Common Sense Guide to Safe Computer Use - 10 Quick Tips

Similar to the way individuals feel about their cars, pcs in many cases are a black box which they basically know nothing about other than how to turn it on and use it. Computer systems are in reality pretty complex but by using a few simple rules you shouldn't have to worry about what's underneath the hood. The list below is a compilation of typical mistakes that people make which can lead to severe computer difficulties.

10.) Installing Software with Reckless Abandon

Ahh, that one can be difficult. We love to download all sorts of cool little programs to our computers which includes software for downloading music, games, new wallpapers, etc. While these can be a great deal of fun and serve a purpose, many of these programs are a vehicle to install malware on your computer. While it's not always the case, over time, you may see some extra pop-ups or your computer may begin to run a bit more slowly. The best thing to do is only download software that you are sure you need and avoid anything from websites that aren't well known sites.

9.) Leaving the Administrator password blank

Its generally a bad idea to have a blank administrator password. Without having a password set you make it much easier for hackers and trojan viruses to connect to your computer remotely and take control of it. It's strongly suggested to set a password with at least 8 characters which contains numbers and letters as well as some uppercase letters. Also, its generally a best practice to login to your computer (for all of your daily routines) with an account that does not have admin access. This way you can't inadvertently install software you weren't intending on or execute a virus you weren't unaware of.

8.) Not Using WEP/WPA Wireless Security

Are you aware of WEP/WPA? If you're not, be aware of this. Lots of people nowadays have turned over to wireless networks and are using either Linksys or Netgear type wireless hubs bought from big name electronic stores. One of the great selling points is how easy they are to setup but this out of the box configuration leaves your network wide open for anyone within about a 100-200 foot radius to connect in and surf the web on your dime. Not to mention, quite possibly hacking your computers. Anyhow, if you're setting up one of these wireless routers be sure to read the section on WEP, or even better, WPA security. It's really not that complicated to setup and it will give you another solid layer of security.

7.) Not Shutting Down Properly

Do you always wait for your computer to completely shutdown? Do you actually go to the Start MenuàThen Shutdown? If so, you're better than most. Lots of people just press the power button on their computer and this could cause some serious problems ranging from hardware issues (primarily the hard drive) to things like OS corruption. Whenever you can its definitely better to click the Start button on the lower left corner and then select Shutdown. By doing this, your pc will gracefully shutdown and will leave much less room for any problems.

6.) Not Defragging Your Hard disk drive

Disk Defragmenter - An uncomplicated, yet often neglected tool, which may be accessed by going to Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools. This defrag tool will evaluate the volumes on your hard drive and then consolidate fragmented files/folders so that they each occupy a single, contiguous area on the volume. By defragging your drive, your computer is able to access files and folders quicker and effectively. It's always a smart idea to do this at least once a month.

5.) Not Installing Windows Security Updates
Even though many times security updates go unforgotten, these may be the deciding factor on whether or not you get infected with certain viruses/malware or even becoming a victim of someone hacking your computer. It's strongly recommended to download and install updates on a monthly basis. If you don't think you'll recall, its probably a good idea to just go into your Control Panel->Automatic Updates and set them to download and install automatically. This way you won't have to worry about it.

4.) Opening Email From People You Don't Know

This one is essential. A good majority of viruses/malware is spread through emails, whether it's an attachment or even just an embedded link within the email, so it's always best to just delete whatever you don't recognize. Many Anti-Virus programs will do much of the work for you but if you are not sure who the sender is just treat the email as SPAM.

3.) No Anti-Virus Installed

In this point in time, there's no excuse for not using an Anti-Virus program installed. There's more viruses and spyware out there than any other time and for the $30-50 investment it's well worth the cost. Several of the good names in Anti-Virus software are Symantec, Mcafee, Panda, and AVG among others. Many pcs now come with an AV program preinstalled so its just a matter of buying a subscription to download the updates.

2.) Not Keeping Your Anti-Virus Updated with New Virus Defs

Anti-Virus programs need to constantly be updated so they can identify the new viruses as they come out. Without these updates, many viruses will go undetected since the AV software isn't looking out for it. Having an AV program is essential. Having an 'updated' AV program is all the difference. If at all possible, setup your AV program to download updates and install them automatically every few days or at most once a week.

1.) Not doing backups
Above all, the largest mistake that people make is not backing up their data. Most of us have GB's of important data on their computers and never reconsider the possibility of losing it. That is, until they're hard drive crashes and they lose everything. From that point on, you can be sure they'll be backing things up. Today there are several options for backing up data from just a basic external hard drive to online backups over the Internet. For the small price of setting something like this up you will be glad you did if you ever face troubles.

Tablet PC Comparison offers a full side by side listing of all the latest tablet pcs and slates on the market. If you in the market to buy a new tablet check us out first to make sure you know what your getting.

Don't forget, once you ave chosen the right tablet for yourself, the first, and most important, accessory you should buy is a Tablet PC Stands

Tablet Comparison