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Author: Find the best easy basic tips for computer users here. Your computer is a wonderful tool that can help you accomplish alot, so I’d like you to be empowered to get more out of it. If you consider yourself a beginner on the computer, I hope these easy tips, hints and suggestions will be useful. And, please, leave your comments!
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Mac users get ready for viruses. A few years ago Macs were only 3% of the computers in the world and hence were not targeted by viruses creators. With the introduction of the loathed Windows Vista operating system PC users began migrating to Macs, and despite Vista’s vastly superior successor Windows 7, the migration continued such that Macs now comprise over 16% of computers in the world. And now there are viruses being created and spread for Macs. Mac users will be especially vulnerable since they (and their “experts”) hold the mistaken belief that Macs are immune. None are so easy to infect as those who think they’re immune! See antivirus solutions for Macs on my website at http://www.personalcomputerwizard.com/antivirus.html
a Mac infected with trojans
- and when you get a pop up when browsing the internet, don’t click the red button in the corner to close the window (that installs the virus!) – instead hit Control (the Apple key on your keyboard) and the “W” key simultaneously to close the popup. If that doesn’t work, don’t click the graphic but restart the computer.
The March 2010 issue of PCWorld magazine has an article on ‘How To Stop 11 Hidden Security Threats‘, which also discusses these ’5 Security Myths’: 1) I don’t have anything an attacker would want 2) I have antivirus software installed, so I am safe 3) Security is a concern only if I use Windows [not Mac] 4) My router has a firewall, so my PC is protected 5) Since I visit only major, reputable sites, I have nothing to worry about.
Regarding the myth of Macs being immune to viruses, “Here’s one more piece of evidence that the Mac isn’t the secure, locked-down system that its proponents claim: The organizer of the Pwn2Own hacking contest says that Windows 7 is more secure than Snow Leopard, and that Safari will be the first browser to fall victim in the upcoming hacking contest… Last year at the contest, it took only five seconds for a security researcher to hijack a Mac by hacking in through Safari. The year previous, it took less than two minutes to hack in to a Macbook Air.” Read the article ‘Windows Safer Than Mac’ here.
Still, to quote another article “despite its weaknesses, Mac users have no reason to panic — yet. Apple’s PC market share is still roughly only about 10 percent [in the US; worldwide it is 4.5%] , giving hackers and malicious software coders very little economic incentive to target the Mac. In short, Mac users are ducking behind a short wall — but as long as the enemy is firing in another direction, they’re not in grave danger.”
The programs that let us view web pages are called ‘browsers’. The recent attacks on Google in China were carried out by exploiting security vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer and since then the governments of Germany, Australia and France have advised us to stop using Internet Explorer. Other browsers are more secure and have convenient features that Internet Explorer doesn’t. Try Firefox, Chrome (from Google) and Safari (from Apple), for example. And if you insist on continuing to use Internet Explorer, use the latest version (8) and make sure you install the updates for it.
The newer versions of Microsoft Office (2007 and 2008) create by default, files with a new extension that older versions of Office (including XP, 2000, and 2003) can’t open. That is, until Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack, which you can download here (the page also includes instructions).
So, if you receive a file with a .docx or a .xlsx or a .pptx extension you will be able to open it. Install the Compatibility Pack once, and from then on those types of files will automatically open with your current version of Office.
You can avoid infection by 1) not installing any programs without researching them first and 2) by responding correctly when a threat pops up.
click this graphic to see a larger version
To close pop-up windows DON’T click ‘cancel’ and DON’T click the X in the upper right hand corner – that could actually install the malicious software. Instead, to safely close a pop-up window, hold down the ALT button and click the F4 button on your keyboard. Click here for a visual example (a pdf will open in a new window) of this common popup which claims to remove viruses but actually installs them!
If that doesn’t work, just turn off your computer, because clicking anywhere in the popup graphic installs the virus, which will then go and download and install more viruses until your computer won’t even run.
lightning strikes are rare; power outages and brownouts are common
Been struck by lightning much? Neither have I, but power outages and power dips (when the lights dim for a minute) are common in west Sonoma County. A power dip, or brownout, can kill a computer and other electronics. A power outage, if it happens while you are installing Windows updates, can corrupt your operating system so your PC won’t boot to Windows, or could cause you to lose any unsaved work you were doing when the power went out.
A quality UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) not only provides surge protection* but will also offer voltage regulation, which protects your PC and electronics from voltage sags or dips during brownouts, and battery backup.
protect your PC with a UPS
Battery backup will instantly switch to the built in rechargeable battery during a power outage so you can save your work and any files that are open and properly shut down your computer. (The higher the VA rating, ie. 350VA or 55oVA, the more devices can be powered by battery for more minutes: anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes is useful.)
The only brand of UPS I like is APC (American Power Conversion). A 550VA unit is typically around $59-$69 at places like Best Buy, Staples and Office Depot, and sometimes goes on sale for $39, or can be purchased any time online at Newegg.com
*a surge protector or power strip is not very useful, since it only offers protection against voltage spikes, like lightning strikes, which are uncommon.
You need a good strong password for anything connected to your money, so obviously, for your online banking, investment accounts, Paypal, etc.
You also need a good strong password for your email, because a bad guy could log on to your bank, click on ‘forgot my password’ and the bank will email it to you – so, if the bad guy could get into your email they could get into your online banking.
Other sites, like Amazon, or Macy’s or Zappos may have your credit card numbers saved from previous purchases, but they don’t display those credit card numbers, even if you log in, so you can use easy not-strong passwords for sites like those or other sites like or eBay or Craigslist that don’t have any of your credit card info associated with your account.
Example of an easy not-strong password: ‘Fluffy‘. Example of a good strong password: Yf15fulf# (fluffy backwards, with a 15 in the middle, a # at the end, and the Y capitalized). If Fluffy was the name of your pet, that would be pretty easy to remember and type after you’d done it a few times.
Good strong passwords are essential to use online.
Here is a list of things that are NOT good passwords (they are too easy to crack):
Any word in the dictionary
Any word in a foreign language dictionary
Any proper name (person, place or pet)
Your phone numbers, birthdate, address, social security number, license plate, ATM pin, Driver’s License number, OR ANY PORTION THEREOF!!!
Good strong passwords are important to protect you online. Here’s how to easily make good strong passwords that are easy to remember.
Take a two syllable word that’s easy to remember, for example ‘flower‘. Take a two digit numeral that’s easy to remember, for example ‘15‘.
Spell the word backwards with the number in the middle: in this example ‘rew15olf‘ – that’s ‘flower’ backwards with ’15′ in the middle.
To make it even stronger, add a symbol, for example ! or ? or % or * or # at the end: rew15olf#. To make it stronger still, capitalize on letter, so, in our example that could be: Rew15olf#
Antec notebook cooler
120° – that’s how hot the processor (CPU) of your notebook runs. That’s why there’s a fan on the underside of the notebook: to create air circulation and keep the CPU cool. So you definitely don’t want to use your notebook on any soft surface (like on your bed, a tablecloth or your lap) because that will block the fan and the notebook can overheat and shut down.
Even better – get a notebook cooler. My favorite is the one made by Antec, which sells in stores like Staples for $39.99 (sometimes on sale for $19.99) or online everyday at Newegg for $27.99.
The Antec notebook cooler provides a hard, flat surface with perforations to provide good air circulation for your notebook’s built-in fan. And if it’s a really hot day, you can plug in the supplied USB connectors and the Antec notebook cooler kicks in with it’s own two built-in fans. That’s the way to be cool, man!