RobertXGillis

RobertXGillis

25+ years of published Op/Ed columns, professional photography, my first book and more from the 28 known galaxies!

RobertXGillis
  • About Me
  • My professional photography
  • Nana – my first published book
  • Gillis Photo and Nana Videos
  • Site Map
  • Nativity

Windows PC Security 101: How to protect your computer

  • Computers / Tech

Computer keyboardby Robert Gillis
Published in the Foxboro Reporter and Boston City Paper, 7/2011

As a computer geek since 1981 and a professional at it since 1988, I get asked a lot of computer questions. These days, every home has at least one computer and we depend on them more and more. Our computers hold a lot of personal info: Bank and financial records, school papers/reports, all our digital pictures, bills, taxes, Justin Bieber fan club newsletters, etc. – So it’s important to remember that your computer is like your house – you need to lock the door and make sure only family members have a key. You need to keep the bad guys out.

With that in mind, I thought I would start with the basics of computer security, and also pass along some tips to help your computer run better. As with all things computer, there are hundreds of programs (and methods) to do these tasks; I am recommending the ones below because they work really well for me, or are free, or both.

Before I start, there are two important points to note. 1) Everything here is Microsoft Windows (any version) related. If you have a Mac or are using UNIX/Linux, this one’s not for you. 2) Please be aware this is a “buyer beware” column. If you don’t know how to navigate the web, download a program and install it, STOP! If you crash your computer trying any of the following DO NOT BLAME ME. A reasonable understanding of how to use your computer to install and troubleshoot a program is expected and required here. Closed course, professional driver, your mileage will vary, and all that. And for the love of monkeys DON’T make changes unless you understand why you’re doing it. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!

First up and most importantly is ANTI-VIRUS software. If you are connected to the Internet (and we all are) the FIRST thing you need to install after your operating system is anti-virus and firewall software. I CANNOT POSSIBLY OVER-EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT GOOD ANTI-VIRUS / FIREWALL SOFTWARE IS. Always ensure you are running a good anti-virus and firewall program. Norton and McAfee are both very good and worth the money. Install them. Set the updates to automatic. Scan your PC (the entire PC) regularly. NEVER shut them off. Unsure what to buy? http://www.cnet.com and http://www.pcworld.com are excellent resources for impartial ratings of software. Next, learn how to configure and use your anti-virus and firewall software. It is your first and most powerful line of defense against intrusion.

Next on the subject of security, is wireless access. More and more folks these days use a router to allow several computers in the house to connect to the Internet (or each other) wirelessly. In families, this is very convenient. Router configuration and set up is way beyond the scope of this column but here’s the bottom line – if you choose to use a wireless router – you MUST understand how to set it up, or get someone you know to do it for you (that’s not me, by the way). Next, IMMEDIATELY change the password to the router. Here’s why – routers have a radius of about 200-300 feet (or far more); this means a person driving by your house can use their laptop to access YOUR wireless unless you changed the password. And if you were silly enough not to protect your directories, they can be accessed as well. CHANGE YOUR ROUTER PASSWORD IMMEDIATELY and don’t share it with anyone!

There are hundreds of articles on the net about what makes a good password – read a few of them. Best bet? Make it something not obvious that no one can guess (no pet names, no birthdays, and no dictionary words). Again, I could write an entire column on this subject – read up on good passwords. Yes, they are a PAIN to remember. That’s why they help keep you safe!

Still on the subject of security, In addition to viruses, another class of intruders to block is called Malware or spyware. Malware /spyware is like a virus but different. It loads on your computer without you knowing it, and it’s designed not to be detected by your virus scanning software. These small (and destructive) programs might be tracking your keystrokes (to steal your passwords), using your computer as a server, or even “data mining” to grab your email lists or credit card numbers.

Fortunately, two excellent (and free) products are very reliable in killing malware. First, go to http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free and download Malwarebytes. Install it, download any updates, and run a FULL SCAN on ALL your drives. It may take a few hours. When done, it will list your adware and malware. Tell it to remove all of it. It will only remove the malware, not the good stuff. Run the scan every week or two, or buy the full version for about $25 and it will run all the time for you.

I also recommend the program Super Anti-Spyware at http://www.superantispyware.com — Like Malwarebytes, there is a free and professional (need to buy) option. Download the free version and run a scan of your entire computer. Again, when it finds spyware, this is a “remove” option. Remove all spyware found.

Running these two tools every so often will rid your computer of malware and spyware and help keep your computer and data safe.

Next, let’s talk UPDATES. it’s important to keep your computer updated. The series of steps varies by windows operating system (XP, Vista, 7, etc), but in control panel, set your “Windows Update” option to download and install windows updates automatically. Microsoft frequently sends out fixes and enhancements for its operating systems. Many of these fixes plug so-called “holes” in your browser that allows hackers to get into your computer. Update windows regularly and keep you system running safer and with less errors. You can also run windows update at any time manually by going to http://www.update.microsoft.com

Finally (for now) let’s do a little cleanup. You may not know that Windows tends to leave behind tons of temporary files on your PC that never get cleaned up. Not just the history of web use, but “scratch” files used for all sorts of windows functions, and hundreds of temporary files are at first useful but later turn to clutter. Over time, they slow your computer. I recommend Piraform CCleaner, available at http://www.piriform.com/CCLEANER — Download the latest free version, install, and run it. It won’t hurt any “good” files but will get rid of all the junk. Run it regularly (you can even set it up to run automatically) and you’ll be amazed at the amount of disk space you save, and how better your computer runs.

Well, you have your homework. I hope you can see that computer security is very important but doesn’t have to be confusing.  Again, please know what you’re doing before you attempt anything I’ve described here; as long as you know how to download a program and install it, you should be fine.

Be safe, and happy computing!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Posts via Categories

  • My 3:00 A.M. Facebook Reboot Get a grip folks. It’s only Facebook)
  • Oh, boy! The nice banker in the email says I won $900,000! (fifth time this week)
  • I hit the UK lottery again! Fifth time this week!
  • Computer Help Desk Humor
  • Avoid Fraud: The Online Lottery Scam
  • Technology Unchained – or I remember when (nostalgia)
  • Avoid Fraud: The Nigerian 419 Letter
  • Weaving a web for Foxboro
  • Even Computer Geeks Are Not Immune From the Dreaded, “Bad Technology Day”
  • Technology: Time to draw clear line between work and play
Spread the love
June 28, 2011 Robert Gillis 0

Post navigation

Because you demanded it… Another slow news day column! → ← Katy Perry’s “Firework:” A message every teen needs to hear

My Professional Photography

Buy My Book!

Go to Nana Book website

Follow Me!

  • Facebook

RobertXGillis.com Categories (Drop Down Menu)!

Category Cloudy Thingy!

A must read Avoiding Fraud Backstreets Boston Bruce Springsteen Catholic / Church Christmas CNN image Computers / Tech Current Events / News Commentary Current News Story Parody and Humor Dorchester Foxboro Foxboro Founders Day Foxboro Jaycees Foxboro Jaycees Haunted House Foxboro Reporter Image Halloween Holidays - Other Humor Life events, Gratitude and Giving and Little Miracles Mass Shootings Memorials Movies Music My fiction (80s/90s) Nana Book NASA Image New Hampshire News image from Web New Year Not The Best Pets Politics Scanned From Newspaper Microfilm Seniors September 11, 2001 Slow News Day Humor Sports Star Trek Superman Superman and Friends - Comic Book Humor and Parody Television Uncategorized Web / Email / Internet / Social Media

Robert Gillis Site Archives From the 28 Known Galaxies

Weekly Popular!

  • A dream come true, meeting Joanna Cameron, star of… (46)
  • Memories of an Intensive Care Nursery at Saint… (17)
  • Silver Age Comics: Spanking your super kids, a great… (13)
  • Memo: Cost-cutting measures during these tough… (12)
  • Foxboro Senior Center Christmas Faire (7)
  • An interview with Joanna Levesque, aka “JoJo” (6)
  • Review: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at… (6)
  • Grieving the Saint Kevin’s Property (5)
  • Silver Age Comics: Jimmy Olsen the Roughneck (and I… (5)
  • Remarkable Man, Remarkable Life, Remembering Gerry Rodman (5)
  • Retro-Review: A Christmas Carol (1999) starring… (5)
  • Thoughts and gratitude after the March 2018… (5)
  • End of Summer 2016: Thoughts on a variety of topics (5)
  • The Old Dorchester Neighborhood (4)
  • Letter I wrote to DC Comics when Superman died (4)
  • More Lucy Lane and Lois Lane Silver-Age Comics Sillyness! (4)
  • Cherishing the people around us – NOW (4)
  • More Silver Age Superboy antics: No matter where you… (4)
  • Review: SUPERMAN II: THE RICHARD DONNER CUT (4)
  • Foxboro’s Casino War: It’s Starting to… (4)
  • Practicing Skiing at the Old Mountain Home (4)
  • Silver Age Comic Books: Superman stops the… (4)
  • Review: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN WITH THE SEEGER SESSIONS… (3)
  • More Silver-Age Lois Lane comic book madness! (3)
  • Retro-Review: A Christmas Carol (1938) starring… (2)
  • Popular posts by Top 10 plugin

Most Popular On This Site!

  • A dream come true, meeting Joanna Cameron, star of… (16,531)
  • An interview with Joanna Levesque, aka “JoJo” (6,122)
  • A letter to Mom on Christmas Day (3,641)
  • Memo: Cost-cutting measures during these tough… (3,234)
  • Silver Age Comics: Spanking your super kids, a great… (2,674)
  • Memories of an Intensive Care Nursery at Saint… (2,269)
  • Thoughts on visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday (1,702)
  • Father Steve Madden leaving Saint Mary’s… (1,612)
  • The National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in… (1,491)
  • Grieving the Saint Kevin’s Property (1,486)
  • The customer, most assuredly, is NOT always right: A… (1,378)
  • More Lucy Lane and Lois Lane Silver-Age Comics Sillyness! (1,193)
  • Silver-Age Comics fun: Going to the chapel, and… (1,027)
  • What was the Silver Age of comic books? Superman,… (1,015)
  • My professional photography (1,013)
  • Popular posts by Top 10 plugin

Copyright and Legal

All site content copyright © 2020 by Robert Gillis except where specifically noted. All rights reserved. THIS IS A PERSONAL WEBLOG (“BLOG”). THE OPINIONS AND COMMENTARY EXPRESSED HERE REPRESENT MY OWN AND ARE NOT THOSE OF MY EMPLOYERS (PAST, PRESENT NOR FUTURE).

About images:

I do my best to use my own photos to illustrate a post (and copyright to all my images remains with me), but sometimes I need to use an image from, say, a sports logo, a TV show or movie, or something I could not possibly get on my own, for example, an image of the international space station. I always credit the original owner (if they can be determined) but in ALL cases, whether credited or not, any images I didn’t photograph myself remain the property of the original copyright holders. This site does not imply any ownership of such images or materials, and such images are used here for commentary / illustrative / entertainment purposes only, under what is believed to be fair use guidelines, and absolutely no copyright infringement is intended.

Powered by WordPress | theme SG Double