Welcome to Computer Self-Defense
Computers are part of all our lives now, whether at home or at work. Yet for most users, they remain an enigma, a mystery. And complicating things further is the constant barrage of bad news about computer safety. It's not a situation that gives computer users much confidence. So, after years of cleaning up infected PC's, I've put together this site as a primer for the average computer user - Karl
The Basics
Anti-Virus, Firewalls,
and Updates are often cited as
the three basic security needs on any given PC. But backups
are too often overlooked. In fact, backing up your data is argueably your
first line of defense in securing your computer. The data you generate,
whether you are writing a book or doing webdesign or keeping the company
books, is the most important component of your computer.
Backups are the single most important
thing you can do to protect your computer. Spyware
probably poses the single biggest threat to your PC these days. See the
Spyware page for hints on handling
these threats. Then there's preventative measures you can take to protect
yourself: Browsers, Emailing,
and Instant Messaging. Finally, Encryption
is a great way to protect your data.
Taking Stock
Whether it's at home or at work, take stock of the ways you are using your
computer. Note the programs you are using and the data you are generating.
Know where that is, whether it's saved in "My Documents" or in
a program folder. Reading the manual, sometimes referred to as "RTFM",
or looking up the app (software) on the web will often yield the info you
need.
Recent versions of Windows (XP and Vista) have a Security Center in the
Control Panel so you can easily check the status of your AV (anti-virus),
firewall, and updates. Take the time to make yourself familiar with your
computer! Bear in mind that computer security is a 'fat' word. This site
is by no means the last word on the subject. It is intended for beginning
and intermediate users, and for home and small offices. HTH (hope this helps).