| Most new computer users use the computer for | | | | lightning the house wiring can burn out computer |
| a specific purpose. I know of some people who | | | | components. |
| use it only for e-mail. Others use it to view and | | | | 4. If you need the computer constantly on, invest |
| print pictures that they took with their digital | | | | in an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS). The |
| camera. Some people use it for doing work at | | | | computer can stay on up to three hours without |
| home like word processing or spreadsheets. | | | | electricity. If you have a laptop plugged into a |
| Teachers may use it to develop class plans that | | | | UPS, then you have the three hours and the |
| they do not have time to do at work. | | | | laptop battery time. |
| Even though Identity Theft is in a lot of | | | | 5. If you are connected to the Internet, wired or |
| newspapers, letters from banks, TV, the Internet, | | | | wireless, you must have a router with a built-in |
| most people do not protect their computer and | | | | hardware firewall. You should also have a |
| their information. Maybe their attitude is “It | | | | software firewall as well. Most times software |
| can’t happen to me”. I am surprised that | | | | scans the internet looking for vulnerable |
| more than half of the home computer wireless | | | | computers. It is not unlikely if you have cable, |
| networks in my neighborhood are not secure. | | | | DSL, Satellite, or FIOS that your computer is not |
| Someone can have a laptop in their car and surf | | | | scanned 15 or more times a day. A hardware and |
| the internet for free. Some households can also | | | | software firewall prevents this from happening. |
| borrow the neighbor’s Internet Service | | | | 6. Get anti-virus software installed on your |
| Provider (ISP) without having to pay for it | | | | computer. If you do not want to pay for it, get a |
| themselves. | | | | free one. |
| I have a little gadget that detects wireless | | | | 7. Install spyware removal software on your |
| networks. I am amazed that some small business | | | | computer and run it regularly. You can just get |
| and even schools in my area do not have a | | | | free ones if you do not want to invest in a |
| secure network. I taught an Identity Theft class | | | | commercial product, although the commercial ones |
| in a school, and I went right onto their network | | | | are better. |
| without any login information. The school assumed | | | | 8. Do not have Windows remember your |
| that they were secure. | | | | passwords. On my blog I recommend a product |
| Another security concern is when someone has a | | | | for remembering passwords. |
| laptop and they leave it unattended at the airport. | | | | 9. In Internet Explorer and Firefox have your |
| When they look for it the laptop is gone. Some | | | | security settings to at least medium. |
| thieves just re-sell the laptop for quick cash. | | | | 10. When traveling keep your laptop in sight. Do |
| Other thieves see what type of information they | | | | not check it in with your luggage. |
| can take off of the laptop. Even if the thief | | | | 11. When you go into a wireless café or hotel |
| re-sells the laptop quickly, your personal | | | | that has internet access you should have an |
| information is still on the laptop. If the computer | | | | internet security product. McAfee and Norton are |
| does not have a password on it, then anyone has | | | | pretty good. There are also a couple of free |
| immediate access to the information on the | | | | ones. |
| computer. | | | | One other thing to keep in mind with a laptop is |
| I had one customer put her laptop into her | | | | that many of them can transfer through infrared |
| luggage and checked it in at the airline. When she | | | | to other laptops or PDAs / cell phones. It only |
| arrived at the hotel and opened her case she saw | | | | takes a couple of seconds to transfer your |
| that the laptop was gone. There was also a note | | | | information. Credit card numbers for example are |
| inside that the airline inspected her luggage. Did | | | | 16 characters. There is software out there that |
| this customer learn? No, she did it again. And to | | | | can look for a string of 16 characters, or your |
| make matters worse, she was traveling with | | | | social security number. |
| someone else. He saw that she checked her | | | | 12. Do not open attachments from someone you |
| luggage with the laptop in it, and he followed suit. | | | | do not know. |
| A big surprise here – both laptops were gone. | | | | 13. If an email does not look right, do not open it. |
| Home networks is another big security concern. | | | | Ebay, your bank, paypal, etc. will not ask you to |
| When I see an unsecured home network I leave | | | | click on a link to update your account information. |
| a flyer on their door and say that there network | | | | They say, log into your account and verify your |
| is not secure and for $25 I will secure it for them. | | | | information. These fake emails are phishing for |
| I usually write the name of their network on the | | | | your information. When you click on them it does |
| flyer so that they know. Four out of five people | | | | look like the right sight, but as soon as you sign |
| call me. | | | | into this phishing site they have your login name |
| Here are some ways to help protect your | | | | and password. You should then immediately go to |
| computer system (they are not in any order of | | | | your site by typing in the address and change |
| importance): | | | | your login password. If you can change your login |
| 1. Put a password to access your computer. I | | | | name do that as well. |
| would even put a power-on password which | | | | 14. Do not give your passwords out to others. |
| means that once you turn on the computer you | | | | 15. If someone requests to remotely access your |
| need to put in a password before the computer | | | | computer make sure their software is permission |
| starts up. This should not be the same password | | | | based. This means that you will get a pop up |
| you use to login to your computer. This advice is | | | | window or email and you give the person |
| needed for laptop users. | | | | permission to look at your screen. That way if |
| 2. Buy a surge protector and plug all of your | | | | you do see something wrong like looking at your |
| computer items into it. Buy one that works and | | | | emails or documents you can stop the connection |
| has a guarantee, and not just a power strip. | | | | between the two computers. |
| 3. During a thunder storm, or any storm that | | | | I hope you found this article informative. In the |
| looks like it has an effect on power, turn the | | | | resource box below click on the blog link where |
| computers off. I would even unplug the surge | | | | you will find more useful hints and recommended |
| protector from the wall. If the home is hit by | | | | software and hardware. |