Weekly Cleaning".)

Of course, I also double check their antivirus. In particular, I make sure they are getting auto-updates of it, and of virus definitions.

Want a ton more details on ways to "lock down" your machine?

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/safe-computing-under-hour.htm